Ang babae sa dalampasigan (The thousand paper cranes)

First Meet

This story is about a girl who loved a boy.

However, this is not your typical kind of love story.

For even love cannot conquer all.

It began one sunny afternoon.

Maufee, a girl of splendor that all those who laid eyes on her gape in awe, was walking along the sea shore.

Not too far ahead, two friends, Clark and Gabriel saw Maufee coming their way.

They halted and couldnt help starring at what seemed like the goddess of beauty approaching them.

Maufee turned her gaze to the two who were intently looking at her.

She can never get used to people's stares, and she is annoyed by it.

She started to walk past them but Gabriel interrupted.

"Uhmm..excuse me. Are you new here? I don't think I have seen you before in this place."
he blushed a little and gave a timid smile.

"What made you say you haven't seen me before in this place? Do you know every person who lives in this city?"
she answered coldly.

Clark held back a giggle but he knew the girl heard him.

"Yes, she's right Gabe. You couldn't have possibly seen her around here before. This little fairy seems lost, aren't you?"
Clark gave a tantalizing smile that made Maufee's heart skip a beat.

Her eyes widened a bit by what this boy said, but she maintained her composure. She was surprised by the fact that this is the first time she actually reacted to a guy.

She gazed into Clark's eyes.
She cannot explain it but there is something odd about him.

His eyes...are sad.
Yet here he is giving a radiant smile.

"But...your uniform...you attend Shirin Academy?"
Gabe said surveying Maufee head to toe.

She furrowed her brows,
"I really have to go."
she said and dashed past the two boys.
She turned in a corner and was out of sight.

"Holy shit dude, she goes to our school!"

Gabe exclaimed putting an arm around Clark.

"Yeah. She does."

Clark was still staring at the direction where Maufee was.

The school bell rang and the students went on to their respective classes. Clark and Gabe are in the same class with Clark sitting beside Gabe by the window at the far end of the room. Clark was staring blankly out the window when the teacher came in together with a female student.

Clark's attention was diverted towards the front when he heard the class gasp in awe.

There standing in front was the girl they saw yesterday.

"Ok class settle down."

Miss Avery called. Although she too, stared at Maufee in starstruck awe.

"This is Maufee Cruz. I know it's mid semester but she'll be joining us from now on. Please give her a warm welcome."
Miss Avery smiled at the class.

"Nice to meet you all."

Maufee said quite sternly and slightly bowed her head.
She met Clark's gaze and gulped. He gave a faint smile and she looked away.
She went on to sit in the vacant seat in front of him.

The coincidence is impeccable.

"It's her! It's her! She's in our class!"

Gabe whispered loud enough for Maufee to hear.
She rolled her eyes and looked out the window.

Miss Avery gave a surprise quiz, to everybody's dismay, and added that this will not affect Maufee's grades since she just entered mid sem.

She gave a 30-item test on astronomy. Everybody was rather gloomy except Maufee who finished the exam effortlessly in a short span of time. She stood up, packed her bag, and submitted her test sheet.

"Whoaa,"

was the class' expression.

"Wow. She's totally my type."

Gabe said dreamily leaning his chin on his hand.

Clark was wearing a grin on his face as he observed Maufee disappear through the doorway.

Seconds later, he stood up and submitted his paper.

"Gee Clark, looks like you're not the smartest person in the school anymore."
said the guy in the front seat row.

Clark stopped by the door and smiled menacingly.

"Interesting,"
and headed out the room.

As Clark passed by the hallway, girls from every class are swooning over him.

He's the popular guy in school you see.

Although he hates to admit it but almost all of the students, may it be male or female, are also swooning over Maufee.

This girl's beauty is just unparalleled.

He approached Maufee who was by her locker.

He blocked her against the locker and spread his arms placing Maufee in between.

Maufee was appalled by the gesture and froze on the spot, with Clark's face only inches away from hers.

He smiled at her aghast expression.

"Hmm. You know, I hate competition. I have never once competed for anything in my life. You, on the other hand, will be a worthwhile rival."

he leaned closer and grabbed her chin,

"I'll make you mine, little fairy."

he added in a whisper.

As if in a reflex, Maufee pushed Clark away and gestured to slap him.

He evaded but one of Maufee's fingernails scratched his face.

He slowly placed a hand on his left cheek and felt a sting there.

He lowered his hand and looked at Maufee.

A red, straight mark can be seen and drops of blood started trickling down his face.

Maufee gazed for a moment at his face before bolting away. Clark let out a chuckle,

"This is going to be fun."

****