The dorm room was quiet. Only the hum of the electric fan and the soft snores of his roommate, Maverick, filled the space. Sitting at the edge of his bed, Alonzo stared at the open notebook before him, twisting the worn-out pen in his hand. In his mind, one question kept looping.
"Should I join the student council? Can I actually handle it?"
Every minute seemed to stretch endlessly, and images of Janice around the campus kept replaying in his thoughts. The chance to see her more often, talk to her, be with her during events… it thrilled him, yet terrified him at the same time.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed. Startled, he glanced at the screen—his mother's name, Aling Emelda, lit up. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he swiped to answer.
"Alonzo, how are you, my son?"
"Nay… I'm… I'm fine. How are you there?" His voice was quiet, but he could sense that his mother had something more to say.
"Alonzo, anak… We're managing. Everything's okay here. How's school? Are your grades alright? And you… are you eating properly?" Her voice trembled slightly with worry.
"Nay… of course, I am. Thank you for worrying about me."
Alonzo paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. He knew this was more than a casual check-in.
"Son… I also want you to know… about our land, the farm we own. Investors are still pressuring us to sell. They want it badly, but we haven't given in yet. I'm sorry for bringing this up, anak. I know you have enough on your plate with school already."
A heaviness settled in Alonzo's chest—the weight of family responsibilities, the scholarship, and now, the potential role in the student council.
"Nay… I understand. Don't worry about me."
"Anak… we know you can do it. We're not asking you to think about us every moment, but we want you to be aware. We just don't want to hide things from you."
Alonzo exhaled slowly. Each word from his mother felt like a kiss—full of love, yet reminding him of the world's weight pressing down on his shoulders.
"And if you ever feel afraid or uncertain, remember, we're here for you. Take care of yourself, and don't lose focus on school, okay?"
He nodded, feeling a sense of relief. There was nervousness, excitement, but above all, he felt the unwavering love and support of his family.
"Yes, Nay. Thank you… I promise I'll do everything for my dreams… and for us."
"That's my son. Keep studying hard. And always take care. Your father and I love you so much."
"I love you too, Nay. Please take care as well."
After the call, phone still in hand, Alonzo's mind wandered—thinking about joining the student council, his classmates, his crush, Janice, and his responsibilities to his family. The night was quiet, yet inside, a storm of nervousness, excitement, and determination raged within him.
[Eastwood Campus]
It was still early, and the campus was alive with energy, though Alonzo's mind felt distant. He was walking down the hallway when Maverick suddenly blocked his path.
"Bro, come on! Don't get left behind. Student Council registration is almost over. You'll regret it if you miss this!" Maverick tugged at his arm enthusiastically.
Alonzo didn't answer. He remained quiet, serious, heart pounding. Every step felt heavy, every passing student seemed to be watching him.
"Alonzo, bro! What's up? Just relax. You got this. And… you might even see Janice, hahaha!" Maverick laughed, clearly excited.
Alonzo's mind screamed: "Janice? Oh no… Am I… falling for her? No! I can't. I can't let this mess up my focus on school."
Even though he knew he shouldn't, Janice's image refused to leave his thoughts.
"I… I don't know, bro. I'm shy… and I'll probably stammer… especially if… if Janice is the one interviewing me," he muttered almost in a whisper.
Maverick just smiled.
"Bro, you don't have to be perfect. That's normal. Janice's nice, and this is just gonna get your world a little closer to hers."
But it wasn't just nerves holding Alonzo back. Every time he faced Janice, he knew he'd stutter, his cheeks would heat up, and he might say things he didn't mean to admit.
"Okay, bro! Enough with the overthinking, alright? Just remember—you're not alone. I'm here for you. You got this. Promise," Maverick said, patting Alonzo's shoulder.
"And… if you're gonna join, then let's go, bro!" Alonzo suddenly replied, as if he had fully made up his mind.
"That's what I like to hear! Let's go! Hahaha."
Alonzo POV: "Okay… You can do this, Alonzo."
As they joined the line and approached the registration desk, Alonzo felt the tension tighten around him. Each step was a mix of heavy nerves and thrilling anticipation.
But amidst it all, Maverick was there, a guiding light through the darkness of fear and anxiety.
Inside the office, Angela was managing the list of students, calling names of those waiting outside. Janice sat at the adjacent desk, smiling brightly as she interviewed each student, with Lexus sitting beside her.
Alonzo POV: "Here goes… stay calm, Alonzo."
Maverick noticed his expression and chuckled softly.
"Bro, we're here… do your best." His grin betrayed a hint of excitement.
"Can you stop teasing me? You're just making me more nervous." Alonzo took a final gulp of water.
"Fine, fine, hahaha. Just making sure you don't suddenly run away."
Narrator's note:
With every student registering, Alonzo felt a whirlwind of nervousness, excitement, and embarrassment. Inside the student council office, what would happen when Janice interviewed him? And how would Lexus react to his decision to join? This was the beginning of a new chapter—not just as a member of the Student Council, but in the tangled world of feelings slowly wrapping around him at Eastwood College Academy.
"Next!" Angela called cheerfully from the doorway.
"OMG! Here we go, bro! I'm up! Don't leave!" Maverick exclaimed as he entered, frozen at the sight of Angela, while Alon
zo followed, heart racing.
To be continued ..