GABRIEL’s P.O.V.
New country. New life. New school. I’m on my senior year when we moved in this country. There’s no Erevell, nor anyone who treat me as a friend. Maybe because of the fact that I’m from a different country, that’s why.
My first day of school is a very stressful one, not until I saw her. She’s one of my classmate... A girl from my class.
“Ms. Claire Braganza?” Our teacher called her name during the attendance.
“Present, ma’am!”
As soon as I heard her angelic and cheerful voice, I instantly remembered my bestfriend, Erevell. She glanced at my direction, giving me a small smile that made my heart thumped abnormally. Ever since that day, I knew that it was love at first sight.
Days passed by and I became contented of watching her from afar, silently clapping my hands for her every achievements during the first and second quarter of our school year. The teachers even told us that she’s a candidate for being our class valedictorian.
That’s when I started to make my first move... I thought that maybe, just maybe, if I’ll fight against her for the position of being the smartest student in our class, she will be able to finally notice me. But I was wrong. Because she didn’t even care about her status in school... Even in what other people think about her. And that’s why I became more amused by her beauty. Until one day, I told to myself that I like this girl. I like Claire Braganza.
By the third quarter of our school year, I pretty much memorized her schedules and routines, making it easier for me to follow her around and secretly watch her from afar. Every day of school, she will arrived with another girl not from the same class as ours, her bestfriend, I guess. I heard that her name is Kate, and finally, I found someone who could help me get close to her.
Another day came, the day that I am going to make my very first move... Through her bestfriend, I guess. If I will be able to get close to her, I’m sure that she will going to lead me to Claire. So as I saw her walking down the hallway, I bumped into her purposely, thinking that this is the only way that I could start a good conversation with her.
“Hey...” I greeted her.
She looked up to me, looking very amused by what she just saw. Not being assuming but I can see it in her eyes. It was full of wonder and amusement. She couldn’t even say a word or anything in front of me. To be fair, she’s pretty enough but not as pretty as her bestfriend... And Erevell, of course. I still couldn’t forget that name, and I will never be, not in a billion years.

“H-hi...” she stuttered.
“Are you alright?” I asked, pertaining to the folders and books that she just dropped on the floor after we bumped into each other.
“Yes, I am,” she answered too quickly, before she started picking up her stuffs.
“Let me help you.”
I kneel down to help her, and as I tried to reached out for some of her books scattered on the ground, our hands accidentally touched, making her blush. Well this is not a part of my plan.
“Here you go,” I stated as I handed her some of the books before I finally stood up. She did the same thing, still not bothering to remove her eyes on me.
“Are you new here?” she curiously asked.
“Uhm... Not actually. I’ve been here for months. And I often see you arriving here in our school with Claire...” There, I finally started a conversation about her.
“You know my bestfriend?”
I smiled to myself, before nodding. If only this girl knew that she’s the reason why I’m doing all these things... Just because I wanted to get close to her.
“Well, not exactly. I often heard her name from some of our classmates. You know, we have the same classes together.”
For a second, she stopped, thinking to herself before averting her eyes back at me, looking like she wanted to ask something but I already did, making her shut her mouth and blushed for apparently no reason.
“What’s your name, by the way?” I asked.
“I’m Kate.” She lend her hand for a shake.
“Gabriel.” I reached for it and then gently shook it.
I looked at her straight in the eyes, making her cheeks flushed in red color even more. Oh, boy. Did I just make this girl fall in love with me? But this is not part of the plan!
“Are you sure you’re okay? You are blushing right now,” I stated, then chuckled.
“I’m not!” she answered too quickly, only proving that she’s guilty if that was a crime.
She reached for her cheeks, covering it with her palms in order to hide it away from me. Tsk. I need to stop this nonsense right now. This is a wrong move. I should have just talk directly to Claire and not to her bestfriend. I don’t want to ruin their friendship if ever.
“So... I gotta go now. See you later, Kate.” I winked at her, and I don’t fucking know why I did that.
I go to my classes, where Claire is surely in right now. After I went inside of our classroom, I instantly saw her, scanning her notes while tapping her pen on the desk of her arm chair. I took a deep breath, gaining the courage that I needed just to come and say a simple greeting to her. This is it. I shouldn’t blow my last chance just like what I did earlier with her bestfriend.
“Hi, Claire,” I almost whispered.
She looked up to me, closing her notes.
“Hi, Gab!” she greeted cheerfully, making me looked surprised that she knew my name. “What’s up?”
“Uhm... Nothing. I just wanted to greet you or something.”
“Oh. Anyways, aren’t you planning to study about Biology? We will have a long quiz later on so...”
“Yeah, yeah, sure. I will. I mean, yes.”
She chuckled, making me melt just by hearing her sweet voice. It was just like Erevell’s, not that high pitched sound but definitely a soft and angelic one.
“Do you want to borrow my notes? I created an extra reviewer for my bestfriend last night but she didn’t use it. She said that she already made her own so I guess I’ll just give it to you,” she blabbered in a friendly tone.
I smiled to myself. This is way easier than I expected. She’s more friendly than I thought. And even more beautiful up close.
“Sure. Thank you so much... And about your bestfriend... I bumped into her earlier. We met each other. Her name is Kate, right?”
“Yes! I’m glad that you already met her. Do you want to sit with us during our lunch time?” she invited.
I wanted to shout, and scream out of joy for hearing her words. She just invited me to be with them later on. I should’ve just talk to her ever since the first quarter of our school year. If only I knew that she’s kinder than I expected her to be.
“Sure.”
“Great. Talk to you later. I still need to review my notes for now,” she stated, flashing a cheeky smile towards my direction.
I did the same before shaking my head several times, surprised at how well the things turned out to be. I knew it. Claire is just like Erevell... Even better, I guess.
Our lunch time came, and as she promised, I will be sitting with Claire and Kate’s table at our school Cafeteria. The two of us walked together through the school corridors, Claire laughing at my cheesy and corny jokes. Until we reached the Cafeteria. We sat down, talking and knowing each other as we wait for her bestfriend to arrive.
A few minutes had passed, before Claire stopped talking to me for a moment, looking at someone’s direction before shouting her bestfriend’s name.
“Kate! Come over here!”
Kate walked towards our direction sheepishly. I gave her a small smile, making her blushed.
“I met him in one of my classes. He told me that you two bumped into each other earlier. Is that true?” Claire curiously asked her and she just nodded as a response.
“Since you two had already known me by now, I’m inviting myself to your table every lunch. Is that okay with you, Claire?” I declared, grabbing the chance to be with her every single day.
Claire just nodded before patting the seat next to her while looking at Kate. She sat down, still blushing.
“Are you okay, Kate?” Claire asked her, looking worried.
“Y-yeah,” she stuttered.
“Gab was asking you if it’s okay that he’ll sat down with us during every lunch,” Claire casually stated, as if asking her bestfriend if what I just told them is fine with her.
I put on a sweetest smile on my face. I know that she couldn’t refuse my request if ever that I did that. So I guess I will use my final resources just to be with Claire every lunch time. This is definitely a chance, and I wouldn’t blow it anymore.
“Is that okay? If not I–” Kate instantly cut off my statement.
“No! It’s super fine with me. You can join us any time that you want.”
I smiled because of her answer. Finally, I greatly executed my plan. Now I finally got the chance to spent every lunch time with the girl that I like. The girl who made me feel the love at first sight thingie.