9 Class 4-A and the New Student in One Frame

T A N I A

Mommy called for Andrei as soon as we arrived in the house. I kissed my parents’ cheeks before I proceeded to my bedroom for a quick shower.

So, everyone knew that Andrei is my dearest childhood friend—my only boy best friend. He came back here to continue his studies ‘coz he missed the Philippines so much. And, he’s going to live in our house for the meantime.

He went to the mall with me for he needed my help on choosing the best birthday gift for his younger sister. Her birthday is on next week and we already sent the package to England earlier.

I just couldn’t believe him! He wanted to give her a lipstick that’s why he asked me to try it on my lips. But she’s too young for that, so I told him to choose the headband instead. And he did. He also bought some clothes and some Filipino snacks that her sister truly loves.

The next day, I brought Andrei in our house. He was greeted by Cai, Matt, Stacie, and Ranie.

I noticed their suspicious looks at me, but I ignored it right away. But Ranie, though. He seemed to hate my friend more than he did yesterday.

I walked towards the couch and greeted Stacie. Andrei was about to sit beside me, but Ranie occupied it first.

“Hey, Tania! How are you?” that was meant for me, but his gaze was fixed on Andrei.

I glared at him. “I was fine before you took my friend’s seat!”

He barked a laughter, a sarcastic one. “Oh, come on! Andrei’s fine with it! Right, Andrei?” My friend nodded at him. “Anyway, care to tell us what happened yesterday?”

Cai choked on the strawberry juice when she heard that. Matthew handed his handkerchief to her immediately. Then my gaze prowled on my cousin who was now looking at Ranie.

“Drei, come here…” Ranie rolled his eyes ‘coz I shooed him away.

Once settled, Cai brought out the food in the living room. She woke up earlier than us to prepare our breakfast. We’re really grateful to have someone who always takes care of us.

I glanced at Andrei. “We still have 20 minutes to eat. After that, I’ll accompany you to your classroom.”

“How nice of you! But how old is he again?”

I bit my lower lip while everyone was looking at Dwight. I was startled when Stacie stood up quickly to give her seat to the newcomer.

“Seriously, Tania. Your friend is old enough to walk on his own,” Dwight said emphatically as he sat beside me.

I turned my head and met his intense gaze. “He’s a new student, isn’t he? You should know better…”

He smirked and raised an eyebrow. “Of course, I know that. But what’s the point of having a school map if you could’ve pointed out which building, he should go to?”

I sighed deeply. His cocky attitude and our endless arguments…

Ranie butt in. “He has a point, Tania? Where’s the map?”

Matthew chuckled and covered his mouth right away. Cai elbowed him and gave him a warning look. Stacie was really stressed out and just chose to eat silently.

For the last time, I glanced back at Dwight. “Just let us be! Mind your own business ‘coz I don’t care about yours.”

Andrei poked me. “Tania, I think we should go…”

“Later. Don’t be too excited,” I whispered to him.

I started to eat my breakfast. As I finished my food, a smile drew on my face when Cai served the cheesecake.

She grinned at Dwight. “Don’t just sit there. Have some cheesecake! You can bring it home if you want.”

I hadn’t realized that I crushed the leftover vegetables until I looked on my plate. The fork slipped on my hand. I just made an instant puree! Looking around to check if someone saw that, I cleared my throat as I put the plate down.

Ranie got my attention. “Woah! Slow down, Stacie! That’s your fourth slice!”

“I know. Why do you care?” she rolled her eyes before she took a big bite.

“She doesn’t talk much, but when she opens her mouth…” Ranie rubbed his palms on his cheeks irritably.

Matthew patted his back. “Its’s okay. At least, we could often hear her voice. She won’t be a ‘shy type’ forever, so it’s better than nothing.”

Ranie asked him to keep it down. “The devil might hear us. You’re aware that her radar’s stronger than the internet connection, right?”

Matthew nodded approvingly. They both glanced at Cailah.

That made me laugh a bit. I grabbed the small plate and was about to get a slice of cheesecake, but Andrei stopped me from doing so.

“Let me do it.”

“Alright,” I gave him the plate.

My mouth watered. I was really excited to taste the cheesecake ‘coz Cai was all over it when she called me last night.

Dwight’s next move surprise me. He pushed his plate in front of me which, I think, was really unexpected and so unlikely of him.

“You can have mine. I’ll just get another slice for me,” he couldn’t look me in the eyes.

“W-Why—”

“Now eat, Tania.”

I wasn’t sure if it was just me, but his cheeks were so red. As if he was blushing because…

I ignored the thought and thanked him for the cheesecake. I lifted the plate and ate the food obediently. On my peripheral vision, I saw that Andrei ate the cheesecake that was supposed to be mine. I also caught Dwight watching me eat to my heart’s content.

My cheeks suddenly felt so warm. I wasn’t feeling conscious or anything. I just couldn’t believe that his stare could affect me so much when it was meaningless to me before.

I shook my head and chewed the food faster, so Andrei and I can leave already.

“Where are you two going?” Cai asked when she saw me grabbing my things.

“I’ll drop Andrei off in his classroom.”

“I’ll go with you!” Ranie took his bag and left immediately.

Matthew did the same. “Count me in.”

“Wait! You can’t leave me here!” Cai took her apron off and brought the plates in the kitchen as fast as she can.

Stacie stood up calmly. She’s joining us, too!

“W-What’s happening?” Andrei asked me curiously.

“I don’t know…” I replied as I looked at the main door blankly.

“Let’s go!” Cai noticed Dwight. “How ‘bout you? Aren’t you coming with us?”

He didn’t say anything. He just snatched up his bag and left.

Cai locked the door after we stepped out of the house. They were so noisy as we went to the High School building. Our schoolmates stopped what they were doing to watch us. Some even followed us as we walked inside the building.

Andrei leaned closer to me. “To have you dropped me off in here is one thing. But to be accompanied with the rest of the 4-A is surely an unexpected and extraordinary scenario that no one in the academy should missed.”

I smiled. “Really? But we’re just supporting you.”

We walked out of the elevator. I pointed the classroom of Class B to Andrei. The students quickly flocked to us when they saw us standing in front of their classroom.

Andrei turned to face us. “Thank you, guys! I really appreciate it.”

“Focus your attention on your studies not on the girls, okay?” Cai reminded him.

Andrei chuckled. “Yes, Ma’am!”

Everything was going smoothly, but Ranie had to open his filthy mouth. “Tss. What’s this? His first day in the kindergarten?!”

“Dwight!”

We all turned our heads to the beautiful girl who called Dwight. She’s Andrei’s classmate.

“Audrey…”

Dwight smiled at her! They must be really close ‘coz knowing him, he wouldn’t give his smile to anyone so easily.

Ranie wolf-whistled and laughed with Matthew. “Those legs! And look at her face, dude! It seems like an angel has appeared right before my eyes!”

I glanced at Audrey. My eyes widened when she hooked her arm onto Dwight’s.

“What are you doing here? Are you here to visit me?” she asked him sweetly.

Still smiling at her, Dwight shook his head and pointed to us. Disappointment was painted on Audrey’s face, but she managed to smile back at him.

Stacie rolled her eyes. “Don’t ever assume or else, you’d end up humiliating yourself.”

I cleared my throat. “Andrei, get inside. The class is about to start soon.”

“Yeah. See you later!” he waved at us before he entered the classroom.

Cai pulled my arm. “Come on, guys! We have to go!”

“We’ll be late!” Stacie added exasperatedly.

She knocked some senses into Dwight, so he removed Audrey’s hand on his arm.

The corners of his moth rose up. “We’ll go now, Audrey. See you around.”

She pouted. “Fine. See you around!”

I walked out quietly. The rest followed me after a few seconds. Ranie’s loud voice dominated the hallway.

“What the heck, Dwight? That’s Audrey Mendrez!”

Dwight’s eyebrow shot up. “So?”

“She’s the secretary of the Student Council! Everyone wants to score a date with her! You’re so lucky!”

“Not me, though,” Dwight said coolly.

So, she’s the newly-elected secretary. As far as I can remember, I didn’t vote for her.

Dwight looked back at the 4-B’s classroom. His gaze, then, locked on mine. I felt like he wanted to say something, but I looked away.

“I don’t like her…” Stacie murmured to us.

Cai couldn’t help but agree. “So, do I! She’s everyone’s girlfriend!”

My eyebrows furrowed. “What do you—”

I wasn’t able to finish what I was saying as my back hit the floor in a blink of an eye. I felt something heavy on my top, but I couldn’t get up. My back hurts a lot!

“Tania!” Cai and Stacie called me.

Dwight’s voice thundered. “Damn! Look at where you’re going!”

They managed to removed whoever was pressing me down. I squeezed my eyes tightly when I felt the searing pain in my back.

“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it!” I heard a familiar voice.

I saw Dwight’s worried face as I opened my eyes.

“Hold my hand…” I did what he said and I let him picked me up—slowly and carefully.

Ranie glared at Johnny. “You have to be extra careful next time. Tania hurt her back because of your clumsiness.”

“You were in such a hurry. Slow down. No one’s chasing you,” said Matthew.

My arm was wrapped around Dwight’s neck, while his was supporting my weight by holding onto my waist. I didn’t want to look at him as there was something in his eyes that I couldn’t quite grasp. I knew he was worried about me, but he seemed so…

“I bet you wanna say something to her,” he said coldly.

Johnny was looking down; he couldn’t meet my gaze.

I smiled at him. “It’s okay, Johnny. I know you didn’t mean it.”

He finally glanced up at me. “I-I’m really sorry, Tania. I was running and I didn’t see you. I’m sorry…”

“Stop saying sorry. It was an accident.” I smiled at him again. “You can go now. You’ll be late in your class.”

He didn’t want to go, but Dwight told him to leave. I sighed as he helped me leaned on the railings.

“Are you okay? He’s so clumsy!” Cai said as she put her phone inside her bag.

I didn’t know how long I was staring at Dwight. I was preoccupied that I didn’t even notice that I was looking at him!

“My back h-hurts a lot…” I whispered softly in his ear.

Tears stung my eyes and his jaw tightened as he probably knew that I was about to cry. He hid me on his chest for I didn't want the others to see me this weak.

“Guys! What happened?!”

Dana and Danielle came out of the elevator and ran towards me. They were catching their breaths as they checked up on me.

“How did you two know?” Ranie asked them.

“Cai texted me. She said something bad happened to Tania! My gosh!” Danielle exclaimed dramatically.

I put on a smile on my face. “Don’t worry, girls. I’m okay.”

They were relieved to know that. But the truth was, I didn’t want to make them worried about me.

“You, guys, can go to our classroom first,” Dwight announced. I almost screamed when he lifted me up like a bride.

I snaked my arms on his neck tightly as I didn’t want to fall down on the ground twice.

“W-What are you doing?” I mumbled through gritted teeth.

Cai handed my bag to him. “Just don’t talk too much, Tania. He knows what he’s doing.”

“She’s right! We’ll explain what had happened to our teacher if it’s bothering you. You’re still the Rank One even if you skipped the class!” Dana winked at me.

“Don’t be afraid of Dwight. He won’t eat you,” Matthew added jokingly.

I took a glance at Dwight and as usual, he was already staring at me.

“You’ll really do this? Remember that this is your chance to gain an extra point. It won’t happen again—”

He smirked at me. “But where’s the competition in that if you want me to play unfairly? It’s worthless ‘coz you’re not even there to compete with me.”

Once again, my face heated up! He was really serious and it’s not like he’s the type to joke around. He respects me, his rival, so much.

He, then, walked towards the elevator. I pressed the ‘down’ button.

“Take care of our leader, Dwight!” Ranie shouted.

Dwight tilted his head. “No need to remind me. She’s my priority…” he said and didn’t tore his gaze off of me.

Before the door closes, I caught Stacie smiling so dreamingly as if Dwight and I brought her favorite fairytale to life.