Karl and Riko were enjoying a quiet dinner at home, reminiscing about their past and sharing stories of how they ended up together. As Karl was about to take a bite of Riko's specialty dish, a loud commotion erupted from the living room, breaking their peaceful moment.
"What are those kids fighting about now?" Karl asked his wife, looking towards the source of the noise.
"It's probably something to do with school," Riko replied, just as a chair suddenly flew into the dining room door, prompting both of them to rush out of their seats and head toward the living room.
As they entered, they saw their children in the middle of a heated argument. Jiena stood in the center, her face flushed with frustration.
"I said no!" Jiena yelled, her voice echoing through the room.
"Just this once, please," Rafael pleaded, his tone desperate as he tried to reason with his twin sister.
"Please, Jiena," Bianca chimed in, holding onto her eldest sister's hand in a bid to convince her.
But Jiena was firm. "No means no," she snapped. "Why don't you ask Kyoko?"
"I would join if I wanted to," Kyoko replied coolly, brushing off the suggestion without much interest.
"What are you all arguing about?" Karl asked, stepping further into the room.
"We want her to join the school's next top model competition," Kyoko explained, her arms crossed.
Karl turned to Jiena, noticing her defiant stance. "What's the problem, Nozomi?"
Jiena shot a glare at her family and took a quick sniff from her inhaler. "They want me to join, but I don't want to flaunt myself in front of all those people," she retorted.
Rafael, trying to make a point, pulled out his phone and showed a photo of Jiena on a beach. "But you've already flaunted yourself on social media," he pointed out.
Jiena's eyes narrowed as she snatched the phone from Rafael's hand and threw it into a corner of the room. "That was different! I was at the beach—what did you expect me to wear, winter clothes?" she exclaimed, her frustration growing.
Karl, trying to mediate, suggested, "Why don't you just give it a try?"
This only made Jiena more upset. "I've never joined a beauty pageant because I don't like them, and I'm definitely not going to start with a modeling contest!" she shouted, turning her glare towards Kyoko. "I'd be happier if Kyoko joined instead."
Kyoko shrugged nonchalantly. "I could, but I won't," she replied, uninterested in the escalating tension.
Seeing that the argument was going nowhere, Karl decided to put an end to it. "All right, that's enough. It's already nine o'clock, and our neighbors are probably trying to sleep. Everyone, go to your rooms," he said firmly.
Grumbling, the children slowly dispersed and retreated to their rooms, leaving Karl and Riko standing in the now-quiet living room.
----
The next morning, Jiena was sitting in the cafeteria with her group of nerd friends, discussing complex topics far beyond the understanding of most students. As they chatted and laughed over their lunch, a group of girls approached their table.
"You must be Jiena Marino from section Four-A," a girl said, extending her hand toward Jiena in greeting. "I'm Casey."
Jiena studied the girl's face for a moment, unsure of her intentions, but she decided to shake Casey's hand. She noticed Casey's friends, who seemed just as poised and polished.
"I wonder what she's up to," Jiena thought as she smiled politely.
"I hope we can be friends," Casey said with a sweet smile before she and her friends turned and walked away.
"Jiena, do you know who that girl is?" Jennifer, one of Jiena's nerd friends, asked, looking curious.
"Nope, but she seems like one of those 'It' girls from section C, whoever they are," Jiena replied bluntly, taking a sip of her drink.
"Casey is one of the hottest girls in school," Jelly, another friend, chimed in. "She's the band majorette and a model in the making. Her boyfriend is one of the MVPs on the basketball team."
"Let's not talk about people," Jiena said dismissively as she took a bite of her sandwich. Suddenly, they heard a commotion from the other side of the cafeteria. An obese girl wearing glasses was on her knees in front of Casey and her friends. Without hesitation, Jiena stood up to see what was going on.
"Is there a problem here?" Jiena asked as she crouched down to help the girl up.
"Jiena, I didn't mean to spill juice on her uniform," the chubby girl explained, clearly distressed.
"The girl already apologized, so what more do you want?" Jiena asked, glancing at Casey and her entourage.
"We want her to kiss our feet," Allison, one of Casey's friends, demanded smugly.
"That is an unreasonable request," Jiena countered, her tone firm. "You are not in any position to ask for such a thing. You're not saints deserving of worship."
The tension in the cafeteria was palpable as Allison leaned in close to Jiena, but Jiena remained unfazed. Rafael, Eugene, and Gary watched from a distance, waiting to see how she would handle the situation. Jiena stood her ground, addressing the girls calmly but firmly. "Let's all try to act like mature individuals. If not, I'll be happy to teach you some manners the hard way."
Allison's face turned red with anger as she pointed a finger at Jiena. "I will never forget this! One of these days, you'll regret it. We're not finished yet."
"Go ahead, Blondie," Jiena shot back, unfazed. "I'll be waiting."
With that, Casey and her friends stormed out of the cafeteria, leaving behind a stunned crowd.
"Thank you so much," the chubby girl said, grateful as she kissed Jiena's hand.
"Just stay strong and don't let anyone bully you," Jiena advised, giving the girl a reassuring smile.
"Jiena, do you even know who you just confronted?" Jennifer asked nervously once they were back at their table. "Allison and Casey are some of the most popular girls in school."
Jiena shrugged. "Like I care. It wouldn't matter to me if they were royal princesses. I've dealt with worse people than those wannabes, so don't make a big deal out of it."
Jiena Marino was the most popular girl in their school, known for her intelligence, beauty, athleticism, and sharp tongue. However, she also had a rebellious streak, much like her father. The boys at school constantly vied for her attention, much to the jealousy of the other girls.
Later that day, as Jiena returned to her classroom, she was surprised to see Rafael, Eugene, Gary, and Kanna waiting for her. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she noticed the worried expressions on their faces.
"Why are all of you here?" Jiena asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"We saw what happened in the cafeteria," Rafael said, checking his sister for any signs of injury. "I came to see if you're okay."
"I'm fine," Jiena replied, brushing off his concern. "And besides, a wimp like you couldn't protect me even if they did gang up on me."
Moments later, Kyoko and Bianca rushed in, their faces filled with concern.
"Are you two here to check on me as well?" Jiena asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, and we have a proposition for you," Kyoko said, holding up a bundle of cash.
"I'm listening," Jiena said, her interest piqued as she eyed the money in Kyoko's hand.
"If you join the pageant, I'll give you five thousand pesos. If you win, I'll double it," Kyoko proposed, smiling.
A mischievous grin spread across Jiena's face. "Then you've got yourself a deal, Kyoko Marino," she declared without hesitation, sending a ripple of excitement through the group and a resounding message to the entire school: Jiena Marino was ready to take on a new challenge
-------
The next morning, Jiena and her friend made their usual routine at the cafeteria, eating and talking about ideas for the science club, Rafael and his best friends Eugene and Gary, were seated three tables away from her while when Casey and Allison stood in front of Jiena.
"Well, we heard that you're joining the University's next top model, a nerd, with an ugly duckling sister trying to become a model," Allison tumbled Jiena's soda into her plate, causing a mess to her lunch.
"We will make your life miserable, Jiena Marino," one of Allison's friends uttered.
"Oh, I'm scared," Jiena answered with a tone of sarcasm, "I will pee in my pants, I'm so scared I'm going to put the two of you in the mud."
Allison and her friends were stunned of the threat and shivered; the academy's silent terror has waged her wrath against the students who are threatening her or her friends.
"You can't threat us; I can call my dad to kick you out of this school!" Allison threatened.
"My Mom works for Michelle Peng, I will tell her to kick your father out!" one of Allison's friends also threatened Jiena, who calmly sipped a glass of juice, unfazed by the threats she is receiving.
"Oh, as if name dropping can make me shiver," Jiena mocked the threat with a crunchy evil laugh before leaving the area, giving a glaring stare at Allison, causing an eerie feeling in the canteen.
It was the fashion night of the academy; everyone was excited about the event, but most of all the fear that the IT girls might do on Jiena who was putting on makeup all by herself while the rest were assisted by their own makeup artists.
"I have a bad feeling about this" says Kyoko while fixing Jiena's hair
"You don't have to worry, If I win then that would be great, if I lose then much better." Jiena smirked.
"I wish I had your confidence and lax" Kyoko said when she heard a commotion. Some girls inside the dressing room were rushing out in fear, while others were terrified of what they have witnessed.
"Oh, you shouldn't worry about the noise, they might be after my gown, I placed a stun gun," Jiena holding back her laughter, seeing the misery the girls are having after touching her gown.
Few moments later, Rafael, Kanna and Eugene arrived; standing behind Jiena, who is maintaining her calm, wondered why Kanna was also wearing a gown.
"I am my section's representative, but I still hope you will win," Kanna greeted Jiena.
"Oh, it doesn't matter who wins," Jiena flashed a mischievous smile. "What matters most is I get my sister's prize."
"Jiena, you really look stunning" Eugene remarked, glancing at Casey who sat down three chairs away from Jiena.
"I'll take that as a compliment though you are staring at that girl," Jiena responded, staring at Eugene "You're attracted to her, am I right?"
"What? I don't, why I cannot" Eugene stuttered, shivering and sweating very hard.
"I know you very well."
"Jiena, there are so many people around here."
"Don't be nervous, but seriously I know that you are attracted to her."
"If only I have Rafael's confidence and your wit," Eugene lamented, lowering his head.
"For a son of a businessman, sugar baron turned senator that is not what I am expecting from you Eugene, but that is what we like of you, you are not pretentious and just stop being a wimp just like Rafael," Jiena patted Eugene's head as Rafael bit his lips, irked by his fraternal twin's statement.
"Our friendship wouldn't last for years if we're pretentious," Eugene responded, staring at Casey for one last time.
The fashion show has started Rafael, Eugene, Gary, Bianca and Kyoko sat near the stage to support Jiena, all of them were nervous yet excited the latter's debut at the fashion show.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, students and guest, we would like to acknowledge the one, the only, Ms. Honoka Tsuchiyama," the emcee announced. A short but drop dead gorgeous lady came went in surrounded by two bodyguards.
"Honoka Tsuchiyama?" Eugene asked the Marino siblings, "Who is she?"
"She's the Chief of Staff of the Penthouse Corporation and a former beauty queen," Kyoko answered. "She's the number four in the ranks in the Penthouse Corporation."
Boys who were watching the show were stunned when Kanna first went out and walked through the catwalk wearing mini skirt and a sailor uniform, raising cheers from the geeks.
"Go Kanna!" Rafael passionately cheered, brandishing a placard.
The next to appear was Jiena, wearing a black whole dress, brandishing her long wavy hair and a brooch that haas the coat of arms of the Marino clan.
"Look at the crowd" Bianca remarked, staring at the boys who kept on cheering at her sister.
The last to walk was Casey, wearing a white fit dress, flaunting her slim body and long black hair.
"Casey is really mesmerizing, I want to do her." Eugene was struck with awe with Casey's beauty.
"For a virgin who doesn't have a girlfriend since birth," Rafael took a swipe at his best friend.
"For a father who fathered many children," Eugene responded, cheering for Casey.
"Yeah, achieving perversion at twelve is something unusual," Rafael responded.
"Being sexually active in your teenage years and hyper sexually active in your pre-adult years," Bianca added.
Three hours later, the show finally came into a wrap and the models stood on stage while the respected Honoka Tsuchiyama watched them from afar.
"We would like to call on Madam Honoka Tsuchiyama to present the award for the next top model," the host announced, as the judge went up the stage and stood in the side, that moment the models were nervous, but not for Jiena who doesn't have that an expectation as tremendous as Casey could have.
"And the Academy's next top model is..." the announcer called, "Jiena Marino!"
Rafael and his siblings were surprised by the announcement. They didn't expect their inexperienced, cunning eldest sister to win such a pageant. While giving the award to Jiena, Honoka stared at her and smiled.
"You are really Karl Marino's daughter," Honoka remarked, giving the sash to the young lady. "I've seen you many times and your personality, your attitude. Your father brilliantly raised you to be a smart lady."
"Thank you for the praises, my lady" Jiena kisses Honoka's ring, a symbol of her respect to the chief of staff of the Penthouse Corporation. Rafael, Kyoko and Bianca went up to the stage and bowed in front of the judge as a sign of greetings and respect.
------
At the dressing room, just as Jiena has finished packing her things, she noticed Casey fell down, kneeling in front of Allison; Eugene arrived just in time to help his best friend in bringing the things in the car when he too had noticed the commotion.
"See how pretentious Allison Zalameda is, Eugene, it's up to you to be her knight and shining armor," says Jiena, pointing at the girls.
"Jiena look at those men, their varsity players," Eugene said lowering his voice and his head in shame.
"I'll take care of them," Jiena winked best friend, pushing him forward and took a fall near Casey.
"Hey stop picking on her!" Eugene stood up, mustering enough courage to yell at Allison and her friends, prompting Casey to hide behind his back.
"And what will you do?!" Allison lashed back. "Both of you are losers, a losing model and a pure breed loser."
"Well, a losing model and a pure breed loser does not differ from a rich kid with a spoiled attitude who uses people for her own gain," Jiena intervened while Eugene helped Casey to stand on her feet.
"Shut up, you dirty filth!" Allison yelled, "Well, birds of the same feather flock together, you and those two losers."
"Let me tell you, that this guy you are calling loser is a son of a Sugar Baron, a CEO of a resorts group and a senator," Jiena uttered "But he doesn't use it as a reason to step on others."
"Who are you to lecture my girlfriend?!" Allison's boyfriend yelled, trying to hit Jiena with his bare hands, but in just a split of second the buff varsity player was shoved away from a distance, visibly traumatized much to everyone shock. when the girls and Eugene turned their heads at Jiena, she was crouching with her fist extended at the unconscious guy's location.
"Well, I have warned you before Allison, never lay a finger on me, my siblings and my friends, now I have given you a warning," Jiena reminded the ostentatious girl, "I can do more than that."
After witnessing her boyfriend's defeat, a visibly stunned and shaken Allison and her group quickly left the dressing room leaving Jiena, Eugene and Casey.
"Are you all right?" Eugene asked Casey who lowered her head, trying not to look at the two.
"You told me before that you wanted to be friends with me," Jiena reminded, trying to raise the discouraged young lady's spirit, "This is who I am, what you see is what you get, those people are pretentious, they used you to be famous."
"But why would they do that?" a confused Casey asked, prompting Jiena to stretch her patience, drying her throat.
"It's because they don't want a poor aspiring girl like you in their elite circle," Jiena explained "Eugene and I both live in a comfortable life, I'm not saying that I am rich just like him but we both ride the mass transit, the main point is we are not pretentious."
"I don't know where to start, they told me if I won they would let me join in the circle," said Casey.
"We could be friends if you want to," Jiena extends her hand to the lass, an offer that Casey happily accepted, much to Eugene's jubilation.
While the rest of the school was busy celebrating Jiena's unexpected victory, Kanna quietly slipped her hand into Rafael's and gently tugged him away from the crowd. They walked together, the sounds of laughter and music fading into the background as they made their way toward the quiet, secluded school park. The cool evening air wrapped around them, and the shadows of the tall trees swayed with the gentle night breeze.
They stopped in front of the old Acacia tree, a familiar spot where they often met to escape the chaos of school life. The tree's massive branches stretched above them, the leaves rustling softly in the wind. The moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on the ground. The stars above were bright, sparkling like tiny diamonds in the deep indigo sky.
Rafael glanced over at Kanna, noticing a hint of worry in her eyes despite her attempt to smile. "Kanna, is there something bothering you?" he asked gently, his voice filled with concern.
Kanna shook her head slowly, her fingers tightening around his as she looked up at him. "Nothing's wrong," she whispered, but the way she gazed into his eyes said otherwise. Her expression was soft yet serious, as if she was searching for something in his face, something unspoken.
Rafael took a deep breath, feeling his heart pound faster in his chest. He could feel the warmth of her hand in his, a comforting reminder of how much he cared for her. Gathering his courage, he began to speak, his voice a bit shaky. "You know, Kanna, I like you. I really, really like you," he confessed, his cheeks flushing slightly. "I've fallen deeply in love with you. It's hard to explain this feeling… every time I'm near you, my heart starts beating like crazy, and I feel like I can't think straight." He felt a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead, his nerves getting the better of him. The night air was cool, but his body felt warm, almost hot, with the intensity of his emotions.
Kanna's eyes softened, and a gentle smile spread across her lips. She took a small step closer to him, her face illuminated by the moonlight. "I feel the same way, Rafael," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "You make me smile and laugh every time you crack a joke. And I feel so at ease whenever I'm with you, like nothing else in the world matters."
For a moment, they just stood there, lost in each other's eyes, the world around them seeming to fade away. The soft rustling of the leaves above and the distant sounds of the school faded into silence as the two of them were wrapped in their own little world. Rafael's heart raced, his palms sweaty and his breaths shallow. He had never felt this nervous yet so alive.
"Kanna," Rafael finally managed to say, his voice trembling with anticipation. He swallowed hard, trying to steady himself, but the words felt like they were caught in his throat. "Will you be my girlfriend?" he asked, his eyes searching hers for any sign of hesitation.
Kanna's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with happiness and warmth. She nodded slowly, her cheeks flushing a delicate shade of pink. "Yes," she replied softly, her voice filled with sincerity and affection.
A wave of relief and joy washed over Rafael, his breath hitching in his throat. He stood there, almost in disbelief, as the reality of her words sank in. "Really?" he whispered, a wide grin spreading across his face. His body felt light, almost like he could float away at any moment.
"Really," Kanna assured him, her smile growing even brighter. She reached up and gently brushed a strand of hair away from his face, her touch sending a shiver down his spine.
Rafael felt like the luckiest person in the world. He couldn't contain his excitement any longer. With a sudden burst of emotion, he pulled Kanna into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around her as if he never wanted to let go. "I'm the luckiest man alive," he murmured into her ear, his voice thick with emotion. He could feel her heartbeat against his chest, fast and steady, matching the rhythm of his own.
They held each other close, the warmth of their bodies mingling in the cool night air. Slowly, Rafael leaned back, his hands gently cupping her face. He gazed into her eyes, his breath coming out in soft, shallow puffs. The world seemed to blur around them, leaving just the two of them standing there under the vast, starry sky.
As if drawn by an invisible force, their faces inched closer together. Rafael could feel Kanna's breath on his lips, warm and sweet. Their eyes fluttered closed as their lips met in a tender kiss, soft and lingering. The kiss was gentle at first, a tentative exploration of newfound feelings, but then it deepened, filled with the passion and intensity of young love.