May 12, 2010

I never knew when I develop this feeling.

From what I can deduce, it started from the day I smell the air of summer. We were kids back then, my family visited our relatives in the countryside, then there I met the one who captured my heart.

We often visit our relatives for vacation, to get together. As my family works in the city, we don’t get to visit our relatives as they all live in the countryside.

I am not a fan of long road trips with family as they can get a little too uncomfortable.

But every summer, every vacation, I look forward to visiting the countryside.

…

I met a kid the same age as I am, son of the neighbor of my uncle. For a kid in the countryside, he is not tanned and I think he have foreign gene, clearly shows from his looks.

“I am Damian Romero, what about yours?” he energetically held his hands.

“I am Lucio Calleja.” I replied shyly.

We were just 10 years old.

He lives in front of our relative’s house. From the moment we held hands, I felt something warm inside of me. Maybe it’s the heat of summer, or it’s just the power of youth. One thing I know; I began to like this person.

___________________________________

June 5, 2018

I’m Lucio Calleja, 17 year-old, Born on the 12th of March, 2000. I have medium length of dark brown hair, I like it when my hair is flowing and hid part of my face. Height is 170cm, just average build and my zodiac is Pisces. That’s my introduction as I don’t have redeeming features I can boast about.

Currently changing into my school uniform, since today is my first day in a new school as my family moves a lot from different places because of work related stuff. We keep on changing places to live since my parents don’t have a permanent location as their company keep changing workplace.

At first, it didn’t bother me as I don’t get attached to the various neighborhood we stayed in as we will not stay for long, maybe 3 years at most we stayed in a single location.

I’m a little nervous….

New environment for me, new faces, especially the new feeling of being a new student… seems too heavy to think about. Since my family’s house is not that far from school, I will have to walk in order to get there.

I’m the 3rd child of the Calleja family, I have an older brother and an older sister. They are only 1 year apart; I was born 5 years after my older sister was born. My personality is something I call common, smile when needed, cry when needed, and be serious when needed. I don’t find passion in many things but I really enjoy music and stuff. It’s the only one that is permanent in my head as I easily forgot. Sometimes I get gloomy but it’s just how I normally am and that’s not because of a negative aspect of my real self but I just don’t easily find joy in many things.

I wore my earphone as I walk on the hot road towards school. After a while I saw students wearing similar uniform.

(One of these people could be my classmate…) I thought to myself.

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I keep walking, enjoying the strong breeze of wind and the music I’m listening to. It gives me a refreshing feeling as the cool wind brush on my skin on this hot day.

As I reach the gate, I removed my earphones.

“Who is that?” I heard a female student said to another besides her.

I curiously looked at the person they’re talking about.

Tall.

Good-looking.

Looks like a delinquent.

Long hair.

He could be mistaken as a model, well… he could be.

As we accidentally locked at each other’s eyes, I felt a sense of déjà vu.

I ignored the unnecessary thought and proceeded entering the school.

___________________________________

 “Classroom 306.” I muttered to myself as I read the sign above the door.

This is my classroom for the whole year.

I entered and quickly examines the room. Students all over the place, I guess they’ve been classmates before from how they all look friendly and calm with each other. I randomly sit on a chair with no bags in it, thinking it is an unclaimed chair.

The 3rd row, 2nd column near the right window. My room is in the 3rd floor of the school building.

As there is no class, I began to scan the people I will be entangled with for the whole year. Noisy, flirty, and a bit rowdy. I guess teenagers are still teenagers no matter what grade you are in.

One person seems to catch my attention because as I was scanning the room, we locked eyes. What is with these situations? I keep locking eyes with people.

Anyways, she seems to have mix Asian blood.

“What’s your name?” a person from my left talked to me.

“I’m Lucio Calleja..” I meekly replied.

“That’s a fancy name, I’m Emery Dias. We will be seatmate for the whole school year, please treat me nicely.” She smiled back at me. Although I don’t really easily trust people, I should at least have to know and understand them to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings in the future.

“Treat me well too.” I smiled back at her.

She has common black straight hair, black eyes and a woman her age have a voluptuous body. I guess it’s normal for a growing woman.

She then began to talk to other female classmates in the room. As I am a new student, I guess I would be the center of curiosity but maybe they want to respect my space for now, they don’t want to bother me too much.

Although I don’t mind the noisy background, it too can get a little distracting.

…

“…Handsome.” I heard Emery suddenly muttered.

As I look at the object of fascination, a new person arrives and sat on one of the empty chair in front of me, I also become stuttered as this person was the one on the gate.

(Hmmm… I guess we are classmates.) I talked to myself.

All the girls in the room then began to gossip because of the new guy. I assumed he’s a new guy since nobody seems to know him and bothered him. I hope I survive this hectic life.

But what is this nostalgic feeling I keep having when I look at him.

“…smells like summer…” I muttered to myself.

I then reminiscence on my childhood, when I visit my relatives in the countryside. I enjoyed my childhood vacations there as it was a new fascinating world, kind of enchanting to be honest. I have one and only friend over there too, but I can’t seem to remember his name. His sweet smell and the bright smile is all I can remember; the very essence of summer seems to reminds me of him… my first love.

As I keep on reminiscing, the homeroom teacher arrives. She seems in her 30s from the way she looks but let’s not judge early.

“Okay class, I am Claren Yap, I’ll be your homeroom teacher for the whole school year. I see there are familiar faces here and some new ones as well. Common introduction, let’s start at the guy from the back.” She then pointed at the guy from the back.

I didn’t really listen to the introduction of my classmates as I’m bad in remembering names, I’ll remember it through the course of time. Although I can say ill forget it if I don’t keep interacting with them.

After Emery, I stand up and introduce myself.

“I am Lucios Calleja, 17 year-old, my Birthday is on the 12th of March, I am new here so please treat me nicely.” I quickly ended my introduction.

Emery gives me a thumbs up for reason I don’t know.

I look at the guy in front of me and my curiosity began to rise.

(His back sure is wide…) I muttered to myself.

It’s his turn and as he stood up, I clearly imagine him as tall as a skyscraper.

His tied black long flowing hair sways from the breeze, his clear big frame, and his fair skin makes him look like a prince from fairytales. Clearly came from foreign brand of genes.

“…I am... Damian Romero, 18 year-old, Born on the 7th of November. I’m also new here, and also please treat me well.” He ended his introduction and I can clearly have heard the girls giggling and talking to each other because of the handsome new guy.

(…Damian...) a sudden thought came to mind.

Then a strong breeze gushed from the window.

Smell is one of the activators of memory. The wind brought me memories, it clearly smells like…

“…summer...”

The person in front of me, is my first love.