Savant Stone Olvido is the youngest son of Nelson Olvido. Nelson Olvido is the eldest son of Prudence Olvido lll, the CEO of Olvido group of companies. The owner of the one and only elite school, Intelligence High. Kung iisipin, magagawa nga ni Savant na ma-transfer ako, pero ba't niya naman iyon gagawin?
Aish. Stop the thoughts, Zari. Ang importante nasa A plus ka. You don't have to thank that guy. Hindi mo hiniling sa kanya na ilipat ka, kusa niyang ginawa. Kaya wala kang pananagutan sa kanya.
Tuwang-tuwa si Mama ng malaman na sa A plus section ako napunta. She immediately informed Lola about it. And they said they're proud of me.
"Ngayong nasa A plus section ka na, pagbutihin mo. Do everything to be one step ahead Sophia. I'm not sure if you could be the top one, but you have to make sure of one thing. Ang manguna kay Sophia. Naiintindihan mo?"
"Yes, Mama."
"Good."
Mama is the younger sister of tita Lina. Mula ng bata sila ay palagi silang pinagkukumpara. Mama wasn't praised by Lola because she was overshadowed by tita Lina. Si tita Lina ang palaging nangunguna sa lahat. She was the ace of the Marcoses. Kaya ngayon, ang gusto ni Mama ay ako ang manguna kay Sophia. Para ako naman daw ang maging paborito ni Lola. Mama always want to please Lola, kaya pati ako ay nadadamay.
Maaga akong hinatid ni Mama sa school, believe it or not, I was in school in five in the morning. Kaya nga akala ko ay ako ang mangunguna sa room. Pero mukhang nagkamali ako. A girl, wearing a liptint, with curly hair, is sitting in front row.
Mukhang nagkagulatan pa kami.
In the end, sa tabi niya ako umupo. Pwede naman kasing umupo kahit saan. Hindi pa kami binibigyan ng permanent sitting arrangement.
I never had a friend. But, why not try making one? I'm sure Mom won't complain since lahat naman ng estudyante rito ay mayaman at maimpluwensiya.
I turned to face her. "I'm the transferee student."
"Obviously."
I was caught off by her blatant answer. Feisty girl.
"I don't like your liptint."
Tumaas ang kilay niya. But, later on she smirked. "What do you know about liptint, nerd?"
Oh, yeah right. I'm wearing my glasses.
Challenged. Nilabas ko ang liptint na nasa bulsa ko. I slowly applied it in my lips while I was looking at her sharply. "Everything, bitch."
Nakipagtitigan siya sa akin. Maya-maya pa ay ngumisi siya sa akin.
I also flashed a mischievous grin. Later on, sabay kaming natawa.
"You still don't change, Nazari." She pointed out.
"Gano'n ka rin naman, Veda."
Yes. I know her. We met years ago in a math competition. I was the winner of course, I am the math prodigy after all. Actually, I can solve math equations. It's just that I need time to finish it. And in competition, you need to be fast. That's why I use my glass calculator.
Although Veda and I hang sometimes. I don't consider her as a friend, ganoon rin naman ang trato niya sa akin. She don't think of me as a friend.
She's more like an acquaintance.
"So? Classmate na pala kita ngayon, Zari. You're the top in your class, right?"
"Yes. Why'd you ask?"
"Well. Just want to inform you na iba dito. Top one ka man sa klase mo dati, I'm sure mag-iiba na 'yon ngayon."
Tumango ako. "Hindi na rin naman ako nag-e-expect na maging top one ako dito. I mean, come on, obviously. There's Savant Olvido."
"Yep. Well, not just him. There's also Sage Sarmiento."
Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. So, Sage is also one of the top in this class? Wow. Parang dati lang pang-iinis lang sa akin ang trabaho niya.
"Really? Sino pa ba ang ibang top sa class?"
"Spying, huh?"
Sabay kaming natawa sa sinabi niya.
"Just curious."
"Well, hate to admit your annoying cousin is also one of the aces in the class."
"Yeah, I know that."
Marami pang pangalan na sinabi si Veda. But one thing is for sure, base sa sinabi niya. Walang tapon sa klaseng ito. Lahat ay matatalino. Lahat ay maaaring maging kalaban ko.
"There are five properties of a well written text. Give me one."
Veda raised her hand. "Organization, sir."
"Yes. Organization meaning logically arranged idea or message. Clear and readable. Can be achieved through the physical format. Structure framework of the text as Beginning: thesis statement.
Middle: supporting details.
End: conclusion, summary, final message. Give me another one."
"Coherence and cohesion, sir."
"Yes. Correct"
The other three are unity, language use and mechanics.
"There are many factors to consider before you start writing. In this learning pathway, we focus on five of them: audience, purpose, context, media, which will determine the language you use."
Nagkaroon kami ng quiz pagkatapos. Surprisingly, all of us got perfect score. Iba talaga kapag A plus section.
We are in the cafeteria having our snack. Mabuti na lang at may nakakasama na ako ngayon.
"Dati, students are not really allowed to go outside the school premises. They just offer dorms for the students. Kaya lang may nangyari kaya pinayagan na nila. Though some students are still staying at dorms." Veda said and sipped on her milkshake. 
Pero may nangyari?
"What happened?"
She shrugged. "I dunno. And I'm not interested to know."
Well. Hindi nga naman dapat namin pinoproblema ang bagay na iyon. Ang importante. We are allowed to go outside.
"I really don't want to study here in Intelligence High, you know? Kasi the competition is everywhere. The pressure of maintaining your grades is tight. Sakal na sakal na ako sa responsibilidad na maging matalino." Veda shared.
Veda San Diego, is the only daughter of Senator Franco San Diego. Yes, anak si Veda ng isang senador.
"Well, ako rin naman Veda. But, what can we do?"
Veda was about to answer nang may padabog na naglagay ng plato sa katapat kong upuan.
Kunot ang noo ko habang pinagmamasdan si Sage na umupo sa harap ko.
"What are you doing here?" Masungit kong tanong.
He can't just intrude here in our table.
Tamad ang mga mata niyang tumingin sa akin. "Hindi ko alam na bobo ka na pala, Zari. I'm eating obviously."
Napasinghal ako. Ako pa talaga ang bobo. "Baka ikaw ang bobo? Can't you see? Nandito ako."
"So, what?"
"Sage, do you even have manners?"
"Unluckily, I don't have."
"Napakawalang manners mo!"
"Says the girl who punched me in the face."
"Ha. Ha." I sarcastically laughed at him.
Veda joined the conversation. "Sage, are you bored?"
"Yes." Sage answered shortly and took a bite at his apple.
Umikot ang mga mata ko sa kawalan. I really don't get Sage. Kung makaasta siya ay parang close kami. Yes, we were neighbors back then pero hindi na ngayon. And here he is eating with me. Did he missed me? Ew.
"Then cut classes, couz."
Nasamid ako bigla.
Muntik ko ng maibuga ang ininom kong tubig. Mahina kong hinampas ang dibdib ko.
Nagtataka naman akong tiningnan ni Sage at Veda. "Are you fine, Zari?"
"What did you said again, Veda?"
"Ahm, I said are you fine?" Umiling ako.
"No. Not that. The first one?"
"Huh? What one?"
"The one that... You said 'couz'."
Tumango-tango si Veda na para bang may narealize siya. "Ahm. Yes, couz."
Tumingin ako kay Veda, pagkatapos ay tumingin ako kay Sage. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa. "You two are..."
"Cousins?" Pagtatapos ni Veda sa sasabihin ko.
"Yes?"
"Hindi ko ba sinabi sayo, Zari? Sage's Mom and my Father are siblings."
Pakiramdam ko ay napahiya ako sa sinabi ni Veda. Though I didn't voice out that I was feeling entitled earlier because I thought Sage was here in the table because of me. My ego was crashed down. Mahirap nga ang mag-assume.
Sage is here for Veda, his cousin, not for me. Geez. Fine, I'm a bit feelingera.
"I... didn't know you guys were cousins."
Veda crossed her shoulders, while Sage focused on eating his food, like he doesn't care about Veda and me.
"Well, atleast now, you know."
Atleast now, hindi ka na magiging judgemental agad Nazari.
"By the way, how's your Auntie, Sage?" Tanong ni Veda sa kanya.
"What Auntie, Veda?"
"You know. Iyong natalo sa eleksyon. Palagi talaga kayong pangalawa lang sa Olvido, ano?"
Iritado ang mga matang tiningnan niya si Veda. "What do you care, Veda? Ano ngayon kung panalo sila? I don't care about their rivalry."
Umismid si Veda. "Sila lang? 'Your rivalry', Sage. Baka nakakalimutan mong Sarmiento ka rin."
Sage just tsked and stand. Inis siyang naglakad palabas ng cafeteria.
Napailing nalang si Veda sa gilid ko. "Well, well, well. Politics."
"Ganoon ba kalala ang alitan ng pamilya nila?" I suddenly became curious in their rivalry.
Pero hindi naman ako chismosa. I'm just... A curious individual.
"Hindi naman malala. They are both sport din naman. Alam mo, Sage and Savant used to be friends. Simula pre-school, dito na sila nag-aral sa Intelligence High. But you know what ended their friendship? Rivalry. Since then, palaging si Savant ang top 1 sa klase, wala pa silang pakialam noong una. But when they reached highschool, they started to take the honor rolls seriously. No matter how much Sage try, Savant always prevail. One time, Sage and Savant vied for SSG president position. In the end, Savant won."
"So, palaging pangalawa si Sage? He's envy of Savant?"
Umiling si Veda. "Sage thought that Savant always win because of connections. Dahil apo siya ng may-ari. But, for me, I hardly doubt that. Si Savant ang nangunguna because he's really genius!" Veda's eyes are twinkling in admiration.
What's this?
I sighed.
Another girl hit by cupid's arrow. First, Sophia, now Veda?
I sighed again.
Savant must be cupid's favorite.