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

CHAPTER NINE

Zacharias offered to help me decorate the teachers’ lounge for Founders Day. I didn’t really mind—it was a lot of work anyway. And honestly, he was… surprisingly good at it. He arranged the balloons, taped ribbons on the corners, and hung paper lanterns with precision.

Most of his decorations were in different shades of blue. Light blue streamers, navy ribbons, sapphire table runners—basically a whole ocean exploded in the room.

“You really love blue, huh?” I asked, stepping back to admire our work.

He looked at me for a second before replying, “It’s your favorite color, isn’t it?”

I blinked. “Yeah. But how’d you know?”

He smiled faintly, his hands still busy tying another ribbon. “You always use blue pens, your phone case is blue, and even your bag has a tiny blue keychain. Kinda obvious, Ms. Garcia.”

“Touché,” I said, chuckling softly. “So, what’s your story with blue then? Why so obsessed?”

He paused, then looked at the ceiling as if searching for the right words.
“It reminds me of the ocean,” he said quietly. “The ocean is blue because water absorbs most colors in the light spectrum, leaving blue light to be reflected and scattered back to our eyes. This makes the deep, vast blue of the sea one of the most common and obvious associations with the color blue.”

I tilted my head, curious. He wasn’t done.

“Blue is also the color of the sky,” he continued. “Another enormous, blue expanse people are very familiar with. Since both the sea and sky are massive bodies of blue, they naturally become linked in our minds.”

“Wow,” I said, impressed. “Didn’t know I was talking to a walking encyclopedia.”

He laughed lightly, shaking his head. “No, really. The color blue is linked to calmness, tranquility, and stability. It’s like… peace, even when everything feels heavy. Like when you stare at the ocean—there’s stillness, but also depth you can’t quite reach.”

There was a brief silence. Then, softer, he added, “It also reminds me of Jhessy.”

That made me stop. “Jhessy?”

He nodded, his tone gentle but distant. “Because it mirrors the calm yet aching depth of my feelings for her—serene on the surface, but heavy with unspoken emotion. It’s the color of longing, of skies I can look at but never touch—beautiful, distant, and untouchably hers.”

I blinked, unsure what to say. For a moment, I felt the air thicken with something bittersweet.

“Ouch…” I said awkwardly, forcing a small smile. “That’s… poetic. Painfully poetic.”

He laughed quietly, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah. Guess I’m a poet when I’m heartbroken.”

I sighed, resting my hands on my hips. “Well, Mr. Poet, you did a pretty good job here. The teachers are going to love this.”

He grinned. “Thanks. But honestly, I wouldn’t have done it without your help.”

“Of course you wouldn’t,” I teased. “You’d probably still be fighting with the scotch tape.”

“Hey! I’ve improved!” he said defensively, holding up the tape dispenser like a trophy.

I couldn’t help but laugh. The tension broke, replaced with the easy comfort of two people just trying to distract themselves from their own chaos.

As we finished the final touches, I caught a glimpse of him through the reflection of the window—smiling, calm, but with that lingering sadness in his eyes.

And for a brief second, I realized something.
Everyone carries their own kind of blue.
His was heartbreak.
Mine… well, I wasn’t sure yet.

But something told me, mine was about to begin.

Jacob entered the teachers’ lounge with his usual confident stride, hands tucked casually in his pockets, eyes scanning the room like he owned the place—which, honestly, he kind of did.

“Let’s see what—” he began, but the words died halfway out of his mouth.

Blue. Everywhere.

Streamers, balloons, ribbons, banners—all shimmering in various shades of ocean and sky. And right at the center of it all… me and Zacharias, laughing over a stubborn piece of tape that refused to stick to the wall.

Jacob’s brows furrowed for a split second before he masked it with a polite smile. “Whoa. That’s quite a sight,” he said coolly, stepping further in.

“Nice one, bruh!” Zevi called out from behind him, clapping a hand on Jacob’s shoulder. “Didn’t know your officers had the interior design skills of a Pinterest board.”

Zacharias laughed. “Thanks, man. Ms. Garcia here has an eye for detail. I just followed her lead.”

“Oh, don’t flatter me,” I said with a playful smile, though my attention flicked—just for a second—to Jacob. His jaw was clenched, subtle but noticeable.

“Well,” Jacob said finally, his tone even but sharp at the edges, “it’s… impressive.”
He walked around the room slowly, examining every corner like a judge at a competition. “Didn’t realize we were holding an ocean-themed event.”

Zacharias chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s mostly blue since it’s Alyza’s favorite color.”

Jacob froze mid-step.
Then he looked at me—directly. “Her favorite color?” he repeated, voice dropping a notch lower.

I nodded awkwardly, trying to keep it casual. “Yeah, I mentioned it earlier. Blue’s calm and peaceful. Like, ocean vibes.”

“Mhm.” He hummed, the corners of his lips twitching into a half-smirk that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Right. Calm and peaceful.”

Zevi, completely oblivious to the tension in the air, whistled. “Man, if I didn’t know better, I’d say we’re setting up for a proposal with all this blue and romantic lighting.”

“ZEVI!” I said, smacking his arm with a rolled-up streamer.

“What? I’m just saying!” he laughed, dodging away. “You two look like a couple setting up your wedding venue.”

Zacharias coughed, cheeks turning pink. “Dude, stop. It’s just for Founders Day.”

Jacob didn’t laugh. He just crossed his arms, expression unreadable. “Let’s not mix work with… whatever this is,” he said finally, gesturing vaguely between us.

I frowned. “We’re just decorating.”

He met my eyes again, that same steady, unflinching gaze that made my stomach twist. “Sure you are, Ms. Garcia.”

And before I could respond, he turned to Zevi. “Come on. We still have to finalize the event lineup.”

Zevi threw me a helpless grin before following him out, muttering, “Man’s jealous and he doesn’t even hide it anymore.”

As the door closed behind them, the room felt a little quieter.

Zacharias glanced at me. “He doesn’t like me very much, does he?”

I sighed, half-exasperated, half-flustered. “He doesn’t like anyone very much.”

“Except you,” Zacharias said softly, smiling faintly.

That shut me up.

Because even if I wanted to deny it…
A part of me wondered if he was right.