Chapter 2: Sharing a Ride with Gio

Tuesday mornings had become an adventure for Abbegale, a treasure hunt for glimpses of Gio. This week, fate seemed particularly generous. She spotted him four times throughout the day: during English class, when their eyes met over Hamlet's tragic soliloquy; in the crowded cafeteria line, where he gave her a small, surprised smile; during biology lab, where their hands brushed as they reached for the same dissection scalpel; and finally, as the final bell echoed through the halls, announcing the end of the shift.

Abbegale practically bolted out of school, her feet barely touching the ground. She wanted to outrun the lingering disappointment of their un-met lunchtime plans, the missed opportunity to catch his eye in biology. Just as she reached the taxi stand, however, a familiar voice stopped her heart.

"Waiting for a ride?"

Gio stood a few feet away, leaning against a lamppost, his backpack slung over one shoulder. Abbegale, caught off guard, could only manage a stammered, "Uh, yeah."

For a moment, an awkward silence hung between them. Then, to Abbegale's surprise, Gio offered, "Actually, I am too. Maybe we can share a cab?"

A thrill shot through Abbegale. This was it, her chance to break the ice, to move beyond shy glances and stolen moments. Hesitantly, she nodded.

The taxi ride was short but charged with nervous energy. Abbegale struggled to find her voice, the words jumbled in her throat like tangled yarn. Finally, she blurted out, "I didn't know you lived near me."

Gio, eyes fixed on the passing scenery, gave a noncommittal, "Yeah, that's right."

Abbegale pressed on, desperate to keep the conversation going. "Yepmi, my friend, she lives in the same community as you."

A flicker of recognition crossed Gio's face. "Yepmi," he repeated, finally turning to look at Abbegale. "I know her. She's cool."

The corners of Abbegale's lips twitched into a smile. "She is," she agreed, feeling a surge of confidence. "And you know," she continued, her voice gaining strength, "I always thought, you know, since you see Yepmi a lot, I guess I thought you didn't really… notice me."

Gio held her gaze for a moment, a hint of surprise in his dark eyes. He paused, then said, "Well, I do now."

His simple reply, though brief, held a weight that sent Abbegale's heart soaring. It wasn't much, but it was something. A crack in the wall, a glimpse of the person behind the reserved exterior.

As the taxi pulled up to Abbegale's stop, she turned to him, a nervous smile on her face. "Thanks for the ride," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Gio nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "See you around, maybe?"

The "maybe" hung in the air, a promise and a challenge all at once. Abbegale stepped out of the taxi, her knees weak with excitement. Tonight, even the plain rice and beans on the dinner table tasted like victory. For the first time, Gio wasn't just a dream boy glimpsed from afar; he was someone she had talked to, laughed with, someone who knew her name.

She joined her family at the dinner table, the chatter and laughter a comforting hum. Sharing her day, she recounted the Gio encounters with glee, each stolen glance magnified, each brief exchange replayed in her mind. Even the skeptical eyebrow raised by her older sister, Kammi, couldn't dampen her spirits.

Later, curled up in bed, the events of the day played on repeat in her head. Every stolen glance, every hesitant word, the shared taxi ride. It wasn't a whirlwind romance, not yet, but it was a start, a tiny bud of possibility blooming in the soil of their unassuming Tuesday routine. And as Abbegale drifted off to sleep, a smile curved her lips. Who knows what the next Tuesday might bring?