IYAH

"Yeah! Watch out!" he shouted and grabbed my arm to pull me back.

Him?

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Iyah? Can you hear me?" he added.

Our position right now is his hand is on my back, giving me support or should I say keeping me balanced? hehe, right now what I can really see is not his face but the sky that suddenly turned dark. It looks like there will be heavy rain.

I didn't realize that he was already shaking my shoulders because I was still looking straight, still in shock. Asking myself; What happened? Why did he pull me? Does he know me? He knows my name?

I got back to my senses when he pinches my hand, hard and long.

"Ouch!" I said.

"So, you're okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, I think so" I whispered.

"Good" he shortly said.

He was about to go to his friends when I called him.

"CJ!"

"yeah?" he said and looked at me.

"you know me?" I asked.

"Yeah, I know you.. Your name is Iyah" he answered as he sits on the bench in the waiting shed beside him.

"Re-" He cut my words when he talks to his friends.

"Brothers! I don't think I can join, maybe tomorrow.," he told them.

"What? are you sure?" Marc asked him.

"Yeah, I'm sure.. Don't worry, I just need to do something" he answered.

"Okay, take care! see you tomorrow!" Finn told him and all of them do their handshake.

Before they left, Gabby glanced at me as if he was about to say something but left eventually. I was about to walk in the same direction they went when--

"What are you about say again?" he asks.

I looked at him uncertainly after I looked around to check if he's talking to someone but I see no one..

"I'm talking to you Iyah, in case you're not informed," he said sarcastically.

"Me?" I asked him.

"Yes, you, who do you think?" he asked me back.

"Ow.. No one hehe" I answered shyly.

"So, what are you about to say again?" he asked me again.

"Me? Ummm ah! I was just making sure that you know me" I answered him.

"Why? It's not like it's hard not to know you, I mean there are only 3 new students in our section its not like 30 transferees," he stated.

"I know that it's just that no one called me by my name except for our teachers.. You are basically my first classmate who called me by my name and to tell you not just once but trice!" I explained while laughing a little.

After a minute rain started. And I'm right, a heavy rain it is.. No one talk between us for like a minute. And it's not like I'm hoping for more.. Duh!HAHA

"Really? No One?" he suddenly asks.

"Yeah, no one" I answered.

"Why? I don't believe you..It's very impossible that Nami didn't call by your name, yet you guys are best friends" he said.

"Who told you that we're best friends?" I asked.

He got confused and seems like he got the wrong meaning of what I said.

"What I mean is did she told you that? because she never told me that we are best friends.. She only said is we are friends and also, it's hard to overthink and to assuming things.. It's not like I would just tell myself that we are best friends even though I didn't hear it from her personally. What if she thinks that I'm feeling close and she didn't really see me as a best friend?" I explained.

"Are being a best friend and being a friend is different?" he confusingly asked.

"As far as I know yes they are 2 different things or different levels of friendship.. For me, best friend is someone who will truly understand me and support me no matter what, will always be with me, beside me even in sad times, and someone who I can freely talk about everything.. and friend is someone you know and someone might only be there when he needs you or when it's only with chika.." I told him.

The rain isn't stopping and I can't see any students waiting for the rain to stop.. #OnlyUs

"Can't you just explain it shortly?" he asked.

"I can't really explain it, you can just..You know, you will feel it and know it when you are with this person with your best friend I mean.. there are something that can make you realize what is different whenever you are with your best friend or when you are with your friends." I said.

"It's still long you know?" he joked.

We both chuckle.

"Have you ever had a best friend?" he added.

"No, Wait yes.. Oh! I'm not actually sure.. Maybe it's just me who thought that they are my best friends but for them, I'm just a friend" I said sadly.

We are just quite, maybe enjoying the sound of the rain drops..

"Can we even meet our best friend?" he asked.

"Why not?" I asked.

"What if in this 7.3 million in this world, your best friend lives in the other continent?" he said.

"What? well if happens to me then I will wait for it to come to me and meet me because I know he or she is my best friend for a reason.." I explained.

We talked a lot especially about that topic until the rain stopped.

"Where's your way?" he asked me.

"Right here, I'll be waiting for a jeep" I answered.

"Oh..Okay..got to go now.." he said.

"yeah me too.." I respond.

"It was a great conversation with you.." he said honestly.

"Yeah, I totally agree!" I replied with a smile

"See you tomorrow Iyah and take care on your way," he told me.

"You too, see you tomorrow," I said and wave my hand at him.

He started walking away when I looked at him..

'He will be a good best friend' I told myself. What if I was also wrong about him? What if he is actually kind?

After a few minutes, a jeep came and I'm already on my way home..

When I got off the jeep, I saw Mama waiting for me in front of our house, I smiled at her as she helps me with my things..We entered our house and she runs inside to get me a towel, she dried my wet hair and told me to remove my uniform and take a shower or I might get sick.

I just finished taking a shower when I suddenly remembered Nami!

"Crap! I forgot about her! Did she saw me and CJ having a conversation? or she already left when CJ grabbed me?" I asked myself

I decided to message her on Facebook but I realize that we are still not friends, I already sent her a friend request since yesterday but she's still not accepting me, maybe she's busy with stuff.

I left my room and go our long table to see if Mama already ready our dinner.. And she did, It smells so yummy! I'm already hungry!! Btw, she cooked Afritadang manok as our dinner.. We talk and laugh about what happened in our day (well I didn't tell her about CJ.. I mean from the 'CJ saved me to our conversation'), you know, like what the typical Asian Mother and Daughter bonding!

I was cleaning the table when Mama asked me.

"So you have a lot of friends now?"

"I don't think so Ma" I answered.

"Why? didn't you told me that when you are at the gate of your school some of your classmates say goodbye to you?" she asked again.

"Yeah but I'm not sure if we are really friends because they didn't tell me so.." I explained.

"Iyah, of course, you guys are friends now! it's not like it would take a month for them to be comfortable around you" she stated.

"I hope so Ma," I said smiling at her.

"So except Nami, no one talked to you? I mean talk to you as in a real conversation?" she asked curiously.

"no one.. oh! I not actually sure Ma" I replied.

"Why? can't you even tell if its a real conversation?" she joked.

I laughed a little.

"It's not like that Ma, I actually had a real conversation with some of my classmates its just that I don't know if we are friends already.." I uncertainly said.

When we finished cleaning and doing the things that we need to do, we already went to our rooms to take a rest..

I was doing my assignment in Math when I remembered that I didn't even ask CJ if we are friends already.. Imagine, I think we talked for like 45 minutes and I didn't even ask him about it because I was so focused on our topic.. I just can't say that we are friends already because he might think that I'm very fast and feeling close to him.

ARGH! Why am I thinking about him? and minding him? I need to finish my assignment so I can sleep early!!

I finished doing my assignment and fixing my things for tomorrow when I jump to my bed and fall asleep easily.

zzzzzzzzzzzz

Tingg!Tingggggggg!

I wake up already.. I also finished fixing my bed, and I just finished taking a bath and fixing myself..

Timecheck, it's still 6:10 in the morning.. I need to adjust myself for me not to be late for school..

I already left my room and saw my Mama eating her breakfast,

"You want some baby?" she asked.

"Goodmorning Ma and no I don't want that," I said.

"You're still early! Do you want me to send you to school? I still have time before I go to the company" she asked.

"No Ma, it's okay.. don't worry I'll be fine" I replied as I finished drinking my milk.

I after wash my mug and put it back to the cabinet. I kiss my Mama and bid goodbye..

I'm already here in front of our house, waiting for a jeep to ride..It's not like I'm in a hurry that I would ride a tricycle, it's too pricy!

After waiting for a few minutes, a jeep who has a lot of vacant seats arrived and I'm here now, riding it.. I was about to say 'bayad po' (said as a sign that a passenger will pay the fee in the jeep) when I saw a familiar guy sitting next to me.

"Gabby? is that you?" I asked.

He looked at me and smiled.

"Yeah it's me" he answered as he gets my money to pass in front and sit closer to me.

"So why are you here? You actually live this way?" I asked curiously.

"Yes and yes.. I was actually surprised to see you waiting earlier," he replied.

"So you already saw me and you act like you didn't know me?" I joked.

"That was my plan actually but, you saw me so Failed!" he said.

We both laugh.

"How did you go home yesterday?" he asked.

"Me? yesterday?" I asked him confusingly.

"yeah, it rained yesterday right?" he asked again.

"Ah! yeah! I waited until the rain stopped." I replied.

"Just you? alone? in the waiting shed?" he consecutively asked.

"No.. I was actually with someone." I said.

"With someone? with whom?"

I didn't answer his question because I already saw the gate of our school. I was already fixing and readying my things when he shouted "para po!" and the jeep stops in front of our gate. He got off the jeep first and waited for me outside to go to our room together I guess? or he's just a gentleman? hahaha

"I'm with CJ" I answered his question earlier.

"CJ? our classmate? Cian Jacob?" he surprisingly asked.

"Yeah him.. Why you look so shocked? Is it that impossible to happen?" I joked.

He didn't answer and just laugh at what I've said. I actually heard him whispered something but it's too low that I didn't understand a thing.

"What did you say?" I asked.

"Me?? Nothing, nothing" he answered.

-------------

"Good morning class!" Ms. Cath greeted us.

"Looks like there will be a piece of good news" Nami whisper to me.

"You think so?" I replied.

She just laughs and nods.

"I just want to announce that by next, next week, we will have a voting session for our classroom officers!" she happily said.

"Officers? just like last year? the president, vice president thing?" CJ asked.

"Yes class, just like last year and next couple of years!" she replied and laugh.

"Why don't we do it now Ms.?" Samantha boredly said.

"Why would we do it now if you guys still didn't know each other?" Ms. Cath asked her and raised an eyebrow.

We become quite.

"See class? stop telling what do to, because I already have a plan and the best thing you can do is to be comfortable and know each other," she stated

Weeks past and one thing is for sure.. I was already getting along with my classmates, they even asked me if I want to eat lunch with them!!! FINALLY!! I'm friends with them.. But I declined their offer because I'm already eating lunch with Nami and they don't want to eat with her.. It looks like they are not in good terms.,

And also today is our voting day for our classroom officers, I still didn't know who would I vote for because, to be honest, no one actually fit in any position hahaha #peace

"Okay class, go to your perspective seats please'' Ms. Cath said.

Ms. looked around and smiled.

"Looks like you guys are finally close." she happily stated.

We just smiled at her.

"Are you class excited?" she asked.

"Yesss!!" we all shouted.

And I realize that our class really changed since our first day, I hope this will continue to a closer friendship with them!

"Who you want to nominate as your president?" Ms. asked.

Marc raised his hand.

"Yes Marc?" she called him.

"I want to nominate Gabby," he said while laughing at Gabby.

"Okay, who you want to nominate and compete with Gabby as president?" she excitedly said.

Someone nominate Sandra and Ira.

"Raise your hand if you for Sandra as president," Ms. said.

Samantha and Nicole was the one who voted for Sandra.

Only 4 students voted for Ira which is, Mae, Rica, Yza, and Mikel.

And the rest of us voted Gabby. Who you guys think won? hahaha

"Okay, Gabby as President. Next for the position of Vice-president" Ms. stated.

"Ms! I want to nominate CJ," Finn said as he raised his hand to caught our adviser's attention.

"Okay CJ as our first contender.. Who's next?" she asked.

"I want to nominate myself Ms!" Nami excitedly said.

"Okay! For the first time, someone has the confidence!!" she said.

Most of my classmates whispered about what Nami did. I look at her to see if she's alright but she's not looking at me, she's looking straight to our teacher.

"No one?" Ms. asked us.

"Ms how about Iyah?" Mikel said.

"What? no! I don't want to be involved with that.." I hurriedly said.

"So, since Iyah don't want too, should we proceed to vote?" she said.

"Raise your hand if you want to vote for Nami!" she added.

"Okay, let's just vote one by one since I can't properly see your hands"

She asked us one by one and of course, I voted for Nami but in the end, CJ won and I'm not really against that, I actually think that he and GAbby will be a great combo!

Next is Secretary!!

Samantha won the position against Nami.

"Next is our treasurer!" Ms. said.

"Who in your class you want to nominate?" she added.

"Ms. I want to nominate Iyah" Mikel said.

"What? I don't want to.." I said.

"No excuses!! All of us want s to nominate you so you don't have a choice! Right? "Mikel hurriedly said as our classmates agreed.

Ops. Looks like I don't really have a choice.

"Okay Iyah as our nominee, who wants to compete with Iyah?" Ms. asked.

"Me Ms.," Nami said.

Wait she will compete with me? I just realize that Nami really wants to have a position because since Vice-president up to now she keeps nominating herself. Should I back out?

"wow look at her, competing against her friend," Nicole said.

"Class, stop!" MS. warned us.

"Okay, Nami versus Iyah.. Voting is now open" Ms. stated.

She asked us one by one and the votes is very much tie.. I'm suddenly getting nervous!!

Ms. asked Nami if who will she vote and as expected, she voted herself, which is not a problem to me. So the result as of now is this:

Iyah= 9

Nami= 11

Next is me..

"Iyah, you want to vote for yourself?" Ms. asked me.

"No Ms, I want to for Nami," I answered.

"Sorry Iyah, you are not allowed to vote for others, you will automatically vote yourself," she said and laugh.

We are tie now.. 10-10.

"2nd to the last..Gabby Mr. President, you want to vote for whom?" Ms. asked him.

"I want to voteee.."he paused,.

I look at Nami and saw that she is looking forward to what Gabby was about to say.

"Iyah." he continued.

"Okay, so 11-10.. the winner depends on whom this student will vote," Ms. said excitedly.

"You may vote now CJ.." she added.

"I vote for

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utbn.