Mom drops me off at school. And honestly? I'm dying of stress. My hands are sweaty, my heart's racing like crazy. I give her a quick hug when suddenly Tamara shows up.
Tamara: — Good morning po, Mrs. Corazon. I'm Tamara Reyes.
Mom: — Oh, hello Tamara! I've heard so much about you from Hiyas.
Tamara: — Oh cool! Wow, ma'am, you're American, right?
Mom: — Yes, yes.
Tamara: — I love your hair. It's so pretty. And you're really beautiful too. No wonder Hiyas takes after you.
Well… she's not wrong. My mom is gorgeous—elegant, kind, and she smells like expensive heaven.
Mom (a little shy): — Really? Oh, thank you.
Me: — Come on, Tami, we'll be late! And Mom, didn't you say you had errands to run?
Mom: — Ah, yes, that's true.
Tamara: — Um… Mrs. Corazon, I really loved the food you cooked for Hiyas. It was so good.
Mom: — Oh, thank you, sweetheart. Come over sometime, I'll cook for you too.
Tamara (delighted): — Oh, thank you po!
Me: — Okay, bye. Tami, let's go!
I drag her away before my mom hears any gossip at school. That would be catastrophic.
---
In the hallway, some girls give me dirty looks.
Others whisper and laugh in Tagalog. Great. Like I care. Tamara looks ready to fight, but I stop her. It's only 7:54 a.m. — no way am I starting drama this early. And with my illness, yeah… better to avoid stress.
And of course, guess who shows up?
Mr. Anti-girls himself.
I pout at him. He shoots me a cold look and just says, "Tss." That's it.
Tamara (in proverb mode): — You know what they say, love starts with hate.
Me: — Tss. Where did you even read that?
Tamara: — I don't know… somewhere, maybe.
---
In class, Tamara and Jonas corner me.
Tamara: — So? Are you really dating Jace?
I freeze. Pure embarrassment overload. What do I even say?
Me: — Uh…
Thankfully, Mr. Ruiz enters right on time. Saved! This teacher is usually a total mood-killer, but today he's my hero.
Mr. Ruiz: — Good morning, kids. Sleep well?
Us: — Yes, sir.
Him: — Perfect. Take out your pens — surprise quiz!
Me: …Wait, what?
The whole class: — NOOOO, not today, Mr. Ruiz!!!
But yep, no mercy. We still had to take it. And I'll admit it… I bombed that quiz.
---
At lunch, we head to the cafeteria. We sit down, and of course, Jonas starts.
Jonas (in Tagalog): — Hiyas, ba't ka pala nakikipag-date kay Jace Ramos? Sino ba nag-move sa isa't isa? Ikaw o siya? At unang halik? Crush mo talaga siya, ano?
Me: — Huh???
Jonas: — Ano'ng Ha? Pilipino ka naman, eh. Bakit parang hindi mo gets?
Tamara: — Jonas, are you dumb? She doesn't understand, she didn't grow up here! Speak English, even if your accent sucks.
Me (curious): — So… what did he say?
Tamara: — He asked how you ended up with Jace, if it was you or him who made the first move. And… if you have a crush on him.
Me: — …Oh.
And then I spill the whole truth about my stupid fake relationship plan. So embarrassing.
Tamara (dying of laughter): — Hahahaha! Hiyas, I can't!
Jonas: — Wait… that's your big revenge plan? Pathetic.
Me (blushing): — Shhh! Keep it down!
Jonas (smirking): — Hey, Hiyas… do you know the "Jace Bryan Ramos Effect"?
Me: — What?
Jonas: — You better not mess with it… or you'll end up falling for him.
Me: — NO WAY.
Jonas: — Oh yes.
Me: — NO.
Jonas: — Yes.
Me: — NO.
Jonas: — It's a YES.
Tamara (annoyed): — Ugh, you two are exhausting. Anyway, I'm starving.
In a blink, she's already ordered her food, and her tray is full. Jonas and I stare at her, shocked.
Tamara: — What? I told you I was hungry.
---
Jonas (serious now): — Okay, let's bet, Hiyas. I, Jonas Diaz, say that if you keep playing with Jace, you'll definitely fall under "The Jace Effect."
Me (proudly): — And I, Aaliyah Hiyas Corazon, say NO.
Jonas: — Deal.
Me: — Deal.
The bet is sealed.
If I lose, I have to flirt with Lawrence — the girl who tried to intimidate me on the first day (yep, Jonas has had a crush on her since elementary school, LOL).
If I win, Jonas will teach me how to drive his new race car that I've been dying to try.
No worries: I'm going to win. The Jace Ramos Effect doesn't work
on me. Never. Not happening.
Me: — Get ready, Jonas. That car's as good as mine.
Jonas (smirking): — We'll see about that, Miss Corazon.