Chapter 3: Past Love & Regrets

Dan POV

I looked at my watch as I dashed through the hallways of the school and gave my incomplete files to the registrar. It was already five minutes before the flag ceremony.

My eyes landed on Vi surrounded by my fellow classmates and friends. Why isn't she with her best friend?

I joined my group and started talking about what I've been doing since vacation while observing Vi. All I did during vacation was just playing with e-games such as Dota and Mobile Legends since I've had to give myself time to heal. Yet, I couldn't help but worry about Vi's condition from last year. If Sapphire didn't cause a huge rumor, then Vi and I would be still close friends. Yet, I knew that it was wrong staying too close with my best friend since Sapphire becomes jealous easily.

She changed now. She had brown hair and braces, but now she has black hair after cutting off the remaining faded brown strands of hair. She also removed her braces which made her teeth look more natural. She has that bubbly personality in her yet I'm afraid that it disappeared. I wish that she is still the Vi I know.

Although she is rather quiet at most times, I admire her persistence in studying. Her voice is a bit inaudible during recitations yet her written essay has an unique essence. It is astounding as she reads between the lines of literature and journalism.

She's been part of the choir before so I haven't heard a lot of her solos. However, the last time she sang solo for our music class, her voice was sweet and calming. I wished she was given a solo or duet performance for their club's concert two years ago. Her voice is a hidden gem.

I slowly approached Vi while thinking of the words I wanted to say. I grew a lot and my voice has a deeper tone, maybe because of puberty. Both of us changed, yet our past still remained.

I lightly tap on her shoulder. She turned around as I began to talk. "Hi Vi. How are you?"

She took a few seconds before replying. "Oh hello. I'm fine as always."

Her jacket looked familiar as I noticed a tiny brown stain on her jacket. She also smelled like coffee. My goodness, did I just bumped into her a moment ago?

"Was the coffee too hot?"

She sounded annoyed. "It was warm, but I can bear it. You could've at least –"

"I'm sorry, I should have been looking at where I was going," I grabbed something from my pocket, "Here, have this handkerchief to wipe it off."

I took out my brown handkerchief and gave it to her. "Thank you, it wasn't a big deal. Why were you in a hurry in the first place?"

I mumbled, "I had to submit all of my follow-up requirements for enrollment. I had financial problems during the last vacation so I couldn't pass all of the required medical tests. How about you? How was your vacation so far?"

"I had to study during vacations. My parents insisted that I should study some topics included in this year's curriculum."

I need to talk with her later. "Let's eat lunch together with the others, just like before."

I shook my head, "Thank you but I'll decline. I'm not even close with your best friends."

I was about to persuade her when groups of students fixed their line.

A teacher's voice echoed, "We will now begin the flag ceremony."

If I could go back in time and correct my mistakes, I would.

Flashback: 2 years ago

My teacher discussed the whole day about the rules and regulations about badminton before we'll proceed to the school grounds and practice.

"Alright class, I have the list of partners for your PE practical test and I will give this list to your president. Make sure that you'll remember your group numbers and partners before we'll proceed with practice. Understood?"

We all chorused back. "Yes ma'am."

After the teacher left, we all crowded towards the assigned list of partners. I got worried about knowing that my partner is Vi. She's not the sporty type of person, we'll definitely lose if she doesn't do well. PE is my only chance so that my grades won't drastically fall due to my unwavering laziness. How can we even win at least one game?

I took vigorous training for badminton matches before. We might win if I'll train her a bit.

I approached Vi and asked, "Vi, would you like to practice in our free time? I think it would help improve our skills a lot.

"Okay. Just inform me later through text."

"Okay."

Our first practice started off as a one-on-one league play and all I could say is that it was a major mess. She couldn't serve properly and she couldn't attack fast so I helped her with the basic moves and techniques and how she could improve on her stamina and speed.

She pouted like a child whenever she lost to me. It was so cute. Her cheekbones highlighted her facial expressions.

Each day, I could see her gradual improvement and it was impressive. She quickly picked up her pace. Unlike before, she can do a smash and lift with power. We're now both equal in each other's abilities.

We won 2nd place overall in our class. Even though we didn't win first place, I'm still proud of our teamwork.

However, I can't help but mesmerize at her youthful beauty as short strands of hair fall onto the side of her forehead. Her cheeks become tinted with a pinkish glow due to the heat of the sun. She looks beautiful, even when we're both exhausted after every practice.

She isn't the kind of girl you will meet because she smiles even during a day with a tight schedule filled with deadlines and long tests. Even though she deals with her problems alone she is able to comfort others through her sincerity. She doesn't show anyone how much it must have hurt in endearing all the pain she has gotten into. Yet she is able to lessen the pain of others. She doesn't want anyone to get hurt. She isn't just an introvert. She's more than that.

I found out that she volunteered on different projects for our school and it changed my boring perspective of her. I knew that she's someone who can achieve great things. She is a good role model of our batch yet she isn't appreciated a lot. I hope that other people won't abuse her kindness. She is a strong lady but I'm worried that one day she'll break down. I'm worried that someone would cause her so much pain.

I realized that she is different in a way only a few people notice. She eventually accepted me as her best friend after having several personal conversations with her.

End of Flashback

After class, I went home quickly. I'm living in this rented apartment with my lola(grandmother). I have to take care of my dad when he leaves the family. My mother became an OFW in the US and is with my sister. I wanted to help out my mother so I saved the money my mother gave me. I wished my father hadn't left us alone.

I went out to the balcony. I looked down and noticed the busy street with heavy traffic. I got used to this life. I closed my eyes and breathed in a bit of air. I wanted to forget my worries and look at the bright side of life. A lot of things happened from before. I'm bound to the past I have. Why did I even waste my time before?

We aren't classmates in the following school year. I denied my feelings for her as it faded slowly. We lost touch with each other. Maybe, she was just a happy crush.

I looked under my bed and put coins into my piggy bank. Beside it was a heartfelt letter for the person I loved before. I planned to give her a necklace despite my financial problems. However, I knew that I just wasted my efforts for a desperate girl.

I've met someone else who has caught my utmost attention. We had tons of similarities so we get along most of the time. She is Sapphire Ritchie. I'm from Malabon while she is from Abra. I got attracted by her cuteness, friendliness, and glowing talent. We started as best friends and eventually ended up together. Well, that was before.

I admit that I truly loved her. Unlike Vi, she glowed with confidence. She easily blends in her surroundings. I tried to impress her, I even courted her until she said "yes".

I never thought that I would see her nasty side. Some people see her as a friend, but they were wrong. She talks behind their backs and spreads false rumors in our batch. She can destroy friendships within social circles just by spreading lies. She isn't the person I thought she is.

I realized that she was bossing around with me as his boyfriend. She boasts about me multiple times, I didn't even want to be involved in this kind of relationship, a show-off. She only loves the idea of love and not love itself.

That's why we broke apart. I need space for everyone. I need time to think over my mistakes. I just made a big mistake in my life. She was never serious and I didn't realize it until now.

They say that platonic love is the highest form of love there is. Their partners help each other reach their highest potential. It was never like that with Ritchie. It was the opposite. Both of us have lower grades than before. I wished I could turn back time and make things right.

This school year, I will solely concentrate only on my academics. I will do my best to reach my unfulfilled dreams. I want to bring back the motivation I had to study, just like the unwavering persistence of Vi. If others could do it, so can I.

I wanted to fix my friendship with Vi. Yet, I hope that I don't want to make things awkward between us if I'll try to talk with her more often.

I put back my piggy bank and the sealed letter and lied down onto the upper deck of my bunk bed. I faced the ceiling, filled with random facts on sticky notes.

I couldn't digest these facts right now. I'm tired. I decided to drift off into a quick nap.

***

My vision was dark, there was nothing. Until a girl appeared at the back of the classroom. I noticed that this might be my club. I sat down beside her as she slowly fixed her posture. "Dan?"