Santino... 
Ilang tables lamang ang layo ko sakaniya, partially hidden behind a row of bookshelves, absorbed in reading—but unmistakable. His hair falling over his forehead, the usual look of him in a neat and clean uniform, his fingers tapping as he reads.
I didn't know he goes to the library. I mean, I usually found him more often outside and far away from here.
Yes, he likes to study alone—that's what I noticed about him every time na ayain siya noon na mag-study together ng mga kaklase naming ay tumatanggi siya. Nabanggit niya rin noon na he prefers to study at home because all he needs is already at his house.
I guess all my knowledge about him on study preference is wrong.
I didn't even know that he was here today. Nakita niya kaya 'yung nangyari kanina?
Nakakahiya!
For a second, I stopped breathing. Because something about the way the light hits his profile through the blinds, the calm on his face, the complete lack of awareness that I exist—
It feels familiar.
He was like a page I've already read few times but only now understood.
I shook my head and sigh.
I stood up and hugged the book we have on the table. Medyo may kabigatan ito pero I have to put it back where we got it earlier.
Nahirapan akong maglagay ng mga libro pabalik dahil ang tataas ng mga shelves. Si Chamiel kasi ang kumuha ng mga ito dahil matangkad siya kaysa sa’kin.
Nasa huling libro na ako na ibabalik. Same aisle din sa pagkukuhanan ko ng gusto kong tingnan na libro eh.
Muli akong tumingkayad tulad ng ginagawa ko kanina sa pagbabalik ng libro pero sa pagkakataong ito parang sumuko na ang paa ko!
Hindi na 'ko makatingkayad ng maayos, kaya sinubukan ko tumalon-talon.
Ano ka girl, si Superman?
I let out a frustrated huff, still trying to nudge the thick book into place with the tip of my fingers. Ang hirap maging average size!
Parang isang pulgada na lang, maibabalik ko na siya, pero ang hirap talaga! My heels lift off the ground again—tingkayad ulit, laban lang.
"Need help?"
I jolted because of the voice, and I froze when I realized who it was.
That voice wasn't in my imagination.
I slowly lowered myself and turned.
There he is again, Santino.
Parang kanina lamang I was admiring him while he reads. Close enough to see the soft line between his brows as he eyes the book in my hand.
May hawak din siyang libro, pero ikinipit niya iyon sa bandang kilikili niya upang abutin ang libro na pilit kong ibinabalik sa itaas at hindi na hinintay ang sagot ko.
"There."
"Too high?" he asked but not in a mocking manner, just... noticing.
I managed to nod at him after not speaking and just staring at him.
"Well, yeah... apparently, I'm too short for this section."
Ngumiti siya ng maliit sa’kin at halos magbiagay akin 'yon ng ngisay! Grabe ang gwapo!
"I, uhm.... thanks." I mumble, my voice quieter than I intended.
Shet. Ang pabebe ko ata?!
"Do you still need something? Useful ako kasi matangkad." he joked.
I blinked. "Actually, oo sana. Top shelf din, red ‘yung spine nu'ng book."
He hums and scans the row easily. “Got it.” In less than a minute, the book is in my hands.
I inhaled a large amount of air before speaking again, "Thanks ulit."
I hugged the book as if it was a treasure, and without waiting, tumalikod na ko sakaniya at nagmamadaling bumalik ulit sa upuan ko.
Parang dinadaga nag dibdib ko ng sabay-sabay na martilyo!
Oh my god. That just happened.
I set the book down and fanned my face with my notes.
Naka-aircon naman sa lob pero bigla akong binanas. Trying to calm down.
Trying not to overthink.
Trying to pretend it was just help.
Pero bago ko pa i-process ng maayos ang umatakbong kilig sa utak ko—he showed up again.
"Mind if I sit here?" he asked, pointing at the empty chair across from me.
"Huh?" I was frozen at thought.
"I just figured that we're both studying alone and the other seats are taken," he said and glanced around.
Pati rin tuloy ako nag-iginala ang paningin sa paligid. He's lying! There are still two tables unoccupied!
"Y-yeah, sure. Go ahead." Sabi ko na lang. I stammered, gesturing like some awkward flight attendant presenting a seatbelt.
Santino sits down slowly, setting his book in front of him but not opening it yet. For a moment, it’s just quiet between us. Comfortable, maybe. Or just overwhelmingly tense on my end.
Then he speaks.
I was trying to focus on my reading when he suddenly spoke again.
"Are my notes and reviewer useful?" Tanong niya.
I gave a small smile to him and nod, "Very much. I aced the quiz in Chem for the first time."
"That's good to know... congrats..." He utters and smiles at me.
"Thank you ulit."
I gasped for a little air before looking down on what I was reading.
Dear heavens, hahaba po ata ang life span ko kung araw-araw kong makikita na nakangiti si Santino!
"Savanah... regarding pala sa nangyari nu'ng Tuesday."
I didn't look up at him, but I listened, "Hmm?"
"Sa Friday tayo pupunta sa office para isalaysay mo ang nangyari during that day in the senior area. Hanggang one PM lang naman kasi tayo that day, so sabi ng head go daw."
"Hmmkay." tanging sagot ko.
"Don't worry, kasama mo naman din ako do'n since I also saw their first encounter about this issue."
Tumango-tango lang ako sa kaniya habang ang focus ay nasa libro pa rin.
As much as I wanted to look up at him, I just can't! My face is tomato red now! I know and I can feel it.
"And also..." he stopped in between the sentence so I looked up at him. "May possibility na lagyan na ng CCTV ang senior area right after ma-solve 'to, bawal na mag stay after school hours natin. I'm sorry."
I blinked twice because of what he said.
"Sorry for what?" naguguluhang tanong ko sa kaniya.
"Hindi ba favorite spot mo 'yon while studying for quizzes sa subject na hirap ka? Kaya ka nga nando'n last time di'ba?"
I gulped on what he said.
A detail about me.
He was right.
But why the hell he knew about that?