1 IANIL | Chapter 1: May You What?

The skies were still dimmed when she was awakened by the vibrance of her alarm. She reached her phone then turned it on. The time said it's only four o'clock in the morning.

She outstretched her arms and back, and yawn while rubbing her eyes. A new blessed day comes ahead, she said and jump off from her bed, wearing her slippers and walks toward their kitchen.

She guessed all the people in the house were still taking pleasure in the comfort that their beds are providing. So, she, herself, prepared her foods and kinds of stuff that she will be needing for today since it's her first day at her new academy.

She wonders how it feels to be a senior high school student. She fried three hotdogs and warmed over the rice from last night and drank her hot creamy coffee. After eating, she went back to her room and took a bath for about twenty minutes.

She faced herself to the mirror, hanging on her bedroom's wall, along with her closet. She was wearing one-inch block heel pumps, her black slacks were ironed very well and a three-fourth sleeves white uniform paired with a navy blue ribbon, which signifies her academic strand, HUMSS, circling under her uniform's collar, fastened by a small pointed piece of stiffed wire with a rounded head on one end, wherein the name of the school was written on it, Summerfield Parochial Academy.

She leaves her black bra-strap length hair pendulous then applied a face powder, and brushed her lips using her favorite shade, nude nuance matte lipstick. She's not fond of wearing heavy make-ups at school though.

She headed back to the kitchen only to find out that her mom and dad were sipping each of their coffee. Her sister, Silvanah, was still sleeping because her class was on the afternoon shift.

"Look who's being an early bird here, honey." She saw her mom strikes slightly her dad's arm while she teased her. "Feeling excited about your new school, hmm? Your new uniform suits you very well."

"Of course, mom. I should not leave a bad impression on my first day at my new school, should I?"

"Are you leaving now? Come, I'll drop you off at school just get my keys beside the televi--"

"No, dad. It's fine with me to commute, okay?" she cut him off.

"I know you're being concerned, dad, but I just want to estimate my travel hours from house to school and vice versa."

"Come on, Luis. Let our daughter do her part since she's a teenager now. She will ask you if she needs to, okay? Just make sure you take a lot of care, young lady."

"Yes mom, I will, I promised. Not only to take care of myself but also to study hard. So... will you hand me now my today's allowance Dad?" she stretched her arm to offer him her right hand and made face trying to look cute. Her Dad draws his wallet from his shorts pocket and gets a hundred and twenty peso bill. Her eyes widened as her dad handed it to her because this will be her biggest allowance compared to her previous years. She thinks her senior high school would have a great start!

"D-dad, isn't this amount too much for me?" she faked her reaction but deep down her system is already hosting a party due of so much joy.

"Take twenty pesos, give me back the one hundred."

"Dad/Honey!" she and her mom exclaimed in chorus after hearing her dad's negotiable deal. Pretending she was over grateful became an epic failed somehow. Her Dad is kinda sincere and earnest sometimes.

"What? You seem don't like it."

"No! I said I'll be leaving now before you change your mind. Bye!" she quickly stepped out of their house after bidding them goodbye.

The sun was already waving at her when she arrived at the school campus. She stopped at the bulletin board in the school's lobby, to checked where does the room of Grade 11-HUMSS was located. When she's done searching for it, she found herself walking to the Building A 3rd floor and turned right.

She walked inside and seated in the middle, the second row. No students are coming here yet. 'Hmm... if I make this as a habit, I would be awarded as The Most Punctual student.' she said to herself after coming here one hour advance before her first class! Haha as if, she's a latecomer though. Just wait until the months passed by.

Thirty minutes had passed, she saw a few numbers of students or should I say, her classmates, were entering from that ostensibly simple rectangular wooden door. By the way, she's a transferee and I could say that this school is a prestigious one.

Thankfully, she was one of their lucky scholars after she passed their scholarship exam. Since it's a little bit early, she roamed her eyes around. Above her were the ceilings which gorgeously gilded and colored. The room has four windows in total that hides under the short-grey thick curtains. It is also air-conditioned.

They heard their door open followed by the sounds of heels getting louder as someone is approaching.

"Good morning class! So whether you like it or not, I'm gonna be your adviser for this school year. Wow, looks like you are all surprised? By the way, for the new faces, my name is Shangrila C. Beta, your adviser for this school year but, I want you all to just call me, Ms. Shang. Again, 'Miss' I'm not yet married though."

It was a long introduction that caught the attention of all students busy doing chitchats and stop her from what she's doing also. Ms. Shang is a curvy woman but obviously tall and also known for her sarcastic attitude. She wears a pink cloth headband that lets her mid-back length blonde hair to fall freely.

"Good morning, Ms. Shang." They stood up and greeted back.

"So today, the first activity is so very common, odd, and usual. I hope you already practiced the things you will going to say upon introducing yourself. Let's start from this guy sitting here in front and follows." explained by their adviser while pointing one of her classmates. Ms. Shang has a very fluent and clear accent which makes her perfect for being an English teacher.

Thirteen of her classmates had finally done with their introduction, but she only remembers a few names and faces. "Next," said Ms. Shang, because it is now her turn. She stood up and walked beside the teacher's table.

She let her eyes wander all the corners of this room first before she begins her introduction to ensure she had caught their attention.

"Hi and good morning everyone. I am Fionellanj Zetry E. Villa Ruiz. But I prefer people to call me 'Anj' because my name is too mouthful."

She released a good-natured and friendly smile. Their eyes were stuck at her to the reason they are expecting her to say more. "I'm 16 years old and currently residing in Bell-Forbes Village. Reading books is my passion and I'm a scholar here and looking forward to being friends with you all. I took the HUMSS strand because I want to improve myself in public speaking. I'm also planning to take either Tourism or Psychology course in college." She smiled after the last word and ended her speech with a bow.

"Thank you for that cheerful introduction of yours, Anj. I like that kind of energy, everyone should be like that since HUMSS is more on speaking. Okay, next please." She heard Ms. Shang calling the slim girl with curly long hair sitting next to her while she walked back to her seat.

"Fionellanj..." whispered by her guy classmate, whom she doesn't know yet, while she reached her chair. He sits behind her. She whispered back to him. "Uhm, yes? Do you need anything?" He offered him his hand as he spokes. "Maxsimo. Maxsimo Allen Reyes." He looked right directly to her eyes and displayed a very confident yet playful grin. She still hasn't accepted his hand when he said something again. "Can I court you?" he said straight-forwardly which causes her jaw to dropped and widened her eyes. She can feel her mouth was slightly open too for almost five-second.

She turned to his direction and made sure not to make a scene to interrupt the class' activity.

His hair was a super clean cut on the sides combined with the spiky hair on top and brushed up fringe, and this hairstyle looks awesome to his crudeness attitude.

His furry straight eyebrows unveil his overconfidence and his hazel brown eyes winked at me. His nose was enough in size and slightly pointed, while he keeps his lips wet, by licking it using his tongue. That doesn't seem to look gross for his face, but it doesn't make him cool either.

"I'm sorry? Alright, I think I'm lost. What you were saying again oh--you want to court me, am I right?" She could wish that she just misheard his freaking question because it makes her insane. Where did he get all the guts he has, huh?!

She maintained her voice on its calm and low pitch, so she could not call any of the other's attention. They simply murmuring each other while pretending that they're listening to their classmates amidst of their introduction.

"I listened on how you speak earlier and I feel like I want to know more of you, but the first step to do that is to court you. So, could it be a yes or no? I'm pretty sure that you'll say yes, I'm a good-looking guy either that makes any girl drool over me. You get that?"

She desperately runs her fingers to her hair after hearing his arrogant statement. Fionellanj just wished for her eardrums to be broken, so she couldn't hear any more those he was about to say.

"Let's make things straight the same as how straight-forward you are, lad. I went here at school to study and get our strings attached... is an act of foolishness that has zero possibility to happen." Fionellanj uttered, but he just smirked wickedly as his reply so she continued.

"This isn't being a hard-to-get-melodrama, but I'm telling you, whatever your intentions are, I'm sorry. But I. am. not. into. love" She ended emphasizing the last five words. "I hope we are all clear now." She turned her back at him and seated properly as she kept her head down as he introduced himself in front. Hearing his voice is enough for her day to destroy.

She desperately hopes she could get away from him by all means as soon as possible. She's not a man-hater but after the interaction between her and Maxsimo, she just realized some men are nonsense and just an ache in the head. 'Sorry Maxsimo, but you stand not a single chance.' Seems like the beginning of her senior high years was not that a very good start.