Chapter 1: Love Letter to Lovell

Heart’s POV

We are now outside the school to sweep around. We, students do the sweeping  so that we can learn how to clean and so that we can help keep the school clean. I was with my other classmates. Each of us is in a separate and different place so that we can clean the school grounds well, but of course…

I will be next to Lovell --- my crush Lovell!

He grew up with me and our houses are in the same subdivision. The windows of our rooms even face each other, so I see him every time he does school work or anything in his room. (Except for him when he is dressing)

I met him when he helped me hand over my favourite fantasy book to read at the library. Hmm… I was only 8 years old when we met but since that day, I can't get him out of my mind. He was the reason I insisted on not being absent. We also go to the same school so I always see him and if I'm lucky, sometimes I even go home at the same time with him. Our Mothers are friends, so I can go out and enter their house. (But of course, I'll still say whenever I enter or go out of their house. That's the job of a decent woman)

I looked around and slowly approached him where he was sweeping. I even pretended to cough just to get his attention which I did.

"We are going to be in the same class again! Isn’t it incredible?" I said when I went near him.

“We are block mates. Stupid,” he answered me.

Even though he called me a fool, I still felt the sincerity in his words. You are so rude but I still like you. Hmph!

"Of course," I said then laughed fakely. I looked around again and then came even closer to him. He continued sweeping.

"Love!"

"Love!"

"Lovell!" I called again.

"What?" he simply asked.

I approached and whispered.

"I like you, Lovell," I whispered to him.

"I don't like you," he immediately replied to my confession and then left me. I was offended by his behaviour but it didn't matter. He is always like that.

You do not like me? Ha! I will not allow it!

***

"I don't like you," I whispered and mimicked what Lovell said a while ago. We are already in the classroom and here we are just making noise because there is no teacher. Lovell in the seat opposite me was reading a book while my other classmates were throwing stones and crumpled papers.

“Heh! I will not allow it. You will like me too, remember that! ” I said while still standing in the chair. My classmates stopped what they were doing when they heard what I said. I think my voice got louder.

“What is it, Heart? Sit down! Your job is to study and not to fight! ” Ms Gen told me. My classmates laughed as I shyly sat back in my chair. I glanced at Lovell but he didn't care about the surroundings.

Hays. That's embarrassing.

***

Ms Gen began to teach. All of them were listening in to her. Me? I'm not listening. The scenery is beautiful. Especially if Lovell is the scene I’m going to look at. I will never really get tired of watching him!

“Heart! Where is your brain? Is it flying? ” I was just surprised to see that Ms Gen was in front of me. My other classmates laughed because of what she said.

"Go to the front and answer that equation!" She shouted. I went to the front and tried to answer the equation but I could not answer it.

Oh my. How to solve this again? I know how to solve it but why can't I remember it?

“You don't know the answer because you are not listening! Go back to your seat! ” she ordered that I immediately obeyed. I just nodded when I came back.

“Copy it. That's an Assignment. Forward notes upon admission tomorrow. Okay? All right, you can now retreat! ”

***

“The temper of Ms Gen is so hot.” Jersey, one of my classmates, suddenly appeared and was sitting beside me. I greeted him as I turned the fork over the pasta I had bought. We are in the cafeteria now and what else to do in the cafeteria? Eat.

“Forgive me, Jersey. I'm thinking of a way for Love to notice me, ”

"Love? Who's Love? Do we have a classmate named Love? ” Jersey asked in succession.

“Fool! Lovell is what I’m referring to. Lovell Verdejo equals LoVe. That's why I call him Love, ”I replied with a smile. He nodded.

“Wait, what's your problem again? Are you thinking of a way for Lovell to notice you?”

"Yes. You keep on repeating yourself. Are you a boomerang? ”

He looked around to see if anyone was near us and when he was sure there was none, he then approached me to whisper something.

"I know a way," he whispered with a smile. I was amazed at what he said and smiled at him and shared him with some of my food.

“You may still be hungry. Eat up, Master Jersey, ”

"Can you help me?" I asked him.

"Of course! Let's just keep it a secret. Okay? ”

"All right!" I was excited to respond to him.

"Let's meet at the library later before we go home."

***

I went straight to the library to look for the man named Jersey, whom I also saw immediately. He was in the corner and reading a Manga that was banned in the School.

"Hey! It is forbidden!”

"Do not be noisy! Sit here, ”he ordered me, which I immediately obeyed.

"What now? Come on! I am excited!"

He laid out on the desk different papers of different colours but the same sender. Who else? None other than him! It's Jersey Belarmino.

“What are these? Will you sell me colourful paper? ”

"No! Those are love letters. That's what I receive from women who like me,” he told me as I looked at the other papers.

"These are beautiful!"

"Hey, what's the way you're saying for Love to notice me?" I asked him.

“It's easy! You are in too much of a hurry. But okay, go ahead, I'll tell you and maybe we'll be locked up here in the library. There seems to be a ghost here, ”

"Really?"

"Yes, so shut up and listen to Love Master Jersey!"

I focused my full attention on him and listened to what he had to say.

"You will give a love letter to Lovell,"

"You need to beautify the look and content of your love letter to attract him to your letter and of course, to you too!"

"What should I write?"

“This. Write this in your love letter, ”

“Dear Lovell,

I love you too much

To live without you loving me back

I love you too much

Heaven's my witness and this is a fact

I know I belong ”

"Hey. Am I writing correctly? ”

“Yes, that's right. I haven't done anything wrong,” he said. And he kept talking while I was writing.

I am excited about the result!

***

“I’m leaving, Mom! ” I say goodbye to Mom.

“It's too early! Hays. What kind of child is that?” I heard Mama say as I left the house.

I waited for Lovell a few minutes but he was still gone. Then I noticed that his bike was gone.

"I guess you're early now, hija?" The Guard greeted me. I answered him with a smile before entering the school gate.

“Ginger! Are you all right? ” I asked my friend Ginger next to me when I saw her walking down the hallway.

“Will I come in if I don't? What happened to your love life? Are you still gaping?” she asked me with a laugh. I grabbed her and slapped her on the arm before we entered the room together.

"Hello, Ginger!" Jersey greeted her but she ignored her. I teased Jersey for Ginger not paying attention to him until he teased me too.

We just stopped teasing when Aika approached Lovell with a notebook.

“Hi, Lovell. Ahm… can you teach me Math? I can't understand what Ms Gen was teaching yesterday, ”

"All right," Lovell replied to him. Aika glanced at me and smiled at me before sitting down next to Lovell.

“Tss. How annoying, ”I whispered then pushed myself to sit in my chair. Lovell looked at me because of my behaviour but I ignored it.

"Shall I choke that bitch for you?" Ginger whispered to me as she glanced at Lovell who was teaching and at Aika who was just staring at Lovell.

"Nevermind. They might even imprison you, ”

“Okay. You said so,"

A few minutes passed and the bell rang. Aika finally left Lovell's side and went back to the front where she was sitting. Sir Mike also entered the room to teach.

"Take out the book and go to page 54. Who wants to read the story written in it?"

"Sir, Aika ---"

"Me!" I suddenly shouted as I raised my hand. Sir Mike smiled at me.

"All right. You read, Heart,"

I have already started reading the story in the book. When I finished reading we had a recitation.

Time passed quickly and we are here on the field to play volleyball which is our PE. Woman against woman and men against men. That's the setup because it will be difficult for us to fight our male classmates because of their strength to hit the ball.

While I was still not participating, I said goodbye to our Teacher to go to the bathroom to pee. He allowed me. I went straight to the bathroom and it ended right away. While walking back in the field, I met two women. They were holding a paper and talking as they walked. When I saw the paper, I immediately remembered the love letter I would give to Lovell.

I ran to the room and immediately found in the bag the love letter I had written for Lovell. I saw the love letters I would give to the women Jersey was dating, along with the love letter I made to Lovell. I smiled when I saw the love letter I made but I was immediately confused when I saw Lovell entering the room. I immediately pulled out the love letter even though I hadn't seen it yet and put it inside Lovell's bag then put the others back in the bag and simply left the room.

Lovell and I met and his face had the question of why I was in the room.

"I just took something, hehe," I explained.

"I'm not asking," he replied then went straight to the table where the belongings of Sir Ed---whose our PE Teacher---he took it. He also left immediately.

"Finally, you're here," Ginger whispered to me as I sat down next to her.

Fortunately, we will only play when I arrive. We were against Aika's group and we started playing.

Aika was hit in the arm when I settled down so I immediately apologized. She replied with a simple smile and we continued playing.

When Aika hit the ball, it hit me in the face. I immediately fell and lost consciousness due to the force of the impact on me.

***

“Heart? It's good that you're awake. Did you know that I was very reluctant to tweak Aika when she did that to you? I'm really upset with that girl! ”

“How is your head? Does it still hurt? ”

"Who are you?" She immediately slapped me on the forehead when I asked her that. “Ouch! That hurts, Ginger! ”

"Don't joke like that."

"Sorry,"

“What happened in the game? Who won? ”

"That's still on your mind even though the ball hit you in the face?!" Ginger asked me incredulously.

“Well, it's a tie. But did you know that the shivering replaced my annoyance earlier? ”

“Huh? Why? What makes you excited? ”

"Aren't you wondering who carried you?"

Yes. Who carried me?

"Hey, who carried me?"

"It's just Lovell."

It's just Lovell. “What?! Lov… waaaaah !!!! really? OMG!!! ”

“Yes. Lovell did it earlier. I was nervous earlier, I forgot to take a picture. ” I immediately slapped Ginger for what she said.

“Why did you forget? I don't have any recollection of what he did to me. Hays! ” I sighed at her but also hit her in her arms when I imagined that Lovell was carrying me.

Exciting!

When I felt okay, we went back to the room. Ginger was still teasing me as we went back but she also stopped making noise when she saw Sir Hot headed---I mean--- Sir Mainit in our room. He is the Principal of our School and as I said before, he is hot-headed just like his last name.

We quietly entered and sat in our seats because otherwise, we might…

“You! Where have you been? It's class time and you are outside chilling? I can't believe this! ” Sir Mainit shouted at us.

“Ah, Sir. She was the one who was hit by the ball earlier,” Lovell defended us. I smiled at him as he defended me.

There. That's how it should be. Defend me, Love!

“I heard that there is a relationship here inside the school. And most of those with relationships are from your class. Is that what your teachers teach? To have a relationship? And what do you do in school? Don't you come in to study? Whoever I catch flirting within any corner of the school will be suspended!” he shouted.

Jersey grabs me from behind and has something to hand me. I ignored him because I was listening to Sir Mainit when he suddenly dropped the paper and it flew to the front where Sir was.

His eyebrows met and he read aloud what was written on the paper.

"Have you given the letters yet?"

"What nonsense is this?" He shouted again throughout the classroom. His voice echoed in the four corners of our room and the letter was laid on the table.

“Who is this from?” He asked everyone but no one answered him.

"Who is this from?" he shouted again so Jersey got up from his seat.

"F-From me," he admits. I closed my eyes tightly when he admitted. We're doomed.

“Who is your accomplice? Who?! ”

"M-Me," I said softly. Sir was even angrier at what he heard.

"Son of a bit--- Why didn't I think you were Jersey's accomplice?"

“Where are the letters? Give me. Get it fast! ” Sir Mainit commanded me. I glanced at Lovell who was looking for something in his bag and was later stunned.

"Take it out!"

"This is it, this is it," I said then laid on the table of my chair the love letters that I should have given to the women who Jersey likes. My eyes widened, even more, when I saw the love letter I made for Lovell who was also there and held by Sir.

What did I put in Lovell's bag if Sir had my letter? I simply looked at Lovell and my eyes widened when I saw something else I had put in his bag.

Sir took it and then he opened it one by one. He also read it aloud in front of the class.

Lovell also took out what he found inside his bag and read it. Lovell frowned as he read what was written inside.

“I love you too much

To live without you loving me back

I love you too much

Heaven's my witness and this is a fact

I know I belong

When I sing this song

There's love above love and it's ours

'Cause I love you too much

I live for your touch

I whisper your name night after night ”

"What is this?" He violently dropped the letter and then took another. He read it again and angrily laid down as well. He took another. I close my eyes emphatically when what he gets is what I wrote for Lovell.

He was about to read it but suddenly something came. I couldn’t recognize his face. Maybe he was just new to School. Transferee?

"Excuse me, but is Class 2-B here?"

"Who are you? And why aren't you in uniform? ” Sir asked him angrily.

“I am a transferee. Isn't it obvious?" My classmates laughed at what he said. Sir Mainit was even angrier with his answer.

"You! You're new but you answered rudely! Do you not know me? Huh? ”

"Uhh No." His simple answer made my classmates and even me laugh even more.

"Quiet!" He shouted and then the whole class fell silent.

"You two! I'm not done with you yet! ” Sir shouted at me and Jersey as he pointed his index finger at us.

"You, sit down!" He shouted at the transferee before leaving our room.

"Rude children," I heard Sir whisper as he left our room.

Jersey and I sat down and so did the transferee next to him. Later, Ms Gen entered the room gasping.

“We have a transferee but--- Oh, you're already there. Come here and introduce yourself, ”

The transferee walked and went to the front as ordered by Ms Gen.

"How are you? I’m Mirko Salve, I’m an athlete. I'm glad that I am here in your class. I hope I can be close to you all.” His introduction. Mirko applauded and welcomed the others before returning to his seat.

Ms Gen scolded us about the incident but later also taught.

A few minutes passed and Ms Gen finished teaching. We are also in recess and we are in the cafeteria.

"Sir Mainit is hot just like his surname," Jersey commented while eating.

"It's your fault too," Ginger replied.

"Mirko, what school are you from?" I asked Mirko who was eating quietly. He was with us.

“I'm from Japan. I transferred here because of… Secret. I can not say,”

"Wait. What was that before? Why are you being scolded? ” he asked.

"Ah… Because … hehehe… Hmm…"

"Secret!" I mimicked what he said earlier.

The four of us chatted while eating. I was just silent when I saw Lovell carrying the tray and looking for a seat. The cafeteria is full, especially during recess.

"Lovell, do you want to---"

"Come here! Space is bigger,” I interrupted Aika. I thought Lovell didn’t hear me but I smiled broadly when I saw him walking towards our place.

"100 points," I whispered to myself which Ginger heard.

Lovell sat down next to Jersey and started eating.

"Love, thank you for what you did to me earlier,"

"You're welcome."

"But call me Lovell, please," he requested.

"Okay, Love!"

***

We go home and here I am waiting for Lovell outside the school gate because he is one of the cleaners. Just a few minutes and I saw him carrying his bike.

"Love! Let's go home together!" I smiled at him.

"Lovell," he corrected. I followed him on his walk.

"Did you read what you received?" I asked him.

"Yes, and the letter is corny."

"And that's a song."

“Huh? What are you talking about?" I asked him. He handed me the love letter and walked ahead.

I read what was written and my eyes widened when I realized that it was indeed one of a song from a movie.

Jersey!!!