Chapter 1

(JASMINE)

"Ano ang itatayo dito sa school natin?" tanong ko sa mga kaibigan ko habang nakatingin sa school ground namin.

We are here at the bench near our school ground. Lunch break na kasi and we are done eating lunch so they were just talking while I was observing these things in front of us.

There are big trucks in the ground. May mga bato, sack of cements, sands and equipments. It means construction thingy will happen. I have seen my father also. Well, he's an engineer and I never thought he will be assigned in this area. Sa simula at sa huli lang naman makikita ang engineer at architect every time na may ipapa-construct. That's what I have observed. My dad doesn't want to be disturb when working so I don't want to just say hi to him and it's just normal to us.

There are also construction workers in the ground. Adult and young ones.

Young ones?

Napansin ko yung apat na mga binatang construction worker. They were about my age I think. I was wondering why are they working instead of studying?

Well, of course, no budget lol

I have noticed that no one answered my question so I look at my friends and they were just talking. Maybe hindi nila ako narinig.

"Uy! Ano tong itatayo sa school ground natin?" tanong ko ulit pero nilakasan ko na para marinig nila.

"Oo nga, napansin ko din. Ano to Kit?" Ella said while staring at Kit.

Ella. She's the bitchy one in our group. Not all bitches are sluts. She doesn't have any bf at all. She's a brat one kasi sobrang sama ng ugali niya. She is always direct to the point. Wala siyang pakialam kong nakakasakit na siya. Also, she's a math genius. She is taking ABM strand. She is the top 1 of all grade 12 student and I know she's still going to be until we graduate. She has curly hair dyed in color brown and in the bottom was dyed in color pink. She loves pink though. Her ID holder is pink and so is the heel of her school shoes. I stil remember going inside her room, everything is painted in color pink. That color fits perfectly for her. She's really beautiful, without or with her makeup. Mayaman din sila. Her father is a business man and so is her mother. And she is the only daughter kaya para siyang spoiled brat. Pero kahit ganun si Ella, she's our Savior kasi kung sino man yung umaway samin, siya yung tumatayo para samin. She has the bad attitude but we understand her for being that way kasi atleast honest siya. And she likes Kit a lot, diyan lang siya hindi honest.

"Lawn tennis court daw yan. We talk about that nung meeting namin kahapon." Kit said while looking straight at the ground.

Kit. He is the simplest of our group. In school he wore complete uniform and outside he wears only white and black shirt. Amd whenever he is out of town, he paired his shirt with leather jacket. Yung buhok niya is just a simple army cut with an original color, black. Kit is also a top student. I think he's at top 5, I don't know I forgot. He has the same course as Ella, in short they were classmates. Kit is a member of student council so lahat ng mga curiosity namin about sa event dito sa school, siya ang tatanungin namin. He is also rich coz his father is a seaman. Wala nang mother si Kit. Her mother died when he was still in kindergarten. He has an older sister na isang manager abroad. Kit is simply ordinary. His Attitude is only equal. Alam niya kung saan siya lulugar, Kailan siya maging mabait o kailan siya magagalit. Kailan siya magiging masaya o kailan siya malulungkot. Kit has a complicated relationship with this grade 11 girl. 2 years na sila and despite all their misunderstanding, hindi parin sila naghiwalay. That's why Kit doesn't give a damn about Ella's feelings for him. And I don't give a damn about them too.

"Mabuti na yan para magkapag training na kami every vacant namin since na sa loob na ang court." I feel the excitement of Naveen as he said those word.

Naveen is A lawn tennis player. Siya ang pinakamagaling na player sa singles. But everytime na nanunuod kami ng game niya, on my opinion, ang yabang niya maglaro. Kung alam niyang mahina yung kaaway niya, he won't give a single score for them Kahit 15 lab lang. Well, hindi lang sa laro ganyan si Naveen, sa totoong buhay rin, mayabang talaga siya. His father is a military, I don't know the rank but I know that he belong at one of the highest rank. That's why Naveen looks so cool to other girls but for me he looks like an addict. He has an undercut dark brown hair. A piercing in his lips. But he is one of the top student too taking TVL, Marine Engineering. Sobrang puti ni Naveen and In his right hand may nakaukit na tatoo. A name was written in his tatoo, TIANA with infinity symbol. Tiana is his gf.

Tiana is one of our friends. She and Naveen are 'The Couple' in our group. She has a tanned skin, exact opposite sa kaputian ni Naveen. She is taking TVL strands, Bread and pastry production. I don't like Naveen much just as I don't like Tiana much too. Tiana and I were neighbors, So we were childhood friends. Pero ngayon I don't think mababalik yung dati coz she changed so much. Her father is an architect, they're close with my father since highschool that's why connected lang yung trabaho nila. Her mother is a housewife and so is my mother. I don't like tiana that much kasi sobrang close niya sa Mommy ko. She acts like we were so close in front of my mom. At lahat ng mga mistakes ko dito sa school, even just a little mistake, she will report it to her immediately. In short, inuunahan niya ako sa pagsasabi kay Mom.

"Vacant time is just so short. Makapag-laro naman kayo every weekend sa town court." walang ganang sabi ni Lily kay Naveen.

"Oo nga, but I want to occupy my vacant time on training. Ganun ka din naman Lily ah." Naveen stares at Lily deeply. I know he is pissed right now.

Lily doesn't like Naveen too. And Naveen hates Lily too coz he knows the she hates him. (Hindi alam ni Naveen na ayaw ko din sa kanya so quiet lang)

Lily is a cool woman. Humahanga ako sa kanya kasi siya lang yung hindi maarte sa grupo namin. She doesn't talk a lot but she is not a shy type person also. We are both taking the same course since pareho kami na wala pang alam kung ano ang kukunin ngayong college. Lily is the top 3 in all grade 12 students and she's so wise when it comes to argument. Alam niya kung saan siya lulugar but when it comes to the person she doesn't like, she forgot her place. Lily is one of the best archery player. She compete on a national athletic competition last year and won the second place. Well, known yung Mother niya as an Olympic player of archery too. Her father owns a resort at honololo Hawaii, her older brother will be the Successor.

Lily has long straight hair dyed in color ash black. She's tall and she has a perfect body. But she's not that girly at all. When I look at her, she is like a brave warrior or something.

"Ok din naman yan Lily para yung mga junior players makakapag training na ng maayos since hindi naman sila makapag training ng maayos every weekend kasi yung mga adult at mga magagaling lang ang naglalaro sa town court like Naveen."

I guess Peter noticed the scene right now. Siya yung pumuputol sa mga conversation na malapit ng tumungo sa argument.

Peter is the most daring and the happiest person in our group. Parang walang problema. He is always active and talkative. He steals every girls heart with just a single smile from him. He has the cutest smile ever, I won't lie to that kasi when he smile, his dimple shows up and his eyes sparkle like it is smiling too. He has a messy dark brown hair and a perfect jawline. Kaya lang, babaero si Peter. Kahit sino lang yung naging gf niya. I can't blame him kasi sobrang gwapo naman niya and he is the most popular in girls here at school. He is taking TVL strands, Arts and Music. He is the best actor and a singer in our school. Siya yung palaging kinukuha everytime na may play or Theater, I don't know that, dito sa school campus. He also loves painting and Playing pianao. Top student rin siya. His family is always around kasi di sila kasing yaman namin. His father is a police officer, he only works at their hometown. His mother is only a housewife. But he has an older sister which is a vlogger. She spent all her money for her vlog pero makakapag produce din naman siya ng pera dahil dun.

"You sure bout that Peter? Hahah... I don't think so. Paano naman sila makaka lugar sa pagttraining eh yung mga seniors like Naveen is owning the court, inside or outside. How do you explain that?"

Ella's jaw drop. I'm not surprised at all coz I know her more than any of my friends since we're classmates.

Peter open his mouth then close it again. I think he's trying to say something but just forget about it kasi alam naman niyang hindi niya kayang makipag argue kay Lily.

Lahat kami nakatitig lang kay Lily and then to Naveen. I have noticed that Naveen was making a fist and I know that he is controlling his anger, he is so pissed and if we're not friends I would gladly laugh at him.

"Ahmm... Babe. Our schedule was changed and I found out that we have the same vacant time. Don't you want to spend it with me." Tiana broke the atmosphere as she approach Naveen in a flirty way. Gahd, I hate her.

"Yeah sure babe." Alam kong inis na inis na talaga si Naveen kay Lily pero they're not in the right place to argue right now and Naveen is scary. He beats people and I don't know if he beats girls too.

Well, that's what my friends are. We don't understand each other sometimes but we still stick with each other kasi kami nabibilang kami sa ganitong grupo eh. Diba iba-iba ang grupo ng bawat student sa isang campus. Well kami, nabibilang kami sa Geek group. The nerds. Compare sa ibang country, Nerds dito sa Pilipinas ay famous hindi bullied. That's why.

All my friends are top including me. And also I'm the top 2 yet my mother isn't contented at all coz she wants me to be on top 1 but I can't compete with Ella. She's just so smart and she's a great friend and I know I can't win over her.

I suddenly feel uncomfortable. Parang may nakatitig sakin so tumingin ako sa mga construction worker and one of the young worker is looking at me. What the hell... I don't like it when a stranger stares on me coz it makes me feel uneasy. Iniwas ko yung tingin ko sa kanya. I bet he is one of our age. Naka puting sando lang siya and his dark brown hair is messy. He has a tanned skin na bumagay lang naman sa suot niya. May dala-dala siyang shovel. I think mas ok siya tingnan kumpara dun sa mga kasama niyang teenager na worker din. but still, ang dumi parin nilang tingnan, idagdag pa yung walang pinag-aralan. I swear, I don't like them.

"So guys we should go. It's already 12:45. Almost 1 pm. " sabi ni Ella habang nakatingin sa relo niya.

Kinuha na namin yung bag namin and started to walk towards the school building, towards our separate rooms.

Habang dumaan kami sa mga worker, I took a glance dun sa nakatitig sakin kanina at kinindatan niya ako bigla. Gahd... I got goosebumps.

I feel nervous.

Is he a pervert?

a/n: Spread LOVE and PEACE💚💜