Ang babae sa dalampasigan (The thousand paper cranes)

Origami

******
"

Hey, Fee-Fee!"
Gabe called.

He and Clark were at the school entrance.

Maufee was coming from the other direction towards them.

She felt a hot flush rise up to her cheeks.

"I told you not to call me that."
she blurted.
She looked away with a frown.

"No? It's kinda cute you know. I like it."
Gabe said joyfully.

Maufee glanced at Clark. He was looking at her with a worried expression.

Ba-dump. Her heart had betrayed her.

"Maufee, over here!"

her friends called out.

"I-I'll see you around Gabe."

she gave a faint smile and turned to leave.

"Yeah, see you around."

He said dreamily.

"Dude, she likes me! Wohoo!"

"Yeah, dream on. See you in class."

Clark left Gabe at the entrance still whooping with joy.

"You owe me. I require payment immediately."

Maufee almost yelped in astonishment.

Clark whispered so close to her ear that she gave a jerk.

"Meet me behind the school at break. Ditch me and you know what will happen."

Maufee couldn't possibly let her secret out.

She is treated like a goddess in this school and they think highly of her.

Most of them anyway.

She can't allow her reputation to be tainted.

She didn't get enough sleep the previous night due to her overthinking.

Clearly, what happened wasn't a dream.

The bell rang and minutes later, she headed to the rendezvous.

There she found Clark sitting by the bench.

"We got off the same class, what's keeping you?"
he looked annoyed.

"It's only been five minutes you smug."
she said trying to catch her breath.

"Very well. Then have a date with me."

"W-what?!"

she did not see that coming.

She was expecting him to have her ran errands again.