Chapter 1 - Introduction

[Present Day]

[Location: Taguig, Philippines]

[Time/Date: 12:45 pm/ 09-09-202*]

*Saori's Point of View*

"Ate!" I called her out as soon as I saw where they seated, then I greeted her with a hug.

["Ate" ("a-te"), is in reference to an older female relative or respected friend (especially one's own sister or kapatid), and means "Sister".]

"Ughh, don't touch me," she said coldly, which startled me and caused me to pull my arms away from her.

"Hmph, so grumpy..." I rolled my eyes and sat down.

"We're going to the mall, just like we planned last night. Is that clear? Boys?" she reminded, glaring at those two idiots.

And why, you may ask? Both of them spend their monthly allowance at a gaming cafe near our school after class. And, just so you know, an hour they spent costs three dollars, which is nearly two hundred pesos in our country.

"Why don't you just save your allowance and stop spending it on things that aren't important?" I chastised them.

"We can't do that because they have full gaming equipment and the place is air-conditioned, we have our own blocks, and they serve us food like we're VIP customers," Tyler tried to explain.

"Hmpf, excuses!"

"Really?" my brother retorted, "but you're the one who spends your allowance every day and always asks for my money because you've already spent yours before your lunch time."

"Duh! I've already saved a lot more than you," I boasted, rolling my eyes at him.

"I'm not going to believe you. I'm sure you can't go a day without spending your money on food," my younger brother argued, and I couldn't say no because I'm a food freak. It's not my fault, please try to understand. It's not like anyone can resist the savory taste of takoyaki, different kinds of pasta, and ramen.

"Hmph! You're wrong, and I'll prove it!" I defended myself, pouting.

"Don't tell me..." He shook his head, and I watched as his eyes grew wide with disbelief, "DIDN'T I TELL YOU NOT TO DO THAT AGAIN?"

"Why not? It's much more fun to eat when it's free," I said, rolling my eyes at him.

"You're the one who warned me not to play with other people's emotions, but you— You?! You crazy hag!"

Tyler's jaw dropped as he realized my younger brother had the audacity to disrespect me in front of them and all the students near our table who could clearly hear us.

"How dare you?! Keep in mind that I'm much older than you, so show some respect! Besides, I'm not playing with their feelings!" I pinched his ears and hit his arms, which he used to keep me from whacking his face.

"Ah—! Please stop! I'm so sorry!" he yelled in agony.

"Don't dare to call me that again, or I'll punch your mouth with staplers!"

"I'm sure you picked up that phrase from watching a lot of dramas."

On one side, Ate Clydelle commented, while Tyler's face is now flushed red from holding back his laughter.

"Do you want me to punch you too, Tyler?" I threatened.

"I would rather not." He cleared his throat and regained his composure. "A funny memory just occurred to me when Frank was annoyed by one of our teacher, he secretly mocked her and called her funny names." Then he bursts out laughing.

"Well, she kinda deserved it, you know? Ughh, a minor subject that outshines a major subject; she keeps assigning tasks while not being able to properly teach the class; she's just handing us her lessons and letting us report it to class while she's on vacation."

"But still! If I ever hear you disrespecting me with such impolite words again— I'll definitely tell our parents," I warned him as I aggressively poked the Tokneneng with my fork.

[Tokneneng - is a tempura-like Filipino street food made by deep-frying orange batter covered hard-boiled duck eggs.]

"S-sure, I'll never insult you again," he said, frightened by my ominous behavior as he watched me murder the egg. "How about those guys who give you free food? Are you going to give them a shot?"

"Shut up, it's not like they're my suitor; they do it willingly because they're my friends, and I'm sure you already knew from the beginning that I wasn't interested in dating."

"Yeah sure, I knew they were just for fun so you could come up with new ideas for your novel."

"What— How did you—?" I asked, clearing my throat and looking away. "What makes you think that?"

"Well, I always hear you talking to yourself in your room as you make scenarios for your story, and you were furious every time you realized you lacked experience with such things, which is why you started accepting boys and manipulating their minds as if you care, but in reality it's just for your own benefit!" He yelled.

"Shut up! And ughh! That's creepy. Don't listen in on what I'm doing, you freak."

"Hah! How can I be a freak when you're the one with crazy schemes?" he exclaimed.

I cleared my throat, "Anyway, being in a relationship is a drag because there is no pure happiness in it, only jealousy and hatred. Isn't that wicked?"

"You don't understand how they feel because you've never experienced what it's like to be in a relationship," he nags, sticking out his tongue.

"Shut up! There's nothing wrong with that; at least, I'm free."

—

"Saaaarriiii~!" Dean came up to me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

"What?"

Well, this loud dude is Dean Hilton, my best friend since grade 8. Him, Robin McGregor and Bobby Marquis are the only dudes I allowed to hung around me, they never get tired of teasing me but they're always there when I'm in need.

"Are you going to Hanatulu Resort for Daisy's 18th birthday?" he asked.

"Oh yeah right— OH GOSH I almost forgot!" I panicked once I remembered my promise to attend Daisy's debut; "Is it really today?"

"Tsk, you're Daisy's best friend, but you forgot her birthday?" he teased.

"Hmpf! I know exactly when her birthday is, but I'm not sure when she'll celebrate it."

"If you say so, Robin, Bobby, and I will be waiting for you at our school's main gate," he said as he pinched my cheeks and ran away.

"Ughh! Deaaaaan!" I yelled, irritated by his foolish behavior. He always touched my face whenever we met because he knew it would irritate me.

By the way, my name is Saori Claude Moon, and I'm 18 years old. Clydelle Jessica Park, 19, and Tyler Adamson, 16, are my cousins from my father's side, and they were the people I interacted with at the cafeteria. Frank Douglas Moon, my younger brother is the same age as Tyler.

And we all go to the same university, which is the most prestigious in our country, and we all live in the same neighborhood. That's why we're relatively at ease with one another.

—

[End of Class]

"What's taking them so long?" I grumbled, stretching out of boredom.

"Perhaps there's an emergency meeting; Frank is the president of the JHS Student Council, right?"

"Ah, yeah," I nodded.

"Ateeee!" Tyler exclaimed as he ran in our direction.

"What happened to Frank?"

"I'm not sure," he replied.

"Are you not attending a conference today?"

"We're free today, but as far as I recall, Aimee dragged Frank for a small talk."

"Ehh?! Perhaps Frank has made up his mind and will now be able to confess for Aimee!" ate exclaimed enthusiastically while laughing at Frank's folly.

"No way, he's an awkward guy, he'd never have the guts to do that," I said, which made Tyler laugh. Frank is torpe, according to even his favorite cousin. "But, you said Aimee asked him for a talk?"

"Yeah, it had to be something important."

[Torpe - Is a Filipino word which means "A person who's too shy to confess to the person he/she likes, being too shy to pursue amorous desires."]

"Well, then, let's just wait for him at the cafeteria; standing for too long is tiring," Ate Clydelle suggested.

"Tyler, please text Frank our location," I said.

So we waited for almost an hour, and I could hear my stomach rumbling as if it was begging for my favorite dish, pork sisig.

[Pork Sisig - is a popular Filipino dish. It can be considered as a main dish or an appetizer. The composition of this dish is mainly of pig's parts such as minced pork meat, ears, and face.]

Frank arrived an hour later, but he exudes a dreadful aura. His face is pale and his eyes are watering.

"Let's go," Frank said as he approached our table.

"Can you tell me what happened between you and your beloved?"

"Well, she told me that she'll be gone next week... Aimee said her parents want her to study abroad."

"Really, and you still haven't confessed your feelings?"

"I already told her what I felt and how and when I started liking her, and she accepted my feelings, which is why we're now mutual," he replied sadly.

"That's fantastic! But what's with that face?"

"I told you she's leaving," he grumbled, but as a loving and caring older sister, I smacked his head and wrapped my arm around his shoulder.

"Don't worry, there are lots of social media apps you can use to communicate."

"But she told me that wasn't possible," he said as he pulled my arms away from him.

"Well, then... Code: Red! We need to do something!" I yelled.

"Are we going to get drunk?" he asked, pouting.

"Of course not! You idiot, you're still a minor," laughed Ate Clydelle.

"What are we gonna do then?" He asked.

I leaned at his side and plops my arm on his shoulder again.

"Shooting range."

"Oh, that sounds fun!" Tyler rejoiced.

"What are you waiting for? The car is already here!" Ate Clydelle called us.