Lagonoy High School brimmed with the chaos of youth and the hush of young love—stories blossoming like the golden narra trees lining its pathways. It was the backdrop of whispered confessions, quiet glances, and tales stitched together with giggles, notes, and flickers of connection.
Among the crowd of first-year students in the star section was Callie Ramos—a cool-headed, calm, and observant girl with a passion for photography. While her classmates flocked to academic clubs, Callie joined the campus paper as its photojournalist. She didn't speak much, but her photos did the talking. Her lens captured more than just images—it froze moments: a perfect volleyball spike, Mara's spin during dance practice, the gentle collision of Isaac and Ella during Levi's accident, and the exact second Alona's smash met a shuttlecock midair.
To Callie, nothing was too ordinary to frame. Sunsets, strange cloud shapes, teachers lost in thought, friends laughing with abandon—each had a story, caught in light and angles.
One golden afternoon, she wandered farther than usual—down the quiet path near the back court, used mostly during intramurals. She was looking for something new, something meaningful to catch.
That's when she saw it.
Beneath the giant acacia tree, a boy from section Emerald was crouched, gently petting the school cat, a well-loved orange tabby named Bebe. His bag was carelessly tossed beside him, and a lopsided smile played on his face. He didn't know he was being watched. The sunlight slanted just right, turning the scene into a storybook.
Callie raised her camera. Focused. Click.
The shutter snapped.
The boy looked up.
Their eyes met.
Callie didn't flinch. She walked over, unhurried, camera in hand.
"I took a photo of you," she said, matter-of-factly. "It looked nice. You looked nice."
The boy blinked, color rising to his cheeks. "Uh… what?"
She turned the camera screen toward him. "See?"
He stared. Froze. "You took a picture of me? With Bebe?"
"Yes," she said calmly. "What's your name?"
He stammered. "Uh… Jacob. Jacob Turalba. Section Emerald. First year."
She nodded. "Callie. I think I might actually like you."
He stared.
Then he ran.
She didn't chase him. Just smiled to herself, checked her camera, and walked away.
The next day, she told Mara.
Mara gasped, clutched her chest, and squealed, "Girl, that's ICONIC."
Ella and Calista were equally amused. Levi laughed so hard he nearly tipped his chair.
"You told him straight to his face you like him?!" Ella said, wide-eyed.
"Yes," Callie replied coolly, tying her hair back. "He ran."
"Boys," Calista sighed, shaking her head.
Callie wasn't discouraged. She saw Jacob a few times after that—he usually ducked behind a group of friends or a post. She didn't mind. It was oddly charming.
She began leaving little photo prints near Bebe's favorite nap spots—flowers, clouds, once even a photo of Jacob's back as he stared at the sky. On the back, she'd write: "Nice light today." or "Saw you again. Still looked nice."
Weeks passed. She caught glimpses of him during school events—always flustered. Once, he dropped his pen when she showed up at the science fair. Another time, he tripped near the water fountain.
"Are you bullying this boy with kindness?" Levi asked over lunch.
"No," she said. "Just giving him time."
One afternoon, after the campus clean-up drive, Callie sat near the back court fence, reviewing her photos.
Jacob was there again. With Bebe, of course.
She lifted her camera halfway, hesitated, then set it down.
He looked up.
And this time—he didn't run.
Instead, he stood. Walked to her.
"Hey," he said.
"Hi," Callie replied, shielding her camera from the sun.
He took a breath. "I'm sorry I ran that time. I was just… surprised. I didn't think someone like you would say something like that."
"Like what?"
"That you might like me."
"Why not?"
He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm just a quiet guy who likes animals and science. People say I'm weird. I guess I didn't think you were serious."
"I was. I still am."
He looked down. Then into her eyes.
"I like you too. I really do. But I was scared. What if I messed it up?"
She smiled. "Then mess it up beautifully. I'll take a picture."
He laughed softly.
And she took his hand.
From that moment, things bloomed.
They were a curious pair—the calm, focused photojournalist and the shy, warm-hearted cat lover. Callie started photographing more of Jacob: during class, at lunch, even a sneaky snap while he was sketching diagrams in his notebook.
He brought her wildflowers from clean-up drives. She'd find hand-drawn sketches slipped into her notebook—Bebe sleeping, or the silhouette of the school during sunset.
They studied together in the library, sat side by side during school programs, and shared snacks under the acacia tree.
Their friends were thrilled. Kiara squealed, "I KNEW something was up with you, Callie! Your eyes sparkled when you edited photos!"
Isaac said, "Now that's a story worth writing poems about."
Levi, as usual, mimicked Jacob's shy confessions for laughs.
Even Rina, Mira, Jessa, and Coach Cely started gossiping about the couple always seen together—camera in hand, hearts in sync.
Callie didn't mind.
She kept capturing moments. But now, her favorite subject had a name.
Jacob.
Under the sun, behind her lens, she smiled.
This was their frame.
Their story.
Their beginning.