Vapor: The Tagaytay Timeline

Chapter 1

Tagaytay Timeline - Chapter 1: A Chance Encounter

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Tagaytay’s cool breeze swept through the streets as the sun began to dip below the horizon. The small town, known for its scenic views and peaceful ambiance, held a quiet charm that its residents enjoyed. For 13-year-old Vapor Revival, a high school student at Tagaytay National School, the town was a refuge—especially the library, where he often found himself lost in the pages of his favorite books.

Vapor was a quiet and introverted boy, always keeping to himself and his close friend, Miles, who was as smart as she was adventurous. Both of them shared an interest in technology, their sharp minds often leading them to build gadgets, including a small biplane they had recently constructed together. Miles, despite being just as introverted as Vapor, was always quick to pull him out of his comfort zone, nudging him toward new experiences.

One afternoon, Vapor sat in his usual spot at the back of the school library, deep in thought, flipping through a science fiction novel. Miles sat across from him, tinkering with a small gadget she had pulled out of her bag.

“You’re barely reading,” Miles commented without looking up, her voice matter-of-fact. “You’ve been staring at the same page for the past five minutes.”

Vapor blinked and glanced down at the book, realizing she was right. He sighed softly, “Yeah… I guess I’m distracted.”

Before Miles could respond, a voice interrupted their conversation.

“Hey, you’re Vapor, right?”

Vapor looked up to see a girl standing in front of him. She was tall, confident, and wore a friendly smile. He recognized her immediately—Rosie Shores, a 16-year-old student in Grade 11. Vapor had seen her around before, but they had never spoken. She was well-liked and popular, known for her lively personality and infectious energy.

“Y-Yeah, that’s me,” Vapor stammered, caught off guard by her presence.

Rosie smiled, pulling out a chair and sitting down beside him. “I’ve seen you here a lot. What are you reading?”

Vapor, feeling a little nervous, held up his book. “Uh, just some sci-fi. Nothing special.”

Rosie leaned in to glance at the cover, her eyes bright with curiosity. “Cool. I like sci-fi too. You must really love books if you’re always in the library.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Vapor replied quietly, unsure of what else to say. He felt his cheeks warm under Rosie’s gaze.

Miles, ever observant, gave Vapor a knowing glance but remained silent, letting the conversation unfold.

Rosie continued, undeterred by Vapor’s shyness. “Well, I was wondering if you could recommend something for me. I’ve been looking for something new to read, but nothing’s caught my eye.”

Vapor hesitated for a moment, glancing at Miles, who gave him a subtle nod of encouragement. Gathering his courage, he cleared his throat and offered, “I think you’d like The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. It’s… it’s pretty good if you like stories about space and human nature.”

Rosie’s smile widened. “That sounds perfect. Thanks, Vapor.”

Vapor could hardly believe he had managed to get through the conversation without stumbling over his words too much. But as Rosie stood up to leave, she paused and turned back to him.

“You know, you’re not as quiet as people say,” she said, her tone playful. “I’ll see you around, Vapor.”

With that, she waved and walked away, leaving Vapor with a fluttering feeling in his chest. Miles raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. “Well, that was something.”

Vapor rubbed the back of his neck, still processing what had just happened. “Yeah… I guess it was.”

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Later That Evening

Vapor couldn’t stop thinking about his interaction with Rosie. He lay in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling, replaying the moment in his mind. His heart raced a little faster every time he remembered the way she had smiled at him, the way she had spoken to him so casually, like they were already friends.

But why would she take an interest in someone like him? She was older, more outgoing, and probably used to hanging out with people who were much cooler than him. Vapor felt a twinge of insecurity creep in, but he quickly pushed it aside.

The next day, as he made his way to school, Vapor found himself looking forward to the possibility of seeing Rosie again. He didn’t know why, but there was something about her that made him feel different—excited, even.

When he walked into the library after class, his heart skipped a beat when he saw Rosie sitting at a nearby table, her nose buried in a book. She looked up when she heard him approach, and her face lit up with recognition.

“Hey, Vapor!” she called out, waving him over. “I took your advice and started The Martian Chronicles. It’s really good so far.”

Vapor smiled, feeling a bit more at ease this time. “I’m glad you like it.”

Rosie motioned for him to sit down, and before he knew it, they were deep in conversation about books, school, and everything in between. Vapor felt a warmth in his chest as they talked, realizing that despite their differences, he and Rosie had a lot in common.

Over the next few weeks, Vapor and Rosie’s friendship grew. They spent more time together in the library, and even started hanging out after school. And while Vapor still felt a little shy around her, he couldn’t deny that he was starting to feel something more.

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Flash Forward: Reminiscing About the Past

Now, sitting alone in the library, Vapor thought back to that first encounter with Rosie. He smiled to himself, remembering how awkward and nervous he had been. Things had changed so much since then.

He and Rosie were now dating—a relationship that had surprised many of their friends and classmates. The three-year age gap had raised a few eyebrows, but neither of them cared. They shared a deep connection built on mutual respect and admiration.

For Vapor, dating someone like Rosie had been unexpected, but he was grateful every day for her presence in his life. She had brought out a side of him he didn’t know existed—one that was braver, more confident, and willing to step out of his comfort zone.

As he sat there, lost in thought, a voice interrupted him once again.

“Hey, lost in your head again?”

Vapor looked up to see Rosie standing in front of him, her usual playful smile on her face.

“Yeah,” Vapor replied with a soft chuckle. “Just thinking about how we met.”

Rosie grinned, sitting down beside him and leaning in close. “Good memories?”

“The best,” Vapor said sincerely.

They sat together in comfortable silence for a moment, their hands brushing lightly. Vapor felt a warmth spread through him, knowing that despite all the challenges, he and Rosie had something special.

And as they sat there, side by side, Vapor couldn’t help but think that meeting Rosie in that library had been the best thing that ever happened to him.

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End of Chapter 1

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This chapter sets the stage for the rest of the Tagaytay Timeline, introducing Vapor, Rosie, and their blossoming relationship, with Miles as a steady presence in Vapor’s life. The sweet, innocent connection between Vapor and Rosie will be explored further as the series unfolds.