America studied hard to be able to pass the grade required for the élite class. She sleeps late at night, read a wide range of books about calculus, accounting, and Philippine governance. She wants to be in this class to make her momma proud.
On the day of the examination, she saw Zoey at the gate with her Granny; it was her birthday today but her parents were on abroad to do business and her brother didn't join his Granny and Manang to bring Zoey to school, "What will I do there? Wait for three hours? No thanks!"
Zick that time rebels too much as he is in his puberty stage. Everything around irritates and annoys him.
Leaving him behind the three drove to the school. Zoey stayed at the front gate to wait for America, she already knew that her mother will not gonna drive her here so to avoid the other students pity her, she waited for her for them to walk together with her Granny and Manang.
It was like a norm in their school that mothers' should be a hands-on parent in taking care of their children. Unlike America whose, mother never paid attention to her. Other students pitied her for not having a loving mother.
All the incoming freshman gathered at school ground for room assignments. America and Zoey were separated as Zoey went to the White Hall and America to Fausto Building.
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Zoey sat on the front row as the seats were arranged alphabetically. She was making sure her pencils were sharpened and all her requirements were with her when a boy sat beside her. It was an alternate boy-girl alphabetically arrange.
Zoey looked at the boy beside her, she hasn't seen him before. Probably a new student because everyone in her year level was her classmate since kindergarten Zoey knows everyone here.
She was feeling awkward sitting beside some who doesn't talk, calls her the talkative one but Zoey to hate surrounded by people.
But before she uttered a word her admit pass fell on her desk, unaware of what happened, Zoey continues seated on her chair.
When the boy saw it, he immediately picks it up and looked who own it.
Based on the picture attached this admit pass belongs to the girl seated beside him.
Name: ALCANTARA, Zoekella Faith C.
Birthdate: 199×-Apr-15
School: -same-
Student #: 199×0424
The boy poked Zoey's shoulder and gave her admit pass to her. "Your admit pass." Zoey looked the at the paper his giving then took it when she realized that it is her pass. She thanked him for that.
"Happy birthday!" At first, Zoey wondered why did he say happy birthday to her, it was their first time meeting each other.
"How did you know?"
"On your pass" pointing to the paper, she's holding.
"My pass?" She asked again then remembered that birth dates were written on their pass. "Oh! I see. Thank you. By the way, I'm Zoey; you are?"
"Michael. Michael Cortez. I'm new here." Verified! This boy was a new student.
Zoey and Michael engaged in chit-chat before the examination started. The proctor for their room was Zoey's math teacher.
After the test, Zoey invited him to her birthday party. She learned that Michael and his family were staying in the same village as her. "Michael, do you want to come to my birthday party? It just a simple dinner at our house. You can bring your sister too if you want and my friends will be coming."
Michael shared to her about his sister, Michelle, who is starting in the same school as them.
Thrilled with her new friends, Zoey excitedly went out to her room and followed by Michael. She went to her Granny, and Manang at the waiting is for parents.
Her Granny was talking to an old woman, they were laughing when the two kids reached them.
"Granny, can I invite him over for dinner tonight? He is my new friend." Zoey asked the permission of her grandma but before her grandmother speaks, the old lady beside her said, "Oh Michael you've arrived! How the questions?"
The old lady her Granny was talking to was Michael's grandma. "So this is your grandson," Granny said while flapping her hands.
"Of course darling, you can invite him; her grandma is my new friend too."
America went to the waiting area as well after the examination. Although she didn't arrive here with someone, Zoey offered her a drive going home. She will be staying at Zoey's place to celebrate her birthday.