PROLOGUE
In the quiet town of Nensville lived a young seventeen year old boy named Marvin. He was, in almost every aspect, the stereotype of the guy next door with short black hair, a face with a few pimples here and there, wearing an ordinary shirt that was commonly in the shade of green, his favorite color, and a pair of pants above two sneakers.
He was distinguished from the multitude of teenage boys in Nensville were his glasses. Since teens wearing glasseswere few and far between in his town, he is often recognized as "different" by people his age. This, along with the fact that he was a quiet and timid person led many to place him in the category of a nerd as well.
However, though he may look a little like such, he was no genius in school - in fact, at Ateneo High School, people would often see him staring at the window when in class, which often led to him being called in class recitation, which, after saying "pass" followed by a few words from his teacher, would shortly be followed by his eyes once more upon the window.
Being a teenage boy, Marvin was, like many other boys in high school, attracted to a girl. Ann Marie, his classmate, was a cute girl with shoulder length black hair tied in a ponytail, a face that was a pleasant balance between elegantly beautiful and adorably cute while still looking very much down-to-earth, a pink bracelet on her left arm and a slender figure.
Being the pretty little thing she was, Ann was the crush of many other boys in Ateneo. Adding to her appeal was the fact that when not wearing her uniform, she did not wear revealing clothes - she was more comfortable with a tshirt and eitherknee length shorts or a knee length skirt. She was sweet and humble, never boastful, but would often be easily irritated
when people display the qualities opposite hers - proud and boastful, especially "arrogant, rich kids". Marvin knew this, and would probably have a chance with Ann with his silent personality.
Unfortunately for Marvin and Ann's many other crushes, Ann already had a boyfriend. Chris was his name, the editor-in-chief of their school publication and a talented writer. He was an achiever, having been valedictorian in his elementary days. He wasn't thatgood at sports, but he more than made up for it by, aside from being a writer, being a confident speaker and bright student. He was not the definition of a popular top student - he wasn't number one at school, he still gets a low score on quizzes every now and then, but this was probably why Ann fell in love with him - he was a top student yet was never boastful.
Realizing this, and being happy for Ann, Marvin chose instead to befriend Ann, and he was very happy and surprised to realize that Ann was a wonderful friend - not many boys wanted to be to be close friends with her, feeling that with her status as one of the school crushes she would take advantage of it and be cold and harsh. Marvin found out how untrue this was when, in what he believed to be a lucky twist of fate, during the second half of their term they were assigned seats beside each other. On the first day of their new seating arrangement, Marvin took the opportunity to get to know her by, after mustering all of his courage, asking her a question about their topic.
Ann was surprised to find a boy who could ask her questions as if she was just like any other girl. Because of this, at around five minutes before dismissal time as they awaited the 4:30 PM bell, Ann, beginning with "So you're...Marvin, right?", got to know Marvin.
After this, in less than two weeks, Ann and Marvin became close friends. Since Chris was usually busy at their publication office or at home studying, only able to meet with Ann during lunch breaks or weekends, Ann and Marvin enjoyed each other's company at class, recess, and around dismissal time. Both of them were different persons around each other than how they were to others, telling stories and jokes to each other and just having fun.
Marvin could still not help feeling a little sad, however, that Ann already had a boyfriend. Although they had become close friends, Marvin longed to experience what a boyfriend does - giving her flowers and chocolates, celebrating Monthsaries and Anniversaries, going out on dates, and holding hands while together. As much as he would love to, he did not dare do any of these things, fearing that Ann would dislike it if he ever showed any signs of romantic affection for her, seeing her as a loyal girlfriend to Chris, whom he believed to be the luckiest guy in the world.
However, Marvin could never have dreamed was in store for him on the last month of their 2nd year term and on their summer vacation.
This tale now begins on the first Monday afternoon of March.
