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@myteacheris
Chapter 4: Offline Meeting
Read Previous Chapter
🌸
A week after. Saturday noon. Inside the mall, anime songs are being played in the activity area and a lot of cosplayers can be seen including artists with their displays. There were lots of tables filled with anime merchandise. Today is the day of the anime con being held in the activity area of FCC, short for Flaura City Centre.
One of the stalls was selling milk tea. The plastic cups were printed with a cute drawing which looks like a character from an anime. It seems that the milk tea is very popular as there was a long queue.
The last person in the queue was a girl wearing a cute bunny hat. She was typing on her phone while waiting.
After sending the message to Jin, she opened the her phone's front camera to use as a mirror.
"I wonder if I look weird."
Today is the day she’ll be meeting her internet friend, Jin, for the first time.
Last week, Wednesday, after dinner, Trisha went straight to her room and checked her phone. It looks like her phone is fully charged now. She removed it from the charger and checked her notifications. She saw some unread messages from Jin. The last message was sent almost an hour ago.
So, she began typing.
Back to the present.
"I did say that... but I’m really nervous right now."
Trisha puts her hands on her chest. This is the first time she's going to meet an online friend. She hasn't seen Jin’s face before and hasn't even heard their voice.
"I wonder how Jin really looks like." She asked herself.
Trisha felt like the queue barely moved and gave up. When she turned around, she saw a figure of a guy wearing a black mask.
"Wait, isn’t that-"
The guy continued walking. He checked his phone, and he removed his mask. It looks like he unlocked his phone using face id.
“Sir Jake!”
The place was noisy so she wasn’t heard.
Jake put his mask back. He doesn’t seem to want to be seen.
He continues to walk while Trisha followed him. She realized they’re heading towards the backstage.
Suddenly her phone vibrated, and she got a notification from Jin.
Trisha’s eyes widen.
"Whaaat?!"
"No no no…”
"No way. It’s just a coincidence right?!"
People looked at her when they heard her talking to herself.
Embarrassed, Trisha put her smartphone to her right ear, pretending that she was talking to someone.
"Ah I lost him!"
🌸
Jake was at the back stage looking around for someone.
"Will she come?"
Jake was looking for a cosplayer. Actually he was not a fan of cosplay, but last year on the same event he saw someone who cosplayed his favorite character so accurately that he thought it was the character itself. The character is from a light novel ‘The Seven Children of Sin’ which isn’t very popular. So he really felt happy when he saw it being cosplayed, not to mention being portrayed accurately. He wasn’t able to take a picture last time. Hoping she will come again this time, cosplaying the same character he told himself that he won’t miss this chance.
Far from him, around 8 meters, he saw someone cosplaying a girl character with short black hair, red eyes, and a red cape.
"That’s her!"
When he was about to approach her, some guys are taking pictures with her. It’s normal to take pictures with a cosplayer, so he decided to wait.
Until he heard the conversation.
"Come on, just tell us your number. Let’s get to know each other." Said one of the guys.
"But…" The girl was hesitating.
"If you don’t want, then your Facebook account is fine too." The other guy said.
"I- I don’t use Facebook."
One of them snorted. "No way. Everyone uses them now. You have a Facebook page for sure!"
"Come on. Just tell us." He was about to touch the girl’s shoulder but his arm was stopped by Jake.
“Can’t you see she’s uncomfortable?”
"Kid… what’s your problem?" The guy said.
"Oh my… Are you lost?" Said the other guy.
Both of them burst out laughing.
"Shut up brats."
"Hey watch your m*****f****** mouth!"
"I don't wanna hear it from some brat who cusses just to make himself cool." Jake snorted "Well, I guess you aren’t cool enough getting desperate for a lady’s number huh"
"F*** you!" The guy threw a punch but Jake easily dodged it. The other guy slightly moved his feet backwards about to give Jake a kick, but he dodged it as well, making the guy kicked his friend instead.
"Argh--!"
The guy apologizes but his friend punched him back. “It f***ing hurt, you idiot!”
One of the event organizers saw them and called the security. The fight was stopped and the girl explained everything to the security and the organizers. The two guys apologized to them and asked the organizers to not ban them for the event, in which the organizer responded and handed them a form.
“That’s for us to decide, now put your names here.”
After the scene, the girl talked to Jake.
“Thank you. You really helped me back there.”
Jake removed his mask.
“No problem. Are you okay?”
“Uhm… Have we met before?” The girl asked.
“Ah! I was here on last year’s con as well. I didn’t expect you’d noticeme.”
“...Last year, huh?” The girl tries to recall.
“Uh…” Jake tried to call her attention.
🌸
While Trisha was looking for Jake and Jin in the backstage, she overheard some people talking about the incident.
“I heard they were harassing one of the cosplayers.”
“Really? A**holes.”
“They should ban them. They might cause some trouble in the future...”
“Who was the cosplayer?”
“I heard it was a girl in the red cape. I don’t know what character is that though”
“I feel sorry for her.”
“Yeah… but I also heard she was saved by some guy with a mask”
Trisha thinking that guy might be Jake, she continued to look for him, but...
“Wait, I should look for Jin. Why am I looking for sir Jake?”
In front of her, she saw the girl cosplayer in a red cape.
“Ah, I know that character.” She didn’t read the series but she recognized the character when Jin recommended that series before. It was also the manga that Jake was reading last time.
“I want to take a picture and send it to Jin.”
The she noticed that the girl is talking Jake.
“Yeah I know it’s him!”
“Wait, what should I talk with them. Greet them? And ask for a picture? Yeah that will work.”
She kept talking to herself.
When she got near them, she heard the girl saying.
“Jin… T-thank you. I’m really happy to hear that”
When Trisha heard that name, she froze and fell on her knees. She was kind of expecting it, but still. She can’t believe it.
“Noooooooo… Why…”
She then remembered their previous conversation.
“I wonder how he felt when I said that.”
"But wait wait wait..."
She also remembered that time when she talked about the first BL she read and liked.
“Nooo.. I don’t wanna face him anymore.”
“I don’t wanna go to school anymore even if he acts like he doesn’t know me. Just no...”
“Patricia…?" She heard Jake’s voice.
“Oh my God. I wanna disappear right now”
Jake reached to her.
“Patricia, are you okay?”
The cosplayer just stared at them wondering what’s happening. She’s also worried, thinking she might not be feeling well. However, she can’t help but stare at the girl’s hat.
“Cute… A bunny" And the girl realized something.
“Trish??”
“Seeee?! He really is Jin!” Trisha’s thoughts getting louder.
“You’re Trish, right? Are you okay?”
“But wait… The voice"
The voice calling her name Trish isn’t Jake’s but from the girl cosplaying the character Ira.
Trisha looked and studied her face.
“Could it be you’re…”
“Trish, it’s me Jin. Are you okay?” said the girl.
Trisha’s expression turn bright and she smiled and she gave her a tight hug.
“Jin. I finally met you!”
But she pushed her back, “But wait…”
She looked at Jake, confused at what she heard before.
This is the actual conversation few minutes ago.
“Uhm… Have we met before?” The girl asked.
“Ah! I was here on last year’s con as well. I didn’t expect you’d noticeme.”
“...Last year, huh?” The girl tries to recall.
“Uh…” Jake tried to call her attention.
“I’m a fan of the series! It’s too bad it isn’t so popular so I was surprised to see someone cosplaying my favorite character.”
“You like Ira too?” Ira is the name of the character Jin is cosplaying.
“Yeah so uhm… Can I… Take a picture of you?” Jake put his mask back to cover his embarrassed face.
Jin gave a cold expression and put her left hand on her left eye and glared at Jake.
"Huh! Humans are stupid beings."
Jin isn’t trying to be rude. In fact she was trying to act as the character she was cosplaying. TO Jake it’s as if his favorite character is in front of him, he can’t help but be amazed looking at her with his sparkling eyes.
"Amazing!" He said as he took some pictures.
"You really are like Ira! Did you make the costume yourself?"
“Yeah, it’s less expensive that way and I can make sure I get the details right.”
“Amazing.”
"Ira, are you joining the contest? I wish you luck!"
Jin was a bit flustered.
“My name is Jin… T-thank you. I’m really happy to hear that.”
Back to the present.
Both of them are still at the same spot.
Jake asked Trisha,
"What happened Patricia? Are you not feeling well?"
"I’m okay now sir. No need to worry."
"Sir?" Jin murmured. She thinks it’s weird for a young guy like him to be called sir by a girl who is about the same age as him. Was Trisha just being formal to stranger. She thought. But wait, he called him Patricia which seems to be her real name.
Jin studied the two of them. Cold sweat ran down from her forehead.
"Do you know each other?"
Trisha was about to introduce her teacher but Jake interrupted.
"We’re friends. My name’s Jake, by the way."
Trisha confused why he didn’t want her to say he is her teacher but she remembered the time when Jake asked her to keep his hobby a secret. She doesn’t really understand why but in the end she didn’t say anything and just nodded.
"I- I see" Jin replied. Trisha noticed Jin is being anxious.
"I have to check something so I gotta go." Jake told them. "You two be careful of creeps."
"Yes si- … Yup!"
"Thank you so much for today." Jin bowed slightly.
"Anytime. Nice meeting you Jin." Then Jake just left.
🌸
In one of the nearby cafes, Jin and Trisha are sitting inside. It’s still 2 hours before the cosplay event to start. They are spending their time chatting but Trisha notices that Jin is being anxious.
“You should have told me you’re cosplaying Ira. So that I can find you easily.”
“I want to surprise you. Hehe…”
Trisha looked at Jin’s troubled face.
"Is something that matters?"
"Trish, tell me. Is that guy Jake, your teacher?"
"Eh? Why would you think that?"
"You called him sir just now."
"Ah- That was just a habit. I even call my friend’s father ‘sir’ sometimes, ha ha"
"He looks young but I remember you told me your teacher was often mistook as a teenager."
Trisha thought she could no longer lie to her friend.
"Sorry sir Jake."
"...Yeah, sir Jake is my homeroom teacher but please promise me you have to keep this as a secret."
"Ahhh what should I do? I don’t know how to face him anymore."
"Eh why?"
"I mistook him as a guy younger than me. No wonder why he was pissed off!"
"Huh? What do you mean. He doesn’t look pissed off when he left us?"
"But I was just doing my job."
"Wait Jin, I don’t really get what you mean."
"My aunt’s store has a strict rule to never let minors buy cigarettes or liquors"
"What-"
"Whaaaaaaaaat?"
"Wait, so you’re that cashier?!"
"Ah, yeah… Sorry for not telling you. I wasn’t sure how to say it. Plus, I didn’t expect to see him again."
"I see. But don’t worry about it too much. He’s probably forgotten about it now. It’s not like you did it on purpose, right?"
"Yeah! I really didn’t know! He looks just like a kid you know."
"Now now. It’s better if you don’t mention that when he’s around."
Jin covered her mouth.
"Honestly, I thought you were a guy!" Trisha was laughing
"Really? Was it because of my name?"
"Yeah, it sounds like a guy’s name you know!"
"Sorry bout that."
"Why are you apologizing? I didn’t really mind." Trisha chuckles.
"I heard your real name by the way. Patricia… huh? So that’s why it’s Trish."
"Yup. How about yours? Is it Eugene?"
"No. It’s Jane."
Trisha didn’t expect her name to be that simple but what surprised her more was the fact that she already met her before. Trisha smiles, feeling happy that her friend is now in front of her.
It's Harry's birthday! I almost forgor aaaa
who would have thought that Gab has an emo phase when he was a teenager
Chapter 3: My Teacher's Other Side
Read Previous Chapter
🌸
Nighttime on the same day. Trisha was on her bed busy with her phone. She was playing Strife Play and chatting with Jin.
🌸 🌸
Morning, next day. At the lavatory area near the school cafeteria. While Trisha was washing her hands, she felt something on her feet. When she look down, she saw a white cat with orange spots cat. A big fat one. It was rubbing itself to her feet and her lower leg.
“Ah so cute!”
She quickly wiped her wet hands with her handkerchief and tries to pat the cat. Before she could do it, the cat ran away.
“Wait. I won’t hurt you.”
It ran towards the back of the building and so she ran and tried to follow it. When she reached the corner and about to turn to the left side, she didn’t notice the guy leaning on the wall while reading a book with an anime illustration on its cover. She bumped into him. Due to the collision, both of them fell down and the book was thrown away.
“Ouch!” Trisha hit her knee on the ground.
“What are you doing?” said the guy. The guy is someone Trisha knows.
“Sir Jake! I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
Jake got up and took Trisha’s hand, helping her to stand up.
“I’m fine. Why are you running anyway? Are you being chased?”
“No. I was looking for a cat. Did you see it?”
After helping her stand up, Jake walked towards the book and picked it up.
“Nah, I haven’t noticed.”
“That book…”
“...You know this?”
“I think I’ve seen that book cover before…”
And so Trisha remembered the time when Jin told her about his hobby aside from playing games. He likes to read manga too and he recommended that series to her. But Trisha doesn’t really read manga so she haven’t tried it yet but she still remembers the book cover at least.
“Wow I didn’t know you read manga sir Jake. Do you watch anime too?”
Jake leans towards her, putting his index finger on his lips.
“Shhhh…”
Could it be that he doesn't want anyone to know that so he reads it alone? Trisha doesn't understand why he still needs to hide that.
Then the bell for the first period rang.
“Ah, I need to go to the office now. Are you on the way to your class too? What’s your first period?”
“H.E.-”
“Oh no.” She suddenly remembered what Mary told her last time.
- "By the way, our next subject is H.E., and our teacher is a bit strict so please be sure no to be late on his class.
“Ahhhh!! I’m gonna be late I have to go!” Trisha runs.
Jake noticed something and tried to stop her, but Trish runs so fast that it amazed him.
🌸 🌸 🌸
Trisha was running in the hallway while repeating her prayers.
“I hope he’s not there yet. I hope he’s not there yet. I hope he’s not there yet. Oh God please.”
She passed by the faculty office where a man was about to leave.
“No running in the hallway, Ms. Bautista…”
Trisha recognized the voice and knew that things will get worse so she stopped.
“Sorry sir.”
“You’re already late so there’s no need to run.”
“Actually sir, I--" Trisha is trying to think of an excuse why she’s late.
“Wait, are you okay?”
“Huh?”
“It’s bleeding. What happened?!” William pointing at Trisha’s knee.
“Ah this must from when I bumped into sir Jake… Now that I’ve seen it, it does hurt.”
Then Trisha finally thought of an idea.
“On my way here, I accidentally bumped into someone and hit my knee on the ground. It hurts so I was walking slowly and I didn’t notice the time.”
“... But you were running just now.”
“Ah y-yeah. Ha ha... I was thinking I might still make it on time. Hehe”
William grabbed her hand. “Come with me.”
“Huh?!”
🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸
They stopped by the clinic’s door. William entered and talked to the lady inside.
“Excuse me Ms. Garcia.”
“Oh sir William… and Trisha?”
Trisha saw that it was her aunt Dianne so she smiled and waved.
“Trisha?” William got confused after hearing that name for the first time, but realizing where it come from.
“Is she the niece you were talking about Ms. Dianne" said by the other man sitting on the chair. The man has a black hair with a long bangs covering his left eye.
“Oh I see.” William murmured .
“Wait. Sir Andrew, what are you doing here?”
“Well I got a paper cut when I was reading in the library so I came her to ask for some band aids. Guess I need to head back to the office now.”
“...Is that so?” William doesn’t know whether Andrew is telling the truth. He knew his cousin always like to joke or tell lies.
As he was about to leave, he turned to Trisha,
“By the way, I’m Andrew Go. The History teacher of Grade 12. Your aunt and I are good friends so tell me if this guy is bullying you, okay?”
“Huh?! Why would I even do that?!” William reacted.
“Trisha your knee!” Dianne saw that Trisha’s knee is bleeding.
“Woah, sir William is a meanie…” said Andrew
“I didn’t do anything!”
“No this is-” Trisha was trying to explain but William spoke before she could even finish.
“She hit her knee on the ground. Dianne can you treat it so it won’t get infected.”
“Of course. Trisha come here" Dianne went to one of the cabinets to take the first aid kit.
Andrew was about to leave and called William.
“Will… Don’t you have a class today?”
William looks at the wall clock and realized he was late. He, of all people hates tardiness.
“Ahh!!”
Trisha looking at him, felt a bit guilty and said.
“Sorry sir because of me.”
William pats her head.
“Don’t worry about it. Come after you’re done”
William smiled at her and left with Andrew. Trisha couldn’t believe what she saw. Her terror teacher just smiled and he looked like a different person.
Next Chapter
Chapter 2: The Teachers From East City Senior High
<< Read Previous Chapter
🌸
Lunch time.
In the canteen, Trisha took out her lunchbox.
She still can’t believe that the guy who looks like 15 years old is actually a teacher.
“I wonder how old he really is."
While she was eating, she could hear a group of three girls who are talking nearby.
“Wait Lucy- She’s still eating-”
“We can talk to her after.”
“Guys, what are you talking about? Now’s a good time. We can join her you know?”
“Wait-“
One of them, a girl with a dark brown hair in twin tails, called Trisha.
"Hi Patricia."
"Oh, hi…”
The girl introduced herself.
"How are you? By the way, I’m Lucy. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too.”
Lucy pointed to her right, “This is Mary.”
To her left, “And this is Alice”
Mary, the girl with a short wavy hair who’s a little bit shy, spoke.
“I’m the class president. If you want some help, you can ask me.”
“And uhm… Sorry to disturb your lunch.” Mary said.
“No it’s totally fine. These seats are free, you can join me.”
The girls smiled and took their seats.
As they were eating Mary said, “By the way, our next subject is H.E. and our teacher is a bit strict so please be sure not to be late on his class.”
“Oh… Thanks Mary.”
“So Patricia, my friend, who’s your type?”
“Huh?” Trisha got confused with Lucy’s question.
“Seriously Lucy? That’s your question?” Alice commented and sigh.
Alice with the eyeglasses is a serious looking girl with short black hair.
“What’s wrong with that? I’m just curious you know.” Lucy answered.
Lucy turned back to Trisha.
“So girl, tell me. Who?”
“Who? Uhm… What do you mean?”
“Oh my? You don’t know them?!"
"This girl is a bit weird.” Trisha thought.
“I don’t really understand. Sorry…”
"She’s talking about those five guys.” Alice explained.
“Five guys?”
“Alice you shouldn’t say it like that. They’re our teachers.”
Lucy interrupted, raising her index finger. “Correction. Five. Hot. D-"
"Stop that!” Alice smacked her right away.
“Ouch!” Lucy rubbed the back of her head.
“Teachers?” Trisha tilted her head.
“They’re talking about the five popular teachers here in school. They’re popular for their looks and charming personalities too.” Mary explained while slightly blushing.
“One of them is our sir Jake!”
“‘Our’ huh…” Alice commented
“Oooh. Yeah, he is indeed… cute-” Trisha said.
“Oh no no.” Lucy clicking her tongue and points to Trisha. “Never say that in front of him. Although I agree he is indeed…” She paused and said in a lower voice “…cute.”
"Actually he doesn’t like to be called cute as well as being called a ‘baby faced’. He is usually chill but he loses his temper when he hears people calling him that.”
“Oh shoot. That was close.” Trisha realizing she almost called him that. Well she actually did, in her mind…
“So who are the other four?“
Lucy grins, took out her smartphone and showed her a photo.
"Wow. You have a picture with them.”
“Of course!”
“Well, she’s a die hard fan.” Alice said.
Lucy introduced the other four while pointing at the picture.
“This blonde guy, is our Math teacher, sir Gabriel. He’s a really kind person, you know. Next is the Grade-12’s English teacher, sir Harrison. He’s a cheerful person. You’ll always laugh when you’re with him.
The guy next to him is our cool History teacher sir Andrew. Hmm. He’s a bit mysterious but he’s also nice.”
"And the last one.”
“Whoa… He looks a bit scary” Trisha looking at the guy next to Andrew.
“That’s our H.E. teacher, sir William.”
“Huh? So is he the one you’re talking about Mary?”
“Ah, I remember he lost his contact lenses and couldn’t see clearly so he was squinting his eyes. Ain’t that cute?” Lucy laughs.
“And here’s an extra information. All of them are friends and are graduates of this school. Isn’t that amazing?! I wonder how are they like when they were in highschool…"
“Ah, she’s in her daydream state again…” Alice sighed.
🌸 🌸
The bell rang for the next period and a tall man enters the classroom.
"Ah this is-”
Everyone greeted him.
“Good afternoon sir William.”
“Good afternoon…” Said the man this with a calm voice, but he noticed something on the floor.
“Oi oi!” The class startled when they heard his loud voice.
“Why are there pieces of papers on the floor?! And rappers? Can’t you take care of your own trash? Seriously, are you 11-graders?!”
Some of the students hurried to pick up the trashes and anxiously threw it in the bin.
“Whoa… This person is… intense.”
Suddenly a sound of a message notification tone can be heard.
William glared at everyone. “Oi…”
“Whose phone is that?”
The notification tone didn’t stop and continued.
“Shoot!” Trisha noticed that her smartphone is vibrating.
William slammed the table.
“How many times have I told you that I don’t wanna hear a ringtone in my class?!”
Now everyone’s murmur can be heard.
“Hey whose phone is that anyway?”
“Just turn it off dammit.”
Everyone is getting anxious.
He noticed Trisha quietly reach for her bag.
“Is that your phone?”
Trisha saw that everyone is now looking at her and stood up.
“Sorry sir… I just forgo-”
“Is that your phone?” William asked again.
“Yes sir.”
“… Wait. You are…”
“Actually, sir. She’s the transferee-” Mary explained as she raised her hand.
He looks at his file. “Oh I see…”
“I’m William Go, your H.E. teacher. Welcome to East City Senior High.”
“… Thank you.. Sir”
“So Ms. Bautista… Do you think it’s okay to use your phone during class?”
“No sir. But I-”
“Good. Now turn it off or put it in the silent mode. I don’t wanna see or hear that again. Understand?”
“Ok but I wasn’t using it-”
“Understand?!”
“Y-yes sir.”
Trisha sat again. “Ugh, I don’t like this guy.
🌸 🌸 🌸
Afternoon. All the class has ended. Trisha puts all the cleaning materials back in its box and stretched.
“I was scolded by a teacher on my very first day. It’s my mom’s fault. Why is she texting me during class hours anyways?!”
The notification Trisha got during her H.E. class was a message from her mom.
On her smartphone screen shows a messaging app.
Mary saw Trisha leaving the classroom.
“Going home?”
“Yup, how about you Mary?”
“I still got things to do with the other class officers.” Mary sighs.
“Oh I see. Being an officer sure is tough…”
“Yeah.” “Oh by the way Patricia…”
“Yeah?”
“This morning. Just don’t mind it. Sir William is just like that. No one in the class was not scolded by him. Actually I’m the one who’s being scolded the most since I’m the president.” Mary laughed and then pat Trisha’s back. “So that means you’re officially part of the class now!”
Trisha just gave a short dry laugh.
🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸
“Hmm.. Let me check this place.”
Trisha is in front of the convenience store she passed by this morning on her way to school. The store name is 24/7.
She enters and directly went to the display. While checking the list her mom texted to her, she could hear some guys talking.
“Then how about the sum of 8 to the power of 3 plus 15 plus the product of 2 and 17.25 plus 31 minus 51 then take the square root of it?” A man with the deep voice said as if testing someone.
“What the heck was that?” Trisha couldn’t understand what the man is trying to say. The man doesn’t actually know the answer himself, but he was just testing the other man if he can answer it.
Curious, Trisha went to check where the voices are coming from and saw the backs of two tall men. One with a long orange hair holding a cart and the other one with a blond hair.
“Where did you even get that?” said the blond guy while he tries to answer.
“But well…” After a few seconds of mentally solving it, he gave his answer.
“It’s 19 times square root of 6, all over 2.”
“Seriously?!” Amazed at the blond guy’s ability to answer such a difficult question.
“Hmm.. to be exact. It’s around 23.270… one, five… two…”
“Okay! That’s enough!” The orange haired guy trying to stop him for his head is starting to ache.
“Hey, Gab, Harry… Are you done?” said the young guy who came from the other side.
“Ah that’s sir Jake…”
“So then, those two are…” Trisha realized who those people were.
“Our Math teacher sir Gabriel and sir Grade-12’s English teacher sir Harrison… But wait…”
Trisha studied Gabriel’s face.
“I know he’s blond but is he a foreigner? The picture Lucy showed wasn’t really clear.”
The one called Gabriel, is a tall white guy with a blond hair and blue eyes. One wouldn’t expect he’s fluent with the native language.
“Can you include this too” Jake put two cans of beers on the cart.
Then Harrison raised his right hand. Gabriel looked at him and understood what he was about to do so he raised his hand as well.
“Rock.. Paper…”
“Again?” Jake startled and raised his hand as well.
“Scissors!”
Trisha looking from behind, cringe a bit. “Oh my gosh. What are they.. Kids?”
Both of Harrison and Gabriel gave closed fists, while Jake on the other hand put ‘scissors’, which means both Harrison and Gabriel won so they gave him a pat on the shoulders.
“Thanks Jake”
“Damn it. Again?”
It seems like whoever loses will have to pay for everyone, and this isn’t the first time Jake lost.
Jake went to the cashier area. The cashier is a young lady with a lavender hair and is wearing eyeglasses. When she saw that most of the items are beers, she looked at Jake as if studying him. She called him with a small voice.
“Uhm, excuse me…”
“Yeah.”
“Sorry, but we don’t sell liquors to minors. Can you provide your ID if you happened to be 18?”
“Excuse me?” Jake changed his expression, squinting his eyes, as if trying not to hit someone.
“Miss… I don’t have time for jokes…” First he has to pay for everyone and this time the lady is making fun of him, no wonder he is pissed.
“Eh?” The girl was confused with Jake’s response.
“M-miss I… w-will pay.” Gab having heard the conversation, went to the cashier.
Trisha couldn’t helped but laughed. When she realized her mistake, she went and hide.
“Gab, were you laughing?” Jake saw Gab shaking who looks like he’s trying his best not to laugh.
“N-no… I’m … not”
Harrison grabbed Jake. “Jake, please calm down.”
“Shut up Harry. I’m always calm.”
After paying, Gab talked to cashier. “Actually miss. The three of us are already adults.”
It appears that she wasn’t really making fun of him and honestly thought Jake is a young kid. A cold sweat ran down from her forehead. The young lady realizing her mistake, got embarrassed, bowed her head and apologized.
“I’m so sorry sir, I thought you’r-”
“It’s fine!” Jake stopped her before she could finish “Forget about it.”
He called the two. “Come on, let’s go.”
When the three of them left, Trisha went to the cashier and paid for her items.
“Those teachers are funny.” She thought and smiled. “Different from sir William.”
“I wonder how is sir Andrew like. Is he like sir William since they’re cousins?”
She shook her head. “No need to think about it. For now I’ll just need to hurry and go home and have chat with Jin. I wonder how he’s doing.”
To be continued…
Old comic I did back in 2018 based on the store scene~
Chapter 1: New Place, New Life
🌸
Nighttime in August 2017. In a house somewhere in Cebu City, a girl is in her room using her phone. A application called Strife Play can be seen on the screen. It is an avatar mobile game which allows users to customize their characters and use it to communicate with friends virtually.
My name is Patricia Bautista. My nickname is Trisha. I use the name Trish online.
I am 17 years old and am currently a Grade 11 student.
I am living in Cebu with my family although neither my dad nor my mom is from Cebu. My dad is an architect, and we moved here two years ago because of his job. While we were having our dinner, my parents told me that my dad will be working abroad starting next month. Living abroad is expensive, and since we don’t have any relatives here, they decided that my mom and I will be moving to Flaura City, where my mom is from, while my dad is in overseas.
The person I was talking to online, is Jin, my internet friend for almost two years.
We met in this game called Strife Play, a popular mobile game where you can create your avatar and customize it.
Jin lives in Flaura City, one of the cities in Mindanao. The same place where we will be moving to next week. I don’t really like moving places, but because of my dad’s job, we usually move places every 2 to 3 years, and it is not fun. It is a hassle. That is also why I don’t have many friends. Every time we move, I lost contact with them after a few months. However this time, I don’t know why but I suddenly got excited when I heard the news that we are moving.
I can’t wait!
🌸 🌸
A week after. Morning. At the entrance to the Bautista’s residence, a woman wearing sunglasses and who appears to be in her late 30’s was leaving the house with a large travelling bag on her right hand and a hand bag on her left shoulder. She saw Trisha near the gate, grinning at her smart phone while typing.
“Trisha dear. Stop using your phone for now and help us.”
“Ah- Sorry! I’m coming mom,” Trisha said as she quickly typed on her smartphone.
‘sry gtg ttyl.’
She quickly goes to her mother to get the bags.
“Even at this time, you’re still busy with your phone. Are you texting your boyfriend?”
“Wha- I’m not- and I don’t have a boyfriend!” Embarrassed, Trisha said this out loud.
“Relax! I was just joking,” her mom chuckled “But your face is surely red. Wow!”
“Mom!” This time Trisha is annoyed. Her mom really likes to tease her when it comes to things like romance.
“Sorry sorry…” Her mother said with a grin.
A man also in his 40’s is at the back of the car. He takes the large bag and carefully put it inside the trunk. He arranges the other bags inside to make sure everything fits.
“You sure this is all? You didn’t forget anything?” said the man.
“Yes, dad.”
“Alright, let’s go!”
The three of them went inside the car. Both of her parents in the front seat, her dad on the driver’s side.
At the back seat, after Trisha put on her seat belt, she reaches her phone. There is a new message from Jin.
Trisha smiles as she types.
🌸 🌸 🌸
Evening on the same day. After her dad saw them off at the airport this morning, he went back to their house. Trisha’s dad is an architect and is currently working in a construction project somewhere in Cebu. Since he is leaving the company to work abroad, he has to stay another two weeks to finish some remaining work.
A bus passed by on a bridge somewhere in Flaura City. On the third row, a woman is sitting near the bus window. She reached to her phone and took some pictures of the view outside. A view of the wide river can be seen, reflecting the city lights. Ahead of them are the two-20 storey buildings, one on each side of the road connected by an overpass with a banner saying, “Welcome to Flaura City!”
“Trisha, we’re here!” said the woman to the young girl sitting beside her. After almost six hours of travel from Cebu, they finally reached Flaura City, with her mother.
“Oh… So this is Flaura City…” Trisha thought.
There aren’t many tall buildings around. For a city, it is rather quiet and simple. Although everyone speaks the same language, they sound to be more soft spoken.
But what caught her attention were the flowers around the city. There are lots of flowers in different kinds, everywhere.
“As expected of the City of Flowers, huh…”
When they reached the bus terminal, they went on the exit area to wait for someone.
Her mother is checking her phone and said, “Your aunt is still on the way but she’s nearby. Let’s wait for a bit.”
“Okay.“
“Are you hungry? Here, we still have some sandwiches left.” Her mother handed them over to Trisha.
“Thanks.”
“Aunt, huh? I wonder how she looks like.” She thought. Actually she already have met her aunt when she visited the city for the first time along with her parents . She was eight years old back then but she doesn’t remember much about it.
After a few minutes, a car parked near them. A lady got out from the driver’s seat rushing towards Trisha and her mother.
“Ate!” The lady said as she greeted and hug Trisha’s mother.
“Dianne! Ah, finally for how many years- How are you? Oh, you cut your hair” Trisha’s mom said.
“Yes. Does it look weird?”
“No, it totally suits you! Well any hairstyle looks good on you.”
“Thank you.” She chuckled.
“Ah sorry ate! There was a traffic along the way. Did you wait for too long?”
“No, it’s okay Dianne. We just got here anyway.”
“Trisha say hello to your tita Dianne.”
“Eh, that’s her?! But she looks young! It’s awkward to ask for her hand!” Trisha thought. She is surprised to know that the aunt, her mother was talking about is the lady in front of her who is younger than she thought. She was expecting her aunt to be at least on late her 30’s just like her mother. Thinking that her aunt is young, she ignored the thought of doing mano although feeling a bit guilty, so she just greeted her instead.
“H-hi!”
Dianne didn’t seem to mind.
“Oh, this is Trisha? She’s so big now! I feel a little old.” Dianne chuckles.
“Yeah, you’re 26 now. Don’t tell me you don’t have a boyfriend yet…” Hearing this, Dianne just gave a dry laugh.
After putting all the luggages inside the trunk, the three went inside the car.
🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸
It was a 20-minute ride from the bus terminal and they stopped by in front of a big house ‘Flores residence.’ Flores is the last name of Trisha’s grandparents.
Dianne left the car for a bit to open the gate and drove the car inside. The car was parked in the garage located at the right side of the house and Trisha’s mother smiled and said,
"Ah… This place brings so much memories.”
They went out from the car and Trisha helped her aunt with removing the luggages. There were three large luggages in total.
“Ate Dianne…”
Dianne seemed to be a bit surprised.
Trisha feeling a little embarrassed, she covered the bottom part of her face and looked away.
“S-sorry. You’re so young so…calling you tita would be-”
“Oh no. It’s okay. I’d rather be called ‘ate’ to be honest.” Dianne blushed and chuckles.
“So what is it?”
“Uhm… Who are living here?”
“… Just me.”
“… Oh I see… But this house is big.”
It is a two storey house. Even though it is an old one it still looks well maintained. It also has a small garden on the left side.
“The people who originally lived here before were my father, aunt Sofia and their parents. Aunt Sofia didn’t leave even after she got married so ate Rachel grew up here too.”
Rachel is the name of Trisha’s mother.
After putting the luggage inside the house, the three are now at the dining room.
“I’m so sorry I haven’t prepared that much but please eat” said Dianne while putting a plate of grilled fish and a bowl of sinigang.
“What are you talking about? This is more than enough. Thank you, Dianne. “Hmm! It looks delicious!”
After giving the food a blessing, the three of them started to eat.
Dianne seeing that Trisha’s plate is about to be empty, she passed the plate of rice.
“Don’t be shy Trisha. Please eat more.”
“Ah, thank you ate.”
“So how are you with you work Dianne? Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Things get busy but I can manage somehow. And everyone is nice”
Dianne works as a school nurse in a nearby school Flaura East City Senior High School.
“Oh, by the way… You’re coming to school starting this Monday right Trisha?” Dianne asked.
“… Yes.”
“Oh, at least you have one day to rest. Good luck to your new school. Tell me if you need any help.” Dianne smiles.
On the coming Monday, Trisha will be transferring as a Grade-11 student of East City Senior High.
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
Monday, early morning. At the open area of East City Senior High School, Trisha is roaming around. She’s having a hard time locating the Faculty Office.
On the corridor, she saw a guy who appears to be around in the same age and height as hers.
The guy with a sleepy expression on his face is wearing a jersey jacket with a whistle around his neck.
“He’s not wearing the school uniform. Is he a transferee too?” Although saying that, Trisha is actually wearing the school uniform as she don’t want to stand out as a transferee student.
“Oh, but he’s wearing a jersey jacket- Is this the PE uniform?”
The guy noticed her staring at him, and when he looked at her.
He seems to have seen a familiar face.
“..!”
Trisha got flustered.
“S-sorry! I..Uhm… I’m trying to find the faculty room.”
“… Ah, You must be the transferee. Come with me”
“Whoa. He’s kinda cool! And cute… I wonder which class he’s from”
“Wait how did he know I’m the transferee?”
She saw that the guy was holding something which looks like a log book on his hand. After a few minutes of walking along the hallway, they stopped by at one of the doors.
“We’re here.”
“But this is…”
Both of them are standing not outside of the faculty office but one of the classrooms.
“106 right?”
“Huh?”
“Your room is 106”
Trisha looks at her ID which says RM-106.
“Ah yeah, you’re right.”
“Good”
The guy opens the door and entered.
“Wait, I need to see the teacher fir-”
When the students saw them, everyone went to their assigned seats and greet the person in front of them.
“Good morning sir Jake”
“Huh?”
“Good morning.”
The students starts murmuring.
“Is that her?”
“Whoa. So it’s a girl after all.”
“She’s cute.”
“Do you think she has a boyfriend?”
“Everyone listen.” The guy called everyone’s attention and they went quiet. “You have a new classmate today.”
He looked at Trisha.
“Please introduce yourself… Ah by the way, I’m your homeroom and PE teacher, Jake Sanchez.”
“…” “Whaaat?!”
Next Chapter