Chapter 1
*A MONTH AFTER*
Caloy’s POV
Early in the morning, I was about to give my accomplished column article when suddenly, someone called me.
“Caloooy!” it was Angel. “Hmm?” I responded.
“Papasok ka na?” she asked.
It’s been a month since I met her but she treated me like her friend for a very long time. Friend.
“Mamaya pa. May ipapasa lang ako,” I answered. “Ah, sige. Hihintayin ko pa si Crisha dito eh.” She spoke. Smiling. I kinda don’t like Crisha. She’s very different from her, Angel. But still, she looks kind.
“Aga natin ngayon, bud ah?” Bumungad si pau pagkapasok ko sa office.
“Yeah, maaga ang class ko.” I said as a response.
“Si Jasper sobrang busy na rin ah, kalmahan niyo lang baka kayong dalawa pa ang bumalik 4th year,” biro niya. I just laughed.
“Sige na, bud. Ipasa ko lang ito sa editor. Ikaw ba may napublish ka na?” I spoke. “Ha ha huwag mo na ko tanungin matagal pa naman due noon haha cram na lang.” Napa-iling na lang ako sakaniya at umalis na.
---
While walking to the classroom, I am currently reading a novel. I’ve been used to this. Reading while walking. Kaya minsan, I am being involved with accidents. It’s just, I don’t want to waste my time so I am reading while walking or whenever I can. I don’t want to miss chances and also, masasanay din ako sag anito nang hindi nadidisgrasya.
While reading, I accidentally bumped into someone. When I saw her face, it was Crisha—Angel’s friend.
Crisha’s POV
The h*ll? Where’s Angel? I have been looking for her for about 20 minutes? Is she hiding from me? Well, I am not playing nor joking! TSS, I’ll call her na lang.
While looking for my phone, I felt like someone bumped into me. When I look at the person who did it, it was Caloy—I think that’s his name from what I have heard.
“Crisha?” “Caloy?” We are both shocked as we said each other names in unison.
“Are you really careless?” I asked.
“Isn’t it you who is looking for something on her bag while walking?” he claimed. “So, what are you trying to say, huh?” I rudely said.
“That we are both responsible for it. Both of us were careless. Isn’t it obvious?” He said then he smirked. “Really huh? Obviously—”
“Crish!” Angel shouted. It looks like she saw me from afar.
“Hey! Here!” I shouted back. I waved my hand.
“Kanina pa kita hinahanap jusko. Nagkasalisi ata tayo,” Hingal niyang sabi. “Caloy? Bakit ka nandito?” She saw that Caloy’s presence.
“We just bumped into each other but I’ll go na rin,” he said. “We? Baka ikaw! Binunggo mo ak- “I said pero pinutol niya. “I don’t want a fight in front of many people, okay? Bye!” He said and waved his hand. Argghh!
“Ano ba kasi’ng nangyari, Crish?” Angel asked. She looks worried. I don’t know if for me or for that guy named Caloy. Pssh.
Angel’s POV
“Ano ba kasing nangyari, Crish?” tanong ko sa kaniya. Mukha kasing beast mode siya kay Caloy.
“It was nothing. It’s just there is something in him I don’t like,” sabi niya.
“Huh? Mabait naman siya ah. Tsaka kaibigan na rin natin yun. Try considering him as you friend also,” mahinahon kong sabi.
“I’ll try but this still does not change the fact that he is careless,” sabi niya na lang. Gusto ko nalang matawa kasi parang ayaw niya talaga kay Caloy haha.
Pagpasok naming sa classroom ay naroon na sila Zoey, Aleah, and Jasper. “Good morning!” Bati ko sa kanila. Nginitian na lang ako ni Zoey at Jasper. Si Aleah naman ay binati ako pabalik.
“Sabi nung kabilang section mahirap daw quiz natin kay Ms. Ramos huhu.” nakasimangot na sinabi ni Jasper.
“Sino naman nagsabi?” tanong ni Aleah. “Sabi ni Dave at nung mga tropapips ko dun,” sagot niya at halatang dismayado pa.
“Magaling naman magturo si ma’am baka mapadali niya,” sabi ko na lang.
“Magaling magturo si ma’am pero hindi siya magician para mapadali ang lesson sa isang pitik, Angel,” sabi ni Zoey.
“What lesson are you talking about ba?” sumingit na si Crisha. “Yan pala baka tulungan tayo ni Ms. High Honorism student!” tuwang sabi ni Zoey.
“System of something ata- nalimutan ko basta mukhang mahirap sa title pa lang,” sabi ni Jasper na nagkakamot ulo. “System of Linear equations ba? It is just easy don’t worry,” sabi ni Crisha.
“Oo madali lang yun kung nagseryoso kayo sa klase noong grade 8 tayo,” sabi ni Aleah. Tumawa naman si Zoey at tumango-tango. Kamot ulo nalang ang ginawa ni Jasper.
---
“Buti na lang hindi ako natawag ni miss sa recitation haha!” tuwang tuwang sabi ni Jasper. Katatapos lang ng klase naming ngayon at nagrereklamo siya kasi wala siyang maintindihan. Ako rin naman. Kaya nga sa mga extra-curricular activities ako bumabawi para mapataas ang grades ko at mamaintain. Mahirap na noh, baka kasi mawala scholarship ko.
Natigil ako sa pagaliw-aliw nang biglang pumasok ang isa sa mga kaklase naming hingal na hingal. “GUYS, WAG KAYO MABIBIGLA AH” Kinakabahan ako sa sinabi niya.
May masama bang nangyari? “KAILANGAN NA NATIN MAGEVACUATE,” Dagdag pa niya na umani ng pagtataka naming lahat. May sunog ba? “KASI HINDI PAPASOK SI SIR!!! WOOOOO!!!!!” sabi niyang tila ba tuwang-tuwa.
Pinagbabato naman siya ng iba naming kakalase ng notebook sapagkat kinabahan daw sila. Hays pahinga pala kami ngayon sarap.
“Pst! Tara canteen!” aya ni Aleah samin. “G!” sagot ni Zoey. Tumango naman kami ni Crisha bilang pagsang-ayon. “Pass! May pupuntahan pa ako eh,” sabi naman ni Jasper.
Third Person’s POV
While in the canteen, many students greeted Angel. Almost everyone knows her. She appreciates it.
"Pinagkakaguluhan nanaman ang anghel na bumaba sa lupa~” Aleah said with ‘Anghel’ of the juans’ tune.
“Napakafriendly eh haha,” Zoey added. “True! How come you are able to smile when people are disturbing you while eating just to greet you?” Crisha spoke.
“Sanayan kasi yun. Magandang marami kang kaibigan at kakilala, Crish, masaya,” Angel said. “Tama tama,” Aleah agreed to Angel’s statement.
“Pero, who knows? They might be using you. Mas maganda nang kaunti lang kaibigan ko kaysa marami nga, puro naman peke,” Zoey claimed- opposing to Angel and Aleah.
“Nako tama na nga! Huwag na natin sila isipin, Kung nagseselos kayo, kayo lang best friends ko promise!” Angel said to stop the little argue.
“Cringe,” Crisha said and they just laugh. That’s Crisha as usual but, she loves and treats them as her sisters.
Caloy’s POV
“You are a great writer, Caloy. But always remember that you should use simple terms and words in writing in Column especially if stating your stand regarding to an issue. Iho, how can you persuade them to believe you if hindi nila masyadong naiintindihan ang term na ginamit mo?” Our publication’s adviser said. May mga revisions siyang pinagagawa sa pinasa ko kanina. My fault though.
“I am very sorry, miss. I’ll do better po,” nakayuko kong sambit.
“No, it’s fine, you don’t need to say sorry, actually this is just my second time lecturing you in your 4 years of serving our publication eh, you are a great journalist, Caloy. That’s why nagtataka ako kung bakit mas pinipili mong maging staff. You can be an EIC,” she spoke.
“I don’t think I am ready for that, miss. But, thank you. It’s a pleasure for me being recognized po,” I said as a response.
“Sige na iho, you can submit that before the deadline,” nakangiti at mahinahon niyang sabi.
Paglabas ko ng office ay naroon na sila Jasper at Paulo.
“What are you two doing here?” I asked them. “Busy ka?” Jasper asked. “Why are you asking? Hindi naman,” I responded. “Yun! Tara canteen!” Paulo said.
---
“Talaga? First time ata ito ah? Hahahaha seryoso?” Paulo said, laughing while walking to the canteen after I told them what happened earlier.
“Yes, well, the column is not really my forte so what should you guys expect?” I just said.
“Aba! Ang isa sa mga pinakamatalino sa school ay mayroong kahinaan? Hindi ako naniniwala...” ani ni Jasper.
“Mas hindi ako maniniwala kung hindi mo na ngangawaan ang acads mo,” pambabara ko sakaniya.
“Boom bars uwi!” Paulo playfully said. “Awit, sakit naman niyan lods, sensya na ah, ito lang kasi ako,” Jasper said jokingly na binatukan nalang ni Pau.
Sa pag-iinisan namin, hindi na naming namalayang nakarating na pala kami sa Canteen. “Oh, ano ba bibilhin niyo?” Paulo asked us.
“Libre mo ba?” tanong pabalik ni Jasper. “Yes, dalian niyo na baka magbago pa isip ko,” Paulo answered.
“Kuya? Orderin po naming yung pinakamahal na meal, pinakamahal na dessert, at pinakamahal na drinks. Lima po bawat isa noon at siya po ang magbabayad,” sabi ko sa tindero at tinuro si Paulo.
“What the- “may sasabihin siya pero pinutol ko na ito. “Nagtanong ka eh,” I said and smirked.
“Hoy! Grabe ka na talaga sa’min Caleb Jacob!” sigaw ni Paulo sa’kin. “Mayaman ka naman, diba bud?” nang-iinis kong sabi.
“Oo nga, tsaka tinanong mo naman kami eh,” dagdag pa ni Jasper.
“Teka, diba sila Angel yun?” Jasper said, looking with a familiar person. “Angel who?” Paulo asked. “Ask Caloy, dude,” Jasper responded, Obviously, he was teasing me.
“Tss,” I responded.
But when I look at the person, it really is her and her friends…