The next day finally arrived—the day Alonzo had been waiting for.
His first day at Eastwood Academy.
He walked through the hallway with a bright smile, every step filled with a mix of excitement and nervousness. He was wearing a simple white polo shirt—a gift from Aling Emelda—paired with denim jeans and old but well-kept shoes. His appearance? Handsome in a humble, provincial way, with features that closely resembled his father, Rodolfo—a resemblance that was impossible to deny.
Though Alonzo's appearance was simple, his heart overflowed with dreams. Every step into this new world carried hope and courage—strength he knew he would need in the days ahead.
As he walked down the long hallway, a girl suddenly rushed past him.
They accidentally collided, and all the books she was carrying fell to the floor.
"Ah! I'm sorry, miss!" Alonzo said quickly as he bent down to pick them up.
But when he looked up—
The world seemed to stop.
Her face was familiar… as if he had seen her somewhere before. The city… the convenience store…
Alonzo's POV
"I've seen her before… she looks so familiar."
His heart began to race. He never expected to see her again—especially not here, on such a massive campus like Eastwood Academy.
"Oh! Sorry—and thank you!" the girl said, brushing her hair away from her face as she looked at him.
Alonzo couldn't respond right away. He found himself staring at her, forcing himself to stay calm even as heat crept onto his cheeks.
Their eyes met.
Inside him stirred a mix of excitement and awe.
Alonzo's POV
"She's beautiful… like a fairy.
She's the one—the girl who gave me that large amount of money."
He took a deep breath, trying to control the shock and nervousness pounding in his chest.
"Are you new here?" the girl asked, clearly surprised by his reaction.
"Y-Yes. I'm Alonzo," he replied softly, offering a shy smile as he tried to hide his nerves.
"And you?"
"I'm Janice… Janice De Guzman," she said, extending her hand.
Alonzo reached for it without hesitation.
"It's an honor to meet you, miss," he said, still dazed by her presence.
They exchanged brief smiles. Even on their first meeting inside the school, Alonzo felt something unusual—a connection he couldn't explain. But deep down, he knew this new world was filled with challenges—not only academically, but socially as well.
Soon after, he continued walking down the hallway, holding his enrollment form tightly. As he passed each classroom, he observed the different sections—some noisy and chaotic, others quiet and organized. Students chatted in groups, lost in their own worlds, while others focused on their books or laptops.
He stopped in front of one classroom.
It was loud—filled with laughter, shouting, and the sound of desks being dragged around.
Alonzo glanced at the paper in his hand.
Section B.
He frowned.
"Maybe I'm mistaken… Is this really Section B? It feels way too noisy and chaotic," he murmured to himself.
He stepped inside. At first, no one noticed him. His throat tightened as the students continued talking among themselves, laughing in their own circles.
Moments later, three male students turned their attention toward him.
Boy 1: "Yo, guys! Looks like we've got a new classmate from somewhere!"
Boy 2: "White polo shirt? Jeans? Seriously? That outfit looks cheap, dude."
Boy 3: "Probably a provincial kid. Must be from a poor family!"
They burst into laughter, openly mocking him.
"Just a bunch of loud mouths who contribute nothing to society," Alonzo muttered under his breath.
Heat rushed to his face—anger mixed with embarrassment. Still, he stood his ground. He knew their words did not define his worth, nor his dreams.
Then, someone stood up.
Unlike the arrogant boys, this student had a calm presence.
"Hey. I'm Maverick," he said with a friendly smile. "I'm a scholar too. You can sit here."
He pointed to an empty armchair beside him.
"Uh… thank you," Alonzo replied softly, returning a small smile as he placed his things down.
Maverick continued speaking.
"Don't mind them. Some rich students think money makes them superior. But here, academics matter. You can compete with them—just focus on yourself."
Alonzo's POV
"Focus on yourself… he's right.
You're not here for nothing, Alonzo—you're here to succeed."
Narrator's Note;
On his very first day, Alonzo already felt the contrast of life inside Eastwood Academy—a world where wealth and talent collide, where fate tests him early, and where friendship begins with something as simple as offering a seat.
Inside the classroom, as he quietly observed his surroundings, a strange tension settled in his chest—the first challenge of life in an elite school.
But Alonzo knew one thing for certain:
This was only the beginning.
To be continued…