Morning light slipped through my curtains, soft and calm.
I got ready and went downstairs.
"Tita… what did you make?" I called, already smiling.
She laughed from the kitchen. "Come see for yourself!"
And when I did
Yeah.
I was done.
The table was full—sinangag, crispy tapa, sweet longganisa, fried eggs, warm pandesal, and even arroz caldo.
"Tita… you're trying to make me fall in love with this house," I said, grabbing a plate.
She laughed. "Eat first. Then fall in love."
I sat down.
Food is life.
Food is my official love language.
No arguments.
I mean—if someone feeds me like this daily, I might just stay forever.
"Seriously, Tita… if this is your plan, it's working," I added, taking another bite.
She just smiled.
After breakfast, I got ready for school and picked up my bag.
"Jay, do you want me to drop you?" Tita asked.
I shook my head. "No, I'll go by walking."
She nodded. "Alright. Take the shortcut through Maple Street. It's faster."
"Okay."
As I was leaving, she handed me a few chocolates.
"For later."
I smiled. "Wow… nice."
I was walking, casually eating chocolate, when I slowed down.
A group of boys were fighting in the middle of the street.
"Wow. Great. This is just what I needed. Huh, my life," I muttered.
I sighed.
"Umm… excuse me? This is a road, not a fighting club."
No one listened.
"Hello? Let me pass!"
Still nothing.
That's when I noticed it
HVIS ID cards.
"…Okay. These are from my school?"
Before I could think more
One boy.
Just one.
Took them all down.
One by one.
I blinked.
"Wow…"
Then he turned.
Wait.
He looks familiar.
Cin's POV
"Move aside."
I turned.
A girl.
HVIS uniform.
Wait…
I've seen her before.
"J… j…"
Jay?
Yeah.
Jay Jay.
That's her.
my new classmate
Then
Wait.
She's holding a chocolate.
Oh my Gosh!
Jay's POV
He's staring at me.
Like I'm a math problem or something.
I frowned.
Then I followed his gaze.
Oh.
He's not staring at me.
He's staring at my chocolate.
I waved my hand in front of his face.
"Hello? I'm talking to you."
Still staring.
"Are you going to talk or just stare at my chocolate?" I said, a little annoyed.
That snapped him out of it.
"Oh—sorry! You're Jay Jay, right? I'm Cinco Neith Peralta… Cin for short. I'm your classmate."
Oh.
Right.
Now it clicked.
That's why he looked familiar.
But again
He was staring.
And again
Not at me.
At my chocolate.
If he keeps staring like this, I won't even be able to digest it...
I reached into my bag, pulled out another chocolate, and held it out to him.
Cin's POV
Oh my God.
She gave me a chocolate.
Oh my God
she actually gave me a chocolate.
I took it, still staring.
How did she even know?
Was I that obvious?
"…How many do you even carry?" I asked, half teasing.
She looked at me.
"Do you want it or should I keep it back?"
"No—no! I want it," I said quickly.
Jay's POV
Unbelievable.
I shook my head slightly as we started walking.
Cin's POV
I mean
Who even carries this many chocolates??
But I'm not complaining.
We started walking toward school.
Then she asked
"You don't seem 17. No offense."
"I know," I said immediately. "I'm handsome and young."
She gave me a look.
"I'm 15," I added. "I got accelerated to 12th. I'm super intelligent."
"Whatever," she said, rolling her eyes.
"Hey, I can show you my report card—"
Another eye roll.
rude.
Jay's POV
He's… something.
I don't even know what.
But something.
"Why does Section E hate me?" I asked.
He went quiet.
We were close to school now.
Cin's POV
That question.
I paused.
"It's not really my story to tell," I said. "Not fully."
We were near the school.
Wrong place.
"But just… don't mess with Keifer," I added. "He can do anything to get what he wants."
"I'm serious."
She didn't look bothered.
"Then he'll be messing with the wrong girl."
…
Okay.
That's new .
Jay's POV
We reached Section E.
I stopped.
"You sit with me."
He looked at me.
"Okay… but only if you give me more chocolates."
I stared at him.
Then handed him one anyway.
"Unbelievable."
He grinned like a kid.
I walked inside.
And just like that
We entered Section E.
Not strangers.
Not friends.
But something… starting. ✨