LOVE 1.0

CHAPTER 1: Mutual Attraction

When Ella first saw Zach, her face suddenly felt hot and she believed her cheeks went red. She also felt giddy inside and a little nervous. In her mind – Is this what people call a crush? Am I really admiring someone for the very first time? With the three other guys that Kuya Geoff is with. That guy with dimples is really the most handsome. He also looks intelligent and kind.

Her older brother, Geoffrey Solomon, then entered their restaurant/house which they shared with their aunt. Her brother introduced the three guys to their aunt and to her, "Tita Gina, Ella, this is Zach, a classmate of ours. You already know Irvin and Nate. We needed Ella to draw something for us. They will pay."

Briella Solomon, fondly called Bri of Ella, was just fourteen years old back then and her brother and classmates were all 18 years old, and they were all first year computer science students at University Filipinas – Vienburg. Their house was situated in a barangay beside the university campus. On the ground floor of their house was the restaurant of their aunt catering to the students and professors of the university. Their parents had both worked for a cruise ship before they both died in a ship mishap. The insurance money they got was the one their aunt was spending on their education and daily living. Their aunt, who was the sister of the father, established the restaurant for an extra income. Their aunt was not book smart but she had so many skills. She had national certificates in cookery, baking, and tailoring. She used to work for a garment factory but she resigned so that she could look after her and her brother.

Zach also felt something different upon seeing the pretty and kind face of the younger sister of his classmate. It was as if he was so drawn to her – Why do I feel this way with you, Ella? Why are you making my heart beat so fast? Your smile is so calming. It is so genuine. She also seems reserved, modest and shy.

He had never felt that before with his betrothed, Kelsey Mariano. Kelsey was three years younger than him. Their elders had already pre-arranged their marriage when they were still very young. As a member of the Belmonte Clan, he, Zachary Belmonte, was expected to serve at the Belmonte Group of Companies after earning his degree. Thus, after finishing his bachelor's degree in computer science, he had to go back to work for one of their companies while also taking up his MBA. He was the youngest among five offspring of their parents. He had three older brothers and one older sister.

But the truth was – I wanted to do things differently. I want to establish my own company – a software and game development company. I want to be known for my own accomplishments and not just as a follower of what our elders wanted for me. I don't even want to marry Kelsey. I honestly don't like her personality. She is condescending, materialistic, insouciant, and so self-absorbed. But I can only get away with the control of my family if I am financially independent. I need to save, earn and earn money for the startup capital of my own technology firm. I can participate in school competitions with big cash prizes. I can also cut off my expenses and save the money in a different bank account that my elders will not be aware of.

While Ella was drawing the figures that he wanted, he could not help but admire her talent. And when their fingers accidentally touched, he felt some sort of light electricity coursing into his veins. He noticed that Ella's cheeks blushed.

Irvin teased him, "Zach, you are making a pretty young lady uncomfortable again! Steer clear so she can focus on what she is drawing."

Geoff immediately told his classmates, "Guys, she is off-limits from all of you. She is just 14, so don't get too close, please."

Then Nate teased Geoff, "How did you get to have a pretty sister, Geoff? You look very much different from Ella. The complexions are different. She has a better nose, expressive eyes, and a mesmerizing smile."

Zach noticed that Ella's cheek got much redder. So he told his classmates, "Guys, let's just order some food so Ella can focus on drawing."

Irvin said, "Yeah, I agree. I specifically love their baked garlic chicken here with steamed broccoli and carrots on the side paired with brown rice."

Nate also agreed, "Yes. I will have their roasted garlic chicken wings with celery and carrot sticks paired with cauliflower salad."

Zach asked Geoff, "What can you recommend to me, Geoff?"

Geoff answered, "I will just provide you with the menu. All of them are delicious to me."

Zach looked at the menu and he decided to choose, "I will have the baked lemon butter fish with asparagus tips."

While the classmates of her brother were eating, she had stolen some glances just to see if Zach liked the food her aunt had cooked. He seemed impressed with the dish. She noticed that he ate with finesse – He seemed to be from a rich family just by the look of his clothes and his overall demeanor. The way he stood, the way he talked, and his facial expressions got to show that he was not an ordinary guy like my brother. He is way out of our league if he is really from a rich family. Oh, what am I thinking? It is not like I will marry the guy. I am too young to be thinking of that. I am just merely admiring the guy. He looks so clean and fresh. He also smelled so good a while go when he was near me.

From then, Zach, Irvin and Nate became bosom buddies of Ella's brother, Geoff. Their favorite hangout was their restaurant. They loved eating there. They would even order take-out food if they had to do some group activities in the condominium unit of Zach.

Ella had found out from her brother that Zach was indeed from a very rich clan in the State of Sorocon. Zach's family owned the Belmonte Group of Companies, which had: a chain of cafés, a chain of restaurants, and a chain of hotels all over the state and some key cities in its neighboring states; a real estate and property development company; and a logistics company. She also found out that Zach's marriage had already been pre-arranged by his parents with the parents of a lady from a very rich family as well.

When Ella finished senior high school, her brother also graduated from his bachelor's degree in computer science.

Geoff then asked his sister, "What degree will you take in college, Ella?"

Ella responded, "I am not that book smart like you, Kuya. I just to be able to enrich my skills in drawing and painting. I think a one-year diploma in fine arts will just be enough. That way I can learn the whole concept of pipelining of production in 2D and 3D animation with the incorporation of in-depth traditional concepts of drawing and painting."

Geoff told his sister, "I will agree with you to take that, but I still suggest that you finish a bachelor's degree. Your grades are not that bad anyway. You have a year to think of a bachelor's degree to take while completing this diploma in fine arts. Zach, Irvin, Nate and I will be establishing a technology firm. We will develop software, mobile games, and video games. You may work in the Art Department of the firm even as part-timer while you are studying."

Ella felt excited about it but she tried not to show it to her brother – It would only mean that I could still see Zach much longer. I am just fine admiring him from afar. Then what bachelor's degree should I take? I like reading digital comics. A lot of people say that I would pass as a comic artist. But I also want to be able to create my own good comic stories with those comic characters that I can draw. Perhaps I should take a degree in creative writing then. I qualified for that program anyway . It was also one of the courses that I put on my choices of possible degrees that I want to take. I love to read, anyway. I might not be as intelligent as Kuya, but my grades are really not that bad. If I become a successful digital comic creator, will Zach be able to notice me? Kuya said that Zach did not like to marry that lady that his elders had chosen for him. Do I still get the chance to be in a romantic relationship with him, even for a short time? Will I even have the courage to confess my feelings for him? He might just reject me. He has just treated me like a younger sister all these years. He does not even mind all the ladies professing their love for him on the campus, according to Kuya, Irvin and Nate. He has been a campus crush for four years. He is not just good academically. He is also good at sports. But he did not join a varsity team because he wanted to focus on his studies. He won several school competitions. He also represented their school in many international competitions. Anyway, why did he not like to marry the lady that his elders had chosen for him? What does she actually look like? She is probably pretty, but why does not Zach seem to like her?

May 31, 2012. Thursday. Zach, Irvin, Nate and their other classmates attended the post-graduation dinner celebration that Tita Gina hosted for her brother. The celebration for her graduation had already been held the previous night among her closest friends.

She really felt giddy inside when Zach approached her while she was seated at the dining set on the front porch of their restaurant to rest after filling in the buffet table with the food that their aunt prepared.

He sat down opposite to where she was seated and then started a conversation, "Why don't you join us inside, Ella?"

She explained, "This night is for Kuya and not me. I already had my celebration last night with my classmates. Tonight, I am the one in charge of helping out with serving all of his guests."

He asked her further, "So what will be your plans for college?"

She smiled and then said, "Kuya asked me almost the same question last night. Honestly, I still don't know what career path I should take. So I told Kuya that I might just take a one-year diploma in fine arts just so I can enrich my talents in drawing and painting. But Kuya insisted that I also take a bachelor's degree, but I am still not sure what program to take."

Zach kind of suggested, "What about taking a bachelor's degree in fine arts instead of a one-year diploma?"

She said, "It will be very costly. Kuya will just be starting to work. The insurance money that we got upon our parents' death had already diminished when I had a broken arm last year. I can help Tita Gina here at the restaurant for this entire school break while all of you will be busy establishing a technology firm."

Zach smiled and then said, "So, Geoff has already told you about it."

She affirmed, "Yes."

He stated, "We need an excellent artist like you in the Art Department. Perhaps you can work part-time for us while you are studying."

She responded, "I will really love that. I get to draw and paint and earn money from that."

Suddenly, Geoff joined them and told her, "Sis, we need more ice and drinks."

Ella stood up and went to the kitchen area of their restaurant.

Geoff then decided to talk to Zach man-to-man. He asked his friend directly to the point, "Do you like my sister, Zach?"

Zach's answer was, "You are very much aware that my future marriage had already been planned for me by my elders. So I cannot pursue someone even if I like someone very much. I will only pursue the person I like if I am already out of that pact that my elders had forged with Kelsey's elders."

Geoff responded, "You did not answer my question, Zach."

He admitted, "Yes, I like your sister very much, Geoff. But a future with her might be impossible. My elders might not be able to accept her. So I am just fine now admiring her from afar. Anyway, she still needs to finish college, so guard her very well from those jerk suitors that might just take advantage of her."

Geoff smiled and said, "It will really be nice to have you as a brother-in-law. You are a good man even if you are rich. But you are right. Your elders might not be able to accept someone like my sister. She is not from a rich family like Kelsey. So please also try not to approach my sister too often. We all know that you are a chick magnet. I do not want Ella to develop any romantic feelings for you because she might just end up getting hurt."

Zach acknowledged that, "I understand it, Geoff. Do not worry about it. As I said, I will only pursue the one I like if I am a totally free man already. And once I pursue her, then I will fight for her. But before I can do that, I still need to prove to my elders that I can succeed on my own without their financial backing."

Geoff asked, "What about Kelsey?"

Zach answered, "I will just let her get tired of following me around. I cannot be with a toxic lady like her. If she had gotten tired already, then perhaps she would already be the one to ask her parents to cancel the marriage arrangement between the two of us."

Geoff asked further, "How much longer will you be able to defy your elders, Zach?"

Zach responded, "I also do not know, Geoff. That is why I asked you, Irvin, and Nate to join me in this firm. We got good team work. For starters, we can focus first on developing some mobile gaming apps and sell them to bigger companies. We can also do custom-made software programs for some companies."

When all of his guests had already left, Geoff talked to his sister while they were cleaning up. Their aunt had already come up to rest.

Geoff asked Ella, "Do you like Zach, Ella?"

His sister's response was, "What do you mean by like, Kuya? Coz I like all your friends. They are all good to us."

Geoff made his question much clearer, "What I mean is if you like Zach in a romantic way?"

Ella tried very hard to make it obvious that she had a huge crush on Zach.

Geoff spoke up, "Why had you become suddenly speechless? It seems that, just like other girls, you have a crush on him."

Ella answered, "It is just a crush anyway. I know that he is way out of my league. So I am just making him my inspiration. As if he would notice someone like me. You said it before, he already has someone to marry and that she is from a rich family as well. So how can I even compete with that? Besides, I still want to be successful. Although I still don't know what career path to think." Then she tried to change their topic, "What do you think of me pursuing a career as a digital comics creator? After the diploma in fine arts, I might take a bachelor's degree in creative writing just so I cannot just simply create the drawings but the story as well."

Geoff responded, "If that is what you really like, then I will support you. But you need to be sure first that it is something that you are really passionate about. Success is easier to achieve if you enjoy what you are doing. You also have talents at cooking, anyway."

Ella smiled and said, "I know, but then I don't need to pursue a degree in it anymore because Tita Gina is teaching me everything she knows. We are also watching several cooking shows just so we can pick up some tips and techniques."

Then Geoff reverted to their topic about Zach, "Going back about your crush on Zach. I am telling you, he is not for you. So, as early as now, try not to develop deeper feelings for him. You might just get hurt. Let us just say that you have mutual feelings for each other. How will you be able to face his elders? They might not accept you for him?? Will you be able to handle such indifference that you might receive from them? They are very rich and we are not. So focus first on your studies. You will still meet a lot of guys out there that you might like or have a crush on. But don't have a boyfriend yet until you finish college. You may entertain suitors, but your top priority must be your studies first."

Ella acknowledged that teasingly, "I know that, Kuya. So don't be a nag. You sound like a broken record already. I will not have a boyfriend yet. But you may already have a girlfriend."

Geoff answered, "Nope. I will let you finish your studies first before I can think of having a girlfriend of my own. You are my top priority. So think of what you really want to be in the future. And once you have finally reached a decision, then go for it. I'll always have your back. I'll be your overall support system."

She uttered, "Thanks."

In Geoff's mind – They mutually like each other. Is this fate?