Into Her Book 1: Clyde Hernandez

05

05

I instinctively covered my ears as the shouts and cheers became louder and louder any minute by now. Who would even think that students from an international school would end up shouting and simping over some guys? They are acting like those people are actual artists who perform on stage and sing for them.

As minutes pass by, the more students come in our spot which makes it even hard to move properly already. The people next to me keep pushing one another like excited kids who are waiting for their turn to answer an obvious question. I can’t even go and escape because I am literally stuck in the middle. I can’t ask for Kim’s help as well because she is busy doing the same thing as the other students.

I close my eyes when the shouts become even louder than it already is while they call for random names that I don’t even know who own those names. But things didn’t end the way I expected it to, I suddenly fell down on the hard ground after getting pushed by someone I don’t know who. When I open my eyes, the crowd is starting to fade away and following those people they are shouting for.

“Bella!” I heard Kim call for my name as I stood up by myself. I tried to get rid of the possible dirt on my skirt as I felt her presence next to me. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I simply replied before giving her a single look. My eyes then went to the crowd once again that is just a few meters away from us now. I could see three tall guys back in the middle but I care less about them now. “Who are those guys anyway? Why are you all screaming for them? Are they celebrities?”

She looks at me with wide eyes because of my question. My brows furrowed because of her reaction. She didn’t expect me to know those people when I am just new here, right? I don’t even know anyone except her and my sister who basically wants me to pretend that we don’t know each other despite the similar surnames.

I immediately felt that familiar frustration again upon thinking of my sister. Who would even think that my own sister could say those words to me? To think I am someone older than her even by just a year but it doesn’t change the fact that I am still older than her and I should be respected. As much as I want to call her out for it, I can’t do so because I am still new in her life. It’s too early to judge her because of her actions but I just can’t help but to do so.

“Oh yeah… you are new, I forgot.” She exclaimed, giving me an awkward smile. I shake my head in response as I let out a sigh, giving one last glance in that crowd.

“Who are they anyway?”

“They are called the 3 Aces, girl. The most popular and the ultimate heartthrobs of the campus!” She explained with matching hand gestures that made me look at her weirdly. When I look around, none of the students even dared to give her any attention with her actions. “They are tall, handsome, academically gifted and most of all, the aces of Rydell’s basketball team!”

I didn’t know that heartthrobs still exist in high school up until now. There are indeed many handsome guys even in my old school but there is no such thing as heartthrobs, popular guys are fine but heartthrobs do not exist anymore. I don’t really give my attention as well to them because my focus is solely to my academics. Besides, they will all just end up breaking my heart like JC.

In this school, there are things that already exceed my expectations in just a short period of time. I am not lying when I said that I expected the students in this school to embody that classy and elegant personalities since they came from privileged families. But what I get is screaming girls and curious guys looking at those popular boys.

I already expected that there will be a lot of mean girls because it always exists in every school, may it be public ones or private ones. That during my first day, I would bump into them and get mean words after knowing that I came from a public school, just like my sister who pointed out that I am not on the same level as her despite being sisters. But what I met is a bubbly rich kid named Kim who looks really willing to be my friend. I guess I am lucky at that point after being treated like an annoying poor girl by my own sister.

Somehow, I am not sure about what I should feel about staying and transferring in this school. It really is still early to judge the environment they have and how they live their daily school lives but I don’t really want to get attached that much. I could adjust and have some friends for the next two years of my stay here, but I don’t want to get attached too much to the people who won’t be by my side until the end anyway. I don’t want to have that feeling that once I come back here in the future, a feeling of pain is what I will have because of the memories it gave me.

I was back to my senses when Kim suddenly clings to my arm without any discomfort. Although it caught me off guard, I made sure to show her that I am not comfortable. It’s not that bad to have her as a friend, right? After all, I need to have some students to be with for the next two years anyway. I just hope I will be lucky with the kind of circle I will involve myself with.

“I still have a lot to tell you! But first,” She gave me a knowing look that made me look at her in judgment. “I need you to meet some more people!”

Without any hesitation and waiting for my answer, she pulled me by my wrist with her and took me somewhere I don’t know where. Although there are students who are giving us a look, mostly to me probably because they noticed that I am a new face, she still went on with pulling me with her without saying anything. We arrived at a covered place where there were tables and chairs, occupied by different students who appeared to be in a group.

As Kim led me somewhere, my attention went to that one table where my sister and two more girls were seated on their table. Our eyes met as she only raised a brow at me before focusing on fixing her makeup just like her other friends. She really appears different at home with our parents around and out here without them.

“Bella!” Kim called for me, making me tear my eyes away from Gen and her friends. My eyes widened a little upon seeing two more people seated on the chairs that Kim took me. “These are my friends! Guys this is Bella, a new student.”

“Hi, Bella! I’m Kaori Nakamura, you can call me Kaori.” She said in a soft tone unlike Kim’s slightly high pitched voice. Kaori also looks so modest by how she smiles softly and talks. She stuck her hand out which I took. “It’s nice to meet you!”

“It’s nice to meet you too.”

“It’s my turn!” The only guy on the table says, sticking his hand out. “Hayden Vasco, you can call me Hayde. I’m the student council’s President so if you need some help and you need something to know, just tell me, okay?”

Despite not knowing them, I somehow feel light towards them. They have this kind of aura where it tells me that they can be trusted and are just the right people I should be with in this school. The way they look at me with excitement and gladness to meet me, I couldn’t be more glad to think that somehow I am welcome by this school with their presence. That I can be here and be one of them. I think I should be thankful because it is Kim who I bumped into earlier.

“I will definitely look for you right away,” I said with a wide smile. “Ah! By the way, I’m Arabella Fay Santiago,”

“Arabella, I like your name girl!” Hayden exclaimed, making me chuckle softly. “But wait! Santiago? Why does that surname sound familiar?”

“It’s Gen, Hayde.” Kaori whisperingly told Hayde, glancing behind her where Gen and her friends’ table is located.

My brows furrowed because of such actions. When I told Kim about Gen as well earlier, she even looked shocked and as if she cannot believe what I just said. Now, Kaori looks so careful and even slightly scared for mentioning my sister’s name as if it is such a crime to say it. What is it with them and my sister? Did she do something to them?

“Wait, so you’re telling me that you are,” I nodded my head even without needing to hear his next words. His mouth formed an ‘o’ showing that he is amazed by that fact. He isn’t the only one as well though. I think I almost had the same reaction when I first saw Gen in the photo that mom showed me back in Ilocos. “I don’t know what to say.”

My brows arch in confusion as both Kim and Kaori nodded their heads in approval. Kim, who is seated next to me, suddenly made me face her and scanned my face. She even put her finger under my chin, swaying it from left to right as if she was finding something in my face. After doing it, she lets go of my chin and shakes her head like in denial.

“You really do look like her,” She exclaims as if she sees a ghost.

“That’s impossible! Gen is really beautiful, you know,” I denied, making her laugh shortly.

“Look how humble you are, aren’t you?”

When I first saw Gen’s photo back in Ilocos, it was months before I came here in Manila, I already noticed her graceful beauty. She has that almond-like brown eyes, long eye lashes, full lips, tall nose and that ideal face shape. Added the fact that mom told me she has that natural brown hair that she inherited from dad’s side and a fair skin which I also have but her overall beauty is beyond. Even though she is my sister, I couldn’t deny that she also got my eyes set on her beauty.

The funny thing about it is dad told me that I have the closest resemblance to Gen compared to Azi because he looks after dad while Gen looks after mom. On the other hand, I am a mixture of mom and dad but he told me that mom’s genes are much shown in me despite the mixture. I disagree on him though because I am not as beautiful as Gen. Maybe we do have some features that are the same because we are sisters but in terms of beauty, she is probably unbeatable.

“Can I ask something?” I said, getting their attention. Hayde stops checking his iPad, Kim stops checking her phone while Kaori stops doing her drawing to look at me with curious eyes. “Why do you all have the same reaction when you find out that I am Gen’s sister?”

“Well, simply because everyone here in school thought that Gen only has one living sibling, which is your brother Kendrick Aziel Santiago.” Kim answered immediately before looking back at her phone, scrolling something in there.

“Also because everyone thought as well that her older sister had already died.”Hayde added, making my eyes wide.

What in the world do they have such a conclusion? Now I get why they were shocked when they found out that I am Gen’s sister. Too much information for the first day.

“Why did everyone think that? Didn’t Gen even tried to correct them?” I questioned.

“Gen did but some students just can’t help to come to that conclusion. After all, everyone here knows that you got into an accident when you were little then you were nowhere to be found after that. That is why the death conclusion rises up.” Kaori explained further. “As long as the students here do not see a living body of Gen’s sister, they won’t believe that she is alive.”

“But look who is sitting right next to me, Arabella Fay Santiago, the one and only long lost sister of Eloise Genevieve Santiago.” Kim suddenly stopped scrolling over her phone to look at me with fear evident in her eyes. She brings her hand near her mouth, like closing it a bit. “You… are not a ghost, right? We can really see you, right?”

My mouth parted in disbelief as a scoff escaped my lips because of her question. A dead person earlier and now, a ghost?! Is this how their mind runs? I mean she has been talking to me for more than half an hour already but she still had this kind of thoughts? Only because of the conclusion the other students made?!

“You saw that Mr. Llamarez talked to me earlier, right? Does that mean he can see ghosts if I am one?” I questioned a little sarcasm which made her think, blinking her eyes a bit. When she showed agreement and gave me an apologetic smile, I couldn’t help but shake my head as a small smile forms on my lips. “Anyway, why do you all know about this information?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean… about the accident years ago, it’s only my family and I think our family’s closest friends who know about it. How come the whole school knows it too?” I asked.

I get that each of them actually has this connection from different families. That is how it is with dramas, right? Rich families who own business would often host those extravagant parties that are only exclusive to their own kind then that is when both business and connections will start to circulate around. But that accident, it’s not something to be disclosed to everyone else.

“One reason.” Hayde crossed his arm and leaned a little forward, placing his crossed arms into the table. “Your sister is popular.”

“Popular?” I repeated as she nodded.

“I told you that I still have a lot of things to tell you, right?” I nodded at Kim with her question. “In this school, there is actually such a thing as social class which means the students are divided into different groups of groups and it will stay that way until the end.”

Now that is exaggerating. I haven’t even heard the whole thing but I could already tell that it is something cringey and just dividing the students from one another. I know that everyone in one campus can’t be friends with one another because of different levels and sections but that doesn’t mean there is a need for social groups or class or whatever that is! They are just separating themselves from one another and that is not cool.

Kim pointed to the group of students who are dressed in wash day shirts which makes their fit bodies noticeable with a pair of pants. “Those are the gym addicts. Gym itself means they usually spend their free time working out in the school fitness center or in their own gym. Most of them are members of the school’s field hockey team and rugby team.” She explains as I nodded in understanding.

“On your right side, next to your sister’s table, are the social media influencers or vloggers.” She pointed at the table where cameras in a tripod are set on each side of the table, focusing on one another. “Technically, they are the ones who usually show what is inside RIS which most people are really curious about since the school is exclusive and no one can enter easily. They often do those school tours for the others.”

“And if you think that simply because you uploaded a video content in youtube means you are already counted to be, then you are wrong.” Hayde butted in. “If you wanna join their circle, you need to have hundreds of subscribers and followers.”

“They set that as a rule?” I questioned which he nodded. I glanced towards the social media influencers table, observing them, before looking back at Hayde. “They are almost like celebrities already.”

“They might be in the public eye but in this school, there are certain people who are like a celebrity for everyone.” Kaori pointed out but before I could even ask her about it, Kim interrupted.

“Don’t tell her about them yet! I need to give my boys a proper introduction for the last.” Kim says before making me face her. She pointed into the other side again which I glanced at. “Those are the gamers. All they do in their free time is play and they even have a room reserved for them where they can make all the noises while playing.”

“The school gave them a room?!”

“It’s more like the principal is forced to give them one. If they don't, those guys will keep on playing everywhere and disturb the silence in the campus.” Hayde answered.

He really is the Student Council President. He surely knows a lot. The three of them actually know a lot.

“What about them?” I pointed to my sister’s table because of the curiosity of what they call her group. “What kind of group are they?”

“Simple, the popular kids.” Kim answered right away. “They are like the trendsetters in the campus and above all of the circle of groups except for one. All of them are known by everyone but your sister and her main circle are much known by everyone more.”

I look back to my sister who is now holding a lipstick as she puts one on for herself. She really is beautiful and I can easily see why she is popular. It will be nonsense if she isn’t thought of with that kind of beauty, talent and academic gift she has.

“I’m sure you already know your sister but the person next to her is Phoebe while the opposite girl to her is Giselle. The three of them are usually together every single time.” Kim explained.

“It’s actually four but Calista is not in here anymore.” Kaori added.

“Wait, who is Calista then?”

“The Queen-B of the school.” My mouth formed an ‘o’ when Kim said that.

She moves forward with pointing to the last table, further from us, which she calls the outcasts. The ones who do not belong to any social group of the school because they are rejected by them. Then she pointed out that the four of us belong to the normal group who does not really care with any social class and is just normal students of the school. That I prefer the most.

Just when I thought that things were already done, screams were suddenly heard across the student lounge again. In there, I already know who they are screaming for again. I was caught off guard though when I saw the hidden excitement, shyness and curiosity in Kaori’s eyes which is the opposite with Kim’s overly excited reaction while Hayde just looked at the direction of three guys entering the student’s lounge.

“I said that there is one group who is above the popular kids, right? It’s them!” Kim exclaimed, shaking my arm in excitement. She tries to calm down but I could clearly see that it is no use. “They are from the Athletes group, but separately, they are called the 3 Aces.”

“3 Aces?” I repeated which she nodded.

“That guy,” She pointed to the foriegn looking guy with soft features and a bright smile. “That is Brycen Ezequiel Miguel, the easy going and musician of 3 Aces. He talks to everyone he knows that exists in his surroundings but he is kind of picky despite being a soft guy.”

“Hey! Stop bad mouthing him.” Kaori defended, which made me look at her suspiciously. She clears her throat and looks at that guy again in shyness. “He is a good guy who knows how to play different instruments, you know?”

Just by judging her reaction, I could already tell that she has a crush on that Brycen guy. It is clearly obvious in her eyes and the shyness she has right now proved it. She is innocent and a soft talker while he is a bright guy, I’m sure they will fit well.

“That one is my baby!” Kim pointed to the other guy next to Brycen. He has this knowing smile plastered on his lips but compared to his friend, he appears much more exclusive to the people he interacts with. “He is Ethan Jude Dela Vega, the mysterious guy of the group. Do you know that both of us actually like baking? It’s like we are soulmates!”

“Stop imagining too much, Kim!” Hayde butted in which made Kim stop.

“That other guy is Jerome Lopez. He is not part of 3 Aces but more on like their sidekick. From what everyone knows, he is one of the scholars of the school under the Hernandez Foundation.” Kim explained simply as I nodded. “But that one, you definitely need to know him.”

I followed the direction where she was pointing, only to see another tall guy with slightly tanned skin and had sunglasses on. My eyes narrowed and brows furrowed upon having this feeling of familiarity with the way he walks and even the shown facial features and body proportion. I just don’t know where I have seen him.

“That is the leader of 3 Aces and the captain of the school’s basketball team,” My eyes widened when that guy removed his sunglasses as I remembered where I had seen him. “He is Clyde Hale Hernandez, the king bee of RIS and no one dares to come and offend him at all.”

No, he is not the king bee or even the captain of some team! He is that guy in Ilocos! It’s him!