Chapter Text
It was the start of a new school year at Bini High, and the energy in the air was palpable. The hallways buzzed with laughter and chatter, students catching up after the long summer break. Posters for upcoming events were pinned everywhere, and lockers slammed shut as students hurried to their classrooms. In the middle of all the excitement, Aiah Arceta stood silently, clutching her backpack straps, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.
Being the new girl was something Aiah had grown accustomed to. Every year, a new school, new faces, new routines. Her father’s job had them moving from city to city, and Manila was just another stop on the long list. Still, it didn’t make the transition any easier.
“Bini High,” she muttered to herself, reading the school’s crest on the nearby wall. “Let's get through this year, Aiah.”
She adjusted her glasses and headed for the administrative office. Inside, a handful of students were milling about, waiting for schedules and class assignments. Aiah, being as punctual as always, had arrived early, hoping to get things sorted before the first bell rang.
"Good morning," she said in a polite, yet nervous voice to the receptionist. "I'm Aiah Arceta, the transfer student."
The receptionist looked up, her eyes skimming a list on her desk. "Ah, yes. Arceta. Here’s your schedule. You’re in Section B, Room 203. First day, huh? Don’t worry, dear. You’ll get used to it."
“Thank you po,” Aiah responded with a small nod, taking the paper and turning to leave. As she glanced over her schedule, her heart sank a little. She had always been the new girl, always had to introduce herself and make friends, but this time she hoped to just blend in and focus on her studies. High school was almost over, and all she wanted was to maintain her straight A's and keep her head down.
As she made her way toward Room 203, a sudden commotion caught her attention. Students were gathering in the open courtyard, eyes fixed on a small group of boys.
“Dito na sila, mga pre!” someone whispered excitedly.
Aiah slowed her pace, curiosity pulling her toward the crowd. In the middle of it all, she spotted four boys walking together, exuding an air of confidence that made everyone stop and stare. One of them, with disheveled black hair and an unreadable expression, seemed to be the center of attention. His bag was slung over one shoulder, and he walked with a slow, deliberate pace, not acknowledging the eyes on him.
“That’s Mikhael Lim,” a girl near Aiah whispered to her friend. “Team captain ng basketball team. Astig talaga.”
Mikhael, Aiah noted, looked every bit the typical jock—tall, athletic, with a brooding aura that made him look as though he didn’t have a care in the world. The kind of guy who’d be surrounded by admirers and followers but would rarely smile.
As if sensing her gaze, Mikha's eyes flickered over the crowd and briefly met Aiah’s. It was so fleeting that she almost wondered if it had happened at all, but in that split second, there was something in his stare—something cold and distant, as if he had already judged her and found her lacking.
Aiah quickly looked away, not wanting to draw any attention to herself. Mikhael Lim was the kind of boy she usually avoided—the popular type who brought nothing but distractions. She had one goal this year, and it didn’t involve getting mixed up with anyone, especially not someone like him.
---
When Aiah entered Room 203, she found a seat near the window, tucked away from the more popular groups of students. She preferred to stay out of sight, focus on her books, and hopefully breeze through the year unnoticed. Her thoughts were interrupted by the clatter of a chair as a boy took the seat beside her.
It was Gian Apuli, one of the boys she had seen with Mikhael earlier. He flashed her a friendly smile.
"Hi! New ka, diba? I’m Gian." He extended his hand, his energy contagious.
Aiah shook his hand shyly. “Uh, yeah. I’m Aiah. Nice to meet you.”
“Welcome to Bini High!” Gian grinned, his enthusiasm radiating. "Mabilis ka lang mag-aadjust dito, don’t worry. If you need anything, just ask. Ako bahala sa'yo!"
Before Aiah could respond, the door to the classroom swung open, and in walked Mikhael, followed by Cole Vergara and JR Robles. The air in the room shifted the moment they entered. Aiah couldn't help but glance in their direction, hoping to remain unnoticed.
Mikhael took a seat at the back of the room, his expression unchanged from earlier. Cole and JR, meanwhile, found seats nearby, laughing and chatting with ease. Gian waved at them, but Mikhael only gave a brief nod in return.
As the teacher began calling the roll, Aiah kept her head down, scribbling notes and ignoring the low hum of whispers around her. She could feel Mikhael’s presence at the back of the room, and though she tried not to, she found herself glancing back at him.
To her surprise, Mikhael caught her looking. Again, that brief moment of eye contact, cold and unreadable. Aiah quickly turned back to her notebook, her heart racing.
What was with this guy?
---
Later that day, during lunch, Aiah found a quiet spot in the library, far away from the bustling cafeteria. She had always found solace in books and quiet spaces, and this school’s library had a particularly comforting atmosphere. As she was reading, however, a shadow loomed over her.
“Mabigat ba ‘yung binabasa mo?” a low, slightly teasing voice asked.
Startled, Aiah looked up and found herself face-to-face with none other than Mikhael Lim. He stood there, towering over her, his hands casually shoved into his pockets. For a moment, Aiah didn’t know what to say.
“Uh, no,” she managed to say, quickly closing the book and setting it aside. “It’s just some light reading.”
Mikhael raised an eyebrow, as if assessing her. He didn’t say anything, but the silence was enough to make Aiah uncomfortable.
“Do you… need something?” she asked, feeling her cheeks grow warm under his intense gaze.
Instead of answering, Mikhael pulled out a chair and sat down across from her. His face remained unreadable, and for a few seconds, he simply stared at her, as though trying to figure something out. Aiah fidgeted in her seat.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Mikhael leaned back in his chair and shrugged. “Wala naman. Just curious. Bagong student ka, diba?”
Aiah nodded cautiously. “Yeah. I transferred here this year.”
Mikhael’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he found her answer unsatisfactory. “Weird. Parang nakita na kita dati.”
Aiah blinked, surprised. “I don’t think we’ve met before.”
“Hmm,” Mikhael hummed, leaning forward, resting his chin on his hand. “Maybe.”
There was an awkward silence before Gian suddenly appeared beside them, grinning as always. “Uy, Mikha! Napadaan ka rin dito? Aiah, kakain na kami. Sama ka sa amin!”
Aiah looked between Mikhael and Gian, unsure of what to say. Mikhael, however, stood up, giving her one last glance before heading for the door without a word.
“Wala ‘yan,” Gian said, laughing as he watched Mikhael leave. “Ganun lang talaga ‘yun. Pero mabait naman siya, promise.”
Aiah offered a small smile, though her mind was still spinning from her strange encounter with Mikhael. For someone who supposedly didn't care about anyone, he sure had a way of getting under her skin.
As Gian chatted away, Aiah couldn’t shake the feeling that her year at Bini High was about to get a lot more complicated than she had anticipated.
And somehow, Mikhael Lim seemed to be at the center of it all.