Ngayon ang first day of school.
Freed Olvido and Perisha Lim won in the election. Yes, may Lola na akong vice-governor.
Hinatid ako ni Mama at Papa kahapon sa dorm ng Intelligence High. I'm a day earlier.
Dark blue ang kulay ng uniporme namin. One inch above the knee. White sleeves and dark blue blazer. We also have a ribbon. It's quite alright actually. Korean style ang uniform.
And a week ago. Mama brought me to a salon. My hair received a treatment.
"Students, please proceed to your classrooms."
Kakatapos lang ng flag raising ceremony kanina.
"Again. Students, please proceed to your classrooms."
Mas binilisan ko ang paglalakad ko papunta sa room namin. Luckily, I wasn't gone astray. May hawak naman kasi akong map. Our room is in fourth floor.
"Students, you have sixty seconds left to proceed to your classrooms."
"Fifty-nine, fifty-eight, fifty-seven..."
I gently open the door. But it seems that I'm the last student to enter the room. Lahat ng estudyante sa loob ay napatingin sa akin. I ignored them and sat on the first row.
Ilang sandali pa ay dumating ang isang teacher.
"Good morning, students. Welcome back to school. I will check the attendance. Say present if you heard me mention your name."
"Girl's first."
"Alinob."
"Present!"
"Bayato."
"Present!"
"Curambao."
"Present."
The list goes on and on. Nang malapit na sa Z. Mas tinalasan ko ang pandinig ko.
"Ydalgo."
"Present."
"Zarcon."
"Present."
"Okay. Let's proceed to the list of boys." Kumunot ang noo ko sa narinig ko.
I didn't waste a time and raised my hand.
The teacher noticed me. "Yes?"
"I wasn't called, Ma'am."
"What's your surname?"
"Zuniega, Nazari."
Huminto siya at may tiningnan sa list.
"Miss Zuniega you are in A plus section."
Para akong nabingi sa narinig ko.
W-What?
"Come again, Ma'am?"
"I said you are in A plus section. Don't waste my time. Go to your classroom."
Para parin akong naestatwa sa narinig ko. I didn't move. Natauhan lang ako nang marinig kong sumigaw si Ma'am.
"Miss Zuniega!"
Napatayo ako agad. "Yes, Ma'am?"
"Are you going to your room or not?"
"I will, Ma'am. Gladly." Mabilis akong yumuko sa kanya at halos tumakbo na palabas ng room sa bilis ng lakad ko.
I can't believe it. I was sure that my score was just ninety-nine but why am I in A plus section?  Does that matter, Nazari?! You are in A plus section. Goodness! I'm sure Mom will be very proud of me.
The A plus section is in fifth floor. Nakangiti pa rin ako kahit umaakyat na ako sa hagdan papuntang fifth floor dahil occupied ang elevator.
When I reached the room. I composed myself. Inayos ko ang damit ko at ang buhok ko. I also cleared my throat. I sighed for the last time and held the door handle.
"Zuniega."
I didn't think and just opened the door quickly. "Present, Ma'am."
Lahat sila ay napatingin sa akin. Iginala ko ang mata ko sa paligid. They were all staring at me intently. Savant was in the last row looking at me like he was amused.
Sophia is glaring at me. And the other students are inspecting me.
"Okay, Miss Zuniega. Sit in vacant chair in fifth row."
Mabilis kong tinungo ang magiging upuan ko. The vacant chair is in front of Savant. Ibig sabihin, sa likod ko siya nakaupo.
I sat on the chair with my heart throbbing. I'm still in shock. Gosh. Am I dreaming? Am I really in A plus section?
"Why is Mister Sarmiento not around? Where is he again--"
Biglang bumukas ang pintuan. Bumungad ang lalaking magulo ang buhok at may piercing sa kaliwang tainga.
"Sorry, Ma'am. I'm late."
Umikot ang mga mata ni Ma'am Gutierrez na para bang sanay na siya. "First day of school and you're late, Sarmiento."
"That's why I'm sorry, Ma'am."
"Fine. Fine. Just sit on your chair."
Ngumisi ang lalaki at nagtungo papunta sa gawi ko. Bahagya siyang natigilan nang makita ako. Pero agad rin siyang nakabawi at umupo sa upuang katabi ko. Great. A boy sitting on my back, and on my left. I won't be awkward. I really won't. Argh. Buti na lang talaga at bintana ang katabi ko sa kanan.
"We will talk about planets for today."
"What is the hottest planet?"
Sophia raised her hand. "Venus."
"Yes. Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system. Mercury was the closest planet to the sun. But the Venus..." Marami pang sinabi ang teacher pero wala akong maintindihan dahil medyo lutang pa ako.
Matagal rin bago matapos ang klase. Ang break time namin ay before lunch. Nag-sunod-sunod ang tatlong klase. Kaya medyo na stress ako. 
Humarap sa akin ang babaeng nakaupo sa unahan ko. She have a short hair and she's wearing an eyeglass.
"Yes?"
"Ahm. Ikaw ang pinsan ni Sophia, hindi ba?"
"Oo."
"Ahm. Transferee ka diba? May club ka na ba?"
Kumunot ang noo ko. "First day palang ngayon, right?"
"Oo. Pero dito sa intelligence high. Open na for membership ang mga club since day one."
Ganoon?
"Okay."
"Just in case you want to try the math club. Approach me. I am the president of the club. Well, I've heard you're a math prodigy in your school."
I just nodded at her. Tumayo ako at akma ng aalis. But I stopped when I remember something.
I turned to face my seatmate. Hindi pa ako nakakaganti sa gagong ito. Mabuti na lang at kaunti na lang ang tao sa room. This man always beat me in chess when we were young. And last time, sa floating parade, pinatid niya ako.
Tahimik siyang natutulog sa chair niya kaya sinipa ko ang paa ng upuan niya. Naalimpungatan siya at tumingin sa akin.
I positioned my knuckles and give him a punch in his cheek.
"Ah. Fuck." Holding his cheek, he faced me with a glare in his face.
"What's that for?!"
I smirked at him. "That's for tripping me, idiot." I give him my middle finger and left him dumbfounded.
Mabilis akong naglakad papunta sa pinto. Mahirap na baka gantihan ako. Pagbukas ko ng pinto ay nabungaran ko Savant. Aish. Mukhang nagulat siya na makita ako.
Nilampasan ko siya at nagtungo na lang sa cafeteria.
Umorder ako ng chocolate bar, choco ice cream at ice tea. Recess pa naman. O-order na lang ulit ako sa lunch.
Umupo ako sa table na walang tao. Wala lang gusto ko lang mapag-isa. I guess my name suit me well. Nazari Lone is a lonely student.
Nagulat ako nang may umupo sa harap ko.
Sophia with her arched brows. "Alam ba ng Mama mo ng kumakain ka ng chocolate?"
Sinadya kong kagatin ang chocolate sa harap niya. Pagkatapos ay uminom din ako ng ice tea. "Syempre hindi." Sagot ko.
Mas umangat ang kilay niya. "Conceited. Huh? Isumbong kaya kita?"
I scooped a spoon of ice cream. "You won't." I confidently stated.
"At bakit naman hindi?"
"Because I said so."
She said the word, "Ha!" She looked at like I'm unbelievable.
"How dare you? Malakas ang loob mo dahil wala si tita--"
"Yes, tama ka. Malakas ang loob ko. Kaya better go and leave. I might scratch your face."
Pissed, she took her plate "Tandaan mo, Zari. Isumbong kita!" She said before leaving me.
I silently finished my ice cream and choco bar. Hindi na muna ako umalis sa cafeteria. Umorder ulit ako ng pang-lunch. Vegetable salad and orange juice. Mabilis ko rin iyong kinain. I left the cafe when the students are filling the place. Bago pa ito mapuno, umalis na ako. I'm not a fan of crowded places. You can say I'm anti-social.
Bumalik na ako agad sa room namin.
Lunch time, kaya the whole room is empty.
Tahimik akong nakaupo habang pinagmamasdan ang bawat sulok ng kuwarto.
Now that I am on A plus section. What's next? Will I survive? I have to maintain my grades, or else, ma-ta-transfer ako sa ibang section. That's the rule.
Pero kapag naman nasa ibang section ka, kahit pa matataas ang grades mo. Hindi ka na mapupunta sa A plus section. Once the school year starts, ang mga nasa A plus section lang ang maaaring malipat ng section.
Quite unfair for the students in the lower sections but that's the rule. A plus section have the privilege.
"What are you doing here? It's lunch time."
Inangat ako ang tingin ko sa nagsalita.
Sa sobrang pag-iisip ko hindi ko na namalayan na may iba na palang tao sa room maliban sa akin. Savant is in front of the green board, with his tilted head and eyes gazing at me intently.
Hindi ko siya sinagot. Nakipagtagisan ako ng titig sa kanya.
"Answer my question."
I raised my brow at him. "Why would I?"
Napailing siya. "Is that your way of saying thank you?"
"At bakit naman kita pasasalamatan?"
"Because I just made you equal to me? Now you're not just better." He moved sideway. Now he is facing the door of the room.
Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. What the fudge is he talking about? Nanti-trip ba siya?
Paalis na sana siya ng room nang may mapagtanto ako.
With my widened eyes, I called him.
"Hoy! D-Did you transfer me?"
Tumigil siya at humarap sa akin. Pero hindi niya sinagot ang tanong ko.
"Answer my question!" Singhal ko.
Amusement is written on his face. He slid his hands on his pocket.
"Why would I?" With that three words, he left me on the room confused and shocked.
Did he just answer the words that I answered to him?!  Did my words backfired at me? Damn that man.
Kung totoo nga na siya ang nag-transfer sa akin. Bakit niya naman iyon gagawin? Baliw ba siya?