1 This Is Me

"Mom, hurry! Give me some money for my allowance. 5 minutes more then I will be late again! I still have to wait a jeep outside and it will takes another minutes!"

"There is one hundred on the top of side table. The forty pesos is yours and you give the sixty to Lyn" mom answered without looking on me while busy herself in washing the dishes.

'Here it is!. Lyn's allowance is greater than mine. Think of it, she is still in high school and I am in college already! And worst scenario is her school was just a walking distance unlike to mine. I have to spend more money for transportation but it was like the opposite. 'The reason that she is prettier and smarter than me is still not acceptable.' I mumbled to myself. I always felt my mom was being unfair between me and my little sister. I don't know why but sometimes it will sink in to my little mind that I was only an adopted child.

After I've got my allowance, I did not waste anytime and immediately exited to the back door without saying goodbye to her. Exactly when I reached the highway, I saw the approaching blue jeep. However, to my dismay, it was already full of passengers. So what happened was I'm sitting in the extension chair. Take note, I'm seating uncomfortably in the extension facing the door with my well-fitted uniform. By the way, they describe our school uniform like a flight attendant. Imagined how fit it is on my body! But whatever awkward my position might look like, I don't care at all. I didn't care for the pairs of eyes staring on me from the other cars following us in the road. For me, it's still my lucky day that they still allow me to set in. We are living here in a province and every 1 hour interval when the jeep passes by in our hometown.

"Excuse me! Hey, excuse me." the guy at the right side catch my attention. I pointed myself as I asked him "Are you.... Are you pertaining to me?" I asked hesitantly to confirm if he was exactly calling my attention. He nods his head as a confirmation to my questioning look. Then my eyebrows and lip slightly twisted asking him why. He said something but I didn't understand since I almost didn't hear what he said at all.

"What did you said?" I voice out and didn't noticed that my voice sounds slightly irritated. Instead of answering me back, his lips pouted directed to my chest if I was not mistaken. Pervert! I commented to myself and decided not to listen him. If only this guy doesn't has the charisma, maybe my small fist was landed to his face already.

"Miss, your..." he spoke in a sudden as soon as he noticed that I take him for granted but paused in the mid of his sentence. "What?" I asked irritably. He lift up his right hand and he pointed his index finger to my chest. I decided to follow the direction of his finger and I almost freak out as I notice what he was pointing out since a while ago. My sexy type black brassiere almost pop out on my uniform. I hurriedly attached the two buttons to close and hide what supposed to be hidden.

Great! Just great! Of all people, why him? I think my cheek right now got red of embarrassment. I compose myself and tried to gather and boost my confidence a little bit.

"Thanks." I said in a low voice and an awkward smile plastered to my face.

"My pleasure miss." he replied in a calm but I sense he was teasing me as well. Instead of feeling irritated of what behavior this guy shows, it was substituted with appreciation as he shows his oddly perfect and dazzling smile. But anyways, it doesn't matter to me anyway. Though he have the great look, still I don't like his manner.

It was exactly 7:30 a.m when I arrived in our university. By the way, I am Althea Revereal, 19 years of age and I am currently taking up B S in Mechanical Engineering and a graduating student at last. I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers. I am the least gifted in terms of height among them. But I can't say that I'm less gorgeous since countless of people I know complemented me for having an angelic face. But I doubt if it was indeed the truth.

"Oh, what happened to your hair? You look like you had just raped by some gangsters." that was Maria, one of my closed and trusted classmate since 1st year college. She commented as I've entered the room then I seated on the vacant chair beside her.

"Maria, are you still not immune with our best friend. She always look like hell. No need to be surprise. She didn't even wear lipstick sometimes. She even don't know how to comb her hair. Even once in a day! She don't even know what a baby powder is. As usual, a girl who don't have a care of her looks. That's why no boyfriend since birth. Oh poor, little, innocent angelic face bestfriend. How awful you are!" Rose, my second bestfriend have her second thought while pouting. I know the two of them was trying their very best for my own good. But I felt sorry for them. Let's say, I was on the list of those girls who were contented of having simple looks as long as presentable .

"By the way Althea, expect today or for the next day that someone might call or send you a message anytime."

" Oh no, no, no, not again Maria! Did you give my number to another nonsense boy?" I hissed. I really hate it when someone stranger will text or call me most specifically boys. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a girl and not a lesbian as what Maria and Rose always teasing me. But I don't easily fall on their trap. Instead, I found it annoying and disappointing. I don't know why, but this is me and I can't change myself for them.

"Althea, it's not someone what you called a nonsense boy. He is a perfect guy for you. A student from architecture. He is a friend of John, you know, my boyfriend. And don't ask me how handsome he is." then she was staring blankly on the board like eating the guy slowly inside her head. Yucks!

"He was just elected as prince charming on their department." she continues. "And John told me that he is very adorable and industrious person. My god, he is definitely perfect Althea." she giggles while shrugging my shoulder nonstop. "If only I'm not yet taken. I would definitely grab him no matter what. " then she gestures like she was disappointed of the reality.

"Nah, nah, nah! I don't care. I'm not interested!" I exclaimed while covering my two ears. Implementing that I'm not listening nor interested. "Oh! why not bother breaking up with John and court him instead Maria?" I asked her in unfriendly way.

"Why? Althea, listen to me. This is an advice from your very best true friends! If the right time comes soon and will be graduated this coming march and still you can't have an experienced with boyfriend slash girlfriend thing, I swear to you, you might be a victim someday for being an innocent. And take note, during that time, we are not at your side anymore to guide you."

" And in what way Maria? That was just your own opinion. I believe it depends on how will you handle a person." I asked. "I believe that a right person will come in a right time. Maybe not now, just wait a little bit and I will make sure to bring him in front of you someday."

"Mark our words Althea. Continue being too choosy in your dream list, let's see later if you will not regret it."

"Can you two please stop! Don't take it seriously Althea. I think this conversation will lead you two in a fight.

"Ok! ok' relax! I'm sorry if I took it seriously. But let me inform you that I'm not trying to select among the boys that you've introduced to me since last year. It's about, I don't have any feelings or affection whenever I was around with them. Even small attraction! But don't worry, I will try that architecture friend of your boyfriend." and my two best friend laugh while giggling.

"You are nuts!"I exclaimed.

"That's good to hear Althea." said Rose with sparkling eyes.

In the meantime, in our midst of conversation, our instructor in technical drawing came in. He started formally the class by presenting and demonstrating on the white board a three-dimensional view of accessory. While in the middle of the class, my cellphone vibrated as a text message came in.

Unknown Number: let's meet up. Paul.

'What the heck!' The guy moves faster than I thought!

Me: Don't take it seriously. Just delete my number.

Unknown Number: And you think I am serious? For god sake, I hate hearing my classmate repeatedly pleading me to send a message to you! Can you tell your friend to stop the bullshit?

'Whoa! I didn't expect his reply will go like this. Is there anybody who can hand me a dagger right now? I badly want to kill him right away even though I didn't met him in personal yet.

Me: Whoa! That's to harsh for a girl you know! Don't worry, I already told them to stop the crap! No need for overreaction. And to tell you the truth, I'm not interested of who you are. You are BULLSHIT!

Unknown Number: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it in that way. Don't be mad. Really, I'm sorry if I offended you.