"Do you remember your first love?" 

I stared at the blinking cursor on my screen pondering on the writing prompt for my next article. 

"Hmmm, of course I do, how could I forget." A smile grazed my lips as my mind brought me back in time...

***

I zoned out to the sound of Mr. D's voice. It was the last period for the day and physics wasn't really the best way to end it. So, I daydreamed.

The best way to end my day, every school day, is when I see him.

It was some kind of an unspoken routine between us. Almost every day before I go home, I'd go directly to the library to my 'almost' secret spot; a lone bench at the back corner of our huge library, the tall shelves creating a cozy setting for reading where I would lose myself in a book. Then, He would come. He'd quietly drop his bag on the floor and sit beside me, take out his own book and read. We'd spend at least 30 minutes, sometimes an hour, just sitting down and reading. Sometimes there were occasional talks about random things, but that's it. We weren't exactly friends. I don't even know how he found out about my routine.

I opened my notebook when something fell on my lap. The Prom Flyer. Oh, I almost forgot. Prom is next week. Yey for those who are going as I certainly won't. I think I'd only go if he would ask me to go with him. But that's so unlikely. After all, he was the campus heartthrob. Why would he pick a nerd to be his date?

I didn't realize that I started doodling his name on the back part of the flyer until I focused my attention on it; a simple artwork completed with hearts and the words "Will you go to prom with me?" daintily written at the bottom. Sigh, I know these things only happen in fairytales but I can't help it.

"Ms. Tuazon, will you tell us why the speed of light is so important with astrophysics?"

I felt my cheeks burn as I stood up. "I, uh... because it is the universal speed limit?" I stuttered my answer, my brain still foggy with my princessy day dream. Mr. D. nodded and continued explaining why light speed is related to our topic for the day. Good thing I did some reading last night.

Gosh, Puppy Love; It makes people crazy and somehow stupid. I don't believe in fairytales but a girl can always dream, right? Finally, the bell rang. I slid the paper in my notebook and got up, eager to get out.

"Hanna," Mr. D approached me, gesturing for me to take the black flash drive in his hand, "Please take this to Ms. Garcia. I'd requested her to make printouts for tomorrow's activity." I groaned inside. So much for being the class secretary.

I took the drive from him. "Of course, Mr. D. I assume I should wait for the printouts as well?"

"Yes, please."

I nodded and hurried off to the computer lab which is located just above the library. I saw him enter the library. Omg, I'm late! There are two entrances to the 2nd floor and I turned right so I wouldn't have to cross the lobby and rush upstairs. Grabbing the door, I swung my bag in front of me to stuff my notebook inside and headed straight to Ms. Garcia's office.

"Hey Hanna." Ms. Garcia greeted me with a warm smile. I returned her smile, handing her the flash drive.

"Mr. D.?" she asked.

"Yes." Ms. Garcia took the flash drive and started talking while working on the printer. I usually enjoy talking to her but today I felt antsy and I couldn't understand why. I nodded and smiled like the polite student I was but after 5 minutes, I couldn't take it any longer.

"Uh Ms. G, can I come back and pick up the print outs later? I remembered I needed to borrow some books from the library.”

"Oh, sure dear. They'd be ready later."

I rushed down to the library with no idea why I was in a hurry. When I emerged inside, my eyes instantly landed on him, his hair looked tousled and he was...frowning. He was walking my direction but his eyes were trained on the floor and when he looked up, our gazes met. He stopped and I stood frozen on my feet.

Should I say hi? I don’t think I could. I was uncertain what to do next so I remained staring at him. He stared right back, looking uncertain himself. Then he took a deep breath and said my name “Hanna.”

“Jared!” 

We both turned to the gorgeous girl who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She hooked her arms in his, her perfectly curled hair swaying with her every move. Diane, the queen bee. Of course, she has to come at the right moment.

Feeling glum all of a sudden, I left the library without looking back. My head swirled and I felt like I wanted to stab Diane in her face. Ugh...So I'm plotting to kill someone now over a boy? I'm losing my mind. 

I walked back upstairs, muttering to myself about my insanity over a boy. Why do we have to undergo this stage again? Must be the Hormones? Cripes, he is just a boy and here I am, going crazy. I wouldn't call it love, more like a silly crush maybe, or was it? It's not like I'd be marrying him in the future so why do I feel this way? I didn't want to wait inside the computer lab, so I turned from the door and leaned on the railings instead.

To make myself feel better, I played my favorite game, the "What if" game. I played the scenario over in my head and imagined what if Diane didn't come. There are a lot of possibilities so I went over each of them, thinking of the things I would have said, the things that he would have said.  

I lost myself in daydreaming, again, when someone spoke from behind me. 

"I believe you dropped your love letter." I froze. I knew that voice. I whirled around and he was there, his lips curved in a lopsided grin, his right brow arched slightly upwards.no Then my eyes zeroed in on the bright pink paper in his outstretched hand; blood rushed to my cheeks. Oh my G! the Prom Flyer! How did he? It must have fallen from my notebook. I think I'm gonna faint. I have no intention of ever showing him that doodle.

"I...uhmmm," I stammered and grabbed the paper from him. He just stood there, his brow still arched as if waiting for something.

I am dying inside right now. I turned the flyer over to see the foolish question I had written like 45 minutes ago. And there it was, the 7-word question that was once my dream but is now turning into a nightmare.

"Will you go to prom with me?" 

He must think I'm desperate! I looked up and he spoke again, there was an awkwardness in the air. "So... uhm, will you? go to prom with me?" Wait, what did he say?

My eyes widened then I looked down at the paper once more. This time, I noticed that the hearts were gone. And this definitely isn't my handwriting.

"Well?" he looked nervous.

"You are...asking me to Prom?'

"Yes, please?"

The world came to a standstill. I heard my heart thumping wildly in my chest. Is this how falling in-love supposed to feel? I have no idea of course as all I could think about is how the butterflies kept fluttering in my stomach and how my head felt so light as if it's filled with helium that I'd be floating away into the sky any minute now…

I pinched myself, am I still dreaming? He must have seen what I did as he chuckled and stepped closer. “Shall I ask you again, will you go to prom with me?” This time, he sounded sure.

My head bobbed to answer him ‘Yes’, the bright pink paper forgotten as it fell to the floor.

***

I snapped back to reality when somebody tapped my shoulder.

"Love, you’re daydreaming again aren't you." I turned and smiled at my husband.

"Well, would you be angry if I say I was daydreaming of you?" I asked him, the smile on my face grew even wider. 

We'll, Fairy tales do come true after all.