Chapter 1

VIA KAYE MORALES!!!"

Halos umalingaw ngaw ang boses ng Ms. Gutierrez sa loob ng classroom at halos mapatingin din ang mga kaklase ko sa akin. 

Halos mapayuko ako sa hiya dahil sa kompletong pangalan ko ang binanggit.

"NO ASSIGNMENT AGAIN? WHAT ARE YOU DOING VIA? YOUR CONSTANTLY DOING THIS FOR THE PAST WEEKS!" sigaw niya sa akin.

Bakit ba siya galit na galit sa akin? Hindi lang naman ako ang hindi gumawa ng assignment ko ah. Pati rin naman ang ibang kaklase ko ay hindi rin gumawa.

"MEET ME ON MY OFFICE!NOW!" she commanded me and left the room.

"Woahhh! Via, ano ba pinakain mo kay Ms. Gutierrez at ganun nalang ang init ng ulo sayo?" tanong ni Jarus na ngayon ay nakaharap sa akin habang ang isang braso ay na nakapatong sa sandalan ng arm chair niya.

Jarus Jay Castillo, a varsity and a hearthrob. Matangkad, gwapo, maputi, singkit  at may masculine na pangangakatawan. Dala yan ng palagiang pag eensayo nila every afternoon. Malapitin sa babae pero never niyang pinatulan. 

"Baka nagmemenopause at sayo binubunton ang galit?" biro ni lalaine.

Maria Lalaine Velasquez.  Our muse. Beauty and brain pero napakasassy. Masungit at suplada. Napakaperfectionist din at mapili sa lahat, lalo na sa mga kaibigan niya.

"Favorite lang talagang pagalitan yan si Via." singit naman ni Gio na nakahalukipkip at nakataas ang paa at nakapatong sa sandalan ng arm chair ni Lalaine.

Giovanni Montero. Varsity rin at magkasama sila ni Jarus sa basketball team. Tall, dark and handsome. Playboy at bolero. Ang best asset niya ay ang dimple niya sa isang pisngi. 

"Pwede bang pakitanggal ang sapatos mo?" utos ni Lalaine ka Gio na waring nandidiri pa.

"Sure!" sagot ni Gio na parang natutuwa pa.

Binababa niya ang paa niya at tinanggal ang sapatos hanggang medyas nalang niya ang makikita saka pinatong ulit sa likuran ni Lalaine.

Pagkalingon ni Lalaine sa likod niya ay bumungad sakanya ang paa ni Gio na suot ang medyas nito.

Inis siyang tumayo at hinarap si Gio na galit ang mukha.

"I said remove your shoes!" she shouted.

"I did! Tinanggal ko naman ahh. Look oh!" he teasingly said habang natatawa sa pinaggagawa niya.

"You slut! Are you making fun of me or just stupid!" inis niyang sabi.

"Both!" Gio said at natawa ito.

Bago pa sila mag away sa harapan ko ay tumayo na ako rason para mapunta ang attention nila sa akin.

"Pupunta ka talaga?" Jarus asked.

Among anyone, Jarus is my first close friend when I stepped in here. He's been always there when no one stays until we met Gio and Lalaine from other section. And now, were all classmates.

"I have to." I simply said and left them.

Nasa labas na ako ng classroom nang magulat ako sa babaeng bigla bigla nalang sumulpot sa harapan ko.

"Pwede bang magpaalam ka naman kung susulpot ka bigla? Para kang multo diyan, kaya ka ghinoghost eh." I mumbled when I said the last part.

"I heard that!" she said at sumabay na siya sa paglalakad sa akin.

"Anong meron?" I asked.

"Nakasalubong ko Ms. Gutierrez.  Bakit beast mode siya?" she asked curiously. 

"Aba malay ko. Better asked her Gail." sungit ko.

"Baka nagbreak sila ng jowa niya." she suspiciously said.

This is Abigail Lorzano or known as Gail. My childhood friend kaya sanay na siya sa ugali. PIO ng klase nila dahil sa talent niyang pagiging madaldal na halos updated sa lahat ng chismis maski sa announcement na iannounce palang ay alam na namin bago pa iannounce ng mga advicer namin. Source? Abigail Lorzano.

"Better shut your mouth Gail. Baka madamay ako sa kadaldalan mo eh."

sabi ko. 

"Totoo naman yung chismis ahh. Halos makita ko nga sa office niya na halos hindi sila mapaghiwalay. Cringe!" singhal niya na parang nandidiri pa.

Tama nga yung chismis. Naging exaggerated lang ang pagkakakwento ng kaibigan ko. 

Outsider ang boyfriend ni Ms. Gutierrez at minsan talaga sa mismong office pa nila doon ginagawa. Nabalitaang studante ang lalake at yun ang mahirap dahil nasa code of ethics nilang teacher na no teacher-student relationship pero ang dahilan naman ni mam ay sa ibang school naman. Complicated pero kinilabutan ako.

I shook and shrugged the thought inside of my head imagining what are they doing.

"Bahala ka diyan. Maiwan na kita."

paalam ko.

"Saan ka pupunta?" he asked and I smirked looking back to her.

"Sa office ng pinag uusapan natin." I said.

"D-don't dare to tell her Via."

she stuttered.

"I'll try." I said while waving my hands heading to the office.

"VIA!" she shouted.

"Ok!" 

And when I felt that she went back to their classroom, I laughed.

While walking ahead, someone blocked my way for me to stop.

"What do you want Trisha?" I impatiently asked.

Trisha Vien Mendoza. The only person who always get insecured at me without any valid reason. Beauty and brain pero bagsak sa ugali. Ewan ko kung saan banda siya insecured sa akin knowing that she's good in academics, maraming extracurricular activities na sinalihan. She even got the office as secretary in Student Council habang ako ay representative lang. I didn't complain, well in fact, it's a privilege to be one.

"You!" she exclaimed.

"Me? Why me?" I asked. "What wrong with me again?"

"Better asked yourself bitch!" inis niyang sambit.

"Self, what's wrong with you?" I asked myself." She didn't even know either. " pamimilosopo ko at nakita ko ang inis sa mukha.

"Better asked yourself why are you still here, well in fact, your parents can't even afford and support your schooling damn bitch!" she cursed again.

Bigla akong sumeryoso. Sa pagkakataong ito, mas gusto ko pa na ako ang inaargabyado kesa nasasali ang magulang ko. Ibang usapan na yun kapag nadamay sila sa gulong pinasok ko. I can even let the person kneel infront of me if they unintentionally involved my parents even they begged for forgiveness. 

"Ano bang problema mo? Ako lang ang problema mo hindi ang magulang ko." I started to step to inch our gap. " Huwag mo akong simulan Trisha. You don't know me yet." I warned her. " well in fact, I can be your friend but you chose to be my enemy. Then, coming to this idea, involving my parents because of your insecurities? Be matured enough Trisha! Immaturity ways coming out from you and I pity you for that!" I tap her shoulder and left her dumbfounded. 

I was silently sitting on a couch while looking at the painted pictures on the wall.

"Explain." Ms. Gutierrez abruptly. 

Nandito na ako ngayon sa office niya.

"Explain Via! Nag aalala na sila kuya at ate at lagi akong kinukulit kung nandito ka na sa school. What happened? Would you mind to tell me also?" she impatiently begging for my answer. 

Ms. Gutierrez is my father's youngest sister. Bakit Gutierrez ang last name niya? Siyempre kasi magkaiba sila ng tatay. Simple as that. Ginamit niya ang assignment to get this chance.

Were both hiding our connection as aunt and niece. Hindi sa kinahihiya but to protect the privacy in our family. Masyadong complicated at baka pagpiyestahan lalo pa't mainit ang usap usapan sa issue niya ngayon. Ayoko rin na gawing bait sa akin ni Trisha once na malaman niya ito. Not now or never.

"N-nawala k-ko po kasi yung ATM Card na binigay ni mama." wika ko na kinagulat niya.

"What did you say? Nawala?" she asked while shocked is visible in her face.

"Opo." I replied and face the floor.

She palmed her face full of frustration. 

"Bakit ba kasi pinagkatiwala sayo yung ATM Card ko." she uttered with full of regret.

Yumuko ako ulit.

"Where did you lost it? What place? When?" sunod na sunod na tanong niya.

I was about to answer when someone knocked the door.

She composed her self and glare at me.

"Come in!" she announced it.

Then door opened at niluwa ang isang magandang babae. Maputi, makinis ang mukha at naghahatid ng maaliwalas na aura dahil sa nakangiti itong humarap sa amin.

"What can I help you Ma'am?" hilaw na nakangiting tanong niya. I bit my lower lip to supress my smile.

"Sabi nila na dito daw kami didiretso kapag tapos na mag enroll ang anak ko. Your the registrar right?" she asked like she's assuring that the person she's asking is the person she needs.

"I am Ma'am. Please sit down." she offered the couch where I am sitting now.

I smiled at the lady.

"Ms. Morales." Ms. Gutierrez called me reason for me to look her immediately.  "Let's talk some other time." at nakita ko nanaman ang hilaw niyang ngiti.

"Yes Ma'am." I stood up and say my goodbyes even to the lady.

I was about to close the door when someone stopped it. And when I look up, I gulped. 

A man towering me. Nakikipagtitigan lang din siya sa akin. I can see how perfectly made his facial appearance is.  Well perfect for me.

"Anak?" tawag ng babae at doon palang nagising sa katinuan ko.

He never said something but responded to my gaze.

Nakatingala akong nakatingin sakanya na halos hanggang balikat niya ako.

"Excuse me." he whispered and excused himself and entered the office.

Ilang sandali pa ako natulala sa kawalan at nagising rin sa katotohanan. My gosh. What happened to you Via.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto o segundo akong nakakatitig sakanya. Napatakip ako sa mukha ng marealize ko ang pagiging absent minded ko sa harapan niya. Nakakahiya.

"Nahulog mo ang wallet mo." abot sa akin ni Lalaine sa wallet ko nang makapasok ako sa Classroom.

"Thank you." I said and I open it.

Nilabas ko ang ATM Card na ginamit ko para magsinungaling kanina. I lied. Remembering the main reason pierce me into pieces.

Binalik ko ito sa wallet ko at nilabas naman ang mga notes ko sa bag ko. Gusto kong madivert ang mga iniisip ko. Masyado ng puno.

I was busy reading and reviewing my notes when our advicer abruptly get our attention for some announcement. 

"Goodmorning class!" he greeted us and sit at the edge of the table.

"Goodmorning sir." we greeted back.

"I want to borrow this short time for your next subject to announce something. " he said for us to give our focus to him.

"What announcement is that sir?" Trisha asked. 

"You have a new classmate." he said and everyone became curious. "Kian, come in and introduce yourself. " sir invited someone outside the classroom.

And when he entered, everyone gave him different reactions. 

"Shit! Ang gwapo!" someone uttered in amusement. 

"Wait! Okay ba yung kilay ko? Yung lipstic ko?" other girl said like his anxious in her make up.

Me? Unconsciously parted my lips na hindi parin ako makapaniwala.

"Introduce yourself Kian." Sir De Leon offered the time to him to speak for himself.

"Goodmorning. I'm Kian James Crisantano. 18 years of age." he said but everyone was still in silence like they are waiting for an additional information from him.

"Are you single?" one of our girl classmate asked.

He nodded.

I heard some of them giggled.

"If you're single, are you ready to mingle?" follow up question coming from our other girl classmate.

"Flirty slut!" Lalaine mumbled. 

Kian smiled but nothing came out from his mouth.

"If you're single, when will be the perfect time for us to date?" Vim flirty asked.

"Woahhh" reaction ng mga kaklase namin but he just smiled again.

"That's too much Luzviminda." our advicer abruptly said calling her first full name.

"Sir! Use my nickname. Vim. Don't use that oldy fashioned name Luzviminda. Eww. I'm gonna change my name soon when I'm successful." she said disgusted.

"No need! Mamatay rin naman." one of our boy classmate said. 

"Ok, ok!" Sir De Leon agreed while everyone can't stop from laughing."Kian, doon ka sa katabing upuan ni Ms. Morales." 

And that's makes my heart beats faster. And when I look at him, he met mine too and we exchange contacts like no one is around us.