CHAPTER 1

Xuxia Queen

"Faster. Faster, yeah. You're doing better."

Halos paliparin ko na ang bisekletang minamaneho ko dahil sa pagmamadali. I felt so excited to go to school today because it's first day of the class. Being late in school is absolutely not my thing and I don't have any plans to break it.

"F*ck! I'm screwed!"

Napamura ako sa inis at mabilis na napahinto nang makita kong nag-iba ng kulay ang traffic light. I really hate red colors the fact that it entails something disastrous- just like now.

Naningkit bigla ang mata ko sa galit lalo na nang mapansin kong matagal matapos ang isang minutong countdown.

Napatingin ako sa basag na wrist watch sa kamay ko.

"Five minutes left." I bit my lower lip in frustration.

When the light turns back to green I hardly hit the pedal of my bicycle. If something happens on my way right now then I'm 70 percent sure that I'll be brought in an emergency room.

Sana naman hindi ako maaksidente sa ginagawa ko ngayon. I couldn't be late because I had a record to uphold. Ako dapat ang mauna sa classroom before anyone else's does.

"Ouch! My legs!" daing ko sa sakit nang biglang sumimplang ang bike ko sa mabatong bahagi ng daan.

I immediately check my right knee when I felt a stinging pain. Halos mapaiyak ako nang mapansin ko ang sugat sa tuhod ko at nakitang dumudugo ito.

Kasalanan talaga 'to ng loko kong kapatid. Kung hindi niya pinakialaman ang alarm clock ko edi sana hindi ako nagmamadaling pumasok ngayon. I overslept because of him!

"10 seconds left. Sh*t!"

Paika-ika akong naglakad habang bitbit ang bike ko. Pagkatapos kong mai-park 'yon ay nagtungo agad ako sa academic building para hanapin ang classroom ko. I can't even count how many times I bumped to strangers. Lahat kasi ay nagmamadali at naghahanap ng kani-kanilang classroom.

It took almost ten minutes bago ko nakita ang classroom ko. Sino ba naman kasing mag-aakala na nasa pinakadulong bahagi pala ito? I sighed in exasperation before barging inside the class without even knocking.

Napahinto agad ako nang mapansin ko ang homeroom teacher namin na nakatingin sa 'kin with her flicked eyebrows on full of disbelief. Stupid move, Xuxia!

"Don't you know the word 'respect', Ms. Queen?!" Mrs. Christensen gave me a death glare. Her fierce look is definitely intimidating.

I really hate to be called Queen. I'm not getting used to it kahit pa parte 'yon ng pangalan ko. Xuxia Queen del Martin, even my full name sounds so lame. Yes, it's quite pretty but not applicable for me. It's contrary to the life I've had in real life. Yeah, it's freakin' ironic.

"I'm sorry Ma'am." I bowed down my head to pay her respect.

Mabuti na lang at kaagad rin akong pinahanap ng mauupuan. Naririnig ko pa rin ang pagbungisngis ng mga kaklase ko. Tss.

Nilibot ko ang tingin sa classrom and as soon as I saw someone waving at me, lumapit agad ako sa kanya at doon umupo.

"This is the first time that you came late. I want to know your reasons." bungad na sabi ng bestfriend kong si Molly.

"I'll tell you later." sagot ko sa kanya.

"By the way ang ganda ng entrance mo kanina. Napa-wow ako, I swear!" pabiro niya akong sinundot sa tagiliran ko na ikinainis ko.

"Worst day ever." I face palmed.

"Who knows someone will lighten up your day." bulong niya.

"Shut up!"

Ilang saglit pa ay nagsimula nang magsalita si Mrs. Christensen sa harapan. Bioethics nga pala 'yong subject namin sa kanya. Napakagandang pambungad sa umaga ang ginawa ko kanina. Mukhang bad record na agad ako kay Ma'am. I hope it won't ruin my future career.

Mrs. Christensen started her talk by asking the whole class about the importance of ethics in our daily lives. Most of my classmates answered her question kaya hindi na ako dumagdag pa. Hanggang sa unti-unting humaba at lumayo 'yong usapan.

"Face up, Molly. Konting respeto naman diyan." sabi ko at niyugyog ang balikat niya. Well, she's sitting obliquely from Mrs. Christensen and currently resting her head in the arm chair while her eyes closed.

"Stop it Shu. I'm not feeling well." aniya.

"I know you're well. Nag-usap pa nga tayo earlier di ba?" sarkastiko kong sabi sa kanya.

"Alam mo namang kusang sumasama ang pakiramdam ko kapag nagsimula nang tumalak si Mrs. Christensen. Her voice gives me headache" paliwanag niya.

"Lokohin mo nanay mo. I'm sure kulang na naman tulog mo dahil sa panonood mo ng BL Series kagabi."

As soon as she heard the keyword "BL Series" ay bigla siyang tumayo sa upuan niya at tumili nang malakas. Natahimik bigla ang lahat including Mrs. Christensen sa ginawa niya and now everyone is looking on us.

Oh no, mukhang makakalabas kami ngayon ng wala sa oras.

Lalapit na sana si Mrs. Christensen sa direksyon namin nang biglang pumasok ang pinakainaabangan ng lahat.

Red Spencer.

Diretso siyang naglakad sa loob with his arms stuck in his pockets. Agaw pansin ang dalawang butones na nakabukas on top of his polo. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nag-udyok sa 'kin para pagmasdan ang mukha niya.

I envy how he inherited his thick black eyebrows and well-bended eyelashes. His grey eyes are too intimidating but captivating at the same time. He has a pinkish thin lips that everyone drools to kiss with. Bakat na bakat rin ang Adam's apple niya na mas nakadagdag ng pagiging manly niya.

How does a guy like him exist? He's really a gooddamn perfect!

Kapag siya naging successful doctor in the near future, for sure bagsakan ng mga pasyente ang ospital na pagtatrabahuan niya. Kahit nga siguro maayos ang pakiramdam ay magsasakit-sakitan, makalapit lang sa kanya.

Tahimik lamang ang lahat habang sinusundan siya ng tingin hanggang sa tuluyan siyang umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa likod malapit sa may bintana.

"Mr. Spencer, you're late." Mrs. Christensen finally broke the silence.

"I am." He answered and his eyes are roaming around the class.

Ilang saglit pa ay may dinukot siya sa bulsa niya. I'm sure it's a lollipop again. Well, the weirdest thing I knew about this guy is that he truly loves putting a lollipop under his mouth. It may looks like gross and childish for others but definitely not for him.

I noticed that everyone was looking at him especially the girls. Halos maglaway sila habang pinagmamasdan siya. Kulang na nga lang lumabas sa bibig nila ang mga katagang "sana ako na lang 'yong lollipop".

Sino ba naman kasing hindi mapapanganga sa kanya? I mean he's hot especially if he licks his lollipop.

Shit! My mind loses its control again.

Yes, I'm literally one of those girls who are rooting for him. It's true that I hate red colors but not him, not his name of course.

Red Spencer has been my long time crush for almost a year since he transferred here in our school. He became popular the day he went to school. On that very first day, he got his fansclub and also I've got my feelings for him.

Isang taon na ang lumipas pero hindi pa rin siya nagbabago. He rarely talk to anyone, he hates noise, crowded people and everything. I don't know the reasons why and even his fansclub got no answer for the kind of attitude he had. But that won't stop them to adore him. They became more interested in getting to know him.

Holy crap. Shit!

I almost choke to death. For the first time ever those captivating grey eyes were on me. It took not long enough when he shifted his attention to the seat beside me, near by the window.

Uh. Uh. This is bad.

Bago pa man ako makapagreact ay tumayo siya bigla at nagtaas ng kamay. Pansin kong naguguluhan si Mrs. Christensen sa ginawa niya.

"Can I occupy the vacant seat there? The chair here sucks!" Napakunot noo si Mrs. Christensen. Hindi kasi malinaw ang pagkakasabi niya dahil sa lollipop sa bibig niya. Buti na lang at tinuro niya 'yong upuan sa tabi ko kaya naintindihan siya nito.

"Go ahead Mr. Spencer." Mrs. Christensen said. Red nodded and started making his way towards me. "And by the way Mr. Spencer, please throw out your lollipop. I'm not giving you permission to freely do that inside this classroom. You are not a child anymore so stop acting like one!"

"Yes, Ma'am." He answered and throw his lollipop into the trashbin. Dumaan siya sa harapan ko nang hindi man lang nagpapaalam. He sat down at the right seat next to me which is near by the window.

My heart beats loudly. Ramdam ko ang pamumuo ng pawis sa noo ko. I am not afraid by his presence, I am nervous. I've never sat beside, glanced and made eye contact with this "Lollipop Bae" as close as we are right now since he had been in this school.

I really can't manage how I truly felt right now. Sino ba naman kasing mag-aakala na after a year mangyayari rin 'yong isa sa mga kahilingan ko? My God! Paano ba kumalma?

This Lollipop Bae is my distraction and motivation at the same with my studies before. I excel academically pero hindi man lang niya ako napansin. He doesn't pay attention to any of us. It's like we are all invisible to him. Pati nga siguro pangalan ng mga teachers namin hindi niya kabisado.

Nawalan na ako ng pag-asa na mapansin niya noon that's why I keep avoiding him. I always make sure na hindi ko siya makakasalubong everytime na papasok ako sa school. Having feelings for a person who cannnot afford to give back the same amount of love is terrible.

Naisip ko rin na wala itong magandang maidudulot sa pag-aaral ko that's why I tried to forget him and I'm half way done with the process. Pero sa nangyayari ngayon, I think there's a need to restart.

"Molly?" bulong ko sa bestfriend ko pero natutulog pa rin pala ang boba. "Molly, please I need your help." As usual, niyugyog ko na naman siya.

"Ano na naman ba? Masakit ang ulo ko. Inaantok pa ako kaya pwede ba wag kang....."

I covered her mouth bago pa niya mabulabog ang buong classroom. I'm sure hindi na palalampasin ni Mrs. Christensen kapag nagkasala pa kami ulit.

"Palit tayo ng upuan. Please?" pagmamakaawa ko sa kanya.

Tumaas ang kilay niya at saka nilibot ang tingin sa paligid. Ang hirap din talaga lumusot sa babaeng 'to. I saw how her lips turned into a smirk as soon as her eyes landed to the guy next to me.

"At bakit ko naman gagawin 'yon?"

Kung kailan kailangan ko ng tulong niya saka naman niya ako ilalaglag. Pa hard to get ka ghorl? "You obviously know my reason."

"It's one of your wishes right? This is your chance kaya wag mo ng pakawalan," nakikiliting sabi niya. Wala akong nagawa kundi pandilatan siya ng mata.

"Seryoso? Akala ko ba bestfriend tayo. Hindi ba dapat tinutulungan mo ako?" I sounded in dismay pero hindi man lang siya natinag.

"That's why I'm doing this. Make your move Shusha bells," pang-iinis niya sa 'kin.

F*ck! I'm screwed for the second time. Bingo. I rolled my eyes at her and diverted my attention back to Mrs. Christensen. A smile formed from my lips when I recognize the person who is sitting in front of me.

"Primo?" tawag ko sa pangalan niya. A confusing look plastered on his face. "Wanna switch with me?"

His eyes spark when she saw my seatmate. "Yeah, sure."

I give her the same smirk she gave me. Kitang kita ko ang inis sa mukha niya. I'm sure kukulitin at kukulitin siya ni Primo dahil seatmates sila. Well, Primo's crush is my bestfriend, Molly. Now she knows how it feels like to be in my situation.

I released a deep sigh as soon as I sat down on Primo's seat. Napansin kong nakatitig si Red sa 'kin kaya lumingon ako at nakipagsukatan ng tingin sa kanya.

My heart is racing like hell as soon as our eyes met. I was about to smile at him when I noticed that he's not actually looking at me but on the lollipop his holding that still covered with plastic wrapper.

It's a wake up call Xuxia. You need to move on. You need to forget him.