Fatimanians Series #1: Calculating Chemistry

Chapter 1

Fatimanians Series #1: Calculating Chemistry (Ongoing)

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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"OHHHHH bago 'yan ah!"

"GO RIA ANG SARAP MO!"

"LULUHURAN TALAGA RIA!"

During our P.E. class at the athletic center, we were set to perform a dance routine. My group had chosen a trending hip-hop choreography that had gone viral on social media. I smiled awkwardly as my classmates turned to look at me, feeling a mix of embarrassment and annoyance at Alyra for shouting my name in front of so many students from different sections.

She playfully grinned and cheered when the intro of "Baby One More Time" started playing. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed more students gathering to watch us, even though my vision was blurry from not wearing my glasses. We danced with energy and enthusiasm, the cheers from the audience amplifying our excitement and overshadowing the music.

And when the music ended, everyone erupted into applause.

"Ang sarap mo ron beh!" Alyra exclaimed as I took a seat beside her, still exhilarated from our performance.

"Ano ba 'yan, liit na bagay lang?" I jokingly slapped her shoulder, pretending to be shy while reaching for my purple tumbler. "Hala! Bakit wala nang tubig dito?"

"Sorry, nauhaw ako eh. Akala mo ba ikaw lang ang napagod kakasayaw? Ako rin, kaya," she replied with a playful pout.

"Wow, teh, parang kasalanan kong tamad ka magdala ng tubig mo?" I shot back sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.

"Chill lang, refillan ko na lang 'yan later pagkatapos natin dito."

"Ayaw ko, bilhan mo ako ng softdrinks doon!"

"Tubig ininom ko sa'yo tapos softdrinks kapalit? Kapal ng mukha mo!" she retorted, but suddenly fell silent when Ma'am Jen stood up and walked in front of us.

"Okay, guys, settle down. I'm really impressed with everyone's performance today, so I'm giving perfect points to all of you!" Alyra and I immediately shot up in excitement, and the whole class erupted in cheers. All the tiring practice was finally worth it, especially with the struggle of dealing with those who were late.

"Okay, sit down, guys," Ma'am Jen said, chuckling at our energy. "I have an important announcement along with the group distribution."

"Hala, Ma'am! Hindi pa kami ready! Magpapakasal ka na po ba?" one classmate joked, making everyone laugh even more.

"Ikaw talaga, puro kalokohan! Wala pa nga akong boyfriend," Ma'am Jen replied, rolling her eyes playfully.

"Wala na talagang matino sa section na 'to!" another classmate chimed in, and we all laughed.

"Anyway, as I was saying, dapat sabay ang group distribution at announcement ko. I will choose one group na magpe-perform sa opening ng Sportfest natin."

The gym buzzed with excitement as we exchanged glances, ready for whatever challenge lay ahead. But I had a bad feeling about this.

"Whose group, ma'am?"

"Grupo nila Jadis. That will happen next month, so be prepared. You all decide what dance you want to perform."

Omg, leader ko si Jadis! What now? I was so shy earlier because so many people watched our performance. How much more when it's the entire student body of Fatima? I might faint from nervousness!

As the reality of the situation sank in, I glanced at Alyra, who was beaming with excitement. "Masaya 'to girl!" she exclaimed.

"Masaya? More like terrifying!" I replied, feeling my heart race. The thought of dancing in front of everyone was overwhelming. What if we messed up?

"Ano ka ba wag ka kabahan! We can totally pull this off. Besides, Jadis is a great choreographer. You'll be fine!" Alyra reassured me, but I could still feel the knot in my stomach tighten.

"Yeah, but it's not just about the choreography. It's the whole school watching us!" I said, biting my lip nervously.

"Isipin mo lang na masaya and yung experience! You'll regret it if you don't give it your all," she said, nudging me playfully.

As I sat there, surrounded by my classmates buzzing with excitement, I realized she was right. This could be a chance to show everyone what we could do as a team. Maybe this would be the moment that helped me break out of my shell, despite my fears.

With a deep breath, I decided to embrace the challenge. "Okay, let's do this! But we need to practice hard!"

"That's the spirit!" Alyra cheered, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

And just like that, my nervousness began to fade, replaced by a spark of determination. We had a lot of work ahead of us, but I was ready to give it my all. After all, this was our time to shine.