Ah, third year of high school—the point where your social battery is nearly gone, and you're just tired of the same issues and events the school keeps throwing at you.
One thing's for sure: I just have to survive for two more years until I can finally escape. Of course, new problems are bound to come up.
While we wait for the school to post the student list for each section, my whole circle of friends is buzzing in our group chat. Serge is the first to announce it: "Guys! The master list for each section is out!"
Everyone starts scanning, and I quickly realize my name isn't with theirs. "Ah! I got separated from you guys," I grumble, frustrated that I'll be on my own in a new section.
Joshua, ever the optimist, says, "Well, hey, at least our classrooms are close. You'll be seeing us more than you think."
Villa chimes in with a laugh. "True. Besides, if you're alone, we'll just sneak over to your room. Don't worry, you're not getting rid of us that easily."
I can imagine their grins. Asher adds, "I mean, technically, we're all practically in the same section… except you. Guess you'll be the odd one out this time."
"Thanks for the reminder," I reply with a sigh.
Serge chuckles, nudging at me. "Not our fault! You should've aimed for the 'pilot' section, like me and Villa."
Ah, the word "pilot"—the title given to the top section for students with the highest grades. Serge doesn't let me forget that.
Jesmyr, one of the twins, adds, "Look on the bright side—you might meet someone special in your section!"
Joshua joins in with a smirk, "Right? Maybe you'll actually find true love this time instead of another fling that's just drama."
Everyone laughs, and I can't help but chuckle, rolling my eyes. Archael, who's been dating his girlfriend for a few months now, says, "Yeah, it could be like how I met my girl. You never know—you might find something real this time."
I smirk at the screen. "Thanks for the support, guys, but I think I'll just focus on securing a spot in the 'pilots' next year. Love can wait."
Yuan adds with a chuckle, "Whatever you say. Just know we're around if you need to vent."
"Good to know," I type back, grinning. "I'll hold you all to that."
Even though they're trying to lift my spirits, I can't ignore the fact that I didn't reach my goal last year—and I might just be incapable of doing it. Maybe it's better if I aim to stay at the top of the lower sections, at least.
As the first day of school kicks off, chaos fills the room. Groups of students chatter away, and a few "loners" scroll on their phones, all in their own worlds. But suddenly, it all stops.
"Thud."
Our new adviser's bag drops heavily onto her desk, and the noise in the room dies with it.
"Good evening, class," she says, a firm tone to her voice. "I'm Ma'am Magalso, your adviser for this school year. I'll be here to guide you all as you work toward advancing to the next grade."
She continues, sharing a few important things, but one word catches my full attention.
"Officers."
They're like the law in any classroom, setting the tone for everyone else. I don't want to be one myself, but I'd like to make sure the right people—ones I can work with—take those spots.
"So," Ma'am Magalso goes on, glancing around, "I'm giving you all a whole week to get to know each other before we pick class officers. Use this time well."
She finishes, and I quickly scan the room. I can see a few students who seem reliable enough, but no one stands out as someone who could handle all the important roles flawlessly.
Turning to the person next to me, I murmur, "Do you see anyone here who'd actually be a decent officer?"
They shrug. "Maybe? I guess we'll see. Are you thinking of running?"
I shake my head. "No, but I have a few people in mind. I'd rather… persuade them to go for it."
"Interesting tactic," they reply, smirking. "Looks like you've got this all planned out already."
I lean back in my chair, scanning faces around the room again, trying to seem casual about it. Just looking, not planning anything
"So," I say to the person next to me, my voice deliberately nonchalant, "do you think anyone here has 'leader' potential?"
They look at me sideways, raising an eyebrow. "You're pretty curious about this, huh?"
"What?" I give a shrug, feigning indifference. "Just curious. Officers keep the order, you know? It's kinda important."
They snort, smirking. "Since when do you care about 'order'?"
Before I can respond, Ma'am Magalso clears her throat, pulling everyone's attention back to her.
"Alright, I'll leave you to get to know each other. Remember, we'll need people with responsibility and dedication," she says, glancing pointedly around the room. "Think about who could fill each role by the end of this week."
A low murmur spreads through the class as everyone begins whispering and stealing glances at each other. I feel a tap on my shoulder from behind.
"Are you gonna run?" a familiar voice asks, and I turn to see Ira grinning, mischief in her eyes. "Class President, maybe?"
I laugh, waving her off. "Nah, definitely not. I'd rather… just observe from the sidelines. I'm just curious who's actually interested."
"Sure, just 'curious,'" she teases, smirking. "You'd be good at it, you know."
Before I can protest, she turns to someone across the aisle. "Hey!" she calls. "Thinking of running for anything?"
Her friend looks over, a bit taken aback, but he shrugs. "Not sure yet. Maybe auditor? I guess it depends on who else is running."
I nod thoughtfully, trying to keep my interest low-key. "Yeah, let's see who actually steps up for this stuff."
Ira nudges me, clearly enjoying this. "I bet you already have people in mind."
"Maybe," I reply, acting vague. "But that's just because I don't want us stuck with people who don't do anything, you know?"
Ma'am Magalso checks her watch, then claps her hands for attention. "Alright, class. That's all for now. I'll be back tomorrow—use the time to talk to each other, get a feel for your classmates."
She picks up her bag, gives us a last nod, and heads out, leaving the room buzzing with conversation.
After a short while, we headed to our next class in another room. Just as I was about to step outside, I noticed the girl walking right in front of me.
"Huh?" I blinked, trying to process. Who is this girl? Has she always been here, and I just… didn't notice? My mind raced with questions. She's gorgeous… What's her name? Is she single?
And then, just as I thought that, a realization hit me like a truck. Wait—did I just fall in love at first sight?
I was completely stunned, frozen by my own ridiculous thoughts. Snap out of it, I told myself, glancing around to make sure no one noticed my sudden daze. Luckily, everyone seemed too focused on getting to class.
Suddenly, my friend nudged me. "Hey, you okay?" they asked, raising an eyebrow. "You looked like you just saw a ghost or something."
"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine!" I stammered, forcing a laugh. "Just, uh… I thought I saw someone I knew."
"Oh yeah?" they said, following my gaze toward the girl. "Wait a minute… Is she who you're talking about?"
I tried to play it cool, waving it off. "Nah, nah. Just… just someone I thought I recognized. Let's go, we're gonna be late."
They smirked knowingly. "Uh-huh, sure. C'mon, lover boy. You're so obvious."
I could feel my face heat up. "Stop, it's not like that!" I protested, even though I knew it was a losing battle. My friend just laughed, and I had no choice but to separate with them into the classroom, my heart still racing.
Thankfully, this room had air conditioning, and my face quickly cooled down. Good, at least I won't look like a blushing idiot all class. As I looked around, I spotted a few familiar faces from last year. It's nice seeing some people I already know, I thought, relaxing into my seat.
But before I could dwell too long on it, a voice cut through the chatter.
"Good morning, class," a woman said as she stood at the front of the room. Her presence was warm but commanding. "My name is Ma'am Battaler, and I'll be your TLE teacher this year. Specifically, I'll be teaching Computer Servicing Systems—or CSS for short."
She paused, her gaze sweeping across the room as if to make sure everyone was listening. Her eyes were sharp but kind, a combination that made me sit up a little straighter.
"Now, some of you might be wondering what CSS is," she continued. "This course is designed to introduce you to the basics of computer hardware, software, troubleshooting, and maintenance. By the end of this year, you should be able to understand how computers work, inside and out, and have the skills to service and repair them."
She waited for a moment to let that sink in, then went on, "You'll be learning things like identifying different components, diagnosing problems, and even assembling a computer from scratch. It's challenging, but it's also incredibly rewarding."
A hand shot up in the back, and she acknowledged the student with a nod. "Yes?"
"Will we actually get to open up computers?" came the question, voice slightly hesitant but curious.
Ma'am Battaler nodded, smiling. "Yes, absolutely. We'll be working with real hardware throughout the year. It's one thing to read about a motherboard or a CPU, but it's a completely different experience when you can actually see it, touch it, and learn how it connects to everything else. Hands-on practice is crucial in a subject like this."
Another student raised their hand. "Ma'am, is this similar to what people in IT do?"
"Great question," she replied, her eyes lighting up. "Yes, the basics of CSS are very similar to what entry-level IT technicians do. In fact, if you're interested in pursuing a career in technology, this class will give you a solid foundation. It could be the first step toward jobs in IT support, computer engineering, or even software development."
She took a brief pause, scanning the room, as if weighing how much more to share. "But it's not just for those aiming for a career in IT. Understanding computers is a valuable skill no matter what field you go into. Technology is everywhere, and being able to troubleshoot basic issues is a life skill that will always come in handy."
The class was quiet now, everyone focused on what she was saying. Even the few students who seemed disinterested at first were paying attention.
"To tell you a bit about myself," Ma'am Battaler continued, setting her papers aside, "I used to work in the IT field before I became a teacher. I was a computer technician for about five years, so trust me when I say that you never stop learning in this area. Technology changes constantly, and it keeps you on your toes. My goal is to give you a strong enough foundation that you can keep building on your skills, even after this class is over."
She glanced at the clock on the wall, then back at us. "This year, you'll be introduced to a lot of new concepts and skills. Don't worry if it seems complicated at first—that's perfectly normal. This class is designed to teach you step-by-step, and I'll be here to guide you every step of the way."
With that, she gave a final look around the room, as if assessing our reactions, then added, "And don't hesitate to ask questions. I want you to be curious and engaged; the more questions you have, the better you'll understand the material."
She looked at the clock again and smiled. "Well, that's all the time we have for now. I look forward to working with all of you. Get ready for an interesting year ahead!"