Chapter 3 CAUGHT OFF

CHAPTER : CAUGHT OFF

When the bell rang, the other students entered their respective rooms, only a few can be seen walking in the hallway. Shortly afterward, our class adviser, she's Mrs. Paz the first time who entered the room, I felt that she is amiable. And I'm right because she's kind even when she speaks to us, the way she talks was so tender, she's not like some strict teachers that you can just see in their appearance.

Thankfully, I somehow lost my nervousness because our adviser was kind, I've been thinking about what if our adviser is rugged or just strict. And it's also unavoidable to be nervous on the first day of school. It's also good because Cherry and Chelle are fun to talk to and love to joke so, it also reduces the nervousness and tension I used to feel a while ago.

And since its the first day of school, we are instructed one by one to introduce ourselves in front of the class. Started in the first seats, what do we expect? This is exactly what is done on the first day of class. You will be introduced to say your full name, nickname you want to be called, birthday, address, and what is your hobby and talent. Some of our classmates were asked by Mrs. Paz to show off their talent in front of us.

Luckily, I wasn't included in them that need to show their talent!

Geez! That's embarrassing for me...

We just continued until the end of the first period of class. After that, our adviser bid goodbye and told us to wait for our other subject teacher, and she even instructed us not to leave the room during our class in other subjects. Also, not to hang around in the hallway during class time because it will definitely disturb other sections that are in class.

That's right, students should not hang out in the hallway, especially during the class period. It's not decent to see that during the class period, several students were scattered in the hallway. Apart from the other adjacent classrooms being distracted, the principal might blame the teacher because they were not there at that time.

I was startled when someone touched my back-and when I looked back at her, she gave me a wide smile. I remember her when she introduced herself earlier in front of our class. I was instantly impressed with her beauty when she stood in front of us. She's pretty indeed!

I guess she will be a muse of our section.

"Hello, Lalaine, right?" she immediately asked me then, I nodded at her. "By the way, I'm Missy, have you just moved to the McKinley Homes Subdivision?" she added.

I looked at her in a bit of shock. "Y-yeah, I'm Lalaine Cole, we just moved there last summer," I smiled in my response.

"I saw you earlier with Robert-actually, I am also in that subdivision," she grinned.

"Woah! That's nice, what phase and street are you in?"

"We are in phase two, Mahogany Street, I was in my service when I saw Robert and you together in phase 4. We just picked up my service mate there," she bit her lower lip. "Is he your boyfriend? Are you two in a relationship?" she asked a teasing question.

I shook my head right away when I heard her question. "No, we were just friends. He just picked me up at our house because I didn't know how I was going here yet. He's the only one-I know, I'm in phase 4 by the way," I shyly respond at her.

"Ah, I thought you were his girlfriend, I think you're perfect for each other. Yieee! Oh, he has a brother here, that's the one holding a black scarf, his name is JC," at the same time, she pointed to our male classmate who was sitting in the other row on the left.

And yes, he does look like Robert, you can't deny that they are both brothers.

"Really? I don't know that his brother is our classmate and also, we didn't know each other so far."

"Ah, he didn't introduce his brother to you? Hmm, So, Robert isn't really courting you?" her tanning again.

"I don't think so? We're just friends," I scratched my nape as she was so voluble. "By the way Missy, this is Cherry and Chelle," I turned to them and introduce her to them.

"Are you new here too? You're not familiar either," Chelle queried.

"Yeah, in our subdivision I graduated my elementary, not here near on our campus. Since there is a private school in our subdivision," Missy answered.

"Wow! Rich kid!" Cherry joked.

"She's also live in McKinley Homes, we're in the same subdivision," I said to them as they both nodded.

"Nice! Have you two known each other? Or just now?" Chelle asked as she pointed to Missy and me.

"I saw her earlier, but we didn't know each other yet, just now," Missy smiled at her that almost her eyes could no longer see, Chelle and Missy both have narrowed eyes.

Cherry tapped Missy's shoulder. "So, welcome to our club! You are now part of us! Yay!" she said excitedly.

Missy was a bit shocked. "Oh, really? Ah, thank you! I'm glad to be part of your friendship."

"Of course, and we are all pretty ladies! Right, Lalaine?" Cherry nudged me so, I somewhat laughing nodded at her.

"And-single ladies!" Chelle snapped then, slowly tucked her hair in her ear.

Missy teasingly looked at me. "Eh, probably Lalaine is not single just like us," I was suddenly shocked at what she'd said.

"Hey! I'm still single-and no boyfriend since birth," I bit my lip when I said that.

That's right, I haven't had a boyfriend yet, I only just had a crush when I was in elementary but I haven't tried dating yet. Even though I love romance movies and novels, but I also want to experience being with my boyfriend in the love stories I watch and read-someday...

The romantic relationship I ever dreamed of!

We just stopped talking when a slim lady came into our room, probably our next subject teacher. English is our next subject, when I looked at my timetable so, perhaps she's our English teacher. With her voice so weak we could hardly hear what she was saying and her voice was also a bit hoarse.

I focused my attention on her because I couldn't quite understand what she was saying for the reason of the weakness of her voice. Probably only students in front could barely hear her, she just laid down all her rules and regulations, then we also introduced each other in front of our class.

All-day long, for sure, we will make sure to do it...

Time flies' lunchtime is approaching, the first day of school is still fine. My new classmates are good, and they are all jolly and friendly. They were the first who approach me, I met Cherry, Missy, and Chelle. Cherry is talkative, noisy, has a bit of big-eye brown, quite brown but she's sweet. Missy has narrow eyes is a quite white complexion, an average body and she's kind of modesty. And Chelle has narrow eyes too, somewhat white, moderate body figure, but she is the smallest to us.

"Where are you going to eat Laine?" Cherry glanced at me. "Would you like to come with us?" she added.

"Oh. I have to meet Robert, I will join him for lunch. Maybe tomorrow I can join you, girls?' I shyly said to them.

"Uhm, Cherry, I can't join you for lunch today. I will join the girls at the Pearl section just for today," Chelle apologized as she was holding her pocket mirror.

"Me too Cherry, I'll join Aira," Missy added with a pouted lip.

"Fine!" Cherry sighs. "Wait, Who's Robert Laine? Is that the guy you were with earlier?" Cherry said with a wide eye open. I quickly shook my head.

"Boyfriend? I thought you are single?" Chelle teasing me.

"What? No, he's not my boyfriend. He's just my friend, my neighbor friend," I explained to them while shaking my head. And they'll nod to me while flashing their smiles at me.

Silly girls...

Missy teased me too. "Yieee! Laine, just admits it that he's your boyfriend."

"Funny, girls! We're not into a relationship, he's just an f-friend of mine."

"Ah, but he looks a nice guy though," Cherry replied.

I just scratched my neck because of what she said. "Yeah, yeah, he's kind! But I told you I'm not in a relationship and doesn't have a boyfriend."

Cherry suddenly squeezed my side. "Don't hide it from us, Lalaine. It's fine if you already have a boyfriend. It's unbelievable that you don't have a boyfriend, you are pretty! Duh!" she rolled her eyes.

I was just shaken by what he said. The naughty ones don't want to believe that still I'm single and don't have a boyfriend. If only I had for sure, I would have introduced them to him but am sorry for them because there really isn't. And so far, I haven't had a crush on here; it's just the beginning of our class that I'll think about that right away? of course not.

I won't think about that for now, study first, right?

When the bell rang for our lunch break, Missy and Chelle went out first to join their other friends and have lunch together. After a while, Cherry came out of the room to go to the room next to ours, she would just talk to one of her friends there. Since she doesn't have someone with whom to eat lunch.

While I am in our classroom's hallway, waiting for Robert to show up. As he said that he will join me for lunch and he will also show me the whole campus. I glanced at every student in the hallway at the same time who happily chatted with their acquaintances.

I also observed the whole of our building which is cream-colored and it only has three floors. While the other building they called the Main building has four floors. It's bigger than here in Jica, so, there are more students there. But they said that the students there were always in trouble compared to here in Jica that they called a star section, that's why there seem to be more students who want to be in Jica.

Luckily I'm in the Jica building...

I suddenly missed my old school and my friends in Saint Vincent especially, my childhood best friend. Will there ever be a chance for us to meet up again? That's why we all cried so hard during our graduation as we will be separated.

As I watched the students were in the hallway, my phone suddenly vibrated in my skirt pocket, and when I looked at who was texting me it was Robert. He said that Nick would eat with us in the cafeteria, he's also our neighborhood friend and he's also kind like Robert.

I just replied to Robert and looked back into the hallway; until I looked at the end of the hallway with a group of guys. A senior high school that laughing at each other. Then, I saw that guy, his eyes narrowed, he is tall, quite muscular, someone that's good-looking.

That type of you can look at again after you look at him for the first time...

Oh, my gosh! He has a dimple too, that every time he smiles or just talks it shows his pretty dimples and they were a-dazzle with wonder over a friendly smile. I stared at him, looking at him from head to toe and back to his good-looking face.

I was mesmerized by him...

It feels like something magical happened that I can't explain...

I don't know why, but I can't take my eyes off him. There's something that I don't understand, I can't explain how I feel at the moment. Is this what they called 'Love at first sight?' I don't believe in that, I thought it was just a saying, an urban myth. But when I saw him, it seemed like my belief in that suddenly changed. I suddenly felt this strange feeling desire that I want to know more about him. It seems that he already stole my heart.

Then, he noticed me staring at him;

We both looked at each other, eye to eye...then, he smiles again.

My heart stops...

I'm caught off guard, I don't know what to do next. Should I look away? Or should I go inside the classroom?