"Pahinga muna!"sabi ni Cole sa amin
Pumunta ako sa duffel bag ko at kinuha yung tumbler ko, nag-uusap sina Cole at Oliver malapit sa pintuan ng studio
Napansin ko si Emy, tinititigan niya si Oliver. Siniko ko siya at ngumuso kay Oliver bigla siya umiwas
"Mali ang iniisip mo"kinakabahan niyang sabi sa akin
"Alam na alam ko na yan"kindat ko sa kanya
"Wala ka matatago sa akin Emy"I winked at her and stood up as Cole called us to continue the practice
Si Luca ang sumundo sa akin galing din siya sa training nila. Lagi niya ako sinusundo pagkatapos ng training nila sa basketball. Varsity na kasi siya sa Ateneo lalo na ngayon na nasa Senior highschool na siya.
"Kamusta training mo?"tanong ko sa kanya habang hinahanap ko ang phone ko sa duffel bag ko
"As usual okay lang naman ikaw?"
"Im exhausted but Im fine"I answered him while texting my mom
"Wanna go for a dinner?"he asked me
"Bago yan ah!"natatawa na sabi ko sa kanya
"May sasabihin lang ako pero kain muna tayo sa dating gawi"he smiled and drove off to our place
Japanese restaurant because we are fan of anime that's why magkasundo kami lagi pag japanese na yung pag-uusapan naming dalawa
"Ano pala sasabihin?"tanong ko habang sumusubo ako ng sushi
"Alona, I have a girlfriend"napaubo ako at nakaramdam ako ng kirot at the same time
"Congratulation sa wakas nagkagirlfriend ka na din!"sabi ko sa kanya habang ngumingiti para itago yung nararamdaman ko
"You will meet her soon and you will like her. I promise!"he said proudly
"Who is this unlucky one?"I laughed
"She is Halie from the ABM strand"
"Good for you two, tapos na ako kumain"sabi ko sa kanya ng maubos ko na ang sushi sa plate ko
"Tara ihatid na kita sa inyo"tahimik ako sumunod sa kanya palabas ng restaurant
Tahimik kaming dalawa sa buong biyahe. Nakamasid lang ako sa labas at kumuha ako ng litrato and I posted it in my instagram with a caption of "It's not the same anymore".
"Thank you, Ingat sa pag-uwi"sabi ko sa kanya at ngumiti
"Pakisabi na din kay tita na belated happy Birthday"may binigay siya sa akin na paper bag
"Makakarating"ngiti ko at tumalikod na sa kanya
"You're late today honey"mom said while typing in her laptop
"Luca invited me to have dinner with him that's why and Luca gave you this he said belated happy birthday"she smiled and opened the paper bag
"That boy is so sweet he do remember what I wanted"she said while looking at the bag "Are you two dating?"
I wish we are but we aren't!
"No mom, we're good friends and Luca has girlfriend already"I told her
"Akala ko pa naman kayo magkakatuluyan"she sound disappointed
"I'll go upstairs now, I need to study for my upcoming exams"I said and gently take a step upstairs
"Life sucks"I whispered and started to  scanning my notes. I did highlighting and familiar the terms.
My phone suddenly vibrated because of Cole's reply. I swipe my lockscreen and read his reply.
Cole: Not the same?
I shut down my phone and started to read my notes again. I stretched my arms when Im done. I heard a knock from my door, I walk and opened it.
"You've been studying for an hour, how about snack for midnight?"mom smiled at me and walk inside my room, she put the tray on my small table
"Thank you mom"
"You've been doing so well sweetie, Im proud of you"she hugged me
For how many years, she hugged me like this. Im so busy on envying someone, I didn't know that my mom loves me as much as I love her. I smiled at myself and hugged her back
"Mom, you should go rest and take your medicine"
"Okay darling, goodnight!"she kissed me on my cheek
Eventhough my day was not good but my night was because of my mom...
"Alona!"pag-akbay sa akin ni Aze
"Ano na naman?"masungit kong tanong
"Ang aga-aga ang susungit niyo dalawa ni Sophia"
"Im in a bad mood"sabay pa naming sabi ni Sophia
"Magkaibigan nga talaga kayo"pang-aasar ni Tyron sa amin at tinignan namin siya ng masama
"Opps!"he raised his hand for a surrender
"Anong nangyari sa dalawa?"bulong ni Tyron kay Aze na hindi naman namin narinig
We walk inside our classroom and silently waiting for the class to start. Wala akong gana makinig kaya gumuhut na lang ako
"Miss Elrod, are you listening? can you describe this natural selection?"my teacher asked me while raising her eyebrows
She hated me and I know that....
"Natural selection is the process in nature by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more than those less adapted to their environment"
My classmates were smiling at me because they knew that I can answer very well beside Im the top 1
"Sit down" I did for what she said
We went to the cafeteria to take our lunch and I saw Luca with a girl. So, she is the one?
"Alona"he called for me but I ignored him
"She isn't in a mood dude"Si Aze na nagsabi sa kanya
"Anong sayo Alona?"tanong ni Aze
"Veges"I simply answered
"What happened to you?"Sophia asked
"I dont know either"I said while doing some sketching
"Me either, Yesterday was a bad day for me"she said and lean on the table
"Let's eat"Aze said as he put our lunches on the table
"Aze, may irereto ako sayo"nakangiti na sabi ni Tyron kay Aze
"Auto pass!" he plainly said
"Dali na, itry mo din kasi lumandi minsan"natatawa na sabi ni Tyron
"Wag mo nga itulad sayo si Aze"maldita na sabi ni Sophia kay Tyron
After we take our lunches, we went to our room and the teacher was there.
"So everyone, who would you suggest to be our representatives for the pageant"
"Alona and Aze po ma'am"napatingin ako sa kaklase ko
"Hindi ako sumasalo diyan"sabi ko sa kanila
"It's a big oppurtunity ma'am kasi maganda na si Alona at matalino pa"dagdag ni Tyra
Dati kalaban ko lang tong mga babae nato, ngayon ang babait na nila sa akin.
"Aze?"tumingin ang guro namin kay Aze
"Okay lang naman po ma'am"ngiti ni Aze
"Okay settle na yan, tawagin ko na lang kayo dalawa for pictorial and other stuff"saka na siya unalis ng  room
After the practice, naghintay ako kay Luca for almost 30 minutes pero wala pa siya. Tinawagan ko si Aze
"Alona, may itutulong ako?"
"I need a lift"I told him as I crossed my legs
"Okay, I'll be there in a minute"he hang-up
As I saw his car infront of me, he opened the front door. I step inside his car and closed it.
"Luca didn't came?"
"He isn't replying!"I crossed my arms
"That man!"
"Anyway let's go for a dinner, Im starving"he nodded and drove of to the nearest restaurant
Nauna na amo bumaba at sumunod naman siya sa akin, sabay kaming pumasok sa loob ng restaurant.
The waiter gave us the menu and I ordered a rice and a veges. Yes, I am a vegetarian. Minsan lang ako kumakain ng mga meat dahil sinanay ako ni manang Elena kumain ng mga gulay.
"I think you would be picking me often"I told him while playing with my phone
"Why?"
"Luca is now busy with her girlfriend"
"He has a girlfriend?"he was shocked for what I said
"Yeah, he told me yesterday"
"Okay then, I'll be picking you up from now on"he smiled at me
As our order came, we ate peacefully. I posted on my instagram story our pictures together. As expected many of my cousins and classmates asking if we are dating
Aze and I would never fall inlove with each other and why? because i see Aze as a good friend and a family. After we ate dinner, Aze drop me outside of our house.
"Thank you Aze, drive safely"I smiled at him
"I will"I turned my back and step closer to our door
"Honey, have you eaten already?"Mom asked me
"Yes mom, I did"I smiled and kissed her on her cheek
"Kasama mo ba si Luca?"
"No mom, Im with Aze"I plainly said while taking a step upstairs
My phone vibrated and saw Luca's message or should I say his girlfriend
Luca:
I'm his girlfriend and please stop texting my boyfriend!
I smirked for what she texted
"So you were together tonight?"binagsak ko ang duffel bag ko sa mesa at tinignan ang repleksyon ko sa salamin
Umupo ako sa upuan at kumuha ng suklay para ayusin ang buhok ko. Sophia send me a message
Sophia:
I saw Luca and his girlfriend inside the restaurant
I didn't reply to her and put my phone in the drawer. I decided to take a shower to cool myself down and did my skin routine.
I fixed my bed and turned-off the light. I closed my eyes to force myself to go to sleep but it didn't help. I turned-on the lights again and decided to review my notes instead