School Year

"Sofia Exypnos, with high honors." The announcer called out for Sofia second to the last indicating she was only the top 2 in her class.

Sofia happily went up the stage along side her mother. Her mother wore a smile, yet despite this smile she was fuming inside. Alam na ni Sofia ngayon na galit nagalit na ang mama niya. She was low...very very low from what her mom expected. They both went down the stage and await for the final name to be anounced.

"Lusk Elegante, with high honor." The announcer called for Lusk but nobody stood nor speak at the very least.

The announcer looked at his coworkers for reactions before he was signalled to continue.

That man...he stole my title! He stole the only title that belongs to me! How dare him!

Sofia's mother later on that day scolded her for not achieving top 1. Her Mom pressure her always. Nasanay na si Sofia na maging top 1 palagi, palaging una, palaging matalino sa bawat bagay. At ang makitang galit ang Mama niya sa kanya ay masyadong mabigat sa damdamin ng babae.

And for the next five years the same thing kept repeating Lusk always stood a top of the rankings, no matter how much Sofia tried she always rank 2nd. Frustration and envy filled up Sofia's body. Fortunately for her, Lusk went to another school for highschool.

Ever since that, Sofia has been the first at everything she was always at the top. She was bombarded with attention and admiration, everyone liked her, she was the favored by everybody, some even see her as the perfect girl. But now that she's stepping at the world of Senior Highschool someone she despise and envy returned.

"Yes! I'm in section 1 again!" Sofia cheered after reading her name at the list on her phone.

She immediately announced to her friends that she's in section 1.

'Guys! Ano section nyo?' She asked her friends in their group chat.

Lilith: Of course section 1 din.

Thea: Aww section 2 ako guys eh, better luck next year nalang. 

Jean: Okay lang yan Thea, section 2 din naman ako hehe. 

Sylphie: Section 1 heree!

They talked for the entire night until 9 pm. Then her friend Lilith send a message to their group chat.

Lilith: OMG! @Sofiaaa di ba kaklase natin dati si Lusk?' 

Thea: Wait! Lusk Elegante ba?

'Umm yeah? Bakit anong balita sa kanya?' Sofia replied to Lilith's message.

*Lilith sends a photo*

Lilith: Kaklase natin sya!!!

Sofia stared blankly at the photo where Lusk's name is written.

"Why is he back... pwede namang di na sya bumalik ah.." Sofia silently thought to herself as she lay in her bed while staring at the empty ceiling.

Sofia silently turned off her phone while silently thingking about the past. The past where she would always lose to Lusk. Tears slowly flowed through her face as she remembers the scolding and neglectance she received from her mom for being second placed. Alam niya na ang kaniyang kahihitnatan lalo pa at dumating nang muli ang lalaking kinaiinisan at kinagagalitan niya ng napakaraming taon dahil sa pag-agaw nito ng lahat na talagang para sa kaniya.

The next day Sofia went to the mall with her friends to go buy school supplies due to the fact that school will start the next week.

"Anyare sa'yo, Sof?" Sylphie asked Sof whom slightly frowning the entire time they were buying supplies.

"You look really pale Sof, may sakit ka ba?" Jean added to Sylphie's statement.

"Baka may problema ka Sof, sabi ka lang samin." Thea spoke aswell.

"Come on guys! Get the hint, she's obviously worried about kay Lusk. Remember? Lusk was so smart that she beats Sof at everything! Pero don't worry girl, sure naman ako na di ka na nya malalagpasan, after all you've been working your ass everyday studying!" Lilith cheered.

"I'm good guys, I just have a lot in mind, beside grade 11 na tayo next week, who knows maybe someone better and smarter than me will be our classmate." Sofia mumbled in a low voice.

Everyone just giggled at her statement due to the fact that everybody saw through her obvious lie. Mas lalong dumagdag sa isipin ni Sofia ang nasabi niya. It's really hard to swallow the truth. Now, she felt more nervous but she will definitely won't back out. This is her field.

They continued to shop for a little more before deciding to check out. The five of them gathered at the counter, while everyone talked about how excited they were for school, Sofia was staring at a random guy that slightly resembled someone she once knew.

"I wonder how you look now Lusk.." Sofia thought to herself while looking at the handsome man around their age.

The man looked like he was a loner, he was also listening to music with his headphones, he had a slightly texture fringe and a low fade, he has two different colored eyes with one being hazel and one being emerald green.

Jean noticed how Sofia stared at the handsome man, she then smiled and alerted the others before teasing Sofia. "Uyy look oh, Sof's admiring someone from afar!" Jean teased as everyone laugh.

Lilith then noticed that the man Sofia has been watching looked a lot like Lusk especially the noticeable different colored pair of eyes.

"Woah guys! Dali kayo! that man looked a lot like Lusk!" Lilith pulled everyone near her before whispering.

Everyone was shocked at this due to the fact that the man was really handsome.

"Ang pogi naman ng taste mo Sof!" Thea teased.

"Taste?" Sofia snapped of her daze and asked.

Everyone laughed at the dumbfounded Sofia. "Ooooh! Sof was too focused at that guy." Thea laughed as she teases Sofia.

"Come on guys, baka marinig tayo!" Sylphie whispers at everyone.

Everyone looked at the guy to see if he was looking, and fortunately he was not.

Everyone left the shop and went to their homes. Kakabukas palang niya ng pintuan, sumalubong kaagad sa kaniya ang kaniyang mama na magkasalubong ang kilay at halatang galit at inis ang sinisigaw ng ekspresyon nito.

"Where have you been? 7 PM. 7 PM ang curfew mo." Sofia's mom spoke.

"Sorry po ma, traffic po ka—" Sofia tried speaking but her mom interrupted her.

"May usapan tayo Sofia. At sinasaway mo na! What's happening to you now?! You're grounded until school starts!"

Sofia merely nodded at her mother's word before going to her room and crying. She opened her phone and began typing.

Sofia: Grounded ulit haha...

Sofia took a deep breath before sending the message and turning off her phone. Her mother then came after a while to take her phone away.

After her mother took her phone; she was left with no entertainment but books of novels and books for educations. Ang mga bagay na nandyan palagi at nakakasubaybay sa pangit na daloy ng kaniyang buhay. That's how she likes to read books: una, dahil gusto niyang maraming alam. Pangalawa, dahil palagi siyang nago-grounded at nakukuhaan ng cellphone ng kaniyang mama.

She silently opened the books and began reading them, she began tearing up as she reads the book in her hands before laying on her bed and covering her face with the book.

This her everyday life.