I was 14 and he was 13.
That was the first time my heart pounded so hard for a guy.
He was well built, hindi mo siya mapagkakamalan na nasa ganoong edad na siya, compared to other boys at his age he was already standing 5'4. He was lean, a little bit masculine, and most of all he has this pretty deep hollows on his cheeks that girls would probably swoon over every time he flashes a smile.
"Driana, this is your Tita Lorna's son, Erickson Jace. He's going to stay here for a week muna, walang tao sa house nila since your Tita Lorna and Tito Gavin is going out of town for some matter, kaya pinaiwan muna siya satin. By the way, Erickson I want you to meet my daughter Adriana" I saw him smile and greeted me with a hi.
"Okay children, I'm going to leave for work na. Manang?!" Manang Fely immediately responded and went to my mom.
"Manang, please guide Erickson to his room. Pakitulungan din siya sa pag-aayos ng gamit." Napatango naman si Manang Fely.
"Okay. Please behave ha?" Humalik ako sa pisngi ni mommy and then bid her goodbye.
"Tara na" dala ang iba pang mga bag ni Erickson, Manang Fely lead the way. Tahimik lang kaming nakasunod sa likod niya.
"Hi Driana, how old are you?" Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang magsalita. I focused on him and saw him tilting his head waiting for my response. I blushed at his gesture.
"I'm 14" mahina kong sagot.
"Oh so you're a year older than me. Should I address you ate?" My eyes widen at that statement.
"What?! No!" I heard him chuckling, I felt my blood rushing to my face. Was I a little bit exaggerated?
"Okay Driana." I smiled.
We finally reached his temporary room, it was two doors away from mine. Manang Fely immediately unloaded his baggages.
"Let me help you with that manang" he was about to reach for his bags when manang stopped him from doing it.
"Naku, iho ako ng bahala dito, mas mabuti pang mag-ikot ka muna dito sa bahay. Nandiyan naman si Yana para samahan ka" He shifted his gaze on me.
"Yana?" He looked at me with confusion.
"Ahm, that's Manang Fely's nickname for me." His mouth formed an 'O' after hearing my words.
"If your mom calls you Driana and Yana by Manang Fely, I want a different name too, hmmm I'll call you Ria" my face literally heated that time. No one called me Ria in the past, and his the first person to derive that from my name, and it sounds so divine!
"If that's what you want" I said a little bit shy.
We toured around the house after that.
"So where do you study?" I watched him wander his eyes around, and then finally settling it to mine.
"Montessori" my mouth gaped open.
"What campus?"
"Manila"
"Really? I'm in Montessori De Manila as well, but I haven't seen you even once there." He snapped his fingers and lifted his hand to his chin.
"Hmm, that's because I'm busy with my palarong pambansa trainings, and I come to class at exact time, so I really don't have the time to stroll around the campus. It's either I'm at the gymnasium or room" my eyes widen in amusement, but feeling a little regretful for not noticing him around the school, I mean how can I take my eyes off for someone as handsome as him?
