Chapter 5 : Love at first sight

Ian's pov 

Back to school, it's been 3 months since the Christmas break. And in those 3 months i tried my best to stop myself from doing something. Although I know that Michael and Pauleen have ended but still should respect them. 

In those months I kept myself busy, I did everything that I could just to forget that day, the day that I felt something about Pauleen. The day that i should have never approached her. 

It was foundation month, it's a whole month's event at our school where they gathered all the students to celebrate the anniversary of the Metro Vale Academy. And this year. It is their 50th Anniversary. Everyone is busy doing their things. 

All of the students have gathered at the field, some of them are just chilling, walking with their partners in this scorching heat and some of them are doing their practices. 

Yes, practice for the main event of the Foundation Month. The festival dance. It’s where each strand have their representatives and they will dance a respective festival dance given to them. 

It is one of the main highlights for this year's event. 

While walking I noticed Michael, he was just standing on stage in front of the hot sizzling field. And there it is he was watching a dance troupe having their practice. 

Yes, each dance troupe or representative per strand are practicing in the field, in this hot field. Everyone was wearing a long sleeve and a cap just to hide from the heat. 

“Hey Michael, where are our classmates?” I asked him and he pointed to one specific spot on the field. That one dance troupe and there they were, Jas, Pauleen and Lei. 

Our classmates, they are one of the representatives of our strand which is STEM. 

At first I can't really seem to find them at the field because there are so many students who are practicing at the field. No matter how hard he pointed it out, I can't seem to find them.

Until he said “There, in the middle of the field. The one that's wearing jeans.” And there it is she's the one wearing jeans. And it takes me a second and their dance practice is over. And that very last minute, there she is, Pauleen. I saw her. 

And it was like a love at first sight even though I have known her for almost a year, it’s like the world slows down and everything around us just stops. 

It’s like me and her were the only people in the world, it went quiet, everything's gone quiet and the world went quiet. And at that point, I can tell that I'm in love. 

I'm in love with her. 

I'm damn in love with Pauleen Santos. The girl who asked if the room was a section of grapes, the girl who has a soft voice while introducing herself, the girl who has beautiful eyes and a smile. 

But then I remember that the girl I fell in love, is the girl that my friend's used to loved. 

So, I go on to tell myself that maybe I was just infatuated with her, that it will last long. Maybe i was just distracted by the fact that she is beautiful, beautiful even when she dance. 

Maybe I was just confused by how I feel, maybe I was just idolizing her because of her talent. Or maybe not? 

“Ian, what are you even thinking she is your friend's past? The girl that she used to like and you can't like her.” I keep on telling myself those words that she's my friend's past.  

And a voice interrupted my thoughts, “Hey, you okay? They're done, let's go?” Michael said, calling me while preparing his things before he went down. 

“Yeah, yeah, uhm I'm okay. Where are we going though?” “Back at our classroom, it's hot. Do you wanna stay here?” he said and i just shook my head as a no. 

While walking back to our classroom, I can't seem to forget about her. Pauleen. 

The way she looked, the way she dances, the way she walks and even the way wipes her sweats from the heat. 

I kept on thinking about it, until the bell rang. It was time to go home, am i really so occupied with her that i couldn't even focus. 

“Hey, Ian. You okay? Do you have a problem, why are you so quiet?” “Huh? Uh no, I'm good. I'm just tired, you know.” I said  "Are you sure? You look like you are out of this place." 

Do i look like that? "Yeah, don't worry, I'm good, very good." I said with a little laugh. 

But in reality no, I'm not okay. And I think that I will never be okay and do i really look liked someone who was out of this place? I mean who wouldn't be, if someone's gir ks occupying your mind all day.

I should keep my distance, its not good that I keep thinking about Pauleen. She's occupying my mind so much that I couldn't even focus. 

But i guess this is really the feeling, the feeling of love where it really hits you no one can stop you, no one can make you stop. No one can. 

Love? What is love, for real? Is it just the feeling of me admiring her while doing her things? 

Or is it me looking at her with a smile on face? I don't know. 

One thing is for sure, I don't know. I don't know how to define love. 

But one thing is for sure, is that I am in love. I am in love with Pauleen. No matter how hard I think about it. It keeps on repeating and repeating. 

The moment where everything just stops, where I felt like it was only me and her. 

But would that be worth it? Would I be able to do that? Would I be able to bring myself to tell her that I am in love with her? 

Would it be worth the risk?