Eversince third year of middle school, Anna has been waiting for this day to come, high school. She remembers every fascinating stories her parents tell her every single time that high school comes out of their conversation. Independence, decision making, challenging projects, hang outs and first love.
Anna sighs after tying her hair up on a ponytail with a knitted bow that she personally made over summer and looks at herself in the mirror.
First love. Her mind repeats. She actually believes she has it already but with how the events are turning, she wants to think that maybe her heart is just confused. Maybe she is mistaken her love for William as a best friend to something more than that. Maybe he is really just a brother to her and maybe high school will definitely introduce her to her first love.
"Anna, sweetheart?" She hears her mom outside her room knocking on her door. "Are you ready?"
"Yes, mom. Be down in a minute."
"Okay."
She gives herself a final look in the mirror before she takes her school bag on the bed and gets out of the room. She goes to the dining room where he finds William already sitting and eating on the chair next to hers. She smiles knowing that their routine since middle school when they are already allowed to go to school by themselves never change.
"Hey, princess." Her dad greets her first after he puts the newspaper down and sees her making her way to him.
"Good morning, Dad." She kisses her on the cheek and sits on her chair. Her mom comes in from the kitchen carrying freshly made pancakes, her favorite breakfast food.
"Good morning, sweetheart. Have I ever told you that you look gorgeous in your uniform?"
"Yes, mom but I won't mind hearing it from you again."
"Well, you look very gorgeous in it, pumpkin."
"Thanks Mom." They exchange smiles that she doesn't realize William has already put a piece of pancake on her plate.
"You eat now Anna or I might have them all before you know it." Anna glares at him who continues to put on sliced strawberries and honey syrup on her pancake. "There."
Anna doesn't say anything but just starts slicing the food and eats.
"You guys ready on your first day?"
"Yup." William answers with an evident excitement in his voice and with food still being chewed in his mouth. "First class is Music so I'm very much excited."
"That's cool. And you Anna?"
"Very much excited, too mom."
Anna and William decided to enter the town's Art High school, one of the top three art high schools in the country, in preparation for their choice of college majors. Despite being excellent in academics, the two have always been vocal with their love on Art. William is into music while Anna spends a lot of time on crafts and painting. They have their studio in their respective homes where they practice and where they mostly spend their time when not together.
With the school just a few miles away from their homes, Anna and William prefer to use their bicycles instead of being driven by Sergio with their car. They see Carlo on their way riding his own bicycle to school and together, they reach their new school. Though Carlo has to go on the one across from theirs, the science high school because unlike them, he is a nerd who dreams of being a great professor in the future.
"Here we are." Carlo says after they all get off their bicycle. "High school."
"High school." Anna and William repeat at the same time.
"Good luck guys."
"Good luck Carlo." The two guys do their secret handshake while Anna just gives him a sweet smile before they move their separate ways. Anna and William secure their bicycle on the parking space intended for it and walk to the ground where they could see almost the entire school. Students from newbies to the seniors are walking everywhere.
"Here it is Anna."
"Here it is William."
They look at each other and smile.
"FIRST DAY HIGH."