It’s their sophomore year. The year where everyone starts having their own cellphone and creating group messages of nonsense sent to everyone. But Aliah couldn’t have one due to their financial situation. They couldn’t afford to buy it for her because it costs as much as their rent expense.

Sometimes, she feels envious especially when their group of friends talks about the text messages they had last night but she couldn’t relate or catch-up to what they were talking about so she just decided to stay silent. Or sometimes, she just laughs with them though she couldn’t fully understand what they mean.

Since her class schedule became 11am to 6pm in this school year, Ali decided to join cheer dance team representing the sophomores which will compete with other team from different levels on the Intramurals Day. One of the events Ali is looking up to.

And due to this extracurricular, Ali became more busy and couldn’t go home with Zaine all the time, especially when they are having late practice. But still, they manage to meet during weekends.

“Do you know James?” Zaine asked her while they are eating steamed corn as they hang out in Ali’s house.

“James? The one who’s sitting near the window at second to the last row?” Ali responds.

She nodded in response and told her that he’s asking for Ali’s number. She wonders why James would ask for her number but Zaine just shrugged her shoulder. “So what did you say?” She added.

“I said I don’t have your number but he doesn’t buy it.” And they high five for Zaine’s wise answer.

Ali keeps wondering why he’s asking for her number. James is quite famous in their class for having charming deep set eyes with long lashes and pointed nose. Lots of girls from other sections have crush on him. But they don’t even talk in the class though they just casually nod with each other when they meet outside the room from time to time. More than that, they don’t really interact with each other.

Ali became more curious so she asked Zaine when that was and she responds that it was right after they performed and won in the Intramurals Day. 

“Maybe he just likes to congratulate me.” She thought.

======

It’s the last period of the examination day for the second quarter of the school year. Ali and Zaine went home together as soon as they finished the tests until they bumped with James along the way. His eyes widened as soon as he meets their gaze. He doesn’t know what to do so he just greeted them awkwardly. They greeted him back and go on their way.

“Aliah!~” He called out which made the two turn their back and looked at him. Aliah just raised her brows as a response. He asked if he could join them and that made the two girls left puzzled.

“What was that?” Zaine murmured. Aliah shrugged her shoulder then proceed on their way. So the two young ladies walked with him. They were wondering why James keeps on insisting to walk with them though they live on the opposite side of the road.

“Don’t you really have a cellphone number?” He asked out of nowhere while looking down. Zaine smiled as if she smells something’s fishy with James’ suspicious behavior today. He’s kind a bit weird but cute at the same time, she thought. 

But Ali is acting like a cold-hearted princess in a fairytale. She just simply nodded in response.

James released a deep sigh. It seems like he has something to tell. He gathers all the courage he has since he’s left with no choice but to spit out what’s on his mind right now. It’s now or never. He starts to rub his nape and wipes the sweat on his forehead then took a deep breathe.

“I like you.”

That made them stop from walking and they both looked at James in shock. Then Ali looked at Zaine because she feels like she heard something that she couldn’t comprehend. But Zaine covered her mouth from shouting out of joy and starts hitting Ali’s arm.

 “You don’t have to respond right now. I just want to tell you this or else, someone else will confess on you before I do.” James mumbled. And go on his way.

The two were still shocked with what they heard and Zaine couldn’t control what she feels so she shouts for joy and hits Ali’s arm like there’s no tomorrow.

“OUCH~~ Will you please stop hitting me?!” Ali still couldn’t believe what she heard.

The great James who receives lots of love letters from freshmen, sophomore and even from juniors and seniors, likes someone like her? Is this some joke or something? Or maybe he’s having some sort of betting game with his friends. Lots of odd ideas flashed in on Ali’s head.

The next day, Aliah is walking side by side with Zaine when her friend suddenly bumps her elbow towards Ali’s arm. She saw James walking towards them.

“Hi!” He greeted but this time, he’s more confident than he used to. Maybe expressing what he truly feels for Ali makes him less nervous. Ali just waved her hand and continues walking. She doesn’t like the attention she’s having right now. Almost every girl looks at her then start murmuring.

“This is what I hate the most.” She mumbled while entering the room.

Their class starts and they are interchanging the seating arrangement depending on the group they belong. Funny how fate butted in, Aliah and James became group mates. And everyone smiled as if they are teasing them.

James smiled on her but she just focused on what she is jotting down as their teacher starts giving instructions about their project. They were all instructed to do a module by group and submit it by Monday. They should work it out over the weekend to submit a great output.

“Let’s work this out.” James winked at Aliah. And their group mates couldn’t stop from giggling for James’ behavior. But Aliah doesn’t like it. She glared at him as a warning and rolled her eyes as she turned her back from him. James felt quite humiliated so he behaved himself and stops acting cute towards her. He stayed quiet the entire class which bothers Aliah.

After that subject, they returned to their usual sitting arrangement where Aliah and Zaine are seatmates.

 Aliah is acting cute towards Zaine expressing how she misses her dear friend but it seems like she’s quite annoyed at her. She is being nagged for the way she treats James in front of everyone. Maybe it would be better if she could at least be kind to him even though she doesn’t like him.

 “There’s a thin line between being nice and flirting back. I don’t want to cross that line or even give him false hope. It’s better this way.”

That being said, Zaine couldn’t argue with what Aliah stated because she has a good point on that. While on their way to the canteen, they met James, talking and laughing with his friends, when one of the seniors from the section beside their classroom approached him. She introduced herself as Laura and waved at him. But James just bowed slightly as a response then walked away from her. He looks quite cold and snob, far different from how he treats Aliah in front of everyone. He clearly draws a line when he’s not into someone and only shows his cute side to Aliah.

James saw the two young ladies so he paused for a moment but the ice cold princess just walked pass him and didn’t even bother to meet his gaze. Zaine greeted awkwardly because she felt bad for the action made by her friend. Good thing James greeted him back and walked towards their classroom.

Zaine smacked Aliah’s back and gazed at her intently. Ali glared back at her as she was hit big time.

“Are you annoyed because of what I did or because of what that senior girl did?” 

Zaine crossed her arms as she interrogates Aliah’s action. But Aliah didn’t respond and just displayed tight-lipped smile. Zaine felt guilty and realized that she may have crossed the line so she asked if it really hurts.

“Which one, what you did or what that senior girl did?” Aliah being sarcastic and witty at the same time. She knows that Zaine has hidden agenda on asking that question.

Zaine released a deep sigh for being a failure in outwitting her friend. Aliah smirked at her for being so obvious on her intentions. And they just continue going to their destination.

======

Aliah, James and their other group mates are having their meeting regarding the module that they have to submit. Everything is settled and the other important details will be sent through text message. Everyone’s giving their number and James looked at Aliah if she’ll gonna write her number on the list. And unexpectedly, she did.

“Don’t give away that number to anyone. It’s my father’s number. Just sent me the important details regarding our project. Nothing more, nothing less.” And she looked at James as if she’s warning him not to do something weird about it.

The next day, Aliah has arrived to their meeting place but there’s no one around yet. She’s not late to their agreed time nor came early. So she decided to wait a little longer for others to arrive. Then she saw James running towards her.

“H-Hi!” He managed to greet while panting. It looks like he’s been running as if he’s late already. He’s having a hard time to recover his breathe so she tapped his back and asked if he’s okay. He gestured with a thumb as a response as he tries to gather his breathe.

“Didn’t you read their text message a while ago?” James asked and Aliah shook her head. 

“Why? Is there a change of plan?” And James nodded as a response. “What?! When? I thought the details they’ve sent last night are final?” Ali starts getting annoyed. How can they change the plan on the same day?

He explained that their group leader had an emergency so she decided to cancel the plan. He received a text message from their leader that Aliah didn’t reply and might come to the agreed place and time so he immediately runs worrying that Aliah might wait forever.

Aliah looked at him from head to toe. He’s way too dressed and dolled up for someone who runs immediately towards her.

“Are you sure they cancelled it? Or you requested to cancel it?” Aliah being suspicious. So James showed their text messages to prove that he’s being true to his words.

“Alright. Then I’ll leave.” But James stops him.

“Since we’re here, let’s go somewhere. My treat.” She held up her palm.

“I’ll go home.”

“I heard you like watching live band performances.” She exhaled for what she heard.

Now, she’s more certain that Zaine is helping out James. She’s giving him tips. What a betrayer, she thought.

“Alright, but I have to go home by 7pm.” And that makes James excited and nodded like a child.

They went to an open food hub where you can choose from the different stalls offering variety of affordable foods. And in the center, there is a mini stage for the band where there is an open mic for everyone who wants to perform with them.

James ordered foods without asking Aliah but it doesn’t surprises her at all because for sure, he made a great research about what her preferences thanks to her friend, Zaine. They were enjoying the cheesy fries and burger when someone suddenly approached their table and served them nachos.

“Oh? I didn’t order this.” James complained.

“It’s on the house.” The server pointed on someone. And James smiled brightly on the guy sitting on the high chair.

“Who’s that?” Aliah asked while munching the fries. But James just smiled at her and continues eating.

They are enjoying watching the live band while drinking some lemonade instead of alcoholic beverages since they are still minors. The vocalist starts reading the song requests given by the customers in each table. Suddenly, he called out for James. He gestured his hands inviting James to join the stage.

“Wait for me. I’ll be back.” Aliah just nodded in response. Being clueless about what James has been planning.

He suddenly walks towards the drum set on the stage and sit down there. Aliah looks so puzzled what he’s doing in there.

“So for today, a friend of mine, James wants to perform for someone dear to him. What’s her name again?” The vocalist looked at him and he answered, “Aliah.”

“Aliah. What a beautiful name for a beautiful girl like her.” That made her blushed. She put both of her hands to cover her face from the people who looks at her.

“This song is dedicated for you.”