3. Too early

Twenty years later.

Seconds before the alarm would go blaring loudly, she stretched her left hand towards it, turning it off. She grabbed her phone along while returning her hand and brought it to her face, opening her eyes sluggishly.

6:30am.

Sitting up slowly, she fell back immediately. Just a little more...

'Brrrrrrrr!' The loud sound of the alarm rang abruptly, waking her up properly this time with her jolting up, turning it off and running towards the bathroom.

She always sets the alarm to ring a minute after 6:30 because she always gives into the sleep's temptation just after stopping the first one from blaring.

Out of the bathroom and into the closet, she comes out again in an overly sized black sweatshirt over loose denim jeans. Her hair was bonded in a messy bun with loose strands practically everywhere.

She began to tidy up the disarrayed room; her blanket, books, and some socks were scattered all over the room.

After doing that, she took out a pair of socks and put them on with her shoes.

After that was done, she didn't bother to look herself in a mirror that she didn't even have and frantically grabbed her backpack sitting on her bedside wardrobe. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and walked out of the room.

She went down the stairs hurriedly, trying to avoid colliding or talking to anyone - For example, her cheeky and bitchy elder sister, Annabelle - because that would be a total-

"Hey!" Catastrophe!

She had collided with a certain someone in pajamas and fluffy flip flops moving backwards coming from the direction of the kitchen located at the far left side of the staircase. And it was... Annabelle!

Her right hand which was initially raised outward, holding a selfie stick with her phone inserted at the end of it, had dropped the stick out of shock.

Was she...?

"Damn it, Isa! I was live!" Anna screamed and bent over to pick up the stick and her phone.

It was around 7am in the morning! Who does-

"Were you blind or something? Didn't you see me coming or have you forgotten your glasses again?" She was fuming hard at her sister's unnecessary collision into her.

Isa's lips formed a thin line as she successfully suppressed her emotions once again, "I don't use glasses-"

"You don't?" Anna cut her off like she didn't even want to hear her speak, "I think I need to tell mom to get you some cos you need 'em. I mean, look at what you did!" She stretched the stick and phone towards Isa's face, almost letting it collide with her face.

"Anna, would you just let her be?" Their mother, who had been in the kitchen all along, called out lazily from where she was.

"But mom, she-" Anna started, turning towards the direction of the kitchen only to be cut off by their mother exiting from it.

"Yes. Yes. She destroyed your..." She rose her head that had been looking down at her purse which she had picked from the dinning table right across the stairs, "...stuff, right?" She raised her hand and rolled her wrist towards the items in her eldest daughter's hands.

"Yes." Anna gave a slight nod, eyeing and rolling her eyes at her sister.

"Isa?" Her mother didn't need to say it, her eyebrows were doing a great job.

Huh? Did she really expect her to-

"Apologize." Her mother voiced out the word finally and even completed her thoughts for her.

This time, Isa had her brows do the talking. Really? Seriously?

"Isa, I have no time for this. I have a job. That I do. So, apologize to your sister before you leave. That is if you actually want TO leave." She was already heading for the door during her statements.

She was dressed up beautifully but corporately in a black business-like short gown. Her dark brown hair was let down and curled up at the ends.

She rushed out after saying the last word before anyone could say anything else.

Anna, then faced her sister with folded hands and a face that screamed, 'Let me hear it!'

Isa sighed and opened her mouth for the second time that morning, "I'm... sorry."

This was a normal occurrence for her but it was how early she had to say it that baffled her.

Anna made a sound from the back of her throat and gave her a once over, pushing her a step back with her shoulder while ascending the stairs.

Isa took in a deep breath and sighed, resuming her walk towards the door. She didn't even bother to look anywhere else but the door and when she got to it, she was out.

Walking down the street lane, she brought out her phone which was formerly tucked in the back pocket of her jeans.

7:10am.

The walk distance from her home to school was about twenty minutes, plus or minus the time she had to spend stopping by her favorite coffee shop. They had doughnuts too, so why not?

She tucked the phone back in its former position and continued the boring, eyes down walk.

She didn't talk to anyone nor did she say anything. Her eyes were only three feet away from her feet.

Ten minutes later, she had gotten to the coffee shop. She walked in after pausing for a few seconds and went straight to the counter.

"Can I get a cup of-"

"Coffee and doughnuts, please?" A familiar voice from behind her cut her off, completing her order. She turned a bit only to be greeted by a warm smile.

She smiled back.

"Good morning, Pablo." She greeted and the plump elderly man behind her smiled even more.

"Good morning to you too, Isa. How has your morning been?" He asked while the attendant brought her order to the counter.

"The same as always." She collected the cup of coffee and wrapped up doughnut and reached for her other back pocket-

"Don't bother, Isa. This one's on me." He smiled at her lovingly.

Ever since she knew Pablo, he was like a father figure to her. Her father left them when she was around eight years old and immediately he left, Pablo came into her life. His wife was late and he only had one daughter who was living in another country.

He lived alone so once in a while, she would go see him or stay with him for a few hours whenever she felt fed up with everything or he got sick.

He does some work shifts sometimes but he's usually at home. In his garage, doing one thing or the other.

"I really can help myself, you know that, right?" She pouted for only a second and returned to her normal facial expression.

Pablo, who had known her inside and out, chuckled lightly. "Will you just go? C'mon now, get going!" He began to push her lightly, holding her shoulders and facing her towards the door, waving for her to leave, "Go. Shoo!" He then faced the counter to place his order.

She smiled again and finally did as he said.

7:35am.

She finally arrived at school. Crenston High.

She sighed, holding her backpack strap firmly before taking a step into the school grounds.

This was the first day of her final year in high school so it might get messier and stressful but she had that tiny bit of happiness as she was just one year away from leaving this hell called school finally!

"Hey, Dumbass!" Kim, one of the sassiest and bitchiest girls in her grade - more like the only - called out loudly. Her jobless friellowers - friends but still followers - Antonia and Tess, were right behind her as she made her way to where Isa was at her locker.

Isa sighed but still focused on putting her books in her locker until when Kim had reached about a foot away from her, she slammed the locker in her face leaving Isa's hand holding one of her books still, in midair.

"I called your name. Do you have hearing problems now?" The hand that slammed the locker was still on it as she towered over Isa even though they were of the same height.

Isa shook her head, replying the question without verbal words.

Kim smirked and scoffed, "Well then, welcome to the worst school year of your life. Why? Because it's gonna be your last. So, why don't we make it memorable for you, huh?" She held Isa's chin and pushed it upward.

"It's gonna be your worst nightmare!" She ended with sure certainty and smiled, cat walking away with her friellowers.