Chapter 1

"Nasaan na ba kasi iyon?" I mumbled by myself. Hindi ko mahanap ang reviewer ko for one of this afternoon's subject at may quiz pa naman mamaya! Natatandaan ko na iniwan ko lang iyon sa back seat. Nadamay ko bang itapon iyon?! Patay talaga ako nito, oh!

Tinignan ko ang relo ko at sampung minuto nalang at malalate na ako. Panira, ang aga-aga pa naman. Kakasimula pa lang ng araw may paghihisterya nang naganap sa buhay ko. Saksakin niyo nalang kaya ako?

Dinalian ko na lang ang pagmaneho at magpaparking na sana ako sa kung saan ako madalas na lumulugar nang may biglang sumulpot na kotse at inagaw ang parking spot ko! 

Yawa, maghahanap pa ba ako ng bakante, e, malilate na ako? Hindi ko na muna pinansin iyong sasakyan na 'yon at nakahanap din ako sa wakas kaso nasa hulihan pa talaga. Dinalian ko talaga ang pagparking para maabutan ko ang kung sino mang hayop ang sumisira lalo ng umaga ko.

Nang nakuha ko na lahat ng gamit ko sa loob ay nagmamadali akong lumabas sa sasakyan.

My stilettos made a loud sound as I was walking so fast and as soon as I was on the car's door, I knocked so hard on it. And dang it, Isaiah Thomas looking like an arrogant hedgehog came out.

"Really? Pati ba naman sa pagpaparking aagawin mo na rin? Kinulang ka ba sa aruga ng mga magulang mo?" I burst. 

He just gave me that scornful look and raised his brow.

"I did not notice you," he simply said. Hindi ba siya marunong mag-sorry?!

"Right," tinapos ko na ang usapan at tinalikuran siya. Alangan naman magpapalate pa talaga ako just to make him say sorry? No, he's not worth it.

Nang nakapasok na ako sa room ay malapit nang dumating ang Prof. namin for today's subject. Buti nalang hindi ako nalate. Hahanapin ko nalang iyong reviewer ko mamayang lunch break. Baka nga hindi pa ako makakain nito, wala pa naman akong kain sa umaga dahil sa pagpapanic ko.

I was quiet for the whole period, trying to recall where I put my things. Ang tanga naman kasi, eh.

I was the first to stand up when our Prof. dismissed us. Wala akong enough time to look and to review at mas lalo akong walang time to panic, kahit kumain pa 'yan. Totoo pala iyong sinasabi ng mga graduates. Hindi totoo iyong, "Don't give up but rest when you need to" sa college dahil kapag nagpahinga ka saglit, instant singko.

Lunch break na kaya lalabas na sana ako ng room nang napansin kong may tatlong babae na nakapaligid sa lamesa ni Isaiah. I didn't hear he was a flirt. 

I looked through my car when I was down the building. I checked every corner pero wala pa rin talaga! Hindi ko alam kung paano ko masasagot nang maayos iyong quiz kung last week lang ako nakareview. I need perfect scores to make up for my last exam's mark! 

Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang tignan nang masama ang mga taong nadadaanan ko nang nasa building ulit ako. Nang nasa room na ako ay nag-aaral na ang mga kaklase ko for the long quiz tapos heto ako, kung saan na lang lumilingon.

Then suddenly, one of my classmates, Rill, called me.

"Aren't you going to study na? Or maybe you think you're good enough already?" she said. She said it in an annoying way but I do not hate it. Maybe if it was other people who said that, I would. But Rill is cool, and she is not petty. It is just that she talks that way, that's her nature.

"I lost my reviewer," I answered.

Tinignan niya ako na parang hinuhusgahan niya ako at tumawa pagkatapos.

"Oh my gosh, that's stupid. Ikaw lang ang kilala kong matalino na bobo," she said and laughed again.

Geez, thanks?

"But don't worry," pahabol niya. "My cousin is already done studying since yesterday so I can ask him to let you borrow it."

Agad lumiwanag ang mukha ko but I did not let it show. Saka, has she always been this nice? I always see her to be someone who doesn't mingle with anyone that's not her class. 

"Yeah, you can do that. Thank you," I said simply.

"What the hell? Can't you be more grateful?" And wow, she rolled her eyes at me. 

She walks away and I thought hindi na niya gagawin ang sinabi niya nang bigla siyang lumapit kay Isaiah at may sinabi. I just watched them and when Isaiah gave Rill some papers, I just realized that he was Rill's cousin. 

I want to feel bad because I was bitching in front of him but it was partly his fault so we're even now.

Rill came to me with the reviewer and put it down on my table.

"Here, my cousin is organized and he already highlighted the important points so it is easy na," she said in a cool way. Tumango lang ako at umalis na siya para magpatuloy sa kung anumang ginagawa niya kanina.

I looked at Isaiah Thomas. He was looking at me, again with that arrogant look and he was as if so proud that I needed something from him. I rolled my eyes at him and he just raised his brow, with his tongue rolling on the side of his check. 

Tss, sucker.

I got the perfect score after the quiz. Isaiah too, but I do not care about him. Tatawagin ko na sana si Rill para ibigay ang reviewer pero nang tignan ko ang upuan niya ay wala na siya roon. 

Mamaya ko na lang siguro ibibigay? Pumunta muna ako sa snack bar para bumili ng banana milk. I also bought some sweets to make up for my temper today.

Nang nasa room na ako, Isaiah was near my table and he was just standing there. Lumapit ako sa kan'ya at tahimik na kinuha ang reviewer na nasa ilalim ng desk ko. I handed it to him silently, without looking at him in the eyes. Kinuha niya rin naman at umalis na agad.

Maaga ring natapos ang class since we only have two subjects for today's afternoon. I went on my own way while my classmates were asking each other where they should hang out. Good for them, huh?

I finished my drink I bought on the way the parking lot before I started my engine. Hindi agad ako uuwi ngayon. Pupunta muna ako sa bookstore na malapit lang sa school dahil may kailangan pa akong bilhin na libro at journal. 

Dinalian ko lang, magagalit si Mommy 'pag hindi ako nakasabay sa dinner mamaya. Para namang mamatay ka sa gutom 'pag 'di ka nakakain nang isang beses. But anyways, asian moms.

Nang papasok na sa bahay ay kumunot ang noo ko nang napansing may isang pamilyar na sasakyan sa garahe namin. Hindi ko nga alam kung kanino. Siguro kliyente ni Mommy or Daddy. Minsan dinadala nila rito for dinner lalo na kapag masyado nang hectic ang schedule.

"Kendall! You're quite late today," bati ni Mommy sa'kin. Galing siya sa office nila ni Daddy at may hawak pang tray na may tatlong baso. I looked at it.

"A client, Mommy?" tanong ko.

"Yes. Your father's finalizing the papers for the client's inheritance," she said cheerfully.

Tumango lang ako at ngumiti. Wala naman akong pakialam diyan. Saka hindi ko naman kliyente.

"Sit down for dinner, I'll just call your Dad and his client. He's quite a gentleman and young!" 

Tahimik lang akong naghihintay sa kanila habang tinitignan ang cook na nilalagay isa-isa ang mga ulam. My parents really like to show off sometimes, especially if their clients are big shots. Connections, ika nga nila.

My head went up when I heard a sound from the stairs. I was shocked because oh, boy. Here we go again. Isaiah Thomas was my Dad's client! Tumikhim ako to remain my composure. Surely, I cannot let him see that I was taken aback by his presence.

"Good evening," Isaiah greeted first. I nod gracefully. I had to act prim and proper in front of my parents.

"Good evening! I did not know you were here! If I have known, sabay sana tayo," I said cheerfully. Isaiah raised his eyebrow, getting interested by my fake approach towards him. 

It will happen, anyways. When my parents will learn that we are studying in the same school, they'd ask me to get along with him. That's what they always do. It sometimes hurt me. Because the way they ask me to do it, it feels like I am being used for their own benefits. Like their daughter is just a tool to expand their influence and I am just a bridge for their negotiations. Maybe if my parents weren't that modern, I would have been in an arrange marriage set-up by now!

"Oh, you know each other?" my Mommy seemed pleased. 

"We're classmates, Mommy," I answered.

"Isn't that so? Well, I hope my daughter is not troubling you much, Isaiah. She's quite competitive as you may already know, no," si Dad.

Isaiah smiled like how I do. Fake.

"She is, really. But she's quite bearable. She asks for help when she knows she needs to. Katulad kanina," he said. Nilaglag ako?! Mommy won't be mad that I lost my reviewer but surely, they'll be nagging me!

"Katulad kanina?" Daddy asked, confused by Isaiah's stupid statement.

"Mommy, dinner's ready na po. It's getting late na rin so I am sure Isaiah wanted to go home. It was  a long day in school, after all," I said to divert the attention. The next time I see him in the school's hallway, I will surely tripped him.

The dinner was excruciatingly long. Isaiah was quiet and just spoke when asked and so am I. But sometimes, we'd look at each other and he would give me some annoying stares. Please, this isn't the first time he saw me quiet!

"Hindi mo ba ihahatid ang kaibigan mo sa labas, Kenny?" I heard Mommy asked when I was about to go upstairs. Naku, kaya nga nagmamadali akong kumain, eh!

"Sure, Mommy. Isaiah, let's go," sabi ko at marahang hinila ang coat niya. Sumunod naman siya sa akin matapos magpaalam.

When we were in his car, he turned around to look at me and... just stare at me?

I rolled my eyes again and was about to get inside when he spoke.

"You surely are the worst and cringy actress I've ever seen," pang-aasar niya.

"Oo, tapos pake ko, 'di ba?" 

He chuckled at my remark.

"You sure are living a sad life," he suddenly said. What the hell?

"Excuse me?" I scoffed. The audacity of him to be THAT arrogant? I was sure that the whole grade problem I felt for him was just annoyance but now, I am frustrated. 

I did not let him talk anymore and went inside immediately. As I was on my way, I realized that he got a point. I am such a lame daughter. Faking myself in front of my parents even when they should be the one to know me the most and trying my best to keep up with their expectations despite the pressure I felt just because my pace is slower than their dreams.

Wow, what a can opener of broken childhood dreams and longing is Isaiah Thomas. I feel like I want to punch him. Pointing that out to me just makes me feel more miserable. Gago siya.

The next time I see him, I won't be tripping Isaiah Thomas nor will I talk to him ever again. Because I just freaking know it now, it hurts to be with him.