C7 CHAPTER 7: Unexpected Friend Request

As I woke up to the sound of my alarm next to my bed, I realized that it was time for me to get ready for school. I quickly freshened up and decided to check my phone. As soon as I opened my data, a series of notifications flooded in from various social media platforms.

Curious about the notifications, I checked my phone and saw that I was tagged in several pictures from the victory party we attended yesterday. Napangiti ako, I scrolled through the images, reliving the fun moments we had with Orion, Kuya, Alhena, Maegan, and the rest of the gang. The pictures captured the laughter and camaraderie we shared, making me feel grateful for the wonderful friends and memories I've made.

Seeing the pictures of Orion made my heart skip a beat. There was one particular shot where he was smiling, his eyes lighting up with joy, and I couldn't help but admire how he looked so effortlessly charming. I couldn't deny that there was something about him that caught my attention.

I continued scrolling, and I saw another picture of Orion and Kuya, both of them laughing at something funny. The bond between the two of them was evident in the photo, and it warmed my heart to see how close they were as brothers.

While browsing through the pictures, I remembered the conversation I had with Kuya about Orion. It made me wonder if Kuya had any thoughts or feelings about the possibility of me liking his friend. But at the same time, I reminded myself that it was too early to jump to any conclusions. After all, we were just friends, and it was important to take things one step at a time.

When I was scrolling again through my notifications, I noticed a friend request from Orion on my Facebook. My heart skipped a beat as I clicked on it, revealing his profile. I couldn't help but smile as I saw some photos of us from the party yesterday, along with other pictures he had posted.

I paused for a moment, contemplating whether to accept the friend request or not. Part of me was excited to connect with him online and get to know him better, but another part was a bit nervous about what might come next. What if accepting the request changed the dynamics of our friendship?

After some internal debate, I decided to go for it. I clicked on "Confirm" and took a deep breath, reminding myself that it was just a simple gesture of acknowledging our connection.

After taking a deep breath, I turned off my data and got up to fix my bed. Once I was done, I headed downstairs. I could hear the sound of my family having breakfast in the dining area. As I entered the kitchen, Mama greeted me with a warm smile.

"Good morning, Luna! How did you sleep?" she asked.

"Good morning, Mama. I slept well. Thank you," I replied, returning her smile.

Papa and Kuya were also at the table, eating their breakfast. Kuya looked at me and grinned mischievously.

"Oh, Kain kana," sabi ni Papa

Ngumiti ako sa kaniya at umupo na ako at kumain.

As the day went on, I focused on my classes, trying not to let my thoughts wander too much. By lunchtime, I was excited to see Alhena and Maegan. We sat together and chatted about various things, including the basketball game and Orion.

As we made our way back to our classrooms, our teacher was already waiting for us. The classroom buzzed with excitement as everyone settled back into their seats. I took out my books and notebooks, ready to continue with the lessons for the afternoon.

Our teacher, Ms. Rodriguez, started the class with a warm smile. She was known for her engaging teaching style and her ability to make even the most challenging subjects interesting.

As the lessons progressed, I found myself getting absorbed in the discussions and activities. Time seemed to fly by, and soon enough, the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day.

"Alright, class, don't forget to review the topics we discussed today. There will be a quiz next week," Ms. Rodriguez reminded us as we packed our bags.

“And tomorrow, may i-a-announce ako sa inyo para sa group project niyo. Kaya be prepared, okay?”

Ms. Rodriguez's mention of a group project announcement made me feel both excited and a little nervous. Group projects could be both enjoyable and challenging, depending on the dynamics of the team. I hoped to be in a group with friends like Alhena and Maegan, as working with them always made tasks more enjoyable.

As another school day began, halos hindi ako nakatulog kagabi dahil sa dami kong tinapos na assignment kailangan ko rin mag review. Despite feeling exhausted and sleepy, I mustered the determination to get myself ready for the day. I quickly gathered my school essentials and asked my brother, Kuya, to give me a ride to school to avoid being late for a quiz.

Kuya, being the caring brother that he is, agreed to help me, and we hurriedly made our way to school. I tried to shake off the drowsiness, knowing that I needed to be alert for the upcoming quiz. The lack of sleep was taking a toll on me, but I couldn't let it affect my performance in class.

As we were in the car, getting ready for Kuya to drop me off, I still felt quite drowsy. Kuya noticed and immediately asked, "Hey. Are you okay? Bakit parang inaantok ka pa? Hindi ba nakatulog ka nang maayos?"

I let out a small yawn before answering, "Medyo hindi ako nakatulog nang maayos kagabi, Kuya. Marami akong kailangang tapusin na assignments at activities."

Kuya nodded understandingly and replied, "Ah, kaya pala. Magpahinga ka na lang mamaya nang mas maaga para ma-refresh ka."

"Salamat, Kuya. I'll try to rest early tonight para mas marami akong energy bukas," I said with a smile.