Suddenly, I'm Engaged

Yeoseot

As they get off the bus, James doesn’t want to let go of her hand so he insisted to walk her towards their house but Aliah declined. She doesn’t have the courage yet to introduce him to their house. Besides, it would be difficult to do so since they are still students and Aliah, being the only daughter. They just sit down on a bench at the playground. James holds her hand once again.

“I think a made a mistake asking you out on a day like this.” Aliah looked at him with narrowed eyes. “I mean, I should have asked for it sooner. I kind of feel sad that I couldn’t spend more time with you since this will be the last day of our class.” He elaborated.

Aliah understands what he feels. Besides, she doesn’t have her phone so they can communicate within that two months. And that makes her feel sorry for James.

“I’ll leave this to you.” He offered her his cellphone. I” can use my mom’s phone during the vacation.” He added.

Aliah’s pride couldn’t take it but James insisted so she has no choice. One of the reasons why she’s having half-mind thought when it comes to dating. She doesn’t have the luxury to do so. Good thing James understands her situation.

=======

Zaine greeted her dear best friend as they were all gathered in the covered court for the junior students’ orientation. They missed each other so much since Zaine spent her vacation in their province. Aliah kept on looking around as she looks for James but she couldn’t find him.

“Do you miss him that much?” She nods in response. Zaine looks irritated seeing her friend acting this way. 

She covered her face as she feels shy about being asked that kind of question. When she removed her hands from her face, she was surprised to see James right in front of her. Her excitement to see him face to face after two months cannot be denied. Everyone’s looking at them as they smiled brightly at each other. Everyone starts murmuring when James puts his arm on Aliah’s shoulder. Zaine displayed a motherly smile, being proud of being a successful cupid for the two.

Everyone’s familiar in their class, seems like there’s no transferee for this school year. Aliah has been nominated as the class president thanks to the fame for being James’ girlfriend. She hates this kind of attention but she has had no choice since she was elected. Everything works out fine and smoothly until the third quarter of the school year arrives.

While Aliah is focusing on her studies, James is busy with practicing as their band earns a lot of invites for different events. They both support each other in pursuing the path they want while letting their relationship grow stronger and deeper. In which everyone envies their kind of relationship.

“Have you heard that the date for the prom has been settled?” Zaine shares the news enthusiastically. The much-awaited event in high school life is finally happening.

Everybody’s excited about the said event and James with his band mates will perform on that night. But James looked bothered at Aliah’s expression. She doesn’t seem excited about the prom.

“She’s just acting cool but deep inside she has a lot of stuff going on in her head. For sure, she’s planning something.” Aliah looked at her and got annoyed for exposing what’s on her mind. She hates her best friend for knowing her too much at times like this. James giggled at the two young ladies.

“I was about to give your number to Timothy but I changed my mind.” James and Zaine looked at each other, shocked by what they heard.

Timothy is his bandmate and their lead guitarist. He was surprised to hear that Zaine likes Timothy because Timothy feels the same way too. He keeps on pestering James to set them up with the help of Aliah so he could ask Zaine to be his prom date but he doesn’t have any idea that this could be possible without their help. Maybe it was supposed to be a secret between the two young ladies but Aliah unveiled her deepest secret as revenge.

Zaine blushed as she was exposed. She doesn’t know what to do because she couldn’t get angry at her friend as she did the same thing a while ago. She just covers her face with her hand which makes James and Aliah laugh. Good thing, their homeroom teacher came in. She’s with a foreign-looking student.

“Okay, class. Though it’s the third quarter of the school year, a new friend will join your class starting today. Kindly introduce yourself.”

His name is Liam Shin, a transferee from Korea but he’s fluent in our language since her mother came from our country. He seems quite mature for a junior student. Or maybe because he was raised on a different level. Looking at his bag, it seems like it is authentic and expensive. He is a rich kid.

After introducing himself, he immediately sits on his designated chair. He crossed his legs as soon as he sits down which made the other students tease him as if he’s gay or what. Aliah hushed her classmates for being disrespectful to the new student. It seems like being prim and proper causes misunderstanding. Maybe he’s just finesse, Aliah thought.

After bringing the student, their teacher decided to let them have a self-study during her period since they have homeroom teachers’ meetings. She told him that if he has any questions or concerns, he could approach the classroom president which turns out it's Aliah. As the teacher left the room, Liam walks out towards her. She was shocked and quite nervous as he stands right in front of her. James looked at him too.

He looked at her with a poker face which makes Aliah anxious about what’s going on in his mind. He extends his hand towards her and said, “I’m Liam. Nice meeting you.” He has that typical deep voice that suits his masculine built. A good modulation for someone you would love to hear in a DJ. He stands as if he’s a model or what. He looks different from those who are their age.

Aliah accepts his hand and smiled awkwardly as she was nervous about an unusual gesture they had. But James butted in and took Liam’s hand as he introduced himself as well. Zaine and Aliah laugh at how James acting so jealous and overprotective. Liam looks puzzled why they laughed so they stopped doing so immediately.

He asks Aliah’s assistance if she could help him have a tour around the campus and she agreed immediately to do it after class as she waits for James who has practiced with his band mates and Zaine who has trained with their Math teacher for being a representative in Quiz Bee. Liam smirked as he thanks her.

Aliah was adding his name on their seat plan and attendance record when she noticed Liam’s surname sounds familiar.

“Liam Shin.” She mumbled. She looks like she’s into her deep thoughts so Zaine asked her what could be the problem.

“His surname sounds familiar.” She answered.

Then she remembers Mr. Shin who used to be their family friend when she was young. But she shrugged off that idea thinking that it would impossible that the grandson of Mr. Shin whom he has mentioned before would study here in a public school, to think of the odd chance of being in the same class.

Being reminded of Mr. Shin, she wonders how he was right now. But there’s no chance she could check on him since she doesn’t have any idea who he was aside from his name.

“Shin Chin Hwa.” She doodled at the back of her notebook.