As the final bell tolled, signaling the start of the class, Yuki scanned the classroom, searching for an unoccupied desk.
Fortunately, an opening lay in the front row, situated between her best friend, Atlas, and the reserved academic, Kyle.
He sat diligently at his desk, engrossed in his work, until Yuki's arrival.
Of course, everyone knew Yuki - she was part of the school's popular clique, a veritable celebrity within these halls.
Even the teachers greeted her with barely concealed excitement as she entered.
"Uy Yuki!" several of her peers called out, rushing over to welcome her.
Kyle watched from afar, admiring her effortless charm, though he knew better than to approach someone so far removed from his own social circle.
No doubt na basta na lang niyang i-dismiss ang aking mga advances.
With a gracious smile, Yuki approached the vacant seat and politely asked, "Excuse me, pwede bang makiupo dito po?
He glanced up from his laptop, where he had been diligently taking notes.
Normally, he would have been irked by someone claiming the seat beside him, but Yuki's polite tone and courteous manner made it impossible for him to refuse.
"Ah, yeah. Sure. Go ahead po," he answered, his attention quickly returning to his work.
This boy was always immersed in his studies, driven to excel academically.
She nodded in a gesture of gratitude and took her seat, placing her bag beside her feet. Retrieving her laptop, she began diligently taking notes as the professor's lecture unfolded.
After nearly an hour had elapsed, the professor announced that the class would now be working in pairs on a research project.
To avoid disruption, students were instructed to collaborate with the person seated beside them.
Yuki glanced at her best friend, Atlas, who was already deep in discussion with his girlfriend. She smiled at the sight, then turned to face Kyle.
"It seems we'll be partnering up for this project," she said with a lighthearted chuckle. "Sa wakas may ng pagkakataong makausap ka po"
He raised an eyebrow, causing his glasses to slide slightly down the bridge of his nose.
Of course, he had observed Yuki interacting with her friends before - she was always so warm and friendly, the social butterfly of their class.
But in all the time they had shared a classroom, she had never once spoken directly to him.
"Oh," he uttered, unable to entirely mask the surprise etched across his face. "Yes, I suppose so po. Ah, nakakatuwang makipag-usap sa iyo din ."
Yuki detected the hint of surprise in his response, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt.
Talaga bang naging malayo ako at hindi malapitan sa lahat ng oras na ito?
Determined to make amends, she offered him a reassuring smile.
"I must admit, I don't believe we've ever had the chance na magpakilala ng maayos po," she said, extending her hand.
"I'm Yuki. Nakakatuwang makilala kita sa wakas po, Kyle."
His gaze flitted downward, momentarily fixated on her outstretched hand.
The simple gesture of kindness took him by surprise - in all his time at this school, so few had ever treated him with such warmth and openness.
Tentatively, he reached out and returned her handshake, marveling at the softness of her skin against his own calloused fingers.
