Jade Hontiveros' Proposal

"I'll go this way. Let's just meet at the academy tomorrow!" Sarah said after we left the academy to go home. I waved at her with a smile.

Her house is far from my house so we have to part ways every time we go home. However, it doesn't matter because we're always together at the academy.

When I got home, my Dad's shoes are on the floor, as well as my Mom's heels. They are here?

"I'm home." I said before taking my shoes off. I went to the living room and they are waiting for me.

"Welcome home. How was your day?" Mom asked with a smile. They both hugged me tight.

They are always at the work but I'm not mad at them. They still find time to be with me, that's enough for me.

"Nothing happened. Just like always." I said in a tired tone. Dad looked at me and gestured me to seat.

"We have a question for you. Have a seat." He said. I just nodded and followed him.

"I'm going to California to handle our businesses there. Do you want to come with me after you finish the first semester?" Dad asked me.

Yeah, I almost forgot. Next week will be the end of the first semester so we need to prepare for exams.

"I will think about it. I will focus more on the upcoming exams." I said to him before standing up to change my clothes.

My other reason is that, I don't want to leave Sarah alone. I plan on spending my time with Sarah after the first semester.

"Good morning Katrina! Did you finish the activity yesterday?" Sarah approached me after I entered the academy. I gave her a sweet smile.

"Good morning Sarah! Yeah, I already did. How about you?" I asked her as we continue walking.

Luckily, Jade and her squad are not here yet. They have been bullying us continuously these past few days.

"Yes, of course! Although it was hard, I managed to answer all of it!" She answered lively, proud of herself. I smiled after seeing her face.

"Wow! That was a miracle! I thought you are going to copy my answers again." I said then sighed heavily. She looked at me with an angry face.

"Hey! I barely copy your answers! You're so mean!" She said that made me laugh. It made her more angry.

"I will just believe what you said. So you can answer Mathematics from now on, huh?" I asked her, raising one of my eybrow. She immediately shifted her gaze to me.

"Oh! I didn't say I can answer that! I will just need you to teach me if I don't understand some of the lessons," she then grinned. I sighed before giving her a smile.

"Fine! Fine! You should be grateful that I understand Mathematics, if I don't, both of us would have failed." I said that made her laugh. We laughed together, without minding others.

The first class ended quickly. I stood up on my chair to go the bathroom but Sarah held my arm with his pouting face.

"Where are you going, Katrina?" She asked to me. I sighed then took her hands away.

"I'm just going to the bathroom. It's not like there is something else I can go to." I said to her. Her face then lightened.

"Can I go to? I want to use the bathroom, too!" She said, giggling. The other students are busy so they are not looking at us.

"Fine! Let's just go!" I said to her and started walking to leave the classroom.

When we got there, no one is using the bathroom. Sarah finished first so she's waiting outside for me.

"Oh! One of the nerds are here! Where is your partner, huh?!" I heard Jade's voice. I know she's talking to Sarah!

"I-I-I don't kno-"

"Hey, what are you doing to her?!" I said to them aggresively after I went outside. They looked at me with smirk written on their faces.

"Oh! Here she is! You think you can fight us now, huh?! Why did you shout at us?!" Jade then grabbed my uniform and tightened her grip on it.

"D-Don't you dare hurt Sarah..." I said to her, struggling to escape from her grasp. She then laughed because of what I said.

"So you are really picking a fight, huh?! Let's test your braveness! How about I do this to your beloved Sara-"

I slapped her face with my full force because of my anger towards her. Her left cheek turned red in an instant. Her friends got shocked because of what I did.

"Katrina!" Sarah shouted at me. I looked at her and she's crying. She looks nervous.

That's why I need to stand for her. She's weak. I need to be strong to protect her. I made a promise.

"I have already warned you... Don't you dare hurt Sarah..." I said while catching my breath. Jade slowly turned her face on me, smirking.

"You really did it... You finally did it! Let me show you how to fight!" Jade looked at me with dark intention in her eyes.

She grabbed my uniform again. She punched my faxe really hard that I thought I would faint. No one can see us because the second subject is probably started already.

"Katrina! Hey! Look at m—Why did you do this to her?!" Sarah shouted at them. She's afraid, but she still did it.

"Sarah, I'm oka-"

"You're not okay! Hey, Jade Hontiveros! I'm talking to you! Why did you do that to her?!" She's shouting again. She's nervous and that drives her to say these things.

"Huh?! She slapped me first! What do you want me to do, huh?! Are you an idi-"

"But she just protected me! It's all your fault! Everything was your fault! It's always you!" Sarah said to her angrily. Jade walked towards her.

"Hey. You're holding grudge against me this whole time? Who cares?" She said to Sarah with a blank expression.

Jade then grabbed Sarah's shirt and she threw her on the wall. My blood started boiling because of what she did.

"Sarah! You're going to pa-"

"You are not capable of that. You are just nerds. Know your place. Farewell," she said sarcastically. She spat in front of me before leaving.

"S-Sarah, are you okay? Does your elbow hurt?" I asked her concernedly. Her right elbow got a bruise.

"How about you? Does your face hurt? Your upper lip is bleeding!" She said then hold my chin to wipe the blood with her handkerchief.

"It's okay. Let's go, the second class started already." I said to her before standing up. My face is hurting but I didn't tell her.

Gladly, Sarah could still walk after what Jade did to her. The only problem is the bruise on her elbow.

When we got back in the classroom, the professor was already teaching lessons. Luckily, our professor didn't notice my face.

"Does your elbow still hurting?" I asked her while we are eating here at the rooftop. Sarah looked at me, her mouth is full.

"Wait!" She said as she quickly swallow all the food inside her mouth. I gave her water immediately because she choked.

"You should have ate it slowly!" I scolded her. She just laughed because of what I said.

"No. It's not hurting anymore. Thank you for standing up for me," she said, smiling while looking up in the blue sky.

"That's nothing. I told you I will keep you away from pain. I made a promise." I said to her with a genuine smile. We happily spent the lunch time together.

After our classes today, we decided that we are going to have a study together this weekend. She is really happy about it.

"Hello, Sarah! Come in!" I heard my mother's voice as I walk down the stairs. She is here already.

"Thank you! Where is Katrin—Hello! I missed you!" She said before running onto me to give me a tight hug. I hugged her back, shocked.

"Hey, calm down. I missed you, too. Mommy, we are going to my room!" I said before taking her hand to go to my room.

"Okay, girls! Just call me if you need something!" She shouted.

"Okay!" I answered back to her. We excitedly went inside my room.

Sarah has been here a few times so my mom already knows her. We sometimes hangout here together every weekend.

"What subject are we going to study first?" She asked me with her eyes twinkling as she held my unicorn stuff toy.

"Let's study Engli—Hey put it down! That is my baby! Go get yours! This is mine!" I said to her then took the stuff toy from her.

"I hate you!" She said before taking the monkey stuff toy instead. We laughed together because of what we did.

We started studying seriously. Sarah is really good at Science field and I'm good at Mathematics or any topics related to that. That's why we're perfect partners.

"Girls! I brought you snacks! Study well, don't force yourself too much!" Mommy said as she entered the room.

She put the tray of cookies and cake above my lamp table before leaving the room.

"Thank you, mom!" I shouted to her before giving Sarah cookies and a slice of cake.

I also poured juice in two glasses for us. I gave it to her and after that, I came back on studying.

"Thank you for inviting me! Let's meet at the academy tomorrow, Katrina!" Sarah said before waving to say its goodbye. I smiled at her.

"You're always welcome! Have a safe way home!" I said before leaving. After I went home, I slept already for the exams tomorrow.

The morning came fast, I immediately prepared myself. Mom and Dad are also on their way to work.

"Katrina! Your breakfast!" Mom shouted at me before I leave. I almost forgot my breakfast.

"Thank you, mommy!" I said to her. I hugged the both of them before taking my shoes on.

"Goodluck on your exams! Also, tell Sarah that I'm rooting for her too!" Mom said before I leave the house. I smiled because of that.

"Thank you! Don't worry I will tell her what you said!" I said before going to the academy.

After minutes of walking, I came at the university on time. The students are just getting crowdy. Hopefully, I get to the classroom without having any trouble.

"Good morning, Katrina! Are you ready for the exams?!" Sarah approached me with nervous expression written on her face.

"Yes. How about you? You look scared. Exams won't eat you." I said to her then rolled my eyes. She's just clinging on my arm until we reach the classroom.

When we got there, the exam was about to start. We're lucky we made it on time.

I looked at Sarah and she gave me a thumbs up and a smile. I did the same thing to her as a sign of goodluck.

After the two exams, it's now lunch time. We went at the rooftop as usual. Sarah's complaining about the exams that we had earlier.

"The exams are hard even though we studied the topics included on the test papers!" She complained, fake crying. She's not getting tired of it.

"You said it yourself. We studied all of those. Why weren't you able to answer those questions and problems?" I asked her with one my eyebrow rose up.

"It's because I'm not smart like you! You can answer all the exams easily!" She complained again. I just sighed and gave her my meal.

Just like I expected, it made her stop. She's now happily eating my food. She waa also happy after I told her Mom said goodluck.

After the lunch time, we went back to our classroom immediately. Fortunately, I finished all the exams. I think I would get a good score.

"Katrina! I don't know if I did well on the exams!" Sarah said as she hugged me while crying. She's really emotional.

"It's okay, don't worry. I'm sure you did well. You did your best, right?" I asked her. She looks at me while while wiping her tears.

"Y-Yeah," she asnwered, stuttering. I gave her a smile.

"That's what most important. No matter what happens, atleast you did all your best." I told her to make her at ease. It was effective because she really stopped crying.

"I want to tell you something, Katrina," she said while we're looking at the sunset like what we always do. I looked at her with confusion.

"What is it?" I asked, still looking at her. She looks at me and smiled sweetly. zmy favorite smile of hers.

"I love you." My eyes widen because of what she said but she just chuckled.

"Yuck. Stay away from me. We're just best friends, okay? You know already that there is a guy that I like." I said to her, pinching her cheeks.

"Of course, I love you as a best friend! You think so high of yourself! Even if I become a boy, I would never love you!" She said in a disgusted way. I laughed at her because of it.

"Seriously, thank you very much for everything. You gave my life a meaning. You always save me. I can't express everything to words. That's how much you are special to me," she said, staring at the sunset with a smile.

"You're also special to me. You are my best friend, forever. Until the crow turns white." I said to her. We both watched the sunset with a smile on our faces.

After the sun have its rest, we went home. As I was walking on my way home. They came. The people I never expected to meet me.

"Hello, Katrina. You missed me?" Jade said with a smirk on her face. Her friends are behind her.

"What do you want from me? Why are you here?" I asked them continuously. Not giving them a hint of the nervousness I'm feeling right now.

"We just want to talk about something. We want to offer you a proposal," she said with a devil smile. I'm staring at her with confusion.

What proposal? Why is this so sudden? Is this about Sarah? I don't have any single idea. This must be a trap. This is their evil plan. I'm sure of it!