CLIO
"Saan ba kasi tayo pupunta, Jarvis?"
Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at tumingin sa akin. My brows furrowed while looking at him.
"Just follow me, alright?"
I let out a harsh breath. "Ano ba kasing gagawin natin dito sa mall? Kanina pa tayo paikot-ikot!"
He scratched the back of his head. "Ako ang bahala, huwag kang mag-alala."
"Kasi naman, I ditched my practice para lang samahan ka. Tapos ngayon, ayaw mo namang sabihin kung saan tayo pupunta. Nakakainis ka na, ha!" reklamo ko.
He chuckled while I rolled my eyes. Pasalamat siya at malamig dito sa mall. My eyes widened when he held my hand and dragged me.
"H-Hoy! Anong ginagawa mo, ha?"
Muli siyang tumigil sa paglalakad at tumingin sa akin. Sa halip na sagutin ako ay binigyan niya lamang ako ng makahulugang ngiti. My brows snapped together out of confusion. Puwede ni
CELESTE"Gosh! I'm so exhausted!" reklamo ni Kelly nang makarating kami sa cafeteria para kumain."Bakit kasi sa dami pang araw na puwede tayong tambakan ng trabaho, ngayon pa?" segunda ni Clio at padabog na umupo sa lamesa."Girls, it's our duty as a part of The Rank Five. Remember, we are the role model of this school. This is our responsibility," pangaral ko at umupo na rin sa tabi ni Clio."But isn't it weird?" Tumingin ako kay Ashanti at nagtaas ng kilay."Ang alin?" I asked."Katulad nga ng sinabi ni Clio, bakit nila tayo tinatambakan ng trabaho samantalang malapit na ang midterms? We are supposed to study during this time," she added.I sighed. "Katulad din ng sinabi ko kanina, it is our responsibility. Baka sadyang nagkataon lamang na ngayon maraming kailangan ipagawa."She lifted her shoulders in a half shrug. "It's still weird f
CELESTE"I'll go to the library first before going to our classroom. Nine o'clock pa naman 'yung start ng exam, right?"Kelly is taking a bath, Clio is busy studying while Ashanti is already at the coffee shop to buy a cup of coffee. We were all busy and panicking because the midterm exam is just right around the corner.Though I trust my knowledge, I am still nervous of what might happen. This is my last chance— and I can't miss it. Not today."Pupuntahan mo ba si Markus?" Clio asked while I'm wearing my shoes.I nodded. "We agreed to meet. I won't help him, though. We are just going to study a little bit before the test.""Baka makasalubong mo si Jarvis, tell him to study. Baka bumagsak pa 'yun nang wala sa oras. Mahirap na, mainit pa naman ang dugo ng Mommy niyo sa kaniya," bilin niya."Kahit naman hindi mo sabihin, sasabihin ko pa rin. At isa pa
CELESTEMy footsteps were heavy while walking at the school's corridor. The view of the sun setting on our west gives color to the dull sky— but it won't give color to mine.I bit my lower lip as my hands squeezed into fists. I cannot believe this."Celeste," Clio called me.I heaved a sigh before looking at her and Kelly. "What?"She looked at me with her eyes full of worry. Nag-iwas naman ako ng tingin."What are you going to do?" she asked.I swallowed the lump on my throat. "Wala na naman akong magagawa, hindi ba? We already missed the test. That's it."Kelly wiped her cheeks as a new batch of tears started to roll down. Bumuntong hininga naman ako. What's the point of crying? At this point, we already knew that we lost our spot.We are out of T
CELESTE"Are you sure that this plan would work, Celeste?" I sighed and looked at Kelly once again. "You know what, if you don't trust me, then you can leave," iritable kong sabi.She pouted before highlighting her notes once again. Of course, she won't leave. This is our only chance to claim our spot from those traitors."I am supposed to go London right now," Kelly uttered."Walang holiday pagdating sa pag-aaral, Kelly.""Ugh! This is so irritating na. For sure, nagsasaya na sina Kenley kasama sina Mommy at Daddy sa London tapos ako, nandito sa Pilipinas at nag-aaral," reklamo niya."Kelly, we need to do this. Gusto mo bang bawiin ang puwesto mo o hindi?" Ashanti told Kelly."At isa pa, puwede ka namang pumunta sa London anytime. Those leisure activities can wait," segunda naman ni Clio.
CELESTE"Are you really fine?"I sighed for the umpteenth before looking at Kelly. "I'm already said that I am fine, right?""I didn't know that she's hurting you." Umangkla siya sa braso ko at isinandal ang kaniyang ulo sa aking balikat.Napailing naman ako. "That rarely happens. Don't worry.""But still..."I sighed and gave her a lop-sided smile. "Don't pity me."She pouted. "It's not that I pity you. I'm just worried," giit niya."You don't have to.""Anong kadramahan 'to?" tanong ni Clio pagkababa sa kotse nila."Just Kelly acting like a baby," sagot ko."Bakit hindi pa kayo pumapasok sa loob?" Clio asked and raked her fingers through her hair. Nagf-fade na rin ang buhok niya na kulay pink kaparehas ng kay Jarvis."We are waiting for you and Ashanti to come," Kelly answered."Yeah, she insisted na sabay-sabay dapat tayo," dugtong ko.Maloko namang ngumiti si Clio. "Sweet niyo naman!"Napailing ako kasabay ng marahang pagtawa. Maya-maya pa ay dumating na rin si Ashanti na prenteng
CELESTEI sipped on my milk while staring out of nowhere, trying to think if we are really ready for the challenge."Earth to Celeste! Hey!" I blinked a few times and looked at Kelly confusedly."Yes?""You're sulking. What's the matter?" she asked."I'm just... You know, nervous I guess?"She chuckled. "Oh come on! Ikaw pa, kakabahan? You're the smartest out of all of us.""You're bluffing again," I retorted and sipped on my milk again."The line up is already decided, right?" Ashanti asked while drinking her iced coffee.I nodded. "Are you confident?""Of course, I am. History is a piece of cake," she answered."You're lucky," Kelly said
CELESTEI let out a harsh breath as a sign of relief while walking at the corridor together with my friends. The news of the removal of The Rank Five system spread like a wild fire not only in Avalon High but also outside.As usual, some of the students are already gossiping things about us— which I don't mind at all. Everyone have a different opinion and I respect that.However, I stand tall and firm on my belief. The removal of The Rank Five system may not benefit the school like the previous school years but it would surely benefit the mental health of the students.A school is a place to learn and discover new things. It should not be a place for competitions that may affect the well-being of the student inside and outside the school premises. A school is a place to earn new friends that might last a lifetime and it shouldn't be a place for rivalry."I think some people are cursing us on their minds," Kelly whi
EPILOGUE CELESTE "You really bad mouthed Markus on National TV a while ago, huh?" I leaned against my chair and crossed my arms. "Nagsabi lamang ako ng totoo," giit ko. "Why are you like that ba? You looked so grumpy," tanong ni Kelly at uminom sa binili niyang frappe. "Try mo kayang tumingin sa labas. Nakakatakot 'yung mga fans mo," reklamo ko. She chuckled. "Hindi naman sila makakapasok dito sa loob. Don't worry," she said and smiled on the camera outside. Napailing naman ako. She's really fond of cameras now. Parang dati, papageant-pageant lang siya sa mga school. Tapos ngayon, artista na. Kelly Eiryne Carson, one of the highest paid actress in the country. "Balita ko you'll join Binibining Pilipinas. Is that true?" tanong ko. Tumingin siya sa akin at ng