Vhy started the school day feeling tired and agitated. Everyone noticed it, however no one bothered to question it. Eventually, the school bell rang, and it is time for their classes to start. Vhy didn't have much energy left, and quickly dozed off during a roll call.
"Vhy! If you fail to answer, I will have to mark you absent!" the teacher angrily said when he got to Vhy.
Unfortunately, the screaming didn't have an effect on her, and someone else had to wake her up. A voice whispered into her ear saying "Vhy, wake up!". The man beside her whispered it to her many times, as he shaked Vhy slightly. Suddenly, Vhy gains consciousness and was surprised to see everyone looking at her.
"Oh gosh! Thank you but I'm sorry!" she said.
"Present, sir!" She felt embarrassed and anxious, she started looking at the audience who was eyeing her in disappointment.
As she stared at the audience, she locked eyes with a certain someone. Eyes who have captured Vhy's attention, and she couldn't look away. A beautiful face with a wonderful smile, and an innocent look made Vhy fall for them. The person of her dreams.
Vhy's heart suddenly felt heavy, beating even faster at the sight of that certain someone. For the first time in a long time, she felt love. She couldn't focus on the current lecture, and she couldn't stop looking away from their innocent face. She loved every part of it.
At one point, someone took note of it, and thought suspiciously about it. Naomi, that person's best friend; tried to shrug it off, but she can't help but notice how hard Vhy was staring at her best friend. Naomi also couldn't focus on the current lecture, she just wanted to get to the bottom of this.
School finally ended, every one was free from that agonizing day in class. As Vhy walked to the jeepney stop, she couldn't get that person out of her head. She felt happy ever since they locked eyes, from their eyes alone, Vhy knew they were the one. Vhy's mirage was abruptly halted by Lee, new friend of Vhy's.
"Hi! I'm sure you heard of me, being one of your seat mates. But I don't think I've formally introduced myself." Lee said with a big smile on his face.
"Oh hey! Aren't you the one who woke me up in class? I'm sorry by the way." Vhy said in a shy manner, desperately trying to avoid eye contact.
" Yup! It's all good. I'm Leonardo, but friends call me Lee. I consider you a friend, so you can call me Lee! Do you go home by yourself? "
"Yup! How about you?"
"Same goes for me. Let's go!"
Little did they know, Naomi was following them from behind. She was too curious about Vhy's intentions towards her best friend.
Naomi followed them to the jeep, and to her surprise, Lee noticed her. She was about to flee, but Lee invited her to join them. Naomi was embarrassed and shy, but she had no other choice but to approach them.
Lee introduced both himself and Vhy, and as usual, there's a big smile on his face. " Hi, uhh I'm Naomi." Naomi said, failing to give eye contact. Lee shrugged it off and acted like Naomi was a long time friend. They rode a jeep together and they headed towards a café.
When they arrived, Naomi pulled Vhy aside and confronted her once and for all.
"What intentions do you have towards my best friend!?" Naomi told Vhy in a very stern way.
"What?! I don't know what you're talking about! Who's your best friend anyway?" Vhy asked, genuinely confused.
"Ryu? Rayne Ysabel U. Mendoza?"
"Who's that?"
"I caught you staring at her this morning, after you quite embarrassed yourself."
Then it hit Vhy. She just realized she fell in love with a person who she never even met. She didn't even know what her name was until Naomi showed up.
"Oh, don't worry I wasn't looking at her. I was too embarrassed to focus on anything that I probably zoned out." Vhy said, failing awkwardly to shrug off. Naomi didn't buy it and became more stern than ever. Vhy eventually gave up and just told Naomi the truth.
"Fine! I guess I do like your best friend, it's just she's too pretty that I want to get to know her more.... " Vhy hesitantly said. Naomi didn't say anything. She was both shocked and perhaps, not shocked?
"What? Falling in love from looks alone? How shallow. " Naomi thought as she stared right into Vhy's eyes.
This will sure be the beginning of something new.
The following days, Naomi and Vhy were talking about Ryu as they were trying to make plans how to start a conversation with Ryu. However, Naomi didn't have the intention to help Vhy, she just wanted to get some information so she could tell her best friend.
Finally, Ryu noticed Vhy's constant glares at her. She took initiative and started texting Vhy. They talked to each other in Messenger as if they knew each other for such a long time.
Months fly by, and Vhy's heart was still beating for Ryu. Every word and every laugh, it was fragments of their building relationship.
Their conversations were too special, only they could understand what they talked about. Vhy felt like it was a dream. She didn't want to wake up.
In honor of this, Vhy went with Lee and bought a gift for Ryu. A gift in which she hopes Ryu will cherish. And that gift is a dream catcher. In Ryu's favorite color too, as the cherry on top. It was a neon green dream catcher.
Vhy had to build up some courage just to give it to Ryu, but she couldn't because they don't talk much in person. So she shyly asked Naomi and to her surprise, she agreed. She put it on Ryu's desk, along with a note saying:
Sweet dreams every night
- Vhy
Vhy was filled with excitement, and along with anxiety. She watched Ryu, hoping to get a positive reaction. Instead, she witnessed tears rolling down Ryu's face.
Her thoughts were all over the place, and all she could do is go to Ryu, and hugged her tight until she was finally alright.
Hands clenched to her chest, Ryu couldn't explain her tears or her agony, but it was clear to Vhy that something is wrong.
"Please be online tonight. I have something to tell you. " Ryu said calmly, even with tears on her angelic face. Vhy didn't question it, but she felt concerned.
"Are you okay?" Vhy asked Ryu, as she slowly let go of her. A few seconds of silence. "Yes I'm fine, don't worry about me." Ryu reassured Vhy, and nodded quietly.
A few hours later, Vhy did what she was told. She patiently stared at Ryu's contact waiting for a text. As promised, a text popped up.
Ryu: Just to let you know, everything was a joke
Vhy was ecstatic to receive a text from Ryu, but at the same time confused.
Vhy: huh? Wudya mean?
A few minutes has passed. No reply whatsoever.
Vhy: haii? Oh well if you're interested I'm holding a party at my house if you wanna come
The party was small, only a few people came. Vhy planned the party, so she could have a reason to see Ryu.
Unfortunately, after hours upon hours that has passed, she finally got a call, but not from someone she expected.
"Ryu! So did you get my text?" Vhy exclaimed.
"Who is this? Vhy?" A voice said, trembling with tears.
"Ryu? Is this you? Hello?"
"No. Ryu isn't here right now........"
"What did you do to her?!" Vhy shouted at the top of her lungs, forgetting that she was in the middle of the party. She felt her heart aching. She was mad, no. She was sad. Perhaps both.
Out of frustration, she dropped the phone and bolted out of the house and ran around town looking for Ryu. She even asked officers nearby.
Her last option was the hospital. She runs inside and immediately went to the front desk. Vhy asked the nurse if there was someone named Ryu who was rushed to the hospital.
The nurse confirmed that Ryu was brought in a few hours ago, and led Vhy to see her in her room. As soon as Vhy saw her, tears started rolling down her face.
She quietly approached Ryu, until she felt a sudden pat on her shoulder.
"What are you doing here? Vhy?"
Vhy was shocked, but she recognizes the voice. "Wait, who are you? You're the one on the phone, right?", she politely asked.
"Yes, nice to meet you. I'm Sarah, Ryu's sister. " The person said.
"Ah, you know who I am already. Sorry for my behavior, I have to admit it was a bad first impression." Vhy exclaimed.
A few moments later, Sarah left, leaving Vhy with Ryu. "How are you?" Vhy asked. "Sorry I couldn't make it Vhy, I'm really, really sorry." Ryu replied, with her expression looking like a dog who was just kicked.
"Awwh, you don't need to be sorry. It wasn't your fault. Say, I just had an idea. If you can't come to the party, I'll just bring the party to you, but the only guests are our classmates. " Vhy smiled, reassuring Ryu it was going to be okay.
And so she did. She did bring the party to Ryu, and everyone was happy. Their eyes met a couple of times, not noticing the other. They shared laughs, exchanged jokes and looks. Among the crowd of unsure teenagers, Vhy was sure Ryu was going to be the one.
Eventually, the party has come to an end at around 12 AM, and everyone had already left, except for Vhy.
Empty cups filled the room, with knocked down chairs everywhere. In the distance, the radio could be heard playing "Rewite The Stars" as both girls yawned from exhaustion.
Vhy sat beside Ryu's hospital bed against her back and nodded her head back to see a perfect upside down picture of Ryu's tired face.
As tired as she can be, Ryu told Vhy, "Hey Vhy, I want to see the stars." In a heartbeat, Vhy agreed and carries Ryu on her back, carrying her all the way to Vhy's house. She gently put Ryu on the roof and sat beside her. "Are you insane?! You just took me out of the hospital, and people are probably going to freak!" Ryu exclaimed, as she started to blush.
Vhy just looked at her and smiled. Underneath the stars, silence followed.
Ryu looked down on her feet on the roof, curling it up to gather more warmth.
"Will you ever be ashamed of loving Ryu Mendoza?" Ryu suddenly asked, with tiny cracks in her voice, as if she was tired.
It felt like Vhy skipped a heartbeat. Her mind zoned out for a few seconds, and yet said nothing.
Vhy's thoughts were all over the place, and was too unsure about what to say. She furiously blushed, and Ryu noticed, despite her hazy vision due to sleepiness.
"W-why would I be ashamed of loving you? So perfect and beautiful?"
She realized the error in her mind and wanted to turn into a pile of dust right then and there.
Ryu nudged Vhy with her elbow waking her from her trance and said "Hey, thanks." as she gave her a genuine smile.
Once again, silence followed.
Ryu felt really tired so she fell asleep in Vhy's arms, and so Vhy gently carried her back to the hospital. As she was about to leave, Vhy looked longingly at Ryu, and said,
I love you.
under her breath, hoping one day she'll be able to show Ryu how true those words are.
She left the hospital room, and encountered Ryu's father. "Stay away from my daughter. You're ruining her reputation." He continues with "I'll make sure my daughter never dates a homosexual loser like you." Vhy was speechless, so she just silently proceeds out the door.
Of course, Vhy still had to go to school. If she had enough time, she would try her best to leave school early so she could check on Ryu. Sometimes, they would message each other non-stop. A few weeks after the incident, Ryu started going back to school, despite the broken leg. Vhy would wake up early, and go pick up Ryu and they go to school together.
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A few months later, Ryu was finally okay. Vhy skipped school to check on Ryu, but she was surprised to see her twin sister beside her. It was a bit awkward, but Sarah pushed Vhy aside and explained how Ryu always wanted to go ice skating.
Of course, Vhy immediately thought of taking her ice skating, and so she did.
She didn't care that they were both inexperienced, just as long as they had each other. They were frolicking on the ice, catching one another when the other falls.
"I feel like I'm Peter Pan when I'm with you, Vhy, as if I never grow old. Come with me to Neverland, where you don't have to think about anything but each other and happiness." Ryu said, with a genuine smile.
"But how do we get there?" Vhy questioned, flattered.
"Take my hand, I'll show you." Ryu said, holding out her hand, as she waits for Vhy.
Vhy held Ryu's hand, and they started skating like the world isn't watching. They were having the time of their lives. And at that moment they knew, they were in love. Eyes glazed in excitement, glowing in wonderful intervals underneath the artificial spotlights.
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They grew tired from all the laughter and fun so they say down on a bench and started talking about how amazing they did on the skating rink.
"You were quite amazing there, even for a first timer." Vhy said, still laughing.
"Gee, speak for yourself! Just kidding, you kept on falling and it was quite funny." responded Ryu.
"Hey!"
The conversation slowly transitioned into a game of Truth or Dare.
"I dare you to be my girlfriend just for a day." said Vhy, in a flirty way.
"Pfft, a day? I could be yours for much longer." Ryu flirted back, as she was leaning for a kiss. Unfortunately, Vhy pushed back, and dodged the kiss. No one knows why, and after that, it was a full minute of silence and awkwardness.
A minute might seem like a while, but it felt like a century of self torture, and caused Ryu to run away. Vhy was in shock, but chose not to run after Ryu.
Vhy went home, devastated and wanted to believe that it was only a dream. Coincidentally, she saw something on her doorstep. It was the dream catcher that she had given to Ryu. It had a little note attached to it.
"I didn't mean to worry you or ruin the day like that. I'm sorry. I hope I could make it up to you someday, so please take care. Sweet dreams <3"
She was filled with tears, and was paranoid that she probably lost the girl she loved. Despite the reassuring message, it was too much for Vhy's heart. Her lonely heart. Could Ryu's heart accompany Vhy's?