Monday morning of July, Zhaira woke up early to prepare her school stuffs for her classes today. She is a freshman college in a prestigious university of her town where she lives. Central Ford University is a university owned by a successful business tycoon in the world. The university offers the highest quality of education in which instructors are trained well. As expected, tuition fee cannot afford by a commoner that's why only rich and influences families can afford there. If you wanted to study there but you cannot afford, don't worry they offer scholarship.
Going back to Zhaira, she is looking her reflection in a whole-body mirror. She is wearing white long sleeve blouse, a black necktie, color maroon uniform vest with patch on the right side, black skirt above the knee, long black socks and a 2-inch wedge black shoes.
She gave a smile to herself before turning back from her reflection and gets her color pink Korean style bag. Since there is a locker in her school, she doesn't need to carry her books and other school stuffs. She only brings her lectures with her.
She saw her Tita Mina in the dining area preparing her breakfast.
"Good morning,tita!", she greeted her and gave a kiss in her aunt's cheek.
"You're sweet, honey. Here is your breakfast, tell me if you want to add apple chunks in your juice.", her Aunt Mina said and she nodded.
"You always preparing my breakfast, I'm grown up so let me prepare my own.", she said while getting toasted bread from loaves.
"You are really kind but I promised your momma to take care of you and never get you hungry.", she happily said.
Zhaira smiled and shut her mouth finishing her breakfast. When she finished her meal, her Aunt Mina saw Steve walking down the stairs so she called her son and eat breakfast but as expected he refused because he saw Zhaira. Steve is wearing his formal attire, reflection of a serious Chief Executive Officer of their family's company. Zhaira secretly smiled bitterly knowing that her Kuya Steve will never accept her presence in the family.
"What about taking Zhaira in her school? Our driver is sick and he cannot take your sister in her school.", his mommy requested but the latter's face annoyed.
"Why would I? Sevi is there.", he sluggishly said while folding his coattail and continue walking down the stairs.
"Sevi went in his restaurant early so no one will take her in her school.", annoyance in Mina's voice because her son is too cold-hearted to Zhaira. "If only I could drive, I will take her but you all know that I have a traumatic experience-". Before Mina finished her words, Steve suddenly gave up and let himself to do her mother's request.
He doesn't want her mother remember again her traumatic experience of driving a car. Car accident was the cause of death of his late father and her mother was the one driving the car, that was five years ago but it is still fresh in their memories.
Zhaira felt guilty for remembering their dark past. If it���s not because of her, the duologues would not lead here.
"Thank you,Steve. Now, take your sister to her school.", she commanded in her calm voice.
Both of them have no choice but to follow Mina even if Zhaira don't want to be with her brother.
Both of them are not talking to each other while Steve driving the car. Zhaira silently looking outside the window and entertaining herself from what they are passing by. She is not comfortable sitting in the passenger's seat beside Steve.
She noticed that her brother higher the operation of the air con that's why she is getting cold and her legs is exposed as if she will going to freeze. "K-Kuya, please lower the air con, it's too cold.", she requested. She's unacquainted of cold and she prefer warm environment.
Steve took a deep sigh before turning down the thermostat, they are halfway of Zhaira's destination. "Your skirt is too short.", Steve suddenly said that gives surprised to her.
She looks Steve seriously focusing on their way so she takes back her sight from him.
"This is our uniform, this is my size.", she said without meeting his gaze.
Steve didn't bother himself to speak again. The school gate is too high, it was automatically opened so they entered and stopped in front of a huge fountain.
"Thank you for taking me here,kuya.", she said in her sweet yet unease voice.
Her Kuya Steve nodded and didn't say anything. She opened the door and hurriedly get out of the car. She didn't look back to her brother,same with the latter. He started his engine and took the U Turn way.
When Zhaira reached the pathway, group of girls blocked her way. " I'm going to be late.", she gently-spoken because she don't want to get in trouble.
Seems like Anika Perez, the leader of the group pissed off. She stepped forward while crossing her arms. "I don't know where you get your guts to study here. You're not from a rich family,right? You were just adopted by a rich family 'cause your mother did it before she died. No wonder if you will play tricky game with the Henderson family just like your late mother did.", Anika said and pushed Zhaira cause her to fall in the ground.
Zhaira don't feel anything, her body get numb after hearing those words from Anika. Question in her mind how Anika found her identity even though it's not a secret that Henderson family adopted her. What strike her the most is the insult to her late mother. She loves her mother and it's excruciating to hear those words from a person who know nothing about her.
Steve almost hit the break when he glimpsed from his rear view mirror the situation of Zhaira sitting on the floor and everybody is laughing at her. He clenched his jaw as he parked his car and went out going to Zhaira.
Students saw his desolate emotion that made a way for him towards Zhaira. He heard different rumors about him and Zhaira but he don't care.
"Get up!".
Zhaira surprised when she saw her brother glaring at him. She wiped her tears before standing up without any help from others.
"K-Kuya…", the only words she said before Steve grabbed her wrist out from the crowd.