Their classes ended and a huge wave of students got out from the classrooms.

“There’s no doubt that one of the biggest surprises of the year is when the public found out about Jace and Oresa.” Thelea said in a-matter-of-fact manner as the four of them stopped at their respective lockers, which were coincidentally next to each other’s. “Jace is the Summer Idol and Oresa’s running for presidency. It’s also very good publicity.” She was rummaging through her locker which looked mostly pink.

“Yeah… T-This is good for you Oresa.” Asari greeted. “You were leading in the mock vote as well.”

“Haha, thanks; you guys.” Oresa said with a determined face. “But I still need to work hard. Once I’m elected, I still have to give back to the people who voted for me.”

“Oresa’s already a shoe-in, considering that one of the most influential students in the school, Thelea, is her campaign manager.” Rosie added

“Aww~ you’re praising me too much Rosie, you must have an ulterior motive…I must know!” Thelea smirked. “Well, no one ever knew that they had something between them all those years. They sure did a good job even hiding it from us… even from me.”

“A-Asari somehow knew accidentally but… I-I was greedy that time and even hastily confessed to him…” Asari seemed like she was going to cry. “I’m really sorry.”

“It’s okay, Asari. I don’t blame you.” Oresa spoke with a gentle smile. “It’s only natural for you to act that way since you were overwhelmed with your feelings. And I even have to thank you for that because you helped us get closer again.”

“Hmm… You know what; I’ve known you and Jace separately for a long time now. I’m a little curious as to how you both met, actually. And all those little things that happened since before you stopped talking to each other.” Rosie spoke with inquisitiveness.

Oresa stared at a poorly-made plush doll with red hair and what seemed to be a white dress, which was inside her locker. She took it out and showed for them to see. The doll had a yellow crown with colorful jewels on top. It was loosely filled up with plastic beans. “The Lonely Red Princess.” She said with a bitter-sweet, nostalgic sigh.

********************************************************************

“Oresa’s such a cutie. Her flaming red hair entails sexiness and fierceness, especially her strictness as part of the student council. She can also be cute when she’s being nice and helpful to others.” Zach spoke with a huge grin on his face, as if mocking Jace.

“Dude, I’d appreciate it if you don’t talk about my girlfriend like that.” Jace said, he seemed a little pissed off. “I don’t think Asari’ll like that.”

“Whatever bro, I’m loyal to Asari foreva.” Zach said. “It’s just that I feel that… with her, I have to take things quite slowly. But it’s definitely worth it.”

“Jace is quite the jealous type, eh?” Daneo asked. “And Zach is surprisingly dedicated for once. Thelea told me some things about you haha.”

“I s’pose that’s normal. My cousin’s good-looking, diligent, and sweet after all; not to mention she’s future SC President. As for Zach, I think Cupid hit him hard.”

The four of them just got out of their classroom after the school bell sounded. Their class was an elective where most of the students enrolled were male; the females enrolled in another class.

“What’s the story behind you and Oresa anyway?” Daneo inquired. “I’m interested to know.”

“Likewise.” Nise said.

“It’s just like those in the chick flicks and television soaps.” Zach teased.

“Oh shut up Zach.”

********************************************************************

Jace Tertullian sat on his chair; his feet were hanging due to his lack of height. His chubby chin rested on the palm of his hands, with his elbow keeping it raised.

“Good morning…” a redhead timidly greeted. “I-I’m Oresa. I hope we’ll all be good friends.” She was a transferee, a pretty one at that. Jace looked at her with awe. He has never seen anyone with red hair before. The uniqueness made her look majestic in his eyes, her sublime smile captivating the young eyes of Jace. “Hey. Is she a princess?” he randomly asked the girl seated on his right.

“No way!” she answered.

Oresa made her way to her seat. To his dismay, she sat down two seats away from him. She would frequently raise her hand and answer the teacher’s question correctly and he would applaud in his head. He wasn’t a poor student but he knew she was better than him academically. As he looked around though, his classmates did not look as happy as him; one of them even wore a scowl in her face.

The first and only time he saw Oresa’s smile was on the first day since he transferred so he always thought of her as a lonely red princess.

During breaks, Jace would always play in the school playground. Before he could even remember to introduce himself to Oresa, it was class time once more or his mom would already pick him up after school.

The next week, however, Oresa did not come to school. When Monday came, she walked in with cuts and bruises that seemed to be healing already. He stood up to ask if she was alright but their teacher already asked them to sit down to begin with the day’s lesson. The ten-year-old Jace made his mind up that day that he would talk to her. As soon as their recess started, he followed the redhead.

Before turning, he heard voices. “I thought we already told you to never come to school?”

“Yeah, you’re so ugly with that red hair of yours.”

“You look like an alien! You’re so stuck up acting like you know it all. Shut that redhead-mouth of yours! Stop showing off in the class you tomato-head!”

He hurriedly approached the voices and saw three girls and one guy throwing tomatoes on Oresa’s face. “Have a tomato on your face, it suits your hair!” There were fits of laughter. Jace clenched his fist and walked briskly towards the lot. He saw the guy grab Oresa by the collar so he went in and punched him hard. The boy was teary-eyed,

“Oww… why’d you do that? I’ll tell our teacher!”

“Shut up. Don’t hurt her! She’s a princess, you know!” Jace angrily said.

“Yah she’s a princess, alright. She’s a princess of alien-y ugliness.” One of the girls said. He recognized her to be his seatmate.

“You’re the ugly ones!” he snapped at the three. “You’re just jealous because she’s pretty and smart! I don’t even have to throw tomatoes at you to humiliate you for your ugliness! Your parents must have been weeping when you were born!!!”

The three girls paused, cried, and shouted in protest.

“I won’t hesitate to hit you like I hit this boy if you don’t stop being meanie to Resa!!!” he threatened. The four kids ran away with tails in between their legs.

“You… You’re my classmate right?”

“Mhm!”

“They approached me saying that they want me as their friend, I was really happy because I made friends… b-but then they starting hitting me and making fun of me… It was so bad last week s-so I had to be absent.”

He approached Oresa and offered a hand to assist her in standing up. She looked away. “I-I don’t look funny to you? With my red hair…”

“Nope!” He simply said with a big smile. “I’m Jace by the way!”

She took his hand and stood up with his help. “Thanks… I’m—”

“Resa!” he happily said.

“No it’s Oresa. O-r-e-s-a…”

“Sure, Resa! I don’t think they will bother you anymore. I scared them off!!!” He smiled and put his hands in his pockets. “You’re really pretty, hehehe.”

Oresa blushed and looked away. “Aside from my family, you’re the only one who thinks that.”

“They must be blind then.” He assured her. “I didn’t want to give this to you like this but…” He brought out a small plush doll that looked like her when she first came to school. “I made this for you as a meeting gift! I heard that girls actually liked dolls… Well my mom told me! So I made that for you!”

“E-Ehh?” She took the doll and admired the clumsy stitching done on the textile to conceal the plastic beans. “Thanks. It’s cutesy but it has a sad face.”

“Well you’re the Lonely Red Princess!” Jace said. “It doesn’t look as pretty as it would if she was smiling; I think that should remind you to smile! And you don’t have to be so gloomy when in school ‘ya know.”

“Uhmm… Thanks.” Oresa said. “Thank you very much.” Tears were falling from her eyes.

“AHHH! W-Why are you crying?” Jace panicked. “You didn’t like it? Sorry!!”

“N-No! It’s not that, I’m just happy.” She rubbed tears off her eyes. "Thanks, you're like a knight, you know."

********************************************************************

Seven years later, Jace, Oresa, and Zach were in the play park. Jace and Oresa were seated on the beach while Zach was riding happily on the swing. He then stopped.

“Yo, Jace.” Zach broke the silence. “Is it just me or do you like redheads hanging out with you?”

“I was thinking the same thing, actually.” Oresa smiled.

“It’s just you, bro.” He grinned.

“Well, I’m gonna go home now. Mom says she wants me to meet someone whom she just started dating. I don’t know if it’s serious but meh.” He stood up from the swing and shrugged. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow then!”

“’Kay, don’t forget to bring me those trading cards you owe tomorrow!” Jace reminded him.

“Bye Zach, see ya tomorrow!” Oresa greeted.

“Hmm, you plan to join the Student Council? They’re already inviting you in. School hasn’t even started yet.”

“I’ll think about it, I don’t even have that much reason to join. It might be just boring and troublesome. Maybe I’d join in if I had a good reason to do so.” She smiled.

There was another brief silence. Both of them were looking up the starry sky.

“How’re things with your parents?” Oresa asked.

Jace looked down and shook his head. “We haven’t heard from that guy. He must have run off with his mistress.”

Oresa placed her hand on top of his to show comfort. “It must be hard for you.”

“Yeah… In Zach’s case, his mom is dating another guy because she decided to move on from his father’s death a couple of years ago and that she wants him to grow up with a father figure… Mine’s just messed up.” He looked up the stellar wonders once more.

“You don’t have to compare yourself to him.” She squeezed his hand. “You’ll make it through this, Jace. I’m here if you need me.”

“Thanks, Resa.” He glanced at Oresa. She was still as beautiful as ever with her crimson hair adorning her pretty face. She was his Lonely Red Princess. Being comforted by her like this, he also wanted to be a source of comfort for her too so that she wouldn’t be lonely anymore.

Before he knew it, he found himself connected to her. His lips were lightly brushing on hers, her hand tightly wrapped in his, and his other hand framing her face. When he realized what he just did, he pulled away from her quickly. He saw the shock on her face. What have I done? He ruined it all… their friendship, her trust. Jace could only run from her, clouded by doubt and afraid of rejection.

******************************************************************

“Awww, that is sooo heartbreaking.” Thelesa said, sipping the last of her tea.

Asari was already crying and Rosie looked like she just failed an exam.

“I-I didn’t know it was like that…” Asari said. “I’m so happy for you Oresa!!” She dived into a hug with her friend.

“I didn’t know about that either. Wow.” Rosie said.

“W-Well, it’s not much. I wrote him some letters after that incident I usually refer to him as ‘my beloved’. It’s really embarrassing. And then one thing happened after the other.” Oresa shyly said.

“That reminds me; it’s about time that I read those letters.” A voice from behind her said. She felt his lips swiftly brush her right cheek. “Hi Resa~”

“Aaaand he only says hi to Oresa now.” Rosie said with sarcasm. The other two girls laughed.

“Jace!” Oresa said. “W-What are you doing? And in public too?!” She slapped him hard.

“Oww.” Jace held his cheek. “Since when have you been so violent? Is that how you react to your ‘beloved’ boyfriend?”

“Stop saying embarrassing things or I’ll kick you to detention.” She warned.

“My, what a lovely couple.” Zach said. “’Sup Rosie, Thelea. Hi Asari dear~”

“H-Hi…” Asari greeted.

Nise and Daneo were also there. They all exchanged greetings.

“Well then, this is where we part our ways, my friends.” Zach said. He sneakily grabbed Asari’s hand. “I want my alone time with Asari!”

“E-Ehh? B-But…”

“It’s okay, Nise and I were planning to go check out the latest book sale anyway.” Rosie said, standing up as Nise pulled out her chair for her. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. I have a long list of books I want us to check out.” He said.

“And Daneo promised to treat me to the theaters!” Thelea giggled. “It’s our first date with just us two… What will happen? I must know.”

“Don’t rush babe, we got all night.” Daneo smirked. “Let’s pass by the courts later. Maybe I’ll show you my move or two.”

“You still have a lot to work on, Mister. you better be the number one player before we graduate!” she demanded. “After all, this is Thelea we’re talking about.”

“Only for you.” He took her by the hand as well.

“Shall we all go then?”

******************************************************************

“Suddenly, we’re all alone.” Oresa said. “Those guys…” she had an annoyed look in her visage.

“I don’t mind.” Jace smiled. “Shall we order then? Or did you already eat?”

“No, I just drank water. I was waiting for you.”

“That’s so sweet of you. It’s no surprise that I fell for you. Really bad.”

“Stop egging on me, Jace.”

“But princess, I love seeing that cute reaction of yours.”

“W-whatever. I hate how you make me all weak in the knees and blushing all the time.” She said, taking out something from her bag. “Here, keep it... and keep it safe!”

“What’s this? Oh…” He took it in his hand. It was a well-sewn plush doll that looked like him, in its chest part was a red heart with the initials R-E-S-A. “R-Resa…” Jace muttered her name, he felt like his heart was going to burst in a million pieces.

“It’s been exactly eleven years since you gave me a similar one.” She smiled.