His Code Name: ULAP (Code Name Series #1)

CHAPTER ONE

Hi. I’m Alyza Garcia, Vice President of the Student Council, second top-tier student, and—if we’re being honest—the one who’s always a little too serious for her own good. People like to say that I’m the “female version of Jacob Villanueva,” but I don’t really see it. He’s all calm, calculated perfection. I’m… well, a mess wrapped in ambition.

It all started that one afternoon—the day I met him.

He walked in with that quiet confidence that made people stop mid-sentence. He didn’t need to say anything; the air just shifted. The teachers straightened up, the students lowered their voices, and I—well, I pretended to be busy with my notes. But when I accidentally looked up, my eyes met his for half a second. Just half a second—and it was enough.

That was the moment I fell. Not the slow, romantic kind of fall you read about. It was quick, disorienting, and terrifying. Like tripping in front of the entire school and somehow convincing yourself it was graceful.

His name? Ulap.

I didn’t know if it was a code name, a nickname, or some kind of inside joke, but it suited him. He was calm, quiet, and untouchable—like the sky itself. Everyone admired him from a distance, but no one really knew what was beyond that peaceful surface.

And maybe that’s what drew me in. The mystery. The way he spoke few words but meant every single one of them. The way he smiled—barely, softly, but enough to make time slow down for me.

“Hey!” a familiar voice snapped me out of my thoughts. Jacob, of course. Always on time, always composed. He looked at me with that knowing smirk, the kind that said, You’re daydreaming again, Garcia.

“Oh right,” I muttered, straightening up and clearing my throat. “Hi, I’m Alyza Garcia, Vice President of the Student Council, and apparently, the school’s second top-tier.”

Jacob chuckled beside me. “Don’t forget ‘most intimidating female student on campus.’”

I rolled my eyes but smiled anyway. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

And then—there he was. Ulap. Standing a few feet away, talking to a group of students who were obviously hanging onto his every word. His posture relaxed, his tone calm, his eyes—focused. He caught me looking, and for a split second, our gazes locked again.

My heart skipped. Of course it did.

I looked away quickly, pretending to be fascinated by the stack of papers in front of me. But it was too late. I could already feel the warmth spreading to my cheeks.

I hate this. I hate that he does this to me without even trying.

Because I’m Alyza Garcia—Vice President, top-tier student, the girl who doesn’t get distracted. But every time Ulap walks into a room, the entire world just… shifts.

And deep down, I know one thing for sure.
This isn’t just admiration.
This is the beginning of something I can’t control.

Something dangerous.
Something beautiful.

————————————————————

“Let’s eat, Ms. Top 2,” he said casually, his voice calm yet teasing enough to make my pulse skip.

I blinked, trying to process the fact that he—yes, he—was actually talking to me. “It’s too early,” I replied, quickly adjusting my glasses to hide how flustered I suddenly felt. “We still have class.”

He tilted his head slightly, that small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “We have two hours vacant, Ms. Garcia.”

“Oh… right,” I muttered, mentally kicking myself for forgetting something so obvious. Of course we had a free period. I should’ve known that. I always know that. “But we have a test later!” I added quickly, hoping logic could save me from this conversation—and from the way his voice made my thoughts scatter.

“Well…” he took a slow step closer, his eyes never leaving mine, “the test is next, next hour.”

He paused, waiting, the smallest smile playing on his lips. “So… what do you say?”

For a second, I forgot how to breathe. I could hear my heart pounding in my chest—loud, ridiculous, and definitely not helping. This was Ulap, after all. The guy everyone admired from afar. The one who never seemed interested in small talk, let alone inviting someone like me to eat.

“I—uh—” I stammered, staring at the floor like it suddenly became the most interesting thing in the room. “Are you seriously skipping study time just to eat?”

“Who said anything about skipping?” he replied smoothly. “We can eat and study. Unless you think I’m a bad influence, Ms. Vice President.”

I looked up, and there it was again—that look in his eyes. Calm, confident, unreadable. The kind of look that made people forget every argument they were about to make.

I sighed, defeated. “Fine. But only because I don’t want you failing the test.”

He chuckled softly, hands slipping into his pockets. “Of course. Totally not because you want to spend time with me.”

I glared at him, but the heat rising to my cheeks betrayed me. “You wish.”

He leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping to a soft murmur. “Yeah,” he said, “maybe I do.”

And just like that, my perfectly balanced world tilted again.