Chapter 3: World's apart

Anton's fist slammed onto our shared desk, the impact rattling my half-empty water bottle near my notes. "Jake!" His voice dropped to a stage whisper as the Professor's heels clicked down the hallway outside. "You've been zoning out since you entered the room. Snap out of it before the Ice Queen Professor arrives."

I blinked, realizing I'd been tracing the letters "A.R." into my notes and the condensation of my tumbler. The droplets mirrored the rain now streaking the classroom windows—a sudden afternoon storm that matched the tempest in my chest.

"Look at me," Anton demanded, his usually playful eyes uncharacteristically sharp. When I turned, he leaned in so close I could smell the sweet caramelized of Turon on his breath. "I need to tell you something about Anne."

A cold uneas traced down my spine. "What about her?"

The door creaked open before he could answer.

Professor Hana Mori entered not with a greeting, but with a silence so absolute it seemed to drain the air from the room. She ran a hand through her long crimson hair, smoothing it back into place as she walked. Her Harry Potter glasses caught the fluorescent lights, flashing white like a predator's eyes in the dark. And her curvy figure becomes a spectacle of the students.

She is so beautiful that if compared to Anne, Anne is literally lacking behind by many points. And she's also strict in teachings, and always like clean and perfect things.

She's born to a Japanese father and a filipina mother, she carried an air of quiet authority that made students wary of stepping out of line. With her sharp features and piercing gaze, she was the embodiment of discipline – elegant yet intimidating.

"Seats." The single word, wrapped in velvet yet edged with steel, sent students scrambling into place. Even Anton stiffened beside me.

They called her the Ice Queen Professor for a reason – her presence alone could drop the temperature of the entire room, despite the sweltering Philippine heat.

I'm already fixing my things such as my pen and books scattered under my desk, as Professor Hana like's clean and perfect environment, but when I took my binder inside my bag my attention was drawn.

My attention snagged on the phone Anton hastily tucked under his thigh – the screen still lit with a photo of Anne laughing across a restaurant table with Michael. The basketball captain's arm draped possessively over the back of her chair, his varsity jacket slung over his shoulder like a mark of territory.

Michael, the captain of the Falcon basketball team, is a well-known figure on campus, admired for his athletic talent, towering physique, and undeniable charm. With his sharp features and effortless confidence, he easily draws attention both on and off the court.

His dominance in the game, combined with his natural charisma, makes him especially popular among the female students, especially the cheerleading squads. But what really fuels the endless whispers and curious glances isn't just his skill or looks – it's the rumors about his "big thing," that some said it's 9 or 10 inches a topic of fascination that only adds to his almost mythical reputation.

There's also a talks on a men's group chat that Michael has done it with many cheerleading squads, and all of them felt satisfied after it and wanted to do it more.

I looked at the screen of Anton's phone again, my eyes fixated on the picture of Anne and Michael sitting together at a restaurant, chatting happily. The way she smiled at him, the way her eyes seemed to sparkle – it was different from how she ever looked at me. It was effortless, natural, as if she belonged there with him. My chest tightened, and I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach, but before I could even process my thoughts, Anton's words came like a dagger straight to my heart.

"Your worlds apart, dude. Look at her with Michael – the best player on campus. She's literally drawn to him," he said, his voice casual, but to me, it was a very painful words.

His words hit harder than I expected, each one chipping away at the little hope I had left. It wasn't just about Michael being the captain of the basketball team, or how effortlessly cool and confident he was. It was the brutal truth behind those words – that Anne, the girl I couldn't stop thinking about, was completely out of my league. And there she was, smiling at him in a way she never did with me. That realization alone was enough to break me inside.

Her attitude toward Michael was completely different from the way she treated me. With him, she was warm, engaged, and full of admiration, but with me, I was nothing more than a friend – someone she laughed with but never looked at the same way. The painful reality hit me like a punch to the gut, and I felt my heart on the verge of collapsing under the weight of it all. No matter how much I wished things were different, I couldn't change the way she saw me.

But thinking of Anne being with him – a scoundrel of a captain who had no manners and played with girls' feeling – I just couldn't sit still. It frustrated me to see her so drawn to someone like him while she only saw me as a friend. No matter how much I tried to ignore it, the thought of them together made my heart sink.

Before I could fully process my thoughts, Professor Hana's voice pulled me back to reality as she began discussing today's topics.

As the class settled, Professor Hana tapped the board. "Today's topic Muscle Recovery and Fatigue."

She glanced at the room. "Does anyone knows why muscles get sore after intense exercise?"

A student muttered, "because of a Lactic acid?"

Professor Hana nodded "That's right, but it's not just a lactic acid ——"

I tried to focus, but my mind kept drifting back to Anne and Michael.

----

The lesson began, and as time passed, the day slowly slipped away. After Professor Hana's subject, there were still four more classes, with one break times in between. So in the whole day we have two break times. By the time everything was over, it was already 6 p.m.

I stood by the gate, waiting. The streetlights flickered on, casting long shadows as students trickled out of the campus. I glanced at my watch. "It's been 10 minutes since the bell rang. How long will she take?" I muttered, shifting my weight impatiently.

Anne and I were neighbors, so we often went home together. But today, she was nowhere in sight. Just as I was about to check my phone, I finally saw her walking out – smiling, chatting... with Michael.

When I saw them together, my world finally collapsed. I can't take this anymore!!!. My chest felt heavy, my thoughts are a mess. Instead of walking up to them and greeting Anne like I usually would, I turned away. Without a word, I headed straight home,which is quite a long distanced, my steps quick and unwavering, refusing to look back.

Anne, walking beside Michael, caught sight of my leaving back. Her lips parted as if to call my name, hesitation flickering in her eyes. But before she could say anything, Michael placed a hand on her shoulder and said something, drawing her attention away.

"Hey, Anne, forget about him," he said with a smirk. "Why don't you come with me instead? I'll drop you off."

Anne shook her head. "No, it's fine. I always go home with—"

Michael scoffed, cutting her off. "Come on, why waste your time? You're better off with me than tagging along with some nobody."

Anne frowned at his words, feeling a sting of annoyance. "I said no, Michael."

Anne then walk towards the location where I was, while looking at my disappearing back.

Anne then took out her phone and open a messenger app.

Michael's face and charming smile twitched for a second after hearing Anne's rejection. The usual confidence on his face cracked, and for a moment, the arrogance he wore so well made him look utterly pathetic. His jaw tightened, and the glint in his eyes darkened, but he quickly forced a smirk, as if her refusal meant nothing. However, the slight stiffness in his expression betrayed his bruised ego.

Meanwhile, I kept walking, choosing not to take the usual tricycle ride I usually take when I'm with Anne. Instead, I walked alone, letting the evening breeze cool the turmoil in my heart.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me from my thoughts. I hesitated before taking it out. A message from Anne.

Anne: "Hey, where did you go? I thought we were going home together."

I stopped in my tracks, staring at the screen. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, a dozen replies forming in my head – excuses, lies, or maybe even the truth. But in the end, I just sighed, locked my phone, and kept walking.

Even though I didn't know what they are talking about that she was smiling with him, I still decided not to reply thinking that Michael is reading our messages and walked straight without looking back.

----

As time went by, I finally reached my home, it's so damn far exhausting that I blamed my self for being stupid and not take a tricycle on the way home. STUPID!!

I removed my uniform which is full of sweat and then looked into the mirror, 'Am I ugly ' this are the thought's I have in mind when thinking of Anne and Micheal together.

The mirror reflected my appearance – black hair, brown eyes, a well-defined nose, and a sharp jawline.

I have to admit, I'm not bad-looking. In fact, I can easily match Michael's appearance. I've always been confident in my looks since I inherited this face from my father. I guess being handsome runs in our genes. Plus, my height is impressive as well – another trait I got from him.

I took off my sando, changed into my usual home clothes, and headed straight to my bedroom. I didn't have the energy to eat today – I just wanted to lie down and clear my mind.

When I opened my phone, I saw hundreds of messages from Anne, most of them asking why I left her or why I didn't wait for her to go home together. There was also a message saying she had already taken a tricycle home.

Seeing all these messages, my mind went blank. Wasn't she supposed to be with Michael? Why was she messaging me so much? Did I misunderstand everything?.

---

I stared at the screen, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. Should I reply? Should I ask her what really happened? A part of me wanted to ignore her messages, to let her feel the same frustration I was feeling. But another part of me… I sighed, locking my phone.

At Anne's house, she sat on her bed, gripping her phone tightly. Frustration was written all over her face as she stared at the unanswered messages on the screen. She had sent him so many, yet there was no reply.

"Why is he ignoring me?" she muttered, biting her lip.

She had already taken a tricycle home alone, something she rarely did. Usually, they would go home together, talking about random things, but today, he had just left. Without a word.

Anne clenched her fists. "Does he think I ditched him for Michael? That idiot!"

She let out a sigh and flopped back onto her bed. No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling in her chest.