Burning Hearts

Chapter 1

Cresia's POV

The door creaked slightly as Reina pushed it open. The classroom was silent, save for the scratch of chalk on the board. All eyes turned to us, two latecomers standing awkwardly by the door. My heart pounded as I realized the teacher had already started the lesson.

"Good morning, Ms. Ivanov and..." The teacher paused, her sharp eyes moving to me. "And you are?"

"Um, I'm... Yvonne Cresia Valentine, ma'am," I stammered, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze.

"Ah. . . the new student, right." She said and turn her gaze to Reina. "And Ms. Ivanov, may I know the reason as to why you're late for my class." Our teacher said that made Reina smiled awkwardly.

"Traffic po Ms. Romero." Reina reasoned, and according to Ms. Romero's facial expression, she's not going to buy Reina's reason.

Ms. Romero sighed and nodded her head after. She let us come in and gestured me to the front while Reina take her sit. My eyes roam the classroom and I caught Reina smiled at me. I smiled back at her.

"Please introduce yourself to us, anak." Ms. Romero said.

"Good morning, I'm Yvonne Cresia Valentine, seventeen years old." I smiled while thanking the heavens above that I didn't stutter even though my palms are already cold from my nervousness. When I'm done talking, I glance at Ms. Romero.

"Thank you, Ms. Ivanov. You can sit wherever you want," she then scan for vacant sits. "There's a vacant sit beside Mr. Velasquez, you may sit there." I nodded and head straight for my designated chair.

"Alright before we proceed, I'll introduce my self. I'm Ms. Lina Romero, your adviser, and your teacher in EAPP. Welcome to our class, Ms. Valentine." Ms. Romero smiled and continue her lesson.

As I sat on my chair, I immediately get my notebook and pen to jot down notes. Even though it's my first time to attend in an actual school I'm thankful that I could catch up, her lecture right now is what my former teacher mentioned to me, so I've been having my advance reading.

Ilang minuto pang nakalipas ay nag susulat lang ako sa notebook ko. Napatigil lang ako nang mag kumuhit sa'kin. My forehead crease and look at left. My desk mate, I didn't have time to greet and pay attention to him earlier because I have to jot down notes for this subject. Now that I'm looking at him I felt stunned for a moment. The man beside me has a messy black hair that I think it's natural, brown and expressive eyes, this man is really handsome.

"Pwedeng makihiram ng ballpen? Naubusan kasi ng tinta yung akin." Sabi niya habang naka ngiti na nakapag wala sa mga iniisip ko.

"Ah, sorry wala na akong extra ballpen ." I said and smiled. His smile faded away when I said it.

"First day of school kulang ka ng gamit" He said. That made my smile fade.

"Wow ha sino saatin nang hihiram ng ballpen in the first place? Hindi ba ikaw? sino saatin ang kulang ang gamit ikaw din diba?"

Napailing naman siya at narinig ko siyang bumulong, "Tienes razón"

Kumunot ang noo ko nang marinig ang kaniyang binulong. Napa-isip ako at sinabing, "Minumura mo ba ako?" Baling ko sa kaniya. My annoyance surge when he look at the window and ignore me.

"Sira ulo 'tong lalaki na 'to" pabulong kong sabi

"What did you just say?" he asked, turning his head back to me, one eyebrow raised in mock curiosity

I squared my shoulders, refusing to back down. "I said, sira ulo ka , binge kaba?" I said in an irritated voice, enough for him to hear.

For a second, he stared at me, his lips twitching as if he was holding back a smirk. Then, he leaned in slightly, his brown eyes glinting with amusement. "Well, aren’t you brave for a first-day student?" he said, his tone is sarcastic.