CHAPTER 3

“Where the hell is this girl?” I thought to myself. 

The class ended but she didn’t come. “Hey Jamie! Jamie! Dude!” Ron shouted. 

I then realized that we were already dismissed and that I

was the only one in the room. “Dude!” I said playing cool.

I stood up and grabbed my bag and went out the room. 

“Dude! Seems like you’re not on earth right now! Any problem?” said Bret.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” I lied. “Bret! James!” a voice called. 

We turned our backs and saw our other friend, Ryan Bang. “Ryan!” 

we called back as he came closer to us. “You’re late man!” I said. 

“I know right! I was just so unlucky for the first day of class. 

You know what? I had flat tires while I was driving myself going here!”

he said with a high tone of voice. Me and Bret laughed at Ryan’s misfortune, 

suddenly, my phone rang. It was Ericka, calling. “Babe!” I said. 

“Babe! I already moved my appointments for today,

let’s have lunch together okay?” she said.

“James, we gotta go first. We’ll just wait for you in the canopy area.” 

Bret whispered while I was answering my phone call.

I nodded and they left. I focused on my conversation with Ericka.

“Oh babe, as much as I want to but I’m so sorry, I have to meet

my mom later for lunch.” I explained. “Why won’t you just talk after class?” 

she asked irritatingly. “Well I think it’s really important and urgent.

She didn’t even want to tell it to me in the phone.” I said.

“I see. I guess I would just have lunch alone.” She said in a sad tone. 

“Oh come on Wendy, I promise, I’ll make it up to.” I said. “Promise?”

she asked. “Promise.” I said. “Okay then. Bye babe!” was all she said 

and hangs up the phone. I returned back my phone in my bag and 

went down the first floor. I looked for Bret and Ryan and saw

them both near the canopy area flirting with Fretzie and other girls. 

When I was about to go to them, I noticed Ann walking, all by herself. 

I was really curious of what had happen to her awhile ago and so I followed her. 

“Hey!” I called. “Hey!” I called again. After my second call, she 

still didn’t turned back and so I walked faster and grabbed her arms.

“Hey!” I said as I already blocked her way. We faced each other for

about a minute then suddenly my friends called me. “James!” they called.

I turned to them and saw them signaling to go to the next class. 

“Just go ahead guys!” I said still holding Ann's small arms. 

“Look. About awhile ago…” I said and paused for a long time. 

“If you were thinking I cried because you were rude to me, you were wrong. 

It’s not the reason. Don’t think of it.” She said. 

“So why did you cry?” I asked out of curiosity.

“I thought you don’t make friends with anyone? Why are you so interested?” 

she asked which humiliated me. “Okay. I’m sorry.” I said with an angry tone. 

I pulled my hand back and walked away. Our second class was TLE. 

I was still mad at what that Ann did to me and so I wasn’t able to 

listen to what our teacher, Mrs. Imel was saying. 

“The nerve of that girl! Huh!” I cursed under my breath.

She came in to our TLE class but I didn’t bother to look at her. 

The class ended and we’ll be heading to our last class for the morning. 

“Damn! I’m not good at this subject.” Bret said. 

“And you think I like it too?” I asked. 

While we were walking to the Filipino room,

I noticed Ann talking to some students from the first section. 

“I thought she’s new here? How could she have friends that fast?” 

I thought to myself. Ryan and Bret were both blabbing about

things which I didn’t bother to listen.

I saw the two girls hugging Ann and they were like comforting her. 

I heard Bret saying, “Ann’s talking to Jenny and Sophia?” 

“Ohhhhhh they’re from the first section. 

How could she make friends that easy? She’s awesome!” Ryan commented. 

I look back and saw them looking at the spot where the three girls was. 

“Come on guys! Mrs. Garcia’s strict to late students. We’d better hurry up.” 

I said. We walked to our next class and waited for our teacher to start.

Ann came with her lonely face again. 

“Okay class, form your line outside my room, one line 

for the boys and another line for the girls. 

Find your height.” Mrs. Garcia said. The students started moving and so I am.

After forming our line she called us one by one and assigned us to our seats. 

When it was my turn, I realized that I will again be seated beside Ann. 

“Damn it!” I said to myself. When we were already seated and

still waiting for the others, I was feeling awkward being seated next to her.

I called out our teacher’s attention and asked her if I could change my seat,

but she did not allow me and so I was stuck with Ann once again.

Just like the other subjects, we were asked to do the 

MY NAME IS BLAH BLAH BLAH thing. After doing that, she asked us 

to write our expectations to her and the subject.

After that, she dismissed the class and all the students poured out the room. 

I went to the parking lot and looked for my car. Bret and Ryan

were behind me chitchatting about girls, especially Fretzie. 

“Gotta go ahead guys!” I said as I raised my right hand signaling goodbye. 

“Okay see you later dude!” they answered in unison.