On Loop - A Collective Alternate Universe

On Loop: Lovestruck

“Rose, tara Divi sa sat, you want?” Elliot and Rosie were sitting at the bleachers sa gym nila para sa afternoon break nila. Nilingon niya ang kanyang kaibigan at napakunot ang noo sa tanong nito.

“What? Maarte ka na ngayon?” Elliot had this teasing smirk plastered on his face habang sumisipsip ito sa juice box na binili nito sa canteen. Pinalobo ni Rose ang kanyang pisngi dahil hindi niya alam ang isasagot sa tanong nito.

Yes. she’s a fan of outdoors, pero hindi sa mga ganoong claustrophobic na mga lugar. For her 14 years of existence she’s never been to the famous Divisoria Mall, and she has her reservations pumunta sa isang lugar na puno ng mga tao at halos hindi na mahulugan ng karayom sa sikip na lugar.

“Oh come on Rosie, akala ko ba adventurous ka?” binato ni Rose ang supot ng Oreo na kinakain niya kay Elliot at tumayo na sa kinauupuan, she’s ready to leave the bleachers and go back sa classroom nila. Tinignan niya ang orasan sa kanyang kaliwang braso, 7 minutes bago mag-ring ang bell nila for the last subject this week. At ready na sila for the start of Christmas vacation.

Tumayo na rin si Elliot at sinundan ang kaibigan kahit na hindi pa siya tapos sa kinakain niya, bringing his favorite Cream-o cookies with him. “Alam mong hindi ako mahilig sa mall.” Rose mentioned to him, which is true. It made her feel entrapped and vulnerable kapag hindi siya malaya.

“Di ka ba bibili ng gift ko?” Students were looking their way ng malakas na tinanong ni Elliot ang tungkol sa regalo niya para sa pasko. Rose couldn’t help but shrug at his question, of course she already bought a gift already for him kahit hindi na nito ipaalala sa kanya.

And she’s a good planner, she already planned her gift shopping way before the Christmas rush. That’s how much she disliked going sa mataong lugar.

“Rosieeeeee,” he singsonged, nasa loob na sila ng classroom at sa tabi niya nakaupo ang kaibigan. Hindi naman talaga siya ang seatmate niya, she had a different guy assigned to sit next to her. Pero wala sa bokabularyo ‘yon ni Elliot at nakipag-palit na ito ng upuan sa sandaling sinabi pa lang ng kanilang guro na lumipat ng upuan. So technically hindi talaga si Elliot ang seatmate niya.

But for over 6 months of school, Elliot’s always right beside her. Nagtuturo sa kanya ng Math, nangongopya ng sagot sa Science, nagdadaldal tuwing Filipino, humihingi ng papel kapag may quiz sa English, at nakikipag-palit ng paper sa tuwing may exam sila. He’s really one of a kind guy, and she couldn’t deny herself that having a crush like Elliot is the most fun she ever had. Plus all their expeditions together around Manila.

Elliot had definitely made a big part of Rosetta’s life. She couldn’t thank her lucky stars enough sa existence ng best friend/ crush niya.

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The summer of their sophomore year, ay nailabas ni Elliot ang ibang side ni Rose. He was able to drag her out and go to Divisoria, where Rose promised she would never go. Eventually, he was able to break her and made her spend more than 12 hours in the most crowded place they could ever find, and take note that it was summer nang pumunta sila roon.

After that, Elliot and Rosie became a frequent explorer sa Divisoria. Riding the PNR was also new to the both of them and had a blast riding the whole train mula sa magkabilaang dulo na istasyon ng tren.

That summer was also the first time they enrolled in a driving school, and they had a lot of firsts experiences during that 2 months of school break, even their first road trip and their first kiss that night.

Oh let’s talk about that first, that was the last weekend they were together before they had their own family vacations 2 weeks before classes started. So they decided to go to Enchanted Kingdom and enjoy a hot spring at Laguna, they were settled and all. Masaya silang sumakay sa iba’t ibang rides doon at kumuha ng napakaraming pictures for memories. They had fun sa bawat sulok ng parkeng iyon at hindi nila ma-deny that holding each other’s hands while walking feels awfully nice.