"Before you speak, try to calm yourself."

Chapter 4

Three Lev

I STARED at them for almost a minute.

Seeing that bastard makes my blood hotter than boiling water. I gave him a deadly glare while I only looked head to toe at the one next to him, who was so cute, like a lost child in our section.

The idiot walked first and sat not far from me. He is on my left side, next to Levinne.

"Uhm. Sorry for his rudeness. By the way, he is Meendeelev Brixx Sanchez."

We looked at the behaviour of what he said was Brixx. Front sitting while chewing bubble gum. I hope you are disappointed! "And I am Levi Hughes Declan," he smiled at us before he sat down. And what's most shocking? He was coming towards me.

He sat down in front of me.

Wait! Did I hear it right?

Meendeelev Brixx Sanchez...

Levi Hughes Declan...

Did I hear their names correctly?

T-They also both have Lev in their names.

Meedeelev? Levi?

Let's include Levinne.

My eyes widened at what I realized. Jusko! Is this real? I just met those three guys with Lev on their names?

Is this a sign? Would it be possible to meet the Lev I remember from my childhood?

Confused, I quickly took out my journal and opened it. As I opened my notes, I saw the list of Lev's characters.

Lev's Character Checklist

[_] Artist

[_] has hazel eyes.

[_] honest/Judgemental

[_] not effective in advising

[_] The person who believes in my will

[_] Cute

[_] Sadboy

I know what I wrote before was meh because I was only thirteen years old when I wrote this checklist. The expression on his face that day really saddens me.

"Maybe... if I give it a title... Undying Lights is the one I'll choose."

"Why?"

"Because... fireflies never fail to provide me with hope. They are the light bearers. For me, the fireflies will not die, even in the morning. Their light of hope never fails to inspire courage... Their light signifies everything. Even if they disappear from this world, we will never forget that they were once the reason that we lived with hope in the midst of darkness."

I was inspired by his words at the time to continue writing. He's right, he's not the type of person who is good at giving advice when there's a problem, but he's the type of person you need whenever you need someone to talk to.

When I walked in the dark, he was my firefly. He lights my path and pushes me to venture outside my comfort zone.

And he is the only person who can do that to me.

I stopped in my tracks when someone suddenly grabbed my journal. I looked at the net holder and saw Aaron reading it.

"Uy! Journal ni Miss Malcom..." He started turning the pages while I quickly chased after him to get it.

"Hoy, Aaron! Ibalik mo 'yan!" I screamed to him. Some of my classmates laughed as we chased each other out. From the porch of the room back inside to the front. Even though we were running, he was still able to read inside.

"Characters..." My blood seemed to rise to my brain when he raised his voice. I still closed my eyes in annoyance when I remembered that all the names of my characters in the story were there. "Xanto---"

"Putangina mo!" I quickly threw the eraser I saw on the table because he was already in the back part of the classroom.

Sapul! Forehead shot!

I just laughed hard when I saw that it hit his forehead, and he sat down on the floor. I quickly ran in his direction and picked up my journal. I even fanned it and blew it a few times because it was a bit dusty when it landed in Aaron's hands.

"Minsan huwag makialam ng bagay na hindi sa'yo. Masama akong magalit. Sayang nga lang at wala akong kutsilyo," I hissed to him while returning to my seat.

Annoyed, he stood up while holding his forehead, where he got hit.

"Shet, Sienna, napaka-damot mo! Kaya mo yata akong patayin dahil lang sa journal na 'yan!" Sigaw niya na may halong inis.

"Madamot na kung madamot. Makakapatay na kung makakapatay. Hindi mo lang kasi alam kung anong laman neto!" Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong mapatayo habang sinusumbatan siya. "Aaron, kung gusto mong pag-tripan ako. Huwag 'yong gamit ko. Sabihin na nating OA ako dahil para sa'yo journal lang 'to. P'wes, ibahin mo ako. Dahil ang journal na 'to ang naging kaibigan ko simula no'ng bata ako!"

My chest felt tight as I said those words. I quickly took my things and left the room with a heavy heart.

My day is so bad.

Ate is against me writing a story. Then Aaron just annoyed me as fuck! Then there are three other boys named Lev.

I'm almost going crazy trying to figure out how to handle all of that.

𓆩ꨄ︎𓆪

IT was afternoon when I returned from class. I was just staying in the library and looking at my phone because there is unlimited wifi there, I downloaded a lot of music just to forget what happened earlier.

After my stay in the library, I decided to walk to the room. As I got closer, hindi ko mawari pero kinakabahan ako.

When I was at the front of the room, I noticed the silence of my classmates. I slowly entered and was surprised to see Sir Jimenez standing in front of the corner. He holds a long piece of chalk and an eraser. He looked very upset at everyone, and it got worse when he saw me.

"Miss Malcom, why are you late?" he asked with a hint of anger in his voice.

"Sorry, sir, I had a stomachache." I lied, pupunta na sana ako sa aking upuan nang muli itong magsalita.

"Sinabi ko bang umupo ka? Answer the equation on the board!"

Napatingin ako sa board at nakasulat doon ang equation na sa tingin ko ay masasagot ko lang naman pero mukhang matatagalan nga lang. Agad kong kinuha ang chalk sa mesa at initindi ang given equation.

Natagalan ako sa pagsagot dahil sa hindi ako marunong mag-mutiply at mag-divide. Matapos lang ang ilang minuto ay natapos din ako.

Hindi ko na ni-recheck dahil alam kong may mali ro'n. Hindi ko nga lang ma-pinpoint kung saan.

"Alright, Ms. Malcom... pero kulang ng sign... but still okay!"

Bipolar ba 'to si Sir Jimenez? Kanina halata sa kanyang galit siya ta's matapos kong sumagot ay bigla na lang natuwa.

I sat in my chair and quickly opened my notes.

I looked at the whole class. I felt annoyed with my classmates' stares, and a few of them just wanted to kill me with their deadly glares. When I looked at Levinne, he was just smiling, except for Meendeelev, who had a very cold facial expression.

The class continued well. But I felt like there were some eyes watching me the entire time. Since I don't care about it, I ignore it.

Matapos ang klase ni Sir Jimenez, naglipit na ng mga gamit ang mga kaklase ko since last class na rin sa schedule namin. Matapos neto ay napagdesisyunan kong umupo muli dahil na rin sa pagod na makailang beses sa pag-recite ko ngayong araw.

I closed my eyes and leaned back in my chair. I inhaled deeply while reminiscing about the memories I had with Lev.

A lot can happen when I see him. Maybe he has someone else? Could it be that he is already working? Or has he forgotten me? Or maybe he really doesn't care about me anymore because he's changed. There are many possibilities for both of us, and I also have many reasons to look for him.

Because he is the angel of my life.

I stopped thinking when someone dropped a box of Choco Much on my table. When I looked up, I saw Aaron, who couldn't look at me and was only looking outside.

"S-Sorry..." Nauutal niyang wika at kapansin-pansin din ang pagtaas-baba ng kanyang Adam's apple.

"What's that?" I asked with a strict face.

"S-Sienna, I am truly sorry for what happened a while ago. It's stupid of me to make fun of you. I am really sorry, Sienna..." His words were sincere. Kahit hindi niya ako matingnan sa mata ay ramdam ko naman ang sinseridad sa kanyang boses.

"I accept your apology." I said as I took the chocolate. Matapos kong kunin ang tsokolate ay dali-dali siyang tumakbo papalabas habang naiwan ako naman akong nag-iisa.

Napatitig ako sa box ng tsokolate na bigay ni Aaron. It never occurred to me that a guy like him would give me a gift as an apology.

Is he serious? O baka pinag-ti-tripan na naman ako no'n?

Isinilid ko na lang ang chocolate sa bag at akmang lalabas na sana ng room nang mapansin ang nakatayong pigura sa may pintuan sa harapan.

Prente itong naka-dek'watro ang braso habang nakangising nakatingin sa akin.

I really find that weird.

"Anong meron sa ngising 'yan, Mr. Fontilla?" Tanong ko habang napailing-iling na naglalakad papunta sa kanya. Nagsimula rin kaming maglakad palabas ng room habang tinatahak ang daan palabas ng campus.

"Wala. I just found you and Aaron have a chemistry na p'wedeng dahilan ng pagresolba ng isang hindi masagot-sagot na equation."

Naningkit ang mata ko rito, "What? I don't understand."

"What I mean is, nag-effort si Guy para lang mag-sorry? Minsanan na lang 'yan nangyayari, Ms. Malcom."

"Why? Dahil ba ang iba sa inyong mga lalake ay hindi marunong mag-sorry?"

"Yes? Like parang big deal sa kanila ang magsabi ng sorry sa isang babae. Tingin nila ay parang nakakabawas 'yon sa pagkalalake nila."

"Bakit nila? Hindi ka rin ba lalake?"

"That's not what I meant. I always say sorry, kung ako man ang may kasalanan."

"Really?"

"Yes, Ms. Malcom. Kayo ngang mga babae riyan palaging may toyo 'pag nag-aaway at hindi nilalambing naming mga lalake."

"Hey, that's a hasty generalisation, Mr. Fontilla. Bakit? Lahat ba kami ng babae ay naging girlfriend mo para masabi mong may toyo kaming lahat 'pag hindi nilalambing niyo?"

"You are using alien words, huh?"

"It's not an alien word, Mr. Fontilla. It's a kind of fallacy. Aral-aral din."

Natahimik ito sa aking huling sinabi at narating na rin namin ang gate. Nalakad kami papunta sa aming tinatrabahuan at pansin ko ang pananahimik ni Levinne.

Napahilot ako sa aking sintido dahil naging awkward ang atmosphere sa aming dalawa.

Paano ba 'to? Kasalanan ko ba kung bakit siya natahimik?

"Levinne... s-sorry..." I broke the silence between us.

"Why are you sorry?"

"Did I offend you?"

"N-No. Hindi. Sadyang may naalala lang ako."

"May I know kung ano 'yon? K-Kung p'wede lang naman..."

"I just remembered someone from my c-childhood..."

Childhood? I-Is this me? Did he remember me? Is this the sign that was given to me?

Does Levinne still remember her childhood best friend, Sienna?

He was about to answer when he stopped walking, and I noticed a familiar man who had just left the cafe where Levinne and I were working.

Mukhang galit ito at handang manuntok ng tao sa kanyang paligid.

Dahil sa naabutan naming eksena ay dali-dali kaming napatakbo ni Levinne papuntang cafe na nagtataka.

Papasok na sana kami nang lumabas sa pinto si Ate Lanie na sobrang pawisan. Kasunod naman nito si Levi na sobrang cold pa rin ng hitsura.

"Ate Lanie, what happened?"

"Si Mr. S-Sanchez... nagwala dahil may nakitang langgam sa plato niya na may cheesecake..."

I frowned at what she said.

Langgam sa cheesecake. Pero bakit gano'n na lang sila kung mabahala sa nangyari? Like, hello? Wala pang namamatay sa pagkain ng langgam?

"Fuck! What kind of cafe is that?! They've got some shitty products and service."

"Hoy, 'wag mong matawag-tawag na shitty ang cafe namin dahil mas mukha ka pang shitty!" Pagsigaw ko rito habang tinuturo pa siya.

In retrospect, I regret doing that... especially at the time. I didn't expect that it would be the start of an unexpected twist in my life.

Because the story of our love has already begun.

𓆩ꨄ︎𓆪