MARICON
I woke up early the next day. Naging maganda ang tulog ko dahil maayos naman ang unang araw ko sa Avalon High. It's not as bad as I expected.
Or so I thought.
I shrugged as I continued to walk. "It will be a better day," I whispered to myself.
I let out a harsh breath as I smile. Everyday is a better day. I should keep that in mind.
"Psyche!" I called Psyche upon seeing her walking on the corridor. Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at tumingin sa akin. Agad naman akong tumakbo palapit sa kaniya.
"Good morning!" I greeted.
She smiled. "Looks like you are in a good mood, huh?"
I nodded. "I was just you know... shy yesterday."
"I know that," she uttered.
Napailing na lamang ako at mahinang tumawa. Tumingin ako sa likuran niya.
"Hindi mo kasama si Chase?" I asked.
"Sa mga ganitong oras, malamang nasa library 'yun at nag-aaral," she answered after looking at her wrist watch.
Tumingin din ako sa suot kong relo. "But it's just seven in the morning," I said, almost a whisper.
She chuckled. "It's late for him."
"Anong pinag-aaralan niya? Hindi ba at kasisimula pa lamang ng klase?"
"Chase likes studying," she answered shortly.
My lips parted before nodding my head. How can someone enjoy studying? I mean, what's enjoyable about reading books? That's so boring!
"Nagbreakfast ka na?" Psyche asked me.
I shook my head before tapping my growling tummy. "Masiyado akong naexcite pumasok kaya hindi na ako nakapag-umagahan," sagot ko.
Mahina siyang tumawa bago niya iniangkla ang braso niya sa braso ko. "Join me. Masiyadong malungkot kapag ako lamang mag-isa ang kakain."
Tumango naman ako at ngumiti. "Sure! Do you want me to treat you? I'll treat you if you want."
She laughed. "I have my own money, Maricon. It's fine, really."
I shrugged before walking. "Sabi mo, eh."
"Oh, that's Chase!" I yelled after seeing Chase buying something at the counter.
"Chase!" Psyche called him. Taka naman siyang lumingon sa amin.
I smiled at him and waved my hand. I pouted when he ignored me and payed for the food. Bakit ba ayaw niya akong pansinin? Did I do something wrong?
Psyche nudged my arm. I looked at her confusedly. "Let's join him," she stated.
Tila nagliwanag ang mukha ko at sunod-sunod na tumango. Hinila niya naman ako papunta sa dako ni Chase na paalis na sa counter ng cafeteria.
"Akala ko nasa library ka?" Psyche asked Chase.
"I just bought some coffee," Chase answered.
Kulang na lamang ay mapanganga ako sa tuwing naririnig ang boses niya. It sounds so heavenly! Kung papipiliin ako kung anong boses ang gusto kong marinig sa araw-araw, baka boses niya ang piliin ko. It sounds so good even though he's just casually speaking.
"Maricon, ang sabi ko anong order mo?"
Natigil ako sa pag-iisip nang tawagin ako ni Psyche. I looked awkwardly at her. Baka nahuli niya akong nagd-daydream!
I looked at the menu. I had an expensive steak yesterday and I don't want to spent all of my money in one go so maybe I'll just stick into the cheaper ones.
"Kare-kare nalang," I answered.
Her brows furrowed. "You don't like steak?"
"I had it yesterday and it's too expensive. Mura lang 'yan sa labas, eh."
"But you're rich. You can buy any of those anytime you want," she stated.
I looked at her with a confused face. "Is it necessary for the rich to eat expensive food everyday?" I asked her.
"Huh?"
I shrugged. "My Daddy told me that if I ate an expensive food on Monday, I can't eat such a pricey food for the whole week. Eating an expensive food everyday would cost too much, you know? At saka hindi naman lahat ng mahal, masarap. That kare-kare looks really good despite of the price."
She chuckled. "You're really something, huh? Right, Chase?"
Chase raised an eyebrow at her before shrugging his shoulders. Anong ibig niyang sabihin?
"Ate, two servings of kare-kare with rice nga po," Psyche ordered.
"Ikaw din?" I asked.
She just answered me with a half shrug. Napailing na lamang ako at hinintay ang order namin.
"Sasabay ka bang kumain sa amin, Chase?" tanong ni Psyche kay Chase.
Chase shook his head. "I'm fine with just coffee."
Napalabi naman ako. Sayang! Akala ko pa naman makakasabay ko na siyang kumain.
"I gotta go," Chase said before walking away. I sighed.
Hindi niya man lamang ako kinausap. Am I invisible on his eyes? Bakit ayaw niya akong pansinin?
"Chase is just like that. He's shy and timid," Psyche stated.
My lips parted before looking at her. "How did you know what I am thinking? Are you a mind reader?"
She laughed. "You talked out loud kanina."
Napatango naman ako. Akala ko nasobrahan na siya sa pagbabasa kaya't pati isip ng ibang tao, nababasa niya na. Sayang.
"I think I did well. Ikaw, Maricon?" Psyche asked me after the our pretest.
I sighed. "I don't know."
"I'm sure you did well too. You looked smart naman," she remarked before looking infront.
Our teacher is already looking at our test papers. Tapos na namin iyong check-an kanina kaya baka 'yung mga scores na ang tinitingnan niya.
I looked down. Lord, please pass me!
"I'll announce the result from highest to lowest." Muli akong nag-angat ng tingin nang mag-salita ang teacher namin.
I tapped my shoe on the floor as I silently prayed. Kahit pasang-awa lang basta hindi bagsak, masaya na ako roon.
"Pascua, Chase Glynn. Perfect."
My mouth gapped. Perfect?!
"Bishop, Aurelia Psyche. Ninety-nine."
Muling nanlaki ang mga mata ko at tumingin kay Psyche. She said she think she did well! Hindi niya naman sinabi na almost perfect na ang 'well' niya!
"... Eight seven."
I let out a harsh breath. Bakit parang ako na lamang ang hindi natatawag? Kainis naman! Ang taas-taas pa ng score, oh.
"Alferro, Maria Corazon. Seventy five."
I almost screamed when she called my name. Seventy five? Pasado ako!
"Why are you smiling, Miss Alferro?" Our teacher suddenly asked me.
Taka naman akong tumingin sa kaniya. "Kasi pasado po ako?" I answered, unsurely.
"That was such a bad result, Miss Alferro. You shouldn't be smiling."
My lips parted. Bad? But I passed!
"Ninety and below is considered low here, Maricon," Psyche whispered.
My eyes widened before looking at her. Ninety?! Sa buong buhay ko yata, hindi pa ako nakakakuha ng ganoong score. And what? Mababa na 'yun?
"I want you to study harder, Miss Alferro. I won't accept such terrible result next time. Dismissed."
"But I passed, right?!" tanong ko kay Psyche matapos lumabas ng teacher namin.
"Yes, you passed. But it's just that a score like that isn't something acceptable here in Avalon."
"But it's just a pretest, Psyche. Ano pang pag-aaralan niyo kung alam niyo na lahat?"
She shrugged. "That's why summer class exists."
"Gosh! I can't believe I passed into this school," I mumbled.
"What's your grade during the Admission Test, by the way?" tanong sa akin ni Psyche.
"Seventy six," I answered casually.
Her eyes widened. "Seventy six?!"
Tumango ako. "Why are you so shocked? May mali ba sa score ko?"
"But the cut off is seventy five..."
I blinked a few times and tilted my head a little bit. "But I still passed, right?"
Ilang segundo siya natahimik bago tumango. I shrugged before leaning on my chair.
Ang mahalaga, pasado.
"That girl..." My eyes widened when Chase suddenly spoke.
I looked at him and to my surprise, he's also looking at me! My eyes widened upon meeting his gaze.
"That girl, how did she passed?"
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