The Secret Relationship

Chapter 1

Yell here, yelp there, yelp here all over the court. Everyone is cheering on the boys' basketball team. The sports festival is currently ongoing, with different schools competing.

"Go my boys! You can do it! There's still plenty of time. You can do it!"

I covered my ears due to the loudness of the person screaming next to me on my left. Her name is Valorie Esperanza, but we call her Val. She's the loudest in our group.

"Can you put some tape on that mouth? I've been deaf for a while now," said the person on my right. Tyra Galeo is the smart and stylish one in our group.

"What are you guys doing? Join me in supporting our boys. I've been here for a while now, you've been shouting and you're just being quiet," Val said as she patted Shiela next to her. "You should shout too, shout Kyler's name."

"My throat hurts," said Shiela, my childhood friend. This is the only thing we always get along with, even as we grow up. I can say she has everything. Good luck to her family. She gets everything she wants; she's the sassy one.

"Kennedy, pass it to Kyler quickly!" Val shouted again. I glanced at the person surrounded by others as he held the ball. It was Kennedy Jackson, tall, handsome, and charming. When he smiles at you, you can't help but fall for him, but he already has a girlfriend.

Kennedy found a way to pass the ball to Troy Carson, who was also tall, handsome, and attractive. He is known for his humility and kindness, but you'd better hide when he gets angry.

"Kyler!" Kennedy shouted as he passed the ball to Kyler. We all stood up, holding our breath. Kyler threw the ball, unsure if it would go in. Then, he shot! Three points! We all screamed in excitement.

That's Kyler Walton, just like Kennedy and Troy, he is tall, handsome, and strong. He's known for his lion-hearted nature and is the MVP.

"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh, my loves!" Sheila shouted happily, even giving Kyler a flying kiss. I just smiled, though I felt jealous when Kyler also blew a flying kiss.

"I just sat down and let my friends and other people scream. I don't need to see anymore because I know that they have won. Well who am I? By the way, I'm Mikayla Sanders. I can say that I'm the quiet one in the barracks, shy, sensitive. Yes, I'm sensitive, yes, I can get hurt easily. My family is not perfect unlike my friends. My dad passed away when I was in grade 6, my mom? I don't know where she is, she left us before daddy died and I can't help but feel angry with her. My only companion in life now is my older brother, my father's sister Aunt Fe, and her two children. I'm Mikayla who secretly loves Kyler for almost 1 year.

But how did our friendship begin? It's like this, in the first year of high school, it started because of food, a very shallow reason. Because of the food that was left in the canteen, we fought over it. No one really lost until there was trouble, well, I shouldn't feel sorry for that. Shiela got into a fight so she had no choice but to back me up until we went to the guidance office. We were very upset until we suddenly laughed at what happened, then it was settled. That's all."

Congratulations! Oh, I told you that you would win. It's just about trust, and one more thing, no one has ever defeated you," Val said after we left the court. We encountered many people who greeted the guys with us, who are varsity, so they're definitely well-known here in the school. "So where do you want to go? It's still early, maybe you want to eat first?" Kyler asked, putting his arm around me. I didn't show that I was thrilled, but the thrill I felt disappeared when he put his arm around Shiela as well, so she was between us. I just smiled and removed his hand. I didn't want to disturb them, so I walked with Troy. "You guys are really good on the court," I praised Troy. "Shouldn't we be?" he joked. "But it's true," I said. "Can we eat?" Val suggested. "You should treat us, the winners." "Of course, let's go eat. My treat," Kyler said. I looked at him but quickly looked away because he was still holding Shiela's arm. "Let's go!" "Someone's treating us!" my friends exclaimed happily.

Val pulled me close to him, with Shiela also being drawn in. "I'll tell you something later," he whispered to us.

"What is it this time, about that guy again?" Tyra inquired.

"Never mind," Val replied with a grin.

I simply smiled and listened to what Val had to say.

Once again, I am Mikayla, and our story begins.

"Mike!"

Someone called my name, and I turned around, holding my head which was aching from the sudden awakening.

"Brother, stop calling me Mikay," I complained as my good brother, Marc Angelo Alarcon, entered the room.

Curious about why his surname is different? Well, he uses our dad's surname, while I use our mom's surname, because I'm a girl, so I use my mom's. That's what they told me, anyway. I'm not entirely sure why.

"Mikey, what time is it? Do you want me to leave without you?" he asked, sounding irritated.

I glanced at the wall clock.

Oh no!

"Just give me 5 minutes!" I exclaimed and hurried into the bathroom. Why did I oversleep? I had set an alarm!

"Hurry up!" brother shouted from downstairs.

"One moment, almost ready!" I grabbed my things hastily.

Restlessly waiting at the door was my brother. It would be my fault if we were late for the wedding. I rushed down the stairs and approached him.

"Hey, you haven't had breakfast yet!" Aunt Fe interjected.

"I'm off to school. Bye," I said and kissed him on the cheek.

"Be careful!" He exclaimed.

"This is the third time, Mikayla. We'll be late because of you," our cousin Brother Froylan scolded. He's Aunt Fe's youngest son, the same age as my brother, but his sister lives in another country.

"Sorry, this is the last time," I replied with a smile, and hopped into the car. My brother will be taking our things today. Aunt Fe bought him one because that's what Dad promised him for college. "I told you to go ahead. I can handle myself. I'm in my fourth year of high school."

"So what?" they both chimed in simultaneously.

"Mikay, even if you're in college, we still need to accompany and take care of you. I promised Dad I'd look after you, protect you," my brother insisted. I chose to stay silent and gaze outside.

"We're here," my brother announced.

I bid them goodbye, waiting for them to leave before entering. I made my way to the garden, where my friends were waiting for me.

"Good morning, Mikayla," my schoolmates greeted me. They knew me, as well as Sheila, our friend, and Kyler, the one they all admire.

Speaking of Kyler! I didn't expect him to be standing right next to me.

"Good morning, Kayla," he greeted warmly, sliding his arm around my shoulders. Only he calls me Kayla. "Just got here too?" I inquire, subtly adjusting to his touch, despite my reluctance when Shiela is present. "Yeah, I stayed up late, feeling pretty tired," he replied with a yawn. I couldn't help but notice how effortlessly handsome he looked, every outfit suiting him perfectly, almost like a celebrity. My feelings for him deepen each time. "Good morning, guys!" Kyle chimed in cheerfully, breaking the embrace. I couldn't help feeling a pang of jealousy as Shiela leaned on his shoulder, playfully pinching his cheek. They seemed closer than us. "Are you two really just friends?" Val asked, prompting a laugh from Kyle. "Of course, she's like a sister to me," he reassured. I noticed Shiela's frown. "Just that?" Tyra questioned. Kyle's expression turned serious. "Yeah, is there something else? Don't overthink it," he urged. Could it be that he doesn't like Shiela?

"Freaking hell!" Ken was so stingy that we turned to him, catching him off guard as he glanced at his phone.

"Watch your language, Kennedy! What's up with you?" Troy queried.

"Nothing, we've got final exams next week," he replied, displaying the school's announcement.

"Damn Ken, you'd think being cheap wouldn't be such a big deal," Tyra muttered bitterly.

"It's a big deal for me, I don't know what to do. I don't listen in class, I don't take notes."

"Same here, so you're not alone," Val added.

As the bell rang, they got up, and we bid farewell to the three boys since they were in a different section.

"Can I crash at your place later?" Shiela asked me as we walked towards our classroom.

"Sure," I agreed. "Did something happen again?" I inquired.

"Mom and I had a fight," she sighed. "I want to buy something, a newly released bag. It's so beautiful, but she doesn't want me to get it," she explained.

I closed my eyes. "Shiela, not everything you want can be bought, maybe your mommy can't afford the price," I said. It's always like this because when he sleeps with us, he and his mommy are sure to fight, and the only reason they fight is the unsatisfied wishes of this friend of mine.

I always tell Shiela not to spend too much, especially if she won't use it, but she is stubborn. If she wants something, she has to get it immediately; otherwise, she won't talk to you or she'll get angry with you.

"My parents have a lot of money, hello, they can afford that," she says.

"Don't talk, it won't make you lose," Val whispered to me.

I just took a deep breath and kept quiet. Val is right; if I say anything more, the conversation will definitely not be over, it will not be defeated.

"Ms. Arevalo!" Ma'am Ysay mentioned Shiela's last name seriously. I signaled Val to wake up Shiela.

Shiela stretched and yawned more. She straightened up when she saw Ma'am Ysay in her carapace now.

"If you intend to sleep, I hope you don't come in!" she wheezed.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, I just stayed up."

"Woke up to chat," Val said loudly. That's why our classmates teased Shiela.

"Who are you chatting with, Shiela?" one of our classmates asked.

"Don't be nosy, of course it's mine," my friend said with a smile.

Wait... couldn't she be chatting with Kyler? Because Kyler said earlier that she stayed up late... so it means she's the one she's chatting with?

"Stop it! Stop it!" our teacher exclaimed loudly. "Are you still proud that you stayed up late because of your chat? If I were you, I would think about having work the next day, so I would go to bed early! Try to sleep again, minus points for me, you're flirting," Ma'am Ysay said, annoyed.

It's hard to say if the teacher is bitter or has a crush. However, the teacher's remarks about not thinking about having a boyfriend and focusing on studies suggest they might be emphasizing the importance of academic commitment.

"We looked at each other as friends and shrugged at the same time," suggesting the characters are not taking the teacher's scolding too seriously.

"Don't get mad when I tell you," I said to Shiela, who was already lying on my bed. "He went straight to the house; he didn't come home to them. It's really good that he has clothes here."

"Don't worry, I won't be angry," she said while busy on her cellphone. I've been talking about this for a while now, I told him to negotiate and apologize to his mom.

He listens to what is said, but he does not follow it. He is really stubborn, but even so, I love him very much

"I stood next to him and peeked at his phone because he was smiling. 'Did you see Kyler's new post? He's so handsome,' he said excitedly, showing me the picture. I hadn't seen it yet because I hadn't opened it. 'Do you really like him?' I asked. He nodded. 'I'm already in love with him, and I think he likes me too, but he won't admit it,' he said, leaning on my shoulder. 'I'll do anything to get him, you know if I want something, I get it,' he added.

He straightened up and looked at me. 'Promise me you won't fall in love with him,' he told me. I was speechless for a moment and then burst out laughing. 'What are you saying? I can't fall in love with him. I'm just a friend,' I whispered.

'It should stay that way,' he said. 'When you become a rival to a man, forget about it.'

'Are you serious?' I asked. 'I'm serious, Mikayla,' he replied. I swallowed."

"It's a very serious situation. The only concern is that she might prioritize her relationship with the man over our friendship. Alright, for his sake, I'll try to let go of my feelings for Kyler. I don't want to ruin my friendship with Shiela. I value our years of friendship and don't want to lose it.

I don't hold out hope for Kyler either, so I'll just let him be with Shiela.

To Be Continued..."