We went home together. She was ahead of the rest of us as usual, her hands holding on to the straps of her backpack. She was bouncing with every step. “I think that,” she said as she twirled around to face us.  “If you like someone, you should tell them clearly.” She stopped in her tracks for the rest of us to catch up. “You should be proud and show your feelings to the whole world! That’s what youth is about!” Her back was against the golden sky and she was dazzling. I was momentarily spellbound by the sight. “What do you think?” She wasn’t asking anyone in particular, but in that split second, I could feel her eyes tearing through my soul.

“It’s weird how you’re always preaching about love, but you haven’t dated before.”

Our table topic revolved around relationships lately now that we were all seniors and some of us were attached.

She laughed merrily. “I am waiting for the right person to sweep me off my feet like a hurricane. Swoosh.” She sliced the air in a dramatic motion with her hands.

“How do you know if he is right?” I asked.

“That’s simple.” She replied. “We just know.” She gave me an amused look before continuing. “Because our hearts are in tune with each other.”

We were always in a big group and we had our own close friends within the group. I had never found myself with her alone. Our worlds were so different I was sure they would have never collided if not for school.

She was there, sitting near the door of the bus, with her pair of white earpiece in her ears. Our eyes met when I walked up to the aisle so I went to the empty seat beside her. She smiled then went back to staring straight ahead. She was so quiet it was unlike her. I felt obliged to say something during the long ride. Finally, I took out my earpiece and motioned to her handphone.

“What are you listening to?”

It was then that she too took off her earpiece. She deliberated on telling me but caved in in the end.

“Nothing,” she answered, showing me the playlist on her phone that was not played. She seemed to be waiting for my response so I merely nodded.

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