Fluctuating Emotions

Chapter 1: Happy Birthday

Christoff's POV:

I greeted her a happy birthday with all the happiness I could muster. I've had a crush on her for a while now. Believe me, I couldn't even put to words as to how hard it is to keep my mouth shut from saying my attraction to her. I wasn't all awkward and uncomfortable with her before. I used to be fun and easy going. I wonder what happened. Oh. Yep. I fell for her. That's what happened.

I sighed, a pretty deep one.

I am her best friend and secret keeper yet, I am hiding a big secret from her.

Acting is hard. Acting like you're poised and calm when a whole zoo is partying in your stomach is hard. Acting like you don't care when all you want to do is hold them in your arms and assure them that they are beautiful and loved is hard. Everything seems hard when you're in love with your best friend.

All I can do is stare as a big smile begins to appear on her beautiful face.

I smiled too.

"Here's a little gift. I just thought that you'll like it since my newsfeed on Facebook is basically full of your shared posts about this jewelry." I teasingly said to her while wriggling my thick eyebrows.

"Wow! Little? I think this is kind of too much. The price of this necklace is no joke Chris!" she said in awe and started blushing.

I just shrugged. What can I do? I want my gift to be really memorable for her since she'll move to Manila after the school year. This might be the last time that I can give her a gift before our friendship is ruined. I mean, she'll definitely meet new friends who are more awesome and reliable than me. As saddening the thought, it is the the truth.

"Thanks Chris, you're amazing. You shouldn't have bought me a gift though. Being my best friend and go to buddy is already more than enough." she added.

"No need to be all sappy and shit Al, I am more than willing to buy you something because birthdays are really important for people. You're lucky that you are still experiencing yours. Just buy me an expensive gift on my birthday too so won't feel guilty about it anymore." I said smiling.

I seem to smile a lot around her. I just can't help it because she's making me feel all tingly and soft. I just want to put her in my pocket, take her home and spend the rest of my life with her.

She just nodded and asked me to put it on her neck. I obliged while trying to calm my trembling hands because she might notice them. This became a normal occurrence for me ever since I found out that I am in love with her. The typical things like pounding of the heart, butterflies in the stomach, trembling hands and getting lost in her eyes. I am beyond grateful to God though because it looks like my best friend is oblivious to these feelings that I have. I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad one. But I feel grateful, so it must be a good thing.

While putting the necklace, my hands were still shaking lightly and I'm praying that she won't see them. Luckily, she didn't notice or she just doesn't care about it.

I am definitely miserable.

I sighed after successfully doing my mission. Admiring my work and the woman that I love. I hope this won't last. I would willingly buy her everything she wants just to see that happy and contented look in her eyes. It looks like they are sparkling and I don't mind getting lost in them.

My reverie was cut short when the bell rang indicating that the first class will begin soon.

"We'll talk later okay?" I said to her while retreating from her figure.

I quickly went to my seat just a table away from her and sat. I looked at her as she turned to my direction. I mouthed 'you look beautiful' then she just raised her middle finger at me.

I shook my head smiling. She can be a handful sometimes and she is definitely not the dream girl that I described when I was in Grade 10. So I am puzzled as to why I'm head over heels for her now. She must've put something on the pizza that I ate that Sunday evening when she slept over.

Kidding.

I may or may have not developed feelings for her since the 9th grade. We're in 11th grade now and we've known each other for 3 years already. I maybe was just in denial that time that's why when the feelings came crashing to me, I instantly became a mess. It hit harder than a ton of bricks thrown in my face.

My thoughts were cut short when the teacher entered the room. We stood up and greeted him good morning and sat back down upon his command.

The lessons went on with me being called often to answer questions because it seems like it was my responsibility as an honor student. I rolled my eyes at that. The teachers weren't even giving others a chance to prove themselves because they were too focused on us. They treat us honor students as superiors and they don't even give a shit about the others. How rotten the educational system is.

They should treat everyone equally. Heck, they should even more focus on those students who need help in understanding the lessons rather than those who can decipher the lessons by themselves.

I am pretty popular in the school but not because I interact and talk with people. It is mainly because I am intelligent and I'm the asset of the school when it comes to competitions. I am actually an introvert and I prefer books as my company rather than people.

People are exhausting to be with. They require lots of energy to entertain and accompany while books just require your attention and silence which merely need a bit of your energy.

Me ending up with an extrovert friend like Al or THE Aleona Maceda is still a puzzle for me. She's basically friends with everyone in the school including the school principal. That girl is fond of Al, they talk about make up all the time. Sometimes I even think that there might be a chance that Al is the principal's daughter because of their endless similarities. That's maybe why I am friends with her, no one can resist her charms. Even the coldest heart can melt with her dazzling smile.

The bell rang again which means it's lunch break already and I'll be having lunch with Al.

I immediately packed my things, got my bag and went to Al's table to get her. We always have lunch together, that's a must. In the past three years of being best friends we haven't skipped a day of having lunch together when we are in school.

I held my hand out and bowed like a prince charming while she chuckled and called me ridiculous.

"Shall we, my lady?" I said while raising my eyebrows.

She laughed and just went with the flow. We linked our arms together as we walk in the hallways of our building.

The cafeteria is not that far from where our classroom is so the walk was short lived. Of course, being the Aleona Maceda she is while walking, she is flashing everyone her heart melting smile and reminding them to eat well this lunch. I just chuckled at her and told her to walk faster because we might not be able to buy the siomai we like. The dish was absolutely sought by many because it was affordable and really, really delicious.

Aleona would die if she wouldn't be able to have her daily dose of siomai. She would get all grumpy and mad which is not a good thing. Besides it's her birthday so we really need to get that food to fuel my best friend for the remaining hours of the day.