"Don't look at me like that… or else I might fall in love with you."
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It was the first day of school, and Tammy was walking toward the gates of her new school. The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of flowers and freshly mown grass.
"Hello, fresh air," she whispered, tilting her face to feel the breeze on her skin, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Just as she was about to reach the entrance, a young man came running down the street. Before she could react, he collided with her, sending her bag tumbling to the ground. Notebooks scattered across the pavement in a chaotic rainbow of colors.
The boy didn't even pause. He continued running, disappearing around the corner as if she were invisible.
"Ugh! What a jerk!" Tammy muttered, kneeling to gather her scattered notebooks.
Before she could finish, a hand extended toward her. Startled, she looked up—and her jaw nearly dropped.
Standing before her was an incredibly handsome person, their smile warm and reassuring. With a graceful motion, they handed her a notebook.
"T-Thank you," Tammy stammered, her heart skipping a beat.
Without another word, the mysterious helper began walking away. Tammy watched, mesmerized, until a loud voice pierced the morning air.
"DIANA!!!"
Tammy turned to see a girl running toward the handsome stranger, who stopped abruptly, meeting the newcomer.
"Gosh, Diana. Why did you leave me?" the girl exclaimed.
Diana—yes, that was the name of the person who helped Tammy.
"Ugh, don't call me that! It's Red! I told you to call me Red," she replied, clearly annoyed.
Tammy's eyes widened. She blinked rapidly. "Don't tell me… she's a lesbian?" she whispered, utterly stunned.
She couldn't believe it. The stunning person who had helped her was… a girl?
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Inside the classroom, Tammy was seated at her desk, trying to focus, though her mind kept drifting. The handsome girl who had helped her earlier was also her classmate and was now sitting across the room, chatting casually with the others. Tammy noticed that the girl's gaze occasionally flickered toward her, and she quickly looked away, cheeks heating.
Their teacher arrived shortly afterward, beginning introductions and class procedures. Tammy tried to pay attention, but it was hard to ignore the occasional glances of the handsome girl.
During lunch break, one of the students approached Tammy. It was the girl who had been speaking with Red earlier.
"Hi! I'm Mhil Camille," she introduced herself with a bright, friendly smile.
"Hello, I'm Tammy," she replied, returning the smile shyly.
"You're so cute, Tammy," Mhil said, her voice lilting with excitement.
"Thanks," Tammy replied, slightly flustered but pleased.
Red approached them, her presence commanding yet graceful.
"You're really friendly, Mhil," Red remarked.
Mhil leaned closer to Tammy. "Oh, by the way, this is my cousin, Red," she said, gesturing toward Red.
"Hi," Tammy greeted softly, her eyes widening once again. Red's smile revealed a dimple that made her even more striking, leaving Tammy momentarily speechless.
"Join us for lunch, Tammy," Mhil invited warmly.
"Really? Sure!" Tammy answered enthusiastically.
They chatted while eating, laughter mixing with the lively chatter of the cafeteria. Tammy couldn't help but notice how often Red glanced at her. She didn't know whether to feel nervous or excited—maybe a little of both.
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By the end of the last class, Tammy was gathering her things when Red approached her.
"Tammy, do you want to walk home with me? Mhil said she has something to attend to, so she can't join," Red offered, her tone casual but inviting.
"Uhm… sure," Tammy replied, feeling her heart flutter.
As they walked toward the bus stop, conversation flowed easily between them.
"So, you commute too?" Red asked, curious.
"Yeah… my older brother's always busy, so he can't pick me up," Tammy explained.
"Oh, we have a family driver, but I prefer commuting. I want to experience what other students do," Red said with a carefree smile.
"Wow… you must be rich," Tammy remarked, a little awed.
Red laughed softly, a sound that made Tammy's chest tighten in a way she didn't quite understand.
Soon, a bus pulled up, and they climbed aboard together. Red couldn't stop admiring Tammy—the way she fidgeted with her bag, her shy smiles, the way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Tammy got off first. She turned to wave at Red through the window, and Red winked at her. Tammy's heart leapt, and she found herself bouncing slightly on her feet as the bus drove away.
.....
When Red got home, she found her parents waiting in the living room.
"Well, look who's finally home—our very good daughter," her father said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he shot her a disdainful look.
Red's father had never fully accepted her being a lesbian, especially since she was his only child. Red braced herself, knowing the conversation was about to get tense.
"When will you start taking yourself seriously? Look at yourself—you look like a boy! You're a girl, Diana. Remember that!" her father's voice boomed with frustration.
Red took a deep breath, standing her ground. "Dad… this is who I am. There's nothing you can do about it. I want to live freely and show the world who I truly am," she said firmly, her tone steady despite the tension in the room.
"So you're just going to let this happen? Let yourself be in a relationship with another woman?" His voice rose in anger.
"I haven't even had a relationship with anyone yet, Dad," Red replied calmly, though a flicker of truth lingered—she did have feelings for someone right now.
"I'm sure there's someone you like," he pressed, relentless.
Red remained silent, because he was right, though she couldn't bring herself to say it out loud yet.
"Diana, I only scold you because I want what's best for you," her father added, softening slightly but still firm in his convictions.
"But you're only making things worse, Dad. Just accept me as I am," Red said, turning on her heel and walking away, refusing to argue further. Her father could only shake his head in frustration, while her mother remained quietly observing, saying nothing.
.
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Tammy had been pestering her stepfather for permission to board at a dorm. Her biological father had passed away years ago, and now she was living with her stepfather, who had always been protective.
"Dad, please let me board. I really want to live independently," Tammy pleaded, her tone a mix of stubbornness and hope.
"No, sweetie. I'm afraid you'll get into trouble if I let you rent an apartment on your own," he replied, frowning.
"But Dad… I want to be independent now. I can handle it!" Tammy insisted, glancing over at her stepbrother, Philip.
"Please, Dad… let her. She's grown up now, and she can take care of herself," Philip said with a sigh, trying to reason with their father.
Their stepfather sighed.
"Fine. But promise me you won't neglect your studies," their stepfather finally relented.
"Yehey! I promise I'll study hard!" Tammy exclaimed, hugging him tightly.
.....
Tammy had just moved into her new apartment when a neighbor approached her.
"Hi! Are you new here?" the woman asked, smiling warmly.
"Yes! I'm Tammy," she replied, returning the smile.
"I'm Zhaira Loverial. I live just across from you," the neighbor said.
Tammy's heart lifted; she was happy to have already made a new friend.
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The next morning, Tammy was walking to school when suddenly someone slipped an arm around her shoulder.
She looked up and her heart skipped a beat—it was Red, smiling brightly.
"Good morning," Red greeted, her dimple flashing with charm, making Tammy's knees go weak.
"Good morning," Tammy responded, cheeks warming as she hugged Red back lightly. Red smelled faintly of her favorite shampoo, and Tammy felt her pulse quicken.
"Wow, you two are so sweet so early in the morning! I'm getting jealous!" Mhil's playful voice called from behind them.
Tammy and Red both laughed.
"You two… I can smell something fishy," Mhil teased, wiggling her eyebrows.
Tammy blushed furiously.
Red chuckled. "All sorts of thoughts must be running through your head, huh?" Mhil," she said, ruffling Mhil's hair in a playful, protective gesture.
They all chuckled as they walked together, entering the school gate.
Unbeknownst to them, Shanel Casimiro was watching from a distance. She had been interested in Red for a long time and her jealousy flared at the sight of Tammy. Shanel's eyes narrowed, silently seething as she observed the closeness between Red and Tammy.
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Later in class, Tammy was partnered with Red for a science experiment. As Red guided her hand while using the microscope, Tammy felt a shiver of delight run through her. Every time Red's fingers brushed hers, her heart raced, and she could feel herself blushing uncontrollably.
Red, meanwhile, tried to focus on the experiment but couldn't help the small, secretive smile tugging at her lips every time she saw Tammy's reactions. Something about the way Tammy's eyes sparkled when she laughed made Red feel a warmth in her chest she couldn't ignore.
In that quiet classroom, amidst the microscopes and glass slides, a subtle, electric connection was forming—one neither of them could deny.