“Between the Lines” (CHAPTER 1-6)

 

Genre: Teen Romance | Wattpad Style | Taglish

Sypnosis:

Francine Diaz is the perfect student — class president, honor student, and everyone's favorite girl next door. Seth Fedelin is the school’s mysterious campus crush who doesn’t care much for rules. Their worlds were never supposed to collide — until one accidental text message changed everything.

---

CHAPTER 1: The Wrong Message

Francine was sitting quietly in the library, her attention focused on reviewing for the upcoming midterms. Tahimik ang paligid, maliban sa tunog ng aircon at mahihinang bulungan. She picked up her phone to send a message to her best friend, Cassie.

> "Cass, sinong crush mo sa section B? 'Wag mo sabihing si Seth Fedelin ha, mayabang yun!"

She hit send, but right after, her eyes widened. Wrong send?!

Instead of Cassie, she accidentally sent it to... Seth Fedelin himself.

“OMG. No. No. No!”

Just then, a message came in.

> Seth Fedelin:

“Ay, grabe ka naman. Ang sakit. Hindi pa nga tayo close.”

Francine’s heart dropped. This is the boy everyone talks about. Mysterious. Tahimik. May sariling mundo. And now, he knows she thinks he’s mayabang.

---

CHAPTER 2: Close Encounters

The next day, Francine tried to avoid him. Pero sa hindi maipaliwanag na twist ng tadhana, tinawag siya ng adviser.

“Francine, you’ll be tutoring Seth. He’s failing Science.”

“Ha? Ma’am… baka may ibang pwedeng—”

“Wala na. You’re the best one for the job.”

Now she had no choice. And Seth? He was smirking as he approached her after class.

“Tutal mayabang naman daw ako, baka matuto ako sayo, Ms. Perfect.”

Francine rolled her eyes. “Just bring your notes. We start after class.”

---

CHAPTER 3: Unexpected Chemistry

As days passed, something changed. Habang nagtuturo si Francine, she noticed how Seth would watch her—not just listen, but really look at her like he’s figuring her out.

“Seth, are you even listening?”

“Hmm?”

“Ulitin mo yung sinabi ko.”

“‘Atoms are the basic unit of matter… just like you’re the basic unit ng reason ko para pumasok.’”

Francine’s cheeks turned red. “Corny!”

But her heart beat a little faster.

CHAPTER 4: The Project Night

“Late na ‘to,” Francine muttered, checking her watch. 7:43 PM na, and Seth still wasn’t replying.

They were supposed to finish their Science project tonight at her place. Pagod na siya, but she forced herself to stay awake.

Suddenly, ding dong — the doorbell.

She opened it to see Seth, soaked from the rain, holding a box of pizza.

“Sorry, traffic. Ayoko namang dumating na wala akong ambag.”

“Grabe ka. Basa ka na, may pa-pizza ka pa,” she said, trying not to smile.

They worked in the dining area, laptop open, notes scattered everywhere. Pero habang nagsusulat si Francine, Seth was watching her — again.

“Bakit?” tanong niya, without looking up.

“Wala. Ang galing mo lang kasi. Parang ikaw yung project na hindi ko kayang i-perfect… pero gusto kong subukan.”

Francine’s breath caught in her throat. She looked up—and for a moment, time slowed down.

“You’re not so bad yourself, Seth,” she whispered.

He smiled. “Progress na ‘yan.”

CHAPTER 5: Almost

One rainy afternoon, they were stuck sa covered court. Walang ibang tao. Tumigil ang ulan pero hindi ang tension sa pagitan nila.

“Seth, bakit ka nga ba palaging tahimik?” she asked.

“Because the more I talk, the more I mess things up.”

“Eh ngayon? You’ve been talking a lot around me.”

He looked at her, his eyes serious. “Kasi gusto kitang makilala. At hindi ako takot na magkamali sa’yo.”

Then, slowly, he reached out and held her hand.

---

To be continued...