THE UNUSUAL ENCOUNTER

In an instant, I was taken aback, feeling completely astonished. It was as if like a tick'n of the clock, that the entire life in the classroom had stopped, except the two of us. 

Just as I had come to a halt, he unexpectedly broke the silence and directed his gaze towards the person standing behind me.

"Miss, why don't you let Jade show you to your seat?" he suggested. I got the hint that it was time to sit down for the class. My classmate, whose name is Jade, pulls out a chair for me, and I sit next to a guy who looks exactly like him. Then I looked back at Jade.

"Twins?" I asked. 

"Hi" He said. He nodded at me. Jade sits on my left side, and his twin is next to him.

"Joel" Joel introduced himself by saying his first name, prompting a smile from both of us as I glanced between them. They are both smiling.

The handsome man in the front is my subject teacher? Oh. But, I think it's not bad for a student like me who has a "little crush" for her teacher right?

I noticed him looking back at me before turning his attention to the board. He ran his fingers through his dark, curly hair before beginning to write out the lesson for the day, taking a deep breath as he did so. 

While he started the discussion. There was something intriguing about his presence, from the sound of his heartbeat to his unique scent, creating a deep mysterious connection to me.

"Aheeemp!" I pretended to have a cough with an itchy throat, I covered my mouth silently using a handkerchief.

"Water?" one of the twins offered me mineral drinking water. I didn't expect he had one.

"Oh, thanks." I told him. I winked at him as a sign of appreciation. Then he turns his gaze to the front as if nothing has happened.

"Class, you have a new classmate starting today. Ahh.. Miss...? could you please stand again and tell us your name and where you are from?" The teacher asks, looking at me. I immediately stood up and smiled. Of course, I wanted to make a good first impression on my English teacher and on my classmates.

"Hello guys, my name is Abby Jezz Urdanzo. I am 17 years old, a new transfer student from Surigao City," I said as I started to sit down. 

But he interrupted my motion by adding, "Tell us something about yourself. What brings you here, and what do you like to do?"

I hesitated again. I hate being in the spotlight.

"Well, my parents got a new job here, so we have to move here also. I like to do a lot of things. Reading, cooking, and music. But I am most interested in kids. I would like to be a teacher someday—a kindergarten teacher. That is what I hope will be my course next year." I quickly sat down before he could ask another question.

"Thank you, Miss AbbyJezz Urdanzo. Everyone, make sure to make her feel comfortable on her first day, alright?" He adds. 

"My name is Mr. Albanzo, by the way. We will be starting a new book today." He turns to the large box and opens it. He begins passing out books. I looked at the cover and smiled.

"Noli me Tangere," a novel written by Jose Rizal in the year 1887. This is one of my favorites.

"Have you read it?" He asked when he paused at my desk. I just nodded while looking into his eyes again. 

I find myself lost in their azure eyes for extended periods. How did I become so lyrical all of a sudden? His grin widens as he proceeds to distribute handbooks to the individuals flanking me. To be honest, I cannot recall anything that occurred during the remainder of the class. The only thing I remember is Mr. Albanzo's melodious voice. Standing at an impressive height of perhaps six feet, Mr. Albanzo possesses a captivating smile and flawlessly aligned, pearly white teeth. Mr. Albanzo has one dimple that looks like "Rico Yan," the famous Filipino actor back then. He has a sharp jawline. He has some stubble and probably didn't shave this morning. Mr. Albanzo has very wide shoulders and is wearing low-slung jeans. Those are nice.

"Hey, I need to stop; this is ridiculous." The sentence I heard from the wind made me realize there was a sudden motion.

"Concentrate AbbyJezz!" I said to myself. The bell rang, and I didn't notice that time had actually passed. 

"Argg!" I looked around the room in a bit of a daze. Students are leaving. But I'm still sitting when Jade asks me something.

"Oh... I'm sorry, what?" I am a little confused.

"I said, my brother and I can walk you to your next class." I noticed my schedule was in his hands. I must have given it to him while 

I was in my Mr. Albanzo dazed. "Oh, sure, I mean, yes, please." I managed to sputter. He laughs slightly and smiles. 

Mr. Albanzo received a nod from him as he glanced over. Exiting the room, a final glance was exchanged between them. Another deep breath was taken, realizing the next encounter might not be until tomorrow. Thoughts of craziness crossed my mind. Later in the afternoon, a brief chat with Tagi was held on social media after the final subject of the day.

In the chat room:

"Tagi, you will be surprised by what I am going to say." 

"Oh! Let me guess! Did your mom buy a motorcycle?"

"No! But maybe after ten years." I said jokingly.

"Nice, oh! I have to go to the market. Mom is waiting for me. Let's chat later. Bye!" She said. 

I felt sad because I was far away from her. I am still excited about telling her that I have a crush at school, and that about my English teacher. 

"Do I need to say it?" I asked myself.

"Whatever."

Ever since I departed Surigao, my closest friend has been constantly occupied. Once her classes conclude, she promptly heads to the market to relieve her mother, who oversees their store throughout the day. Consequently, I find myself lacking a companion to connect with at school. Its fine. I opted to board a Jeep and head straight home.

As I approached the gate of my house, the feeling of being watched persisted. Taking a moment to inhale deeply, the scent of the mysterious person's perfume lingered in the air, confirming my suspicions. My heart began to race, and the sound of their breath seemed almost palpable, sending shivers down my spine. The situation was becoming increasingly unsettling as the realization dawned on me that I was being followed all the way home. 

Despite my best efforts to shake off the unease, the presence of the unseen person continued to shadow my every move. Glancing around nervously, I noticed a couple of pedestrians passing by and the distant hum of a motorcycle, but no one matched the lingering scent that enveloped me. The eerie sensation of being pursued by an unknown figure only intensified, prompting me to quicken my pace in a bid to reach the safety of my home as swiftly as possible.

Upon my arrival at home, I promptly secured the main entrance of the gate by closing it firmly and turning the lock to ensure the safety and privacy of the household.

"Who is following me?