JUST like what Erik said, they had a good meal because he took her to an expensive buffet restaurant. At first, she was well, shy because she was wearing simple walking shorts and a t-shirt. But when the young man told her that her outfit was okay, she didn't protest anymore.
"Thank you for the delicious dinner," she said when Erik dropped her off right in front of her house.
He nodded. "Alright then, see you tomorrow? Shall I pick you up, so you don't have to walk?" the young man asked.
Mia laughed softly. "Of course, you don’t have to do that. Our houses are only an alley away, I'll just walk," she said as she was about to get out of the car but was stopped when the young man spoke again.
"Huh, didn't you leave the rice and salted eggs you brought earlier at home? I'll just go here, then I'll bring you some hot pandesal and liver spread. Can you make us a coffee?" Erik to her.
Mia couldn't understand what kind of feelings caressed her heart because of Erik's words. But no matter what kind of feelings it was, she was sure of only one thing. She is happy. Maybe because despite the bad things that happened to her in the past few days, she now had a good reason to smile. And it was Erik. Her first love.
*****
TEN YEARS AGO...
“WOULD you look at that, bro! You really do not stand a chance against Mia. Your general average is far from what she got this third quarter. You got ninety-four point forty-three, while she got ninety-eight point sixty-eight. Only a few points left and she will get a hundred percent,” William's loud exclamations while the three of them together with Roy looked up at a piece of bond paper posted outside the faculty room of their adviser, Mrs. Reyes.
"Guess what, I know how you can beat her. I have an idea how you can get first place from her. You see, our graduation is near, but you have never outdone that girl. She is really different, she stands out no matter what subject in our class," it was Roy as they were walking towards the canteen where they were going to buy something to eat for recess.
"Stop it, you two. Leave Mia alone, it's okay that I'm always second to her, it’s not a big deal to me," he said truthfully as he wanted the two to stop talking.
That's true.
It's not a big deal to him, even since they were in elementary school, he was always second to Mia. She's really smart and she's different from the other girls in their school who get boyfriends early and do things like that.
Mia is the type of girl whose only destination is a school to house and vice versa every day.
He sees her going out sometimes when she buys something from the store across the street from their house. To Mrs. Ramos’ variety store. Or every weekend when she goes to church with the old woman and retired teacher Mrs. Sánchez.
Sometimes when he passes by their house, he always sees Mia on the terrace of Mrs. Sánchez’s house. If she’s not reading, she's crocheting or cross-stitching.
Mia is what he can say a woman that any man can like.
Beautiful, kind, simple, and very intelligent.
But unlike the others, she is not so approachable. In other words, very intimidating. And that is her characteristic that he can say the most different from all. Because of how simple her personality is, is the opposite of her aura.
Mia is very quiet.
She smiles but rarely.
He also couldn't say that she was a snob because there was no such personality in her aura.
Maybe that's because she’s very independent.
It was true. Because just like what he said Mia was intimidating. And she was one of her classmates who could tell he felt that way. Bernie is the only one with a strong heart who is always on Mia's tail.
Maybe because he likes their classmate.
Bernie is third in their ranking. In fact, he is next to him.
And he can say that his grades are very far from Bernie’s. Well, he is ninety-four point something while the latter got eighty-nine this grading period.
But if he accepts his stand as second place, after Mia, Bernie is the other way around. Against him of course. He often felt the tension between the two of them. It’s just Bernie does not have the guts to start a fight against him because he has a lot of friends that he knows are behind him all the time. While it is the opposite of his rival classmate.
That might be the reason why he always goes with Mia.
"But in fairness, your rival is behind you once again," said Roy as if he knew what was going through his mind.
"Is that bastard Mia's boyfriend? Why are they always together?" William asked curiously as they entered the canteen.
"As if I know the answer to that question," he answered.
"Why don't you know? Don't you and Mia live in the same village?" William asked him.
Erik shook his head and looked at his friend. "Yeah. But I’m sorry to disappoint you, mister, Mia doesn't even look at me. It's like I don't exist to her. So how should I know?" he told the truth as they fall in line inside the canteen.
The two fell silent when he said that. Especially when they were about to sit down and saw Mia sitting and eating alone at the only long and empty table inside their school canteen.
"Say it," Roy told William in an almost whisper.
"I’m not doing it, you do it. What if she ignores me, that’s embarrassing,” replied William in the same tone that Roy used.
That's when Erik shook his head and gently cleared his throat. Because of what he did, Mia looked up, and then their eyes met.
With questions in her beautiful eyes, the girl stared at him for a little longer.
"She's really beautiful, her face is so angelic, isn't it?" William whispered to Roy again.
"Of course. But hey, stop whispering! She might hear you,” William hissed.
Erik secretly laughed at his friends because of that. Afterward, he then faced Mia with a smile.
"Hi Mia, ah there is no vacant table, is it okay if we take this one with you?" Erik secretly scolded himself for saying that stupidly.
It is obvious that there are no more empty tables. But it was too late to take back everything he had said.
That's when Mia smiled at him sparingly before opening her mouth to speak. "Sure, no problem," was her only reply as she continued to eat quietly while reading a book.
"Congratulations, by the way for being the top student in our year level. Mrs. Sanchez will surely be happy," he said enthusiastically, making Mia look up again.
*****
WHAT Erik said touched Mia's heart.
The truth is, he is one of the many reasons for her efforts. But first on her list is her Nana Rosita. Or better known in their village as Mrs. Sánchez.
Nana Rosita is an old maid and a retired teacher.
How did she come into her?
Well, she can say it's a blessing and she's lucky to be with her. Because Nana Rosita sent her to school and considered her to be her own daughter.
"You always beat Erik; you know we can’t help but feel sorry for him."
When Mia heard what their classmate William said, she couldn't stop herself from laughing.
"I should tell you Erik is not an easy opponent. But still, thank you," was what she preferred to say to not prolong the conversation.
The truth is that she feels uncomfortable and seems to get a hard time breathing normally every time Erik is around. And that's because she's had feelings for her classmate for a long time. But because her priority is her studies, and she knows that she is not the type of woman he will like, no one knows what she feels except for him. Only she and the wind know.
Mia saw Roy open his mouth but stopped everything he was going to say when he saw Bernie enter the canteen. Bernie is also their classmate and her suitor.
"Hey, Erik congratulations, you landed on second place again," Bernie said to Erik who was already eating the pansit or fried noodles he ordered.
Although Mia did not like the sarcasm in the tone of Bernie's speech, she decided not to say anything.
She knew that Erik also noticed that as well, but like what she did, he decided to ignore what Bernie said. Which she secretly thanked.
But not Roy because he replied in the same tone that Bernie used earlier.
"That's right, congratulations to you too, you're consistently number three. The one who’s in fourth place only points apart from your general average. I should tell you, do your very best, it's final grading already. To tell you the truth Erik is not having an issue being in the second spot. Unlike you. Well, if you lose this grading, you will definitely fall on the fourth. Just in case, do you think you can accept defeat?” Roy's sarcastic answer. He just stopped speaking when Erik elbowed his side.
At that point, Mia decided to ask Bernie out of the canteen. While in her mind, she wanted to approach Erik and apologize for the behavior of her companion.