The Spot Between Us

PROLOGUE

The Spot Between Us

Prologue

I am staring intently at the paper in front of me, matigas ang hawak ko sa ballpen na kung mayroon lang akong chance na mabago ang mga sagot ko 'ron ay gagawin ko. Our teacher just distributed the quiz that we had last Monday, and the numbers stared back at me, mocking me.

Top of the class, for years. Always the best, always the first.

But now?

I stood frozen by my desk, my thoughts spinning. Habang tulala ay nagkatitigan kami ni Chivalry Wright Chua—the cause of my growing frustration-standing a few feet away with one hand on his waist. Nakatitig lang kami sa isa't isa. My annoyance doubled when I noticed his already narrow eyes squinting even more as he smirked, his dimple on his right cheek clearly visible.

"Ha! Gulat ka, no?" His voice rang out, sharp and confident, commanding attention from the class.

That smirk of his grew wider as he flicked his hair in an exaggerated way.

"Ano, Heather? Sabi sa'yo e! Ayaw mo kasi makinig sa'kin, tama yung solving ko!" His tone was dripping with arrogance, his singkit eyes narrowing in amusement as if daring me to argue.

I couldn't. Not when he was right.

I rolled my eyes and turned away, determined not to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. "Whatever, Chivalry," I said flatly, though my voice betrayed a hint of bitterness. "It's just a quiz. It doesn't mean anything."

But even as I said it, I knew I was lying.

"Duh!" he exclaimed, clearly unimpressed with my response. "We both know it's more than just a quiz, teh!"

I sat down at my desk, refusing to look at him as he followed me like a mosquito buzzing in my ear. His presence is suffocating, naiirita ako sa bawat kilos niya dahil ramdam ko talaga ang kayabangan.

Pero, kung nataasan ko 'rin naman siya sa quiz ipagyayabang ko 'rin naman.

Naiinis lang siguro ako sa kaugali ko.

"Well, I'm not surprised," I said, attempting to sound nonchalant but failing miserably. "Sabi naman na ng Mama mo na matalino ka. Alam ko rin na karamihan sa mga bading ay matatalino. Kasi sa dati kong school, si Ivan-classmate ko 'yon, top two siya! Vice president pa namin, and he was fun to be with! Kaya hindi na rin ako nagulat na matalino ka."

For a moment, he froze. Unti-unting nawala ang ngisi sa labi niya, and the room seemed to hold its breath.

Then his thick brows furrowed.

"Maka-bading ka ha?" His tone was sharp now, like a blade against stone. "Sino nagsabing bading ako?"

I shrugged, pretending not to care, but my heart raced. The way his voice shook for a second told me I had hit a nerve.

"Straight ako! Di ako bading!" His voice was louder now, defensive. "Bitter ka lang kasi palagi kitang natatalo!"

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from saying more. His words didn't bother me-not really. But the fire in his eyes, the way he gripped his pen tightly, told me he wasn't just trying to convince me.

"Okay, okay," I muttered, raising my hands in mock surrender. "Sabi mo hindi eh, edi hindi,"

Feeling ko mas lalo ko siyang nainis dahil sa sinabi ko. Ibang klase ng ngiti ang nakikita ko sa mata niya e, he looks like he's pissed na parang hindi na sya yung Chivalry na kilala ng lahat.

But, I can't help but say that he looks manly right now, bihira mo lang siya makikitang ganyan, whether he's serious because of an exam o kaya naman may mga hindi nakikinig sa kanya.

I know what he is. Pero hindi na lang ako magsasalita, dahil ayoko 'rin namang makialam. Eh, ano naman kung bakla? Edi bakla, my goal is to beat him! To take back the spot that he stole from me.

Chivalry returned to his seat behind me, though I could feel his gaze boring into me. A faint scent of his cologne lingered in the air—vanilla, sweet, warm, and comforting. Gusto ko tuloy tanungin kung anong pabango niya, pambabae naman e! But I know, hindi niya sasabihin hilig pa naman 'non manginis.

I turned my attention back to my quiz, staring at the glaring red marks of my three errors. My old school felt like another world now. Back there, I was unbeatable. I was the top one.

But here?

I clenched my jaw, ayokong isipin na katapusan na ng mundo. Because clearly it's not! It's just a quiz, why do I have to be sad about it?!

Ang hirap hirap naman ng ganito! Kahit sabihin kong quiz lang, naiinis pa 'rin ako sa 3 errors! Sayang e! Ang dali-dali lang!

I just have to remember that this wasn't over.

I can hear a soft click from a pen behind me—a nervous habit Chivalry had when he wasn't the center of attention. I knew it was him, and it made me even more determined.

Chivalry might have won today, but tomorrow? Tomorrow would be different.

For now, I kept my head down, not wanting to let him see me stumble.

Pero kahit maingay ang classroom dahil sa mga kaklase kong panay ang daldalan, his voice cut through once more.

"Heather?"

I glanced back at him, raising a brow.

"Feel ko, never mo na talaga ako matatalo," he said, a smirk curling at his lips.

Wow, ganoon kabilis bumalik na agad ang confidence niya?

Sasagot na sana ako para barahin siya dahil masyado naman ata siyang mayabang. But he cut me off guard, when he said something, in a voice so low only I could hear.

"...unless gusto mong magpaturo sakin?"

His tone was teasing, but his eyes held a challenge.

And for the first time, I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or throw my pen at his perfectly smug face.

But one thing was clear—I wasn't going to back down.

This wasn't just about a quiz anymore. This was personal.

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ
g l e a m o r i a