Prologue: "That Cold Thing"

"Lourice Lopez...", announced the teacher.

She's currently in the classroom. She's a third-year high school student and the eldest in their family.

It was a little bit noisy due to the chatter of other parents waiting for their turn to get up. Every chair was occupied and the students were either outside or just at the back, watching the whole event inside. There were other visitors, family members, neighbors who were willing to assist the student who never managed to bring his/her own parents, or even stray dogs who were just minding their own business.

"Dad, that's me...", she said to her father while tapping his back gently.

He stood up and went in front to get her quarterly report card, the one thing that their whole family was waiting for the most.

Lourice is a smart young lady. A kid who is never expected to go down and is always running up to the best. She’s happy as she strives and as she hears her name on the “good announcements” however, she never wanted the attention she’s getting.

There was an ambient silence going on and the only noise heard were the claps from the next room who’s also having their classroom quarterly meeting.

"Yes!", she shouted and jumped out of happiness.

As usual, she's only second. Second again and that was her best... But still, she was happy. It's more than enough for her because her efforts bore satisfaction to her. She was never up to competition but only for learning. Besides, “it’s school”, she thought.

Her father looked at her. He shot her his death glare. It was like a shotgun shooting her up through the heart in the dark. She didn't see that coming and the fact that it lasted for what seemed like eternity made her feel like she went back and up the stairs—she’s slightly out of breath...

“Did I say something wrong? Is A- still low?”, she thought again.

Her father signed her report card on the lower left corner where her name and other details are displayed. He then looked at her other grades on different subjects.

The face of disappointment was displayed on his face and by looking upon it, Ice finds a very sad feeling and also, pressure.

"Your Math are still low...", he said, pointing out to her grade.

She looked at it... Almost as if like that’s what she can only do—as if she could never speak—as if she was mute.

It was an “A” and in her mind, he's right... An “A” is still low. Maybe kindergarteners can do Algebra and Calculus better than she does.

“Maybe I should've made it A+ instead. Maybe “A-” reminds him of how I'm still relaxing in the classroom every day.”, she thought.

She looked around and saw her classmates being satisfied with their grades whether it's high or low. The scene made her smile a little bit. She was somehow affected by their smiles. The thought of her parents being disappointed just got shooed out of her head. They’re lucky.

"Hey!", someone called to her. She was startled.

"Oh, hi! How's it going?", she asked as it approached her.

Her best friend came in. She gestured her to come to her and she did.

"How's it going?", she asked again. She thinks that maybe she didn’t hear her the first time she said it.

"How's your grade?", she asked too.

"There... Stable between 88 and 91... How about yours?", she asked.

“I knew she'd asked me that question...”, she thought as she felt the beat of her heart as soon as the question got her nervous.

"Ha-ha.", she laughed bitterly and scratched the back of her head.

Ice is a very emotional and sensitive person and right now, she just wants to cry in front of everybody.

"I was just asking you and then you laughed. Have you taken your meds?", she told her as a joke.

She smiled at her while raising her eyebrows and getting her face close to her.

"You're crazy!", she said to her while hitting her on her back.

They both looked in front of the classroom and noticed that their parents and even our classmates were all in front to take a look at each other's card.

"Oh gosh... It looks like our parents would brag about our grades again.", she said.

"Yeah, it is... Wait a minute. What happened to your progress card? You weren't telling me anything.", she said suddenly to her.

Ice breathed deeply, hoping her tears won't fall.

"There... I was scolded because it's still low...", Ice said while looking down.

She felt very humiliated about the situation. Her best friend, Line, remained silent beside her... Whenever she has problems, she's always the first one to feel it and to help her and she owes her almost everything...

"Tsk. That's okay. I got you.", Line said and tapped her shoulder.

They both looked at in front again. Their parents were returning the cards.

"Oof... I'm so sorry for being so careless. I got hurt again because of what I did.", Ice said to Line.

They looked at each other.

"Hey... Don't say that. You're being careful. You just have so many problems... Don't worry I'll talk to you later. I have something to tell you but for now, just put on a smile. Okay?", Line said then pressed her cheek.

Line has a habit of doing that to her since she has big cheeks like a child and she's also little and she wouldn't be able to do it back to her because she can't reach her face unless she'll bend her knees.

She’s tall and skinny like “that one friend” in every circle.

"Well, this is me trying...", Ice said.

She doesn't want to promise her anything because she's afraid it won't be done. It's better to be sure...

Line’s face turned into a frown.

"Oh... Give me a hug...", she said while getting closer and ready to hug Ice.

She felt her warm hug brushing against her cold skin.

"Thank you.", Ice said.

"That's nothing... Remember what I said, okay? Aight, were going home now.", Line said and waved her hand at her.

Ice waved back at her then she went home with her mother.

Their classroom agenda was finished and she's a bit tired when they went home.

As usual, she was approached by their dogs but she didn't pay attention to neither one of them. She's not in the mood which is also normal to her whenever this happens.

She went inside my bedroom to change clothes. Later on, her parents called her again.

"Ice!", her father shouted.

She approached them innocently then they proceeded to talk...

"Why are your grades like that? Really?! A-?!", he shouted at her.

"That's only it. That's what I got. Our teacher didn't give me the grades I deserved. B-but I did my best.", she explained hoping this time they'll believe her.

Her Dad's hands were on his waist. She can feel his disappointment from her one-meter-away standing position. He’s never like that unless he’s mad but what can he get mad for?

"And now, you'd still dwell on that... Just say it; you didn't really do your best!", he shouted again.

She looked down.

It's past 4 o'clock and she's being scolded again by her parents... But it's alright, because she's somewhat used to it. She’s timed, she’s tested, and standardized because apparently, they are a “perfect family” and that’s just how things should be.

Her time is scheduled…

Her actions are disciplined…

Everything was calculated…

She no longer experiences the personal joy in life. She’s only happy when she makes other people happy.

To her, she needs to keep moving. She needs to make them happy especially her parents because that's her way of paying them for providing her everything.

She'll sacrifice anything that she has. Even her own life... Because that's how she shows her love to them.

“If you really love a person, you'll make them happy.”, as she always says.