Albert Summers Dela Cruz, an ordinary high school student, every morning, Albert embarked on his journey to school while listening to Boyce Avenue's cover of "Every Breath You Take." The familiar melody provided a comforting soundtrack to his otherwise ordinary life. Albert considered himself an average Joe, studying diligently and navigating the complexities of high school like any other student.

Arriving at school, Albert's eyes fell upon a familiar figure waiting at the gate—Keanu, his friend and rival since elementary school. Keanu possessed a quick wit and a mischievous streak, often teetering on the edge of arrogance. While he could be frustrating at times, Albert acknowledged that Keanu had a good heart beneath it all.

"Hey, Al, did you miss me?" Keanu teased.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Albert responded, caught off guard.

The two friends, or rather, frenemies, began their usual banter as they strolled towards their classroom.

"Did you study for the quiz?" Keanu inquired, a sly smile playing on his lips.

"No, you?" Albert replied, with a small arrow pointing to his response labeled "lie."

"Studying? Is it even edible? Haha," Keanu countered, also with a label indicating deception.

Albert, feeling a surge of competitiveness, decided to make a bet. "Do you know that 92% on the population fail to achieve their goals? Don't blame me if you fail," he warned.

Keanu chuckled confidently. "Me? Fail? Hahaha, Physics and Calculus are a piece of cake, boy. How could I fail?"

Undeterred, Albert proposed a wager. "Let's make a bet then. Whoever gets a lower score will do something the winner tells them to do."

Keanu agreed, "Fine, what's your bet?"

Albert hesitated for a moment before responding, "You'll treat me for six months."

Without missing a beat, Keanu agreed, "Alright."

"And what about you?" Albert asked, curious to hear Keanu's counteroffer.

Before Keanu could respond, they were interrupted by a familiar voice.

"HEYYYYYYY, wait for me!!!" Jolie's voice rang out, capturing their attention.

Jolie, the love of Albert's life, made her grand entrance. While she wasn't officially his girlfriend, Albert longed for the day he could gather the courage to confess his feelings. His shyness had held him back thus far, but he found solace in the fact that Jolie had rejected all her previous suitors.

In that moment, Albert realized that his life wasn't as unremarkable as he once thought. With Jolie's presence, his world seemed brighter, and he treasured the friendship they shared along with their chaotic trio, including Keanu, who had been their companion since elementary school.

"Here you two go again with your morning routine of bickering," Jolie said playfully as she joined the conversation.

"Morning, J," Keanu greeted.

"Good morning, Jolie," Albert stammered, his face turning red.

Keanu seized the opportunity to tease Albert. "Did you study, Jolie?"

Albert quickly interjected, "Yes."

Keanu, noticing Albert's peculiar behavior, felt a pang of disappointment. Something seemed off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"I wish I were as smart as you guys," Jolie admitted, casting a glance at both Albert and Keanu.

Just as they were about to enter the school building, Cedric, another friend, called out to Albert, signaling that the exam was about to start.

"Guys, hurry up, the exam is about to start," Cedric alerted them.

Jolie chimed in, "Come on, guys, hurry up!"

Albert and Keanu followed Jolie's lead, but Keanu couldn't help noticing Albert's distraction.

"Al, I've thought about my bet," Keanu said, his voice filled with mischief.

Albert, still lost in his thoughts, responded absentmindedly, "Okay, what is it?"

"You'll confess to Jolie," Keanu declared, catching Albert off guard.

"HUHHH!!??? What are you talking about? What should I confess to her!?" Albert exclaimed, his anxiety rising.

Keanu, using Albert's own words against him, smirked. "Al, we both know you've had feelings for her since elementary school. Jolie rejected all her suitors, and you're the only one I know who has a chance because of your long history together."

Albert was at a loss for words, his mind racing. He realized that Keanu might be right, but the thought of confessing to Jolie filled him with both hope and fear.

"Do you know that 92% of people fail to achieve their goals? Don't blame me if she finds someone else," Keanu added, echoing Albert's earlier statement.

Feeling cornered, Albert reluctantly agreed. "Okay."

With that agreement, Albert's trial began. He had a plan in mind, but the weight of confessing his feelings to Jolie loomed over him. Despite his initial reluctance, his pride couldn't handle losing to Keanu. This newfound determination sparked a fire within him.

"Well, I won," Keanu reminded Albert.

"Tch, well, a promise is a promise, and a promise..." Albert started, trailing off.

"Should never be broken," Keanu finished, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Sighing, Albert acknowledged defeat. "Can you help me, though?"

"Sorry, but that wasn't part of our agreement," Keanu replied, smirking.

Annoyed, Albert muttered under his breath, "Dang it"

"Hey, what are you guys talking about? Is it a girl?" Cedric inquired, joining the conversation.

"Yeah, bro, in fact, I'm helping this guy, because he is a scaredy cat," Keanu explained.

"More like embarrassing me," Albert muttered quietly.

Cedric chuckled, "Hahaha, what can you do to help him when you're the one being chased by girls here?"

Keanu interjected, "Yeah, by the way, didn't you say your crush already accepted your proposal?"

Albert's curiosity piqued, and he joined in, "Yeah, right."

Cedric smirked. "She said yes just yesterday, but she told me not to spread the news yet."

"What? Even to us?" Keanu exclaimed, surprised.

"She's the boss," Cedric replied with a playful grin.

As Jolie arrived, she greeted everyone, unaware of the conversation that had taken place.

"Good morning, Albert," Jolie said with a smile.

Albert's heart skipped a beat as he stammered, "Goo... Good morning, Jolie."

Jolie's heart sank as she approached her friends, Albert and Keanu, with a desperate plea for help.

"Albert, Keanu, can you guys assist me with the remedial quiz?" she asked, her voice filled with a tinge of disappointment.

Albert couldn't help but ask, "Did you fail again?"

Keanu chimed in with his usual dry humor, "What else is new?"

Feeling hurt by Keanu's comment, Jolie retorted, "You're so mean to me, Keanu."

Curious about the upcoming remedial quiz, Cedric asked, "When are your remedials?"

Jolie replied with a sigh, "On Monday."

Keanu couldn't resist teasing her, "Well, that's next week. You still have three nights to review, hahaha."

Hoping for their assistance, Jolie asked hopefully, "Can you guys help me review on Sunday?"

Apologetically, Keanu declined, "Oh, sorry, I can't, hahaha."

Cedric chimed in, "I also have plans."

Feeling disappointed, Jolie asked, "Oh... Why?"

Keanu jokingly replied, "We have somewhere to go, heheh."

Albert whispered to Keanu, expressing his concern, "Hey, why are you leaving me with Jolie?"

Keanu smirked mischievously and replied, "What are you talking about? This is your chance to confess and court J. It would be awkward if I'm the third wheel, unless you want that, just kidding."

Reluctantly, Albert accepted his fate, saying, "Fine, thanks for everything, annoying friend."

Jolie turned to Albert, hopeful, and asked, "What about you, Albert? Are you free on Sunday?"

Albert mustered up the courage and replied, "Yeah, I'm available."

Overjoyed, Jolie exclaimed, "Yeyyyy, thank you so much."

Albert whispered to himself, his mind racing, "Oh my god, what am I going to do?"

The night before the study session, Keanu reached out to Albert. Having a history of mischievous antics, Albert anticipated that Keanu's call would be no different. Albert ended the call, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Sunday arrived, the day of their study session, and Albert's heart raced as he prepared himself for what he had planned. When Jolie greeted him, he couldn't help but be captivated by her beauty.

"Good morning, Albert," Jolie greeted him warmly.

Albert stammered, his heart skipping a beat, "Goo... Good morning, Jolie."

Jolie suggested they go to her place after attending the church service. As they began their tutoring session, Albert noticed that Jolie was still struggling with her studies.

"Minus two x plus x equals...?" Albert asked, trying to guide her.

Jolie hesitated and then confidently responded, "Seven x."

Albert was taken aback by the incorrect answer. He urged her to repeat the equation, saying, "Huh!? That's wrong, and how did -2x + x become 7x? Repeat it again."

Jolie, feeling defeated, agreed, "Okay, Sensei. Huhuhu."

Annoyed by the nickname, Albert insisted, "And don't call me Sensei."

As they spent more time together, Albert couldn't help but cherish their moments alone. However, he knew he had to gather his courage and confess his feelings. He had prepared a plan, but now he wondered if he had forgotten it. Would Jolie say yes? Did he even have a chance with her? Frustrated with his own thoughts, Albert decided it was now or never and resolved to go for it.

"Jo... Jolie..." Albert started to speak, but before he could continue, the doorbell rang, interrupting him.

Jolie sighed, saying, "Oh, he's here."

Albert's heart sank as he thought about his missed opportunity. He wondered who could be at the door. Maybe it was Jolie's younger sibling, whom her parents often brought along. It seemed impossible for her to have a boyfriend.

Curiosity piqued, Albert asked, "Wait, where's your sibling? Why is Cedric with you?"

Confused by his question, Jolie replied, "Huh? What sibling? Wait, don't you know? Cedric is my boyfriend."

Cedric chimed in, reminding Albert, "I already told Keanu to inform you. He probably forgot."

Albert realized that Keanu was trying to tell him last night, and suddenly everything made sense.

Trying to put on a brave face, Albert said, "Congratulations, hehe."

Jolie thanked him warmly, oblivious to Albert's inner turmoil, and suggested they continue studying.

With a forced smile, Albert responded, "Ye... yeyyy," concealing the pain he felt inside.

To be Continued...