Chapter 1: A Brush with Gio

The morning sun sliced through the curtains, painting Abbegale's room in golden stripes. She groaned, her eyelids fluttering open with the weight of a late-night SBa project still clinging to them. It was past noon, and her first shift at school began any minute. With a jolt, she remembered it was also Gio day. Every Tuesday, their paths crossed in the chaotic swirl of students entering for the afternoon shift. Gio, her impossible crush, with his tousled hair and easy smile, had become a Tuesday ritual, a secret beat in her otherwise ordinary week.

Scrambling out of bed, Abbegale threw on her uniform, the starched white shirt a stark contrast to the whirlwind in her head. A quick breakfast of toast and jam, a dash of mascara, and she was out the door, hailing a taxi with desperate waves.

The ride was a blur of traffic and nervous anticipation. As the taxi skidded to a stop in front of the imposing school gates, Abbegale's heart hammered against her ribs. It was 12:36, already six minutes late. She paid the driver in a flurry, shoving her bag over her shoulder and sprinting towards the entrance.

Just as she rounded the corner, a figure materialized in front of her. A startled yelp escaped her lips as she collided with something solid. Books scattered across the floor, a symphony of pens tinkling like tiny bells.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" Abbegale's cheeks burned with mortification. Looking up, she met the startled gaze of Gio, his dark eyes wide with surprise.

"It's okay," he said, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. He bent down to gather his scattered belongings, Abbegale scrambling to help. Their fingers brushed as they reached for the same book, sending a jolt of electricity through her.

Suddenly, the words she'd practiced in her head all morning deserted her. Her mind went blank, leaving only a gaping fish out of water.

"I, uh..." she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

Gio chuckled, a low, inviting sound that made her knees weak. "Don't worry about it," he said, his smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. "See you around, maybe?"

With a final wave, he turned and walked away, leaving Abbegale standing there, heart pounding, a million what-ifs blooming in her chest. But before she could indulge in the daydream, the shrill ring of the school bell jolted her back to reality. She was late.

As the final bell rang, Abbegale trudged towards the taxi stand, her usual Tuesday excitement replaced by a dull ache of missed opportunity. Suddenly, a familiar voice broke through the throng of students.

"Hey! Waiting for a ride?" Yepmi, her best friend and Gio's neighbor, grinned at her.

"Yeah," Abbegale mumbled, kicking at a pebble with her worn-out sneakers

"You know, Gio lives in the same community as us," Yepmi said casually, her eyebrows raised in a knowing way.

Abbegale's head snapped up, eyes wide with surprise. "He what?"

And so, as Abbegale settled into the taxi, her mind buzzed with the revelation. Gio, the boy who made her heart skip a beat every Tuesday, was closer than she ever imagined. The possibilities swirled in her head, a kaleidoscope of hope and excitement. This, she realized with a shaky breath, was just the beginning