It seems like first day of high school is just like a wrecked whip, because it makes me seems to awkward at first, by the glaces of their mysterious eyes. But anyways, I'm Ken Grovette and I'm new here at the Quantum La Velle National High School. It actually makes me a feel lot of nerves at first, but it makes me feel challenging to boost up my "friendliness" attitude to make friends with them.

It took me almost an hour to find my classroom where I was placed, not until a bunch of assholes bumped on my way while getting hurry from getting late, one of them is Phil Morgan Harriet, the most popular, attractive, and jerkiest student in the campus. I couldn't resist myself but to be offended about what he had done."HEY! You seems on to be blind, Walking your way on somewhere! You didn't even care about someone you just bumped!!". I seemed to be furious but he instead nonchalantly looked me with his eyes, head to toe, and laughed withe his friends while they're walked away.

I looked at them with my grudge eyes, but I instead I walked on my way continuing to find then finally, I was placed on my classroom which was the section Amethyst, with a bunch of innocent classmates. I finally sat on my chair comfortably managed to breathe with a calmer way after an unexpected happening earlier.

My other classmates greeted me with smiles, and they were genuinely nice as I smiled back at them. The space next to my chair seemed to be empty, and while I wondered about my new classmates, I hoped they wouldn't be like the jerk I bumped into earlier. After a few minutes, the teacher started to introduce herself, but she was interrupted by a student outside. She went over to talk to him, but I couldn't see his face because he was hiding behind the hallway wall.

"Okay class, sorry for the interruption. We have a new student transferring here. Wait, he's a transfer student?"

"Ladies and gentlemen, meet... Mr. Phil Morgan Harriet!"

What?! Not that jerk again! He's the one who bumped into me earlier without realizing it.

"Hello, classmates!"

I couldn't believe it. He looked at me with those eyes, like he was trying to get on my nerves again, and he sat closer to me. Meanwhile, he apologized, "Hey, I'm sorry about earlier. Whatever your name is, I'm Phil. Nice to meet you!"

I forced myself to smile at him and greeted him back. "Um... It's okay, but please don't be a jerk and mess with me in front of others."

I rolled my eyes at him. The way he acted was incredibly frustrating-he seemed to take pleasure in annoying others. I decided it was best to just ignore him whenever he was around. "HAHA", he laughed. "I love the way you annoyed. It's better to zip off your eyes when everytime you saw me arround and seems to become a chicken"

"Wait, what?" I said, but I shrugged it off. I was determined to make my first day of class a success, but it felt like this jerk was already ruining it.

After a few minutes of trying to ignore Phil, the teacher spoke again. "Hello, class. It's great to see you all on the first day of Grade 11. Before we begin, let me introduce myself. I'm Selena Stephenson-Ryans, your advisor for this school year. I've been here for quite a while..."

As she continued discussing his background, I struggled to stay awake and eventually started nodding off. The loud bell that signaled the end of the period jolted me awake, and I felt frustrated as I realized my first day was not going as planned.

On my way to the canteen, I noticed students laughing and whispering in the hallway, which only added to my confusion. When I finally found a seat, Phil approached me again. "Hey, did you see this on your phone?"

Phil had stupidly posted a photo of me, looking freaked out earlier, on Instagram with the caption, "First day, seems like it's my last day to live." When I saw the post, my puzzled and annoyed reaction made everyone laugh.

"Ha-ha-ha... Very funny. Not until I report you all to the Principal's office!" I said.

Phil replied, "Wait, wait, hold on. There's nothing to worry about. It's just a bit of fun. It's not a big deal."

He quickly lost his smirk as I shot back, "And yeah, it's your idea of 'fun'? Who's stupid enough to post a photo of someone without their knowledge? Last chance, Phil. If you don't delete it, I'll go straight to the Principal's office and report you for harassment."

Phil begrudgingly said, "Okay, okay, fine! I'll delete it. You're just not man enough to laugh at a joke." After deleting the post, he added, "There! It's gone now. You should grow up, or you'll just embarrass yourself again." He walked away with his friends, clearly irritated.

I didn't want to be embarrassed or seen as a fool. I came to school to learn, not to be the butt of jokes.

After the heated exchange with Phil, I returned to the classroom to wait for more instructions from the teachers. When I arrived, the teachers were still absent, so I took my seat at the desk, determined to ignore Phil and his ongoing chatter with other classmates.

As time passed, the classroom grew increasingly hot. I was sweating as I tried to read my favorite novel, *"The Man Who Can't Be Moved"*. The heat became almost unbearable, and Phil, clearly feeling the same discomfort, began wiping his face with his shirt. Eventually, he couldn't stand it any longer and took off his shirt, revealing his well-defined abs.

While Phil wiped his face, I couldn't help but notice him. I found myself glancing at him more often than I intended. Phil, noticing my gaze, approached me with a playful smirk.

"I see someone's secretly admiring my abs. Did you notice, Ken?" he teased.

"Uh... I-I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just trying to concentrate..." I stammered, hoping to deflect his attention.

Phil continued to joke, "Seriously, it looked like staring at it for hours."

"Stop talking! I can't concentrate with all this going on!... Whatever," I said, feeling exasperated as I tried to refocus on my book.

Feeling increasingly embarrassed in the classroom, I decided to move to the library for a quieter environment where I could focus. As I started to leave, Phil called out, "Hey! Where do you think you're going?" He had a teasing smile on his face. "Just going to talk to someone who seems to secretly admire me. I bet he's into me or something." He was clearly making a joke, but it felt like he was targeting me.

I did my best to ignore him and continued toward the library. Phil and his friends laughed behind me, making jokes about my supposed admiration for his abs. I felt frustrated, trying to ignore the fact that I was indeed attracted to him, but wanted to keep it a secret. It only made things worse when it was brought up in front of everyone and posted on social media.

After reading a few chapters in the library, I returned to the classroom, dreading what Phil might do next. As I walked down the hallway, I saw Phil with his friends again. He noticed me and started making more annoying comments. I tried to ignore him, focusing on my own thoughts and trying not to let his behavior get to me.

Later, Phil blocked my way in the hallway, showing off his "attractive" abs with a smirk.

Phil said, "Well, well, well, looks like someone's finding something attractive again. Hey, Ken! I heard you're into my abs. Is that true?" He lifted his shirt in front of me and teased, "Wanna touch?"

I tried to stay calm, replying, "I don't have time for your antics, Phil. Don't you know we have classes?" I said nonchalantly as I tried to walk past him.

Phil followed, laughing. "Hey, we're just getting started. Come on, I just want to talk. We're having fun, aren't you interested?"

"Whatever," I said, trying to ignore him.

Suddenly, Phil grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him, pushing me against the wall with his irritating grin.

Phil taunted, "You're tough, huh?"

"Get off me! You're gross, Phil! You're so over the top!" I shouted.

Phil raised an eyebrow. "Wait, am I overreacting or it's you? Are you hiding something from us? Are you some kind of 'psycho' or something or what?"

I responded, "What the hell, Phil? Are you calling me a psycho? You're out of your mind!"

Phil sneered, "It's just that you're so strange whenever you're around us. It's like we're dealing with aliens or something." After making that comment, he and his friends left, not returning to the classroom.

I couldn't believe it. It was only the first day of class, but it felt like a storm had torn my world apart. I never expected Phil to be a classmate. I seriously considered transferring to another section to avoid him. My life felt like it was hit by an unexpected, intense earthquake, and I needed stronger walls to protect myself. I hoped that these metaphorical walls would offer some relief and become a hidden blessing after the chaos subsided.

Despite the intense confrontation between us, it felt like the conflict was far from over. Every time I encountered Phil, he acted like a jerk, trying to embarrass me and draw attention from the other students. But I wasn't about to give in easily or let him get under my skin. It was incredibly frustrating, but I was determined not to let him get the better of me.

As I was walking down the hallway, I ran into Ms. Alexandria Alvarez, our General Mathematics teacher. She greeted me with a warm smile.

"Good day, ma'am. It's nice to see you again!" I said.

"Hello there, dear! It's nice to see you as well. How's your first day going? Have you made any new friends?" Ms. Alvarez asked.

"Well, it's been quite challenging and nerve-wracking," I replied nonchalantly. "Instead of being excited about meeting new friends, I ended up being bullied and treated like trash."

"I'm so sorry to hear that," Ms. Alvarez said sympathetically. "Can you tell me who treated you badly? It's uncomfortable to hear, but it's important to know who was responsible and why."

"Um, it was actually Phil," I admitted.

Ms. Alvarez's eyes widened. "Oh, Phil? He used to be one of the most popular and handsome students here, but he can be quite annoying when it comes to be interested making fun of others he loved the most. The way you described it-being treated like trash-sounds severe. However, if you can maintain self-control and stay focused, things might improve."

Ms. Alvarez smiled warmly. "Maintaining a self-control mindset can really help solve your problems, especially when dealing with people who just want to laugh at you. If you don't react, they're less likely to bother you."

"But...," I started to protest.

Ms. Alvarez giggled and reassured me, "Yes, Ken, just give it a try. Phil will eventually lose interest in teasing you if he doesn't get a reaction."

As I considered her advice, I began to see the logic in it. Maybe she was right-maybe if I ignored Phil's antics, he would eventually stop. I decided I would try it.

After lunch break, a few hours later, I headed to the cafeteria. As expected, Phil and his friends were there, laughing and joking loudly.

Cezar was telling a story. "So, I was at the park, and I saw a squirrel trying to climb a tree but kept slipping. I thought, 'Why not give it a little push?' So I gave the tree a tiny nudge, and the squirrel flew right into the nearest bush! I've never seen a squirrel look so confused in my life!" They erupted into loud laughter.

As their laughter subsided, Phil's gaze fell on me sitting quietly by the window. He nudged his friends, and they started up again, making fun of me. Despite their taunts, I remembered Ms. Alvarez's advice and tried my best to stay composed, focusing on my own business instead of reacting to their jokes.

Phil laughed and said, "I bet someone's staring because they're craving attention." He made a show of wiping his abs, as if to taunt me further.

"Why don't you just stare at your own abs if you're so hungry for attention?" I retorted with a smirk. "It seems like you're just trying to feed your own ego."

Phil's smile faltered, and he looked slightly offended as he moved closer. "What did you just say? Are you trying to mess with me? You don't even know who you're talking to."

"Well," I said calmly, "you were the one who told me to join the fun or get embarrassed, right? I don't think your jokes are affecting me anymore. You might look like a popular celebrity who wants everyone's attention, but you and your friends are just a bunch of jerks."

Phil's expression darkened. "Stop calling us jerks."

"Why not?" I shot back. "You and your friends always crave attention and act like the whole school is your fan club. It's pretty obvious to everyone. You know what, Phil? It's only the first day of class, and you're already trying to stir up trouble. Maybe you should act more mature, because the student you're messing with isn't as easy to handle as you think. Keep that in mind!"

I left him in the cafeteria, where he looked a bit guilty. It seemed like the battle between the nerd and the jerk was far from over. I wasn't interested in lowering my standards to his level.

When I returned to the classroom, Phil and his friends were back too. Phil took a seat next to me, and we both chose to ignore each other. The day continued with more introductions from the teachers, but the tension remained.

Phil broke the silence, leaning in to speak to me. "You know, Ken, you really surprised me with how you handled things earlier. It's just like a booger stuck to my toe. You still don't realize who you're dealing with."

He spoke softly but with an air of superiority, as if he wanted me to see him as the king of the school. He might be attractive, but his attitude wasn't something I wanted to emulate.

As he finished speaking, I swallowed nervously, trying to hide my unease. The teasing wasn't over yet, and I could tell that the day would continue to be challenging.

I don't buy into the idea that "the more you hate someone, the more you love them." It's ridiculous, especially since we're both guys. There shouldn't be any "love" involved-just gross. I might have mixed feelings, but this isn't what I had in mind.

Phil and his friends kept at it. Phil taunted, "Hey Ken! Want to see my abs? They're rock-hard from doing twenty push-ups just for you!"

Another friend chimed in, "Hey Ken! You might think science makes you a genius like Einstein, but maybe it'll just turn you into a loser like you!"

Phil added, "Hey Ken, struggling with that novel? Let me read it for you. But wait, maybe I should just end up like you-obsessed with pointless stuff!"

It's clear Phil loves to annoy people for no reason. I remembered what Ms. Alvarez said earlier: "He loves making fun of everyone. If you don't let it get to you, he might lose interest."

Maybe she's right. If I don't let his teasing bother me, he might stop. But honestly, I'm just exhausted from his constant need to mock me.

By the time I got home, I was completely drained from the frustrating day. It felt like the first day of school had already taken everything out of me. I went upstairs immediately to change into something comfortable and try to relax.

After I changed my clothes, I joined my family downstairs for dinner. I was the only sibling at home because my sister was studying in Cebu and staying with our relatives. During dinner, our conversation moved from their work to school and our plans for the coming days.

Mom began by saying, "You know, honey, it's been six days since my boss approved my performance. The company has been incredibly generous, and my earnings have increased from three thousand dollars to four hundred and fifty."

Dad responded with excitement, "Wow, that's amazing! It's great that your salary will go up by 20%! We definitely need that money this month, especially with Ken starting Senior High School."

Mom agreed and added, "Of course, honey, we shouldn't forget about that. But Ken, how's school going? Have you made any new friends? I've been thinking about someone you might know. My boss' son, Phil Morgan? He sounds like an interesting person."

I hesitated for a moment before replying, "Oh, yeah, Phil Morgan. He's... well, he's something."

Mom said she was glad I knew about Phil, as her boss often talked about his achievements. She mentioned he was a football leader, an achiever, and had even been a singer. "Have you heard anything about him? Did you know he's involved in other activities too?" she asked.

Dad chimed in, "Yeah, just tell us, son. It's better to have friends with multiple talents! You should try to be friends with him and-"

I interrupted, "Okay, okay. You know, he's so annoying! I don't like his attitude! He makes fun of me whenever we see each other, and he treats me like I'm gay. I don't want to be embarrassed!"

Mom responded, "Hold on, sweetie. It's just part of the fun. And who knows? It's only the first day of class; there's nothing to worry about."

Dad agreed, "Exactly. You shouldn't let yourself get easily annoyed. You won't make friends if you don't try to join in."

I said, "I know, but-"

Mom cut in, "Haven't you ever heard the saying, 'self-control'?"

Her mention of "self-control" reminded me of what Ms. Alvarez had said earlier. I nodded and said, "Yeah, I think so. I'm sorry, Mom and Dad. I hope that maybe someday I'll get the hang of it."

It seems that my attitude towards my fellow students is delusional. I'm often too sarcastic, and I should really come up with a better plan for resolving conflicts.

As I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling in my dark and gloomy bedroom, I couldn't help but overthink the situation and our fight. The words I said earlier kept replaying in my mind: "Maybe you should be mature because the person you're messing with is not as easy as you think. Keep that in mind." I kept asking myself, "Why am I doing this? Phil is... Ugh! It's just the first day of class!"

Later on, I decided to reach out to Phil privately. I messaged him, "Hey!... What's up?" He saw my message but took a few minutes to reply. When he finally did, his response was blunt: "What? What do you want, asshole?"

I replied, "You know, about earlier. I just wanted to apologize for what I said. It was too offensive, and I don't want to embarrass myself."

Phil replied, "Huh? You realized, huh? You know, just like real men do, it's best to not mind someone's jokes. Unless, of course, you join in." Then, he stopped replying.

I realized my actions were not easy to handle. My sarcastic attitude and overreacting tendencies had made things worse. I often got carried away with jokes made at my expense.

The next day, I planned to apologize to Phil and his friends. As I approached him in the cafeteria, anxiety gripped me. I repeated to myself, "You can do this, Ken. You can do this!" Taking a deep breath, I walked up to him.

"Hey, Phil," I said.

Phil looked up with a smile. "Oh hey, Ken. What's up?" he replied casually.

My eyes widened at his reaction. "Actually, about last night, I forgot to reply to your chat," Phil said, still smiling.

I wasn't expecting this. "Well, it's alright. It's actually my fault for everything that happened yesterday. I decided to apologize privately," I said, glancing at his friends.

I continued, "And sorry for calling you guys jerks. I got carried away with my emotions and didn't handle things well. I promise I won't do it again."

Phil laughed and said, "Ha ha... Don't worry, Ken. Just sit with us and let's continue talking."

I was taken aback by the sudden change in his attitude. It was confusing and I wondered if he was still pranking me or if this was a genuine shift in his behavior. I hoped that this newfound friendliness would last and that things would stay positive between us from now on.

Well, I still can't quite believe what I just heard. But let's see how things unfold once we understand the reasons behind Phil's behavior.

Phil said, "Actually, about yesterday, I wanted to apologize for the way I acted. I realize now that my behavior was out of line."

I replied, "Yeah, I also need to apologize for the things I said that might have embarrassed you. It wasn't right, and I hope we can move past it." Phil looked at me with a mischievous smile and said, "So...?" I took a deep breath and asked, "So, are we friends now?"

Phil's grin widened as he replied, "More like best friends." With that, he pulled me into a hug. His embrace was warmer than I had expected, and I was stunned to realize I was now best friends with the most popular student in school. I felt my face turn bright red.

Phil noticed and teased, "Uh, Ken, are you... blushing?" He couldn't help but laugh.

I was mortified and stammered, "Wait, no, no, this can't be happening!" I quickly excused myself, saying, "I need to step out for a bit," and rushed out of the cafeteria, trying to calm my racing heart.

As I left, I heard Phil and his friends laughing behind me. Phil called out, "HAHAHA! Did you see that? He was actually blushing!"

Cezar chimed in, "Yeah, I can't believe it. He's running away like a raspberry."

Their laughter followed me as I made my way to the restroom, desperately trying to regain my composure. They laughed heartily. Stuart said, "Yeah... HAHAHA! I almost took a picture of him!"

Phil added, chuckling, "But guys, let's think about Ken's apology."

Grey asked, "What are we supposed to do about Ken's apology? Are you supposed to like him now? HAHAHAHA"

Phil responded, "Of course not, dude! Let's just respect him. I don't want to deal with more trouble like we had with the teachers yesterday."

Then, a flashback scene:

Ms. Alvarez addressed the class, "Thank you, class, for being present today on the first day. Now, it's time for your next teacher to enter."

As the class settled, Ms. Alvarez called Phil over. "Mr. Phil, could I speak with you privately?" Phil replied, "Yes, Ms. Alvarez?" Ms. Alvarez said, "I need to talk to you in my office. Let's go." Phil agreed, "Okay, I'm coming with you, Ms. Alvarez."

As they arrived at the office, Phil asked, "What exactly are we going to discuss, Ms. Alvarez?"

Ms. Alvarez looked at him with concern. "Phil, I'm worried about how students are adjusting on their first day. There have been some reports about their experiences, and I need to address them. It's important to ensure that everyone feels welcomed and comfortable."

Phil furrowed his brow. "What do you mean? Did I do something wrong?"

Ms. Alvarez nodded. "Yes, apparently, Ken mentioned that instead of making friends, he felt mistreated. He specifically noted that you were one of the first people he encountered who made him feel uncomfortable."

Phil was taken aback. "What did he say exactly?"

Ms. Alvarez explained, "Ken felt that he was treated poorly and made to feel embarrassed because of the way you interacted with him. He mentioned that your behavior was one of the first things he noticed, and it affected his whole first day."

Phil began to respond, "No, Ms. Alvarez, it was-"

Ms. Alvarez cut him off with a stern tone. "Nonsense, Phil. You need to address this issue directly with Ken. If this isn't resolved, I'll have no choice but to report this situation to the principal. Do you understand the seriousness of this?"

Phil looked serious and nodded. "Yes, Ms. Alvarez. I understand."

Back in the present, Grey turned to Phil and said, "Oh, so that's what was going on. I'm sorry for the confusion."

Phil sighed and replied, "It's okay, Grey. We just need to focus on our own behavior and try not to make things worse. We should be mindful of how we treat others and avoid getting into unnecessary conflicts."

Meanwhile, in the restroom, I felt so overwhelmed and confused, and I muttered, "What on earth is happening to me? I cannot believe this is happening! Why am I blushing so much?!"

Phil knocked on the restroom door. "Ken? Are you okay in there?"

I opened the door and saw Phil standing there with a concerned look. "Unh... Yeah, everything's fine. Hehe."

Phil held out my backpack. "I wanted to return this to you."

I took my backpack, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Oh, my backpack. Thanks. Sorry for leaving so suddenly."

Phil smiled. "It's okay. I just wanted to apologize for how I treated you yesterday. I didn't mean to make you feel bad."

I quickly reassured him. "Oh, don't worry about it. We're good now, right?"

Phil nodded. "Yeah, and I was thinking we could hang out sometime. How about after school?"

I couldn't believe my ears. "Hang out? When?"

Phil's smile grew. "Maybe after school today. Are you in?"

I was thrilled. "Definitely!"

OMG, I can't believe we're friends now! The most popular, attractive student in school wants to hang out with me! I hope we don't get into any more trouble. I don't want to lose my dignity with others.

As Phil walked away, I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. The idea of spending time with him was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. I hoped this was the start of something positive and that we could avoid any more misunderstandings.

During our first Science class, Mr. Porch kicked off with a lesson on the muscular system.

Mr. Porch, full of energy, said, "Alright, class, let's start our journey with the muscular system. Muscles are everywhere-from the biceps that make your arms look strong to the muscles in your hips that help you move. Can anyone come up here and show us an example of a muscle?"

Phil nudged me with a grin. "Hey Ken, got any muscles to show?" He chuckled.

I shot back, "Oh, I definitely do, but why don't you volunteer?"

Mr. Porch looked around and said, "Come on, someone step up! Or should I start giving extra points for bravery?"

Phil jumped at the chance. "I'll do it, Mr. Porch!"

Mr. Porch, looking excited, said, "Great! Show us what you've got, Phil."

Phil strode to the front and slowly lifted his shirt, revealing his abs to the entire class. The room erupted in a mix of laughter and cheers.

Mr. Porch clapped, smiling. "Well done, Phil! That's a perfect ABS-olute example of muscle definition. Get it? HAHAHA. Thanks for the demonstration!"

The class laughed and cheered, enjoying Phil's bold and entertaining way of introducing us to the topic.

As Phil confidently showcased his abs in front of the class, the reaction was nothing short of theatrical. The classroom atmosphere seemed to morph into an entirely different realm.

Clara's eyes widened in awe, and she gasped, "OMG!!! Phil, you're so hot! Is it even legal to look that good?"

Zianne, barely holding it together, exclaimed, "I think I'm going to collapse! I didn't know it was possible to look like that!"

The girls in the class were practically swooning, while the guys tried to play it cool but couldn't hide their amazement. Phil, with a smirk, shifted his gaze toward me, his eyes locking with mine as he flashed a teasing smile. I felt my jaw drop, my eyes glued to his abs, and my face turned a bright shade of crimson.

Mr. Porch, struggling to regain control of the situation, cleared his throat and called out, "Alright, class, let's focus. Mr. Ken, can you provide us with another example of a muscle?"

I was so engrossed in Phil's display that I didn't immediately realize Mr. Porch was talking to me. He repeated, "Mr. Ken, are you with us?"

I snapped out of my trance, stammering, "Uh, y-yeah, Mr. Porch. I, um, can give an example."

Mr. Porch raised an eyebrow, "Great. Step up here, please."

I nervously made my way to the front of the room. With a deep breath, I flexed my arm, revealing my modest biceps. They were more "cute" than "muscular," and the contrast with Phil's impressive display was stark. The entire class burst into laughter, some even snorting in disbelief.

Phil's friends, trying to contain their amusement, snickered while Clara shouted, "Aww, Ken's muscles are like a little snack next to Phil's full meal!"

Mr. Porch, barely suppressing a smile, said, "Good effort, Ken. Now, let's get back to our seats. And remember, everyone, muscles come in all shapes and sizes!"

As I shuffled back to my seat, red-faced and embarrassed, Phil gave me a thumbs-up and said, "Nice try, Ken. You've got guts, and that's what counts!"

The class continued with a lively buzz of chatter, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and amusement at the unexpected turn of events.

Mr. Porch continued, "As we proceed, remember that muscle development is crucial for overall health. It's not just about strength; it's about endurance and flexibility too."

Phil, still grinning from the earlier demonstration, couldn't resist a quiet laugh. "Great job out there, Ken. Though, you might want to work on your, uh, muscle presentation a bit more."

I chuckled nervously. "Yeah, I'm more into hitting the books and strengthening my brain than working on my muscles."

It's so embarrassing! I was almost blushing again. If that happened, I swear the whole world would have exploded with laughter.

We then moved to the next classroom for Personal Development with Mr. Zalmer, whose full name was Zalmer Xivo Montenegro. As everyone settled into their new seats, Mr. Zalmer greeted us with enthusiasm.

"Alright, everyone! It's fantastic that you're all now senior high school students. Are any of you excited about going to college?"

The classroom fell into an awkward silence.

Mr. Zalmer pressed on, "Anyone? Isn't anyone excited about the new opportunities that college will bring?"

Student 1 hesitantly spoke up, "I think so?"

Student 2 responded with a thoughtful frown, "Still overthinking it..."

Student 3 shrugged and said, "Not much."

Mr. Zalmer nodded in understanding. "I get it; it's a big transition. But let's shift gears for now. I want to hear about your personal interests. What are your talents? Any hobbies? Or even who's caught your eye?"

He chuckled heartily. "Let's see who's brave enough to share! Come on, don't be shy!"

The class erupted into a mix of giggles and uneasy shuffling. Some students looked around nervously, while others exchanged amused glances, preparing to discuss their personal likes and maybe even their crushes. The atmosphere was filled with a blend of curiosity and apprehension as we braced ourselves for a more personal discussion.

Mr. Zalmer tilted his head, deep in thought. "Hmm... You don't usually discuss yourself much in college, but crushes are something you all have, right?"

Anxiety gripped me at the mention of crushes. The idea of talking about mine was nerve-wracking. I had a crush, but the thought of sharing it made me squirm.

Mr. Zalmer turned to me with a pointed look. "How about you go first, Ken?"

I froze, stumbling over my words. "Me? I don't have-"

Mr. Zalmer interrupted, shaking his head. "I don't believe that answer, Ken. You're clearly nervous talking about crushes, which suggests you have one."

I tried to protest. "No, really, I don't have any crushes!"

Eric, leaning back in his chair with a smirk, added, "Oh, come on, Ken! It's obvious." Linzy's eyes sparkled mischievously. "That's true! It's Phil! Ken, you can't deny it!"

My heart raced as I stammered, "What? When did I ever tell you that?"

Mr. Zalmer looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Wait, Ken, are you saying you have a crush on Phil? Are you maybe bisexual?"

I felt a wave of panic. "No, that's not true!"

Linzy jumped in, her voice full of conviction. "Yes, it is! Yes, it is! You've talked about it!"

The rest of the class, caught up in the excitement, echoed, "Yes it is! Yes it is!"

Mr. Zalmer's patience snapped. "SILENCE!!! You know class, having feelings for someone is normal, regardless of who they are. It's about appreciating someone for who they are. Ken, I'm glad you were honest with us. Phil, how do you feel about this?"

Phil chuckled, clearly amused. "Haha, this is really unexpected. We started off as enemies, and now we're friends. I had no idea Ken had a crush on me, but I appreciate his honesty. We're cool, and that's what matters."

Mr. Zalmer's expression softened, and he spoke with a gentle warmth. "It's heartwarming to hear that. Friendships like yours are rare and precious. The memories you create together will stay with you forever. Even if one day circumstances change and one of you has to move on, the bond you've built and the moments you've shared will remain in your hearts. It's the memories that keep the connection alive, even if you're apart."

I felt a rush of mixed emotions-embarrassment, relief, and a deep sense of appreciation. Mr. Zalmer's words touched me profoundly. I promised myself to cherish every moment with my friends, no matter how difficult things might get. The thought of losing such a meaningful friendship was daunting, but I vowed never to let it fade away. I'd hold onto these memories tightly, knowing that even if we faced challenges, our bond and the moments we shared would always be a part of us.

During recess, Phil and I headed to the cafeteria, where we usually hang out together without his friends. As we chatted, I noticed Phil's phone buzz. He glanced at it, chuckling as he read the message aloud.

"HAHA, I didn't expect what she just said," Phil laughed, showing me the message. "She was practically screaming and about to collapse after seeing my abs earlier."

I couldn't help but laugh along. "Yeah, I saw her reaction. It was priceless."

Phil's phone buzzed again, and he looked at it with a grin. "Hold on, someone's texting me."

He read the message aloud: "Hey Phil! Where are you? Can we join and hang out with you?"

Phil replied quickly: "Sure, I'm at the cafeteria. Just bring them along. I'm hanging out with my friend Ken. The others are minding their own business, but I'm spending time with him instead."

A few moments later, a reply came: "Sure thing! It's good to know. See you there! Bye!"

Phil looked at me, his smile widening. "It's just someone I know. They're bringing their friends over to hang out with us."

I nodded, excited. "Sounds great! I bet they'll be really nice. It'll be good to expand our circle of friends and make our friendship even more supportive."

Phil agreed, and we continued to chat, eagerly waiting for our new friends to join us. The thought of making new connections and sharing our time with others added an extra layer of excitement to the afternoon.

After about 20 minutes of waiting, Phil's friend with the others finally arrived at the cafeteria. Phil looked up and greeted them with enthusiasm.

"Hey! What's up, Sharmane!" Phil called out, waving.

Sharmane smiled and waved back. "Hey Phil! Sorry for making you wait. I just thought we could hang out here with you and Ken."

I was surprised and curious. "Wait, how did you know my name?"

Phil chuckled. "Sure, we don't mind. What are the names of your friends? Let's start with you."

Sharmane introduced her friends one by one.

"This is Cyle," Sharmane said, gesturing to a tall guy with a friendly smile.

"Hey, I'm Cyle!" he said, shaking hands with Phil.

"Nice to meet you, Cyle!" Phil replied warmly. "How's it going?"

Next was Jorgie. "Hey, I'm Jorgie!" he said, shaking hands with Phil.

"Yo, Jorgie! You seem like you work out, don't you?" Phil joked.

Jorgie grinned. "Definitely."

Jasmine introduced herself next. "I'm Jasmine, and I have to say, your handshake is pretty strong!"

Phil laughed. "Yeah, working out is really my thing."

Then came Angelo. "I'm Angelo," he said, without extending his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Angelo," Phil said.

Finally, Sharmane introduced Kenny. "And this is Kenny."

"Hello," Kenny said, also not extending a hand.

Phil turned to me with a grin. "So, it's good to meet you all. Sharmane, before we start, why don't you introduce yourself as well?"

"Oh, yeah, I almost forgot!" Sharmane said with a warm smile. "This is Ken, Ken Gruvette!"

"Hello guys, nice to meet you all!" I said, trying to keep my nerves in check.

Phil and I exchanged glances, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. The group seemed friendly, and I was excited about spending time with them. As everyone settled in and began chatting, the atmosphere lightened up, and I felt more at ease.

After we all introduced ourselves, the group started to get to know each other better. We shared our interests, talents, likes, and dislikes. It was great to see that despite our different backgrounds, we had quite a few things in common.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Phil's old friend and the others were genuinely nice. Sharmane, in particular, seemed very thoughtful and engaging. We talked about our favorite activities, hobbies, and even our favorite movies and music. It felt like we were all on the same wavelength, and I began to feel more comfortable around everyone.

Phil's easygoing nature made it easier to bond with his friends. Their warmth and friendliness quickly put me at ease. I couldn't help but think how lucky I was to be included in this group. It was a bit surreal to realize that these people, who seemed so cool and genuine, were becoming a part of my circle.

As the conversation flowed and laughter filled the cafeteria, I hoped that this new friendship would be long-lasting. I wanted us all to remain close and for our bond to grow stronger over time. Especially with Phil, I hoped that our friendship would endure and that we would continue to support each other. The thought of our friendship lasting and thriving made me smile, and I felt optimistic about the future.