You Dropped This

TING! TING! TING!

The ringing bell pulled Airi’s attention from the novel she had buried her face in. The screeching sound of a speaker followed the clinging. Then, another screech and echo permeated the air.

“Attention! To all freshmen students, please proceed to our school covered court.”

The announcement made her heart skip a beat, especially when a throng came forth. Some students were running with their friends. Others were pushing and pulling each other in a hurry.

The sea of people got into her senses, making her vision blurred and spinning her head. The beating in her chest even synched with the throbbing in her temporal bones. Her knees went soggy like noodles soaked for too long.

Her body swayed against her will, and darkness began to wave ‘hi!’

“Careful! ” A young man’s voice somehow kept her awake. “Are you okay? ”

She didn’t respond—no—she couldn’t because the tumultuous event was devouring her. She was about to give in to the weakness embracing her when two strong arms caught her collapsing body.

“Don’t faint on me! Wake up! ”

That gentle yet panicking voice was the last thing she heard before she succumbed to unconsciousness.

*

“Is she okay, nurse? ” That same voice woke Airi up.

“Yes, she’ll be just fine. Maybe she fainted from too much heat or from being overwhelmed.”

“I have to go to the covered court now. Please keep me posted about her condition.”

While listening to the conversation, she slowly opened her eyes to the blinding light on the ceiling. She inhaled the scents of alcohol, along with some disinfectant and medicine. She stared at the ceiling for some time before someone drew the curtain of the clinic bed she was lying down on. Footsteps gradually got closer, so she feigned her sleep.

Someone sat by the bedside.

“Who reads a physical copy of a classic novel in this modern time? ” the young man murmured.

She didn’t know what he did before leaving. But her mind’s eye told her that he took something from the table.

When the curtain closed again, she opened her eyes and sighed.

‘Really, Riri? You made a scene on your first day in high school? How embarrassing! ’

**

“Riri! Good thing you’re alive! ” Zai-zai rushed to give her a hug. Her long black silky hair tossed as she ran towards her.

“She just fainted; of course she’s alive! ” Merry approached her too.

Seeing her friends made her smile.

“We reserved you a seat,” Merry said.

Upon sitting, she noticed that many of the female students were shooting sharp stares at her. Some of them were pouting and simpering. Their glare hit like bullets piercing her entire body. Their auras radiated fire, burning her soul.

“Have I done something wrong? ” she whispered to her friends. “Why do I feel like all their eyes are on me? ”

“Don’t mind them. They’re just envious,” Zai-zai said.

She gave her a quizzical look.

“You don’t know for sure because you passed out,” Merry added. “They’re jealous because of your hero.” Her tone was dreamy and fluttery. She even giggled and batted her eyes. It seemed that flowers and butterflies fluttered around her.

“My hero? ”

Merry wasn’t able to answer as the Master of Ceremonies tapped the mic to get everyone’s attention. “Welcome to all freshmen students! Cagea National High School is excited to have you! ”

Airi focused on every performer on stage even though a tingling sensation of being watched had been bothering her since the program had started. As the MC called on the next performer, her jaws almost dropped when a familiar face on stage caught her attention. His beautiful round eyes and cherry red lips perfectly matched his high-bridged nose.

Her heart seemed to have a life of its own, jumping with excitement in her ribcage. She was almost out of breath because of the excitement. She was silently trembling, wanting to faint once more. But no! She couldn’t afford not to watch the folk dance being performed at that very moment. Her eyes were fixed on the guy who she remembered from the Girl and Boy Scouts camping a few months ago.

‘It was him! I knew it was him! ’ her mind screamed. ‘The very first guy who caught my attention! The guy who has always been in my dreams. I wonder if we’re in the same year level.’

Seeing him dance on stage made her boredom disappear. His presence was like a ball of sunshine that lit up her idle day. For her, he was the only one dancing; his fellow dancers didn’t exist. She wished for the performance to last forever, which unfortunately didn’t. When the dancers exited, her heart sank. Melancholy hugged her once more.

Subconsciously, tears kissed her cheeks, but she let them flow. When he was gone from her sight, emptiness suddenly enveloped her.

“Are you okay? ” It was Zai-zai, shaking her back to her senses. “We just watched a folk dance, not drama.”

“I’m just tired.” Of course, that was a lie! She had never told them, not even once, about having a crush.

“You should’ve stayed in the clinic.”

“Maybe I’m just overwhelmed by the volume of people and the unforgiving weather.”

“Do you want us to bring you back to the clinic? ” Merry asked.

“No need. Let’s just head to our classroom.”

Upon reaching their designated classroom, Airi’s expectation of a proper high school setup turned from ‘wow’ to ‘ugh! ’ She wasn’t born during the eras of wars, but she knew that the sight that greeted her was a terrifying battlefield she had to conquer for the rest of the school year.

The girls were seated with their respective groups. Judging by their closeness, Airi assumed that they were from the same primary school. Some were isolated as if forced to be in high school, while others had already learned to put on some make-up.

The boisterous boys ran around as if the classroom was a new playground for them.

“Are you sure we’re in the right place? ” she asked. Her head spun because of chaos. “I just passed out because of sensory overload.”

Merry walked to the door and checked the piece of paper listing the names of students in the section. “Positive! Our names are here.”

They stepped in the room, which made everyone look in their direction. The classroom that was like a marketplace earlier went silent.

“This is awkward,” Zai-zai mumbled.

Then, a buzzing sound followed.

“Isn’t she the girl who fainted earlier? ” one girl said.

“How pitiful. How can she last a day in school? ” asked another.

“Is she the girl Jiro brought to the clinic? ” a jealous one asked. “For sure she just pretended to get his attention. Hmp! ”

That last statement intrigued her. ‘Who the hell is Jiro? Why does she sound annoyed? ’ She wanted to voice out her thoughts, but she stopped. Confronting someone wasn’t her cup of tea. ‘It’s just a waste of energy. I already lose some of it early this morning.’

She scanned the room when the temperature suddenly increased. For some reason, she felt hot even though the AC was at eighteen degrees. The atmosphere weighed heavily on her. It was uncomfortable. Her mind told her that someone stared at her. And it wasn’t wrong!

When she looked at the chair across from her, towards her right, a pair of tantalizing eyes with long eyelashes locked with hers. Her gaze went down to his high-bridged nose and naturally thin cherry lips. She swallowed the nervousness enveloping her, realizing who it was.

It was the same guy she liked from the camping… the same guy dancing on stage earlier.

‘Is this for real?! We’re classmates?! Ahh!!! ’ Her mind almost exploded in excitement. Her heart raced. Her hands were cold and shivering, but she balled them into fists to control the amazing feeling she had that very moment. All her muscles tightened in response to her inexplicable bliss.

They were looking into each other’s eyes when a middle-aged woman’s voice broke the magnetic connection between them.

“Good morning, everyone. I’m Mrs. Betty Amphordone, your class adviser.” Everyone behaved and focused on their teacher. “I’m also going to be your teacher for general science. Okay, I won’t beat around the bush. Let’s start this day by introducing yourselves to me and your classmates. And also tell us something about you.”

Each student stood in front of everyone, one after another. But Airi didn’t pay much attention to them. With a pen in hand and her new notebook, she patiently waited until it was her crush’s turn to speak. And when it was his turn, most of the girls giggled. Herself included, but she didn’t let her actions give her away, especially when he looked in her direction.

His gaze made her shiver and thaw like an ice block exposed under the scorching sun. He put both his hands in his pocket, stared at her, and began speaking.

“I’m Jiro Sondian. I’m into dancing and drawing. Sometimes, I play drums, especially with my friends. I like…”

Airi was lost in her thoughts while listening to him speak. She couldn’t help but stare back at him since he wasn’t avoiding her gaze. He even smiled at her, making her care less about their classmates’ and teacher’s existence. For her, there was no one in the room but the two of them. She didn’t even know if she blinked for the entire time Jiro stood in front.

“Hey, Miss.” A man’s voice pulled her out of a trance, which startled her. She almost jumped from her seat when Jiro knelt in front of her. She didn’t notice when he walked towards her. He picked something from the floor and said, “You dropped this.”