Jace scratched his head. So far, things have been out of the ordinary for him. He usually doesn’t talk to girls. Not that he has problems talking to girls; he just prefers to do things at his own pace.

But yes, it was just yesterday when he talked to three girls in one day.

He inserted the last book in its rightful place on the topmost bookshelf and slowly climbed down the stepladder.

First was Rosie, the smartest girl in his class. Next was Thelea, the ‘queen of all gossips’, as what Rosie said. And the last one was his neighbor, whom he rarely ever talks to due to certain events, Oresa.

One thing led to the other, and now he was in the library early in the morning, way before school starts.

“Sorry I wasn’t much of a help. But it’s been a pleasant surprise to have you talk to me about something random like this.” The redhead smiled at Jace.

“Yeah, I’m sorry too… for coming without prior notice.”

“Don’t worry about it. Ah, my cousin mentioned about needing help with returning the books to their proper places. I heard that you help him sometimes.”

“I see, yeah I help him sometimes because he lets me sleep in the lib’s restricted area.” Jace said with a big smile, stepping out of Oresa’s lawn. “See ya, thanks again.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll update you if I’m given the list of the enrollees of students for this summer. I think that should help you somehow.” Oresa waved her hand. “Oh yeah, actually if you see a girl…”

“If I see a girl with pigtails in the library I should ask her about it? What if she changed her hairstyle? That’s not very helpful information, especially coming from the Student Council Vice President. How am I supposed to find someone so early in the library anyway—” he heard a small scream on the other side of the bookshelf. He ran towards it and saw a stepladder wobbling out of balance. He looked up and saw pink polka dots. Before he could look away, he estimated where she would fall and somehow caught her in his arms. He almost fell to his knees with the impact. The girl in his hold was as red as a tomato.

“Are you alright?” he asked the petite girl with amber hair which were tied up in two pigtails.

“Y-y-yes… T-thanks.” She timidly spoke. “I can g-get down now.”

“Oh, okay.” Jace released his hold onto her and she stepped lightly on the floor. “You know you should be more careful next time. What if I wasn’t here to catch you?”

“E-Eh??” Her face turned into a darker shade of red. “I’m lucky that y-you were there then…” She was looking away.

“Why are you here so early in the morning anyway?”

“I c-could ask you the same question.” She spoke softly. “I’m here because I h-help out sorting books and stuff… I also help around with secretarial things…I love reading books too… Sometimes I come here just to read if there’s not much to do.”

Jace’s features softened up to the stranger. He spoke with a tone of interest. “Oh, what’ve you read so far?”

“I’ve read M-Mc Gregor, Ceria, and L-Larson…”

“I’ve read those too. But personally I prefer adventure and horror genres…especially John Kent’s.” She shyly nodded. “Wait, those are pigtails right?” She nodded once more. “You say you help out here regularly?” She nodded for the third time. “Do you somehow know anyone named ‘Irsa’?”

She paused.

“I-I haven’t seen that name in the library logs… I’ve always checked and double checked it ever since last semester… I don’t remember such a name but…”

“But?”

“Well… In books…” She started twiddling with her thumbs. “Some people use unusual names as an alias… erm… maybe…”

“You’re right! If no one’s named Irsa, it must be an alias! How could I have missed it?” He clasped his hands on hers as excitement overwhelmed him. He was barely aware that the amber-haired girl was almost losing consciousness with his actions. “Thanks! What’s your name by the way?”

“I’m Asarinella… B-but you can call me Asari.”

“Okay, thanks again Asari. Oh, how rude of me. Nice to meet you, I’m—”

“I-I know you, you’re Jace!” Asari squealed with her small voice. “J-Jace Tertullian.”

He paused. “How do you know my name? From the library logs?”

“Y-Yeah but not just that… You…you’re also quite popular.”

“P-popular how?” What on earth? “I don’t remember being popular.”

“You’ve been the talk of most of the people in school since last n-night. I… I may not seem like it but I’m quite active online… somehow at least… and people are calling you t-the Summer Idol… It spread like a wildfire through social networking sites… there are many photos of you around. B-But those photos were good. I-I mean…! It’s not that I saved them but…”

“You have got to be kidding me.” Things being ‘out of the ordinary’ suddenly seemed an understatement to describe his current high school life.

Only one name popped in his head.

Thelea…

He wanted to facepalm badly.