Chapter One

"Angelo!!" I yelled.

It was a Saturday morning. As our usual routine, I rode my bicycle to Angelo's house a few blocks away from ours. We were supposed to play by the seashore.

Tita Joyce came out of the house. She was in a green dress that reached her ankles. She waved her hand at me.

"Oh, good morning, Celine. Would you like to eat breakfast with us?"

I giggled. "No, thank you, Tita. I'm just waiting for Angelo."

"Okay. I'll call him for you," she said, then she entered their house. I heard her yell, "Angelo! Celine is here!"

I'm really excited to see Angelo. I made a friendship bracelet for him. It was made of seashells. I asked our neighbor to make holes in them.

Angelo came out in his tank top and blue basketball shorts. "Good morning, CJ."

I smiled. "Angelo!"

We were sitting on the sand by the sea. I was busy making sand castles. Angelo was sitting next to me, his legs stretched out. He seemed to be in deep thought, but I let him be. I was just happy to be with him.

It had always been that way. Angelo and me--together.

"Celine, I have to tell you something," Angelo said softly. He couldn't look me in the eye. I stopped playing and scooted closer to him.

"Me too!" I answered.

He tilted his head to the side. I giggled.

"What is it?"

"You can say it first."

"No, it's okay, CJ. What is it?"

I giggled again, then I took the bracelet from my pocket.

"I made a friendship bracelet for us." I put on his palm.

He was puzzled, then I noticed his shoulders slumped. He dropped his gaze to the bracelet and winced.

I became sad. He didn't like it.

But he suddenly drew closer and hugged me tightly. I froze.

"Angelo?"

He was crying. I panicked.

"Angelo? Why are you crying? What's wrong?"

"CJ... I'm leaving. I'm moving to Manila."

I couldn't say anything. Angelo is my best friend. What am I going to do without him?

"Why?"

I opened my eyes. I sighed. I dreamt of Angelo again.

I haven't forgotten him. I wonder if he's the same.

Angelo... Do you still remember me?

"CJ, get up!" It was Ate's voice. I rubbed my neck. It hurt. We had been sitting for almost eight hours inside the bus.

I looked outside the window. A lot of people were clustered together. It was busy.

I'm in Manila. Finally. I'm where Angelo is.

I got up from my seat and started grabbing all my stuff. I put on my backpack and checked my pockets. I have everything.

"Is Tita picking us up?" I asked.

"Yes, they're already at the terminal. Let's go."

My heart banged against my chest. In excitement. In hope.

Angelo... I'm here.

We finally got off the bus.

Ahh...

The air quality was different. I could smell smog. I rubbed my nose and adjusted my eyeglasses.

This sucks. But whatever. I'm here for Angelo. I'm here to see him again. A bit of air pollution wouldn't stop me.

Ate Jenny and I started walking. My head was filled with thoughts of him. I wonder how he is now. I'm sure he's different. He's probably more handsome. He probably has new friends.

While I felt despondent about the idea of him having new best friends, I was still hopeful that he hasn't forgotten me.

We arrived at Tita Maya's house. It was enormous! Wow. It's different from where we used to live.

"This is your room."

"Thank you, Tita," I said, pulling my luggage.

It was so pretty. It was bigger than the room I shared with Ate.

I started to be sweaty, so I turned the electric fan on. I guess it's truly unlike the province. Back home, I could just open the windows.

I dropped my luggage to the floor. Tita Maya left.

I sat on the carpeted floor and looked up the ceiling.

"This is my new home..." I whispered. "Ma... I hope you're still looking out for us."

My tears started to form. The truth started to sink in that I was in a completely different place, and Mama wouldn't be with me.

Mama passed away recently, while my father died even before I was born. That is why Tita Maya is filling in as our new guardian.

Tita Maya is single. She's a lawyer here in Manila, and she is Mama's oldest sibling. We are truly thankful to her. We wouldn't know what to do without her.

However, I was still feeling lonely.

I shook my head as if shooing away the negative thoughts that popped into my head.

Everything will be okay. If I can be with Angelo again, I know that everything will be okay.

Somebody knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

It was Tita Maya.

"CJ, do you wanna eat some snacks?" she asked.

I nodded. "Yes, I'll be right there!"

I was drying my hair after a quick shower. My gaze landed on the photos on my desk. I have a photo of me, ate Jenny, and Mama, then I also have a photo of me and Angelo when we were eight. We were sitting on the doorstep of our elementary school, his arm wrapped around my shoulder.

I smiled.

Tomorrow's my first day at my new school.

The last letter I received from Angelo when we were 12 said that he would be studying at St. Robert Academy.

I hope he's still there.

I adjusted my eyeglasses, then I stared out the window. It was a beautiful night.

My shoulders slumped.

Today is Angelo's birthday. It's his 18th birthday, but I wouldn't be able to greet him because he never wrote me back. He stopped sending me letters after my 13th birthday. I don't know what happened. Maybe they changed residences. Maybe he was busy.

But now that I'm here, I'm still fervently wishing that we can meet again.

I placed my hands over my chest.

"Happy birthday, Angelo."

ANGELO'S POV:

Loud music came from the enormous speakers in the living room. My basketball teammates, their dates, and numerous people I didn't know and had no idea why they were there, were dancing to the music and drinking.

My head was a little fuzzy, but it was my birthday!

"Here's a shot!" Seth hands me another tequila glass.

I hooted and drank the shot. It burned my throat. I sucked a lemon to ease the sensation.

Myka hooked her arm on mine and gave me a peck on the cheek.

Myka is my current girlfriend. She is my father's business partner's daughter.

We sat on the couch. I ate some nachos.

"Happy birthday," she said, smiling, revealing a dimple on her cheek.

"Thanks," I answered, smiling back at her.

Yes. This is the current me. I'm your typical handsome guy who doesn't give a crap about anything else that's not fun. Girls want me. I'm loaded with cash. Life is good.

I've forgotten my old self. I'm not suited to that kind of life.

I'm not who I used to be.

I jolted awake. Damn. My head felt as if it was being split open. I pulled myself up and sat on the couch. I shot a look at the living room. It smelled bad, and there was garbage everywhere. Oops.

I stood up and fished my phone out of my pocket. I sent a message to Myka.

We're over.

I know. It was a dick move. But we had been together for four months, and I could sense that she was looking for something more than what I could offer.

I'm just not a 'commitment' guy.

I massaged my temples as I inched forward to the window. The sun was up. I blinked a lot of times to adjust my eyes to the light.

I glanced back at the living room.

Red cups, beer bottles, junk food wrappers, and all sorts of trash were everywhere. I felt a little guilty because our helper would take care of this mess, but she was getting paid for it anyway.

I shrugged my shoulders.

I looked out the window again.

All of a sudden, her image slid inside my head. My pulse started to race. Why am I thinking about her all of a sudden?

Dammit. Stop this madness, Angelo.

I slapped my face. It hurt. I massaged my temples.

I'm not totally sober yet.

"She's not for you. That girl is certainly not for you."

I've forgotten her. I'm sure of that. We're different people now. So no matter how much I want to contact her again, it would only be a waste of time.

Then my phone rang out of the blue. Thank goodness. I needed a distraction. I picked it up.

It was my father.

"Hey Dad, how's it going-?"

"How's it going?! Are you an idiot, Angelo?!"

I moved away from the phone. It's too early for this.

"Today's the first day of class!" he yelled. "Get dressed, and go to school!"

"Yeah, I'm going to skip. It's only the first day anyway," I replied, irritated. "We'll just introduce ourselves and all that--"

It was what I planned. But my father thought otherwise.

"Don't make me repeat myself, Angelo. It's either you go to school, or I'll cut your allowance."

I cringed.

"Fine. Fine."

I hung up, scratching my head. I guess I'll have to go. Bummer.

CJ'S POV:

I was very excited to go to school. I couldn't stay still inside the car. I fiddled with my sleeves, I adjusted my eyeglasses, as my heart pounded loudly. I was anxious about studying in a new school. I was also wondering what to say to Angelo.

"Relax, CJ. Kuya Joseph will just park the car," Ate Jenny said, laughing.

Ate Jenny will get off at the College of Nursing, while I will get off at the high school building.

I panicked.

We had been driving by a lot of buildings. I saw students walking to school. Some were also in their cars. I noticed them using phones and wearing jewelry. Their shoes and bags looked expensive.

I shot a last glance at myself.

I have a wardrobe problem, actually. I was a little fatter before we arrived in Manila, so Tita Maya mistakenly ordered a size bigger for my uniform. I lost weight after all the sleepless nights after Mama's death.

We used a safety pin to make it fit my waist, but my top was really loose.

I took a deep breath.

It's fine. It's just a piece of clothing.

"We're here," Kuya Joseph said.

"Okay, thanks Kuya!" Ate Jenn said.

I bit my lower lip.

"W-Wait Ate, I'm not yet ready," I uttered.

She frowned. "Why? What's the problem?"

"I'm really nervous."

She squeezed my hand tight. "You don't have to worry about anything. Just be yourself, okay?"

I took a deep breath and nodded.

I opened the car door and got out of the vehicle. Ate Jenny waved goodbye as the car sped away.

I looked around. The school was huge. I heard students chatting. I quietly observed the girls and couldn't deny how surprised I was.

Everyone seemed so smart and beautiful.

"Okay... It's gonna be okay, CJ."

I adjusted my eyeglasses and heaved another sigh.

Wait for me, Angelo!