Cercis

Years ago

Walking out of the principal’s office, I unwrap my snack, the crinkling sound of the wrapper oddly satisfying. Apparently, I’m being accelerated from first-year to third-year senior high because I’m “too advanced for my class.” Whatever that means. I didn’t even do anything special, just passed the tests and did my homework. But sure, let’s pretend I’m a genius.

I find a spot on the bench in front of the office and plop down, munching on my snack while the hallway buzzes with chatter. My brain’s too busy trying to process this whole “acceleration” thing to really care. That is, until something, or someone, catches my eye.

A boy. Barefoot. Standing outside the school gate.

Weird. But he’s kind of… pretty. The sunlight hits his brown eyes, turning them this warm amber shade that’s hard to ignore. He looks lost, scanning the crowd like he’s waiting for someone. My curiosity wins, and I subtly start peeking around, trying to see who he’s searching for.

“Cercis!”

I almost drop my snack. Iris appears out of nowhere, smiling so wide it’s borderline suspicious. She’s blushing, too. I know that look, someone’s got a crush.

“Guess what?” she gushes, barely containing herself. “I talked to him! Just a short chat, but still!”

I blink at her, unimpressed. “Congrats. You want a trophy for that?”

She swats my arm playfully, grinning. “You’re so mean. But he’s actually really nice, polite, soft-spoken, not like how people make him sound.”

I hum absentmindedly, pretending to listen while my eyes drift back to the barefoot boy. He’s looking our way. No, he’s looking at Iris.

I tilt my head. So that’s who he was searching for.

“Hey, Iris,” I cut in, “who exactly are you talking about?”

She glances over her shoulder shyly, blushing even harder. “Him…”

Following her gaze, I see him, the guy everyone talks about. Tall, beautiful, aquamarine eyes that practically glow under the sun. The moment he steps through the gate, the whole courtyard reacts, gasps, whispers, heads turning. It’s like the air itself changes when he walks in.

He’s that popular. The guy whose name circulates through every gossip chain. Even students from other schools come just to stare at him.

And yeah, okay, I get it. He’s objectively gorgeous. The kind of beautiful that doesn’t seem real. But honestly, it’s annoying. Some people just get life handed to them because they’re born with a symmetrical face.

I glance at Iris, who’s gazing at him like he hung the stars himself. Poor girl. She’s sweet, too trusting. And I can already see where this is going.

When I look back at the barefoot boy, I notice his jaw tighten as his eyes flick between Iris and Mr. Aquamarine Eyes. Interesting.

As I get up to leave, a voice calls out, “Hey, Jerry! We found your shoes!”

I pause mid-step, repeating the name in my head. Jerry, huh?

The name sticks with me for the rest of the day, so much that even while I’m solving equations in class, it slips out of my mouth when Quennie pokes me from behind.

“Jerry!”

She laughs. “Jerry Sandoval? From class 1-2? Wait... don’t tell me you like him?”

I groan, covering my face. “Maybe I just like his… vibe.”

“Sure you do,” Quennie teases. “Anyway, I heard you’re transferring to 3-1, same class as your sister. Don’t forget about me, okay?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” I smile faintly, but my eyes wander again... to where Jerry and his friends just left their classroom. “Hey, Quenn… you know his number?”

“Nope,” she says with a sly grin, “but I know someone who does.”

Later that night, I’m alone. Iris is out, Mom and Dad are working late, and I’m stuck in domestic mode; cleaning, washing dishes and clothes, pretending the silence doesn’t bother me.

When I finally sit down, I stare at my phone. Quennie actually came through, Jerry’s number sits there in my messages like a loaded gun. Should I text him? I’m not the type to make the first move, but… whatever.

[hello]

I toss the phone onto my bed like it’s about to explode. Minutes pass. No reply. Fine. To distract myself, I open my half-finished rom-com novel on Word. Usually, I can write for hours, but tonight, my thoughts keep drifting back to Jerry.

Then I glance out the window, and see someone I didn’t expect.

Iris’s crush, the aquamarine-eyed prince himself. He looks uncomfortable, surrounded by a group of girls clearly invading his space. Great. Drama outside my window.

Without thinking twice, I grab my slipper and hurl it out the window.

“Hey! I’m studying here! Beat it!”

The girls scatter. He looks up, startled, and our eyes meet. For a second, I almost laugh. Then... beep.

Jerry: [hi]

And just like that, my attention snaps back to my phone. I forget all about Mr. Pretty Eyes outside.

The night flies by in a flurry of texts and stupid smiles.

The next morning, I’m practically glowing. I get to school early, fresh uniform, neat hair, good mood. New class, new me.

I take a seat in my new room, 3-1, same class as Iris. She arrives soon after, clearly in a funk.

“I didn’t get to talk to him this morning,” she mutters, pouting. “Sean Ortiz, I mean. I’m supposed to work with him for the Foundation Day pageant, but he’s always surrounded by people.”

Before I can answer, the room goes silent. The door opens, and speak of the devil... Sean Ortiz walks in. Every girl in class straightens up. Iris beams.

Then Sean looks directly at me.

Tf, me?

He walks over and leans down. “Can we talk outside?”

Every head turns. Iris’s jaw drops. I sigh and follow him, pretending not to care while everyone watches like it’s a soap opera.

“About yesterday,” Sean says once we’re outside, smiling softly. “Thanks for the, uh, slipper rescue.”

“Oh, that?” I smirk. “Yeah, well, your fan club was getting annoying.”

He laughs, then pulls something from his bag. My slipper.

“Oh, God.” I snatch it from him and hide it behind me. “Don’t tell anyone about this or I’ll deny everything.”

He grins, amused. “Deal. I’m Sean Ortiz, by the way. My classroom’s just beside yours.”

“Cercis Aragon. Nice to meet you, bye!”

I head back to class, ignoring the whispers and Iris’s suspicious glare. When I sit down, I pull out my phone. Jerry’s messaged me again. My lips curl into a grin before I even realize it.

Iris leans over. “What did you do to get Sean Ortiz to talk to you?”

I shrug, chewing on my snack. “Threw a slipper at his face.”

She laughs, but there’s a trace of bitterness in her smile. “You always find a way to make people notice you, huh?”

Her tone is light, but her eyes say more than her words.

By lunchtime, most students head to the canteen. I stay behind to eat in peace, until I spot Sean again, standing by the hallway window, staring blankly outside.

“Hey, Sean,” I call out. “You not eating?”

He shakes his head, smiling faintly. “Got nothing to eat.”

I blink. “What, no lunch money?”

He laughs quietly, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “My mom’s struggling right now. It’s fine, though. I'll get through.”

Without thinking, I slide my egg sandwiches toward him. “Then share with me. Don’t make it weird.”

He hesitates, but sits beside me anyway. “You sure?”

“Dude, I bought enough for two stomachs. Eat before I change my mind.”

He laughs again, this time genuine. “You’re… not what I expected.”

“What did you expect?” I ask, eyebrow raised.

He shrugs, smiling softly. “Someone colder. But you’re… kind.”

I grin. “Don’t spread that rumor.”

We eat together quietly, comfortable in the moment, until I notice Iris standing at the doorway, frozen, watching us.

I meet her gaze. She quickly looks away.

I sigh, then turn back to Sean. “You want the last bite or not?”

He laughs, shaking his head. “You’re something else, Cercis.”

“Yeah,” I say with a smirk, “I get that a lot.”