Chapter 1

Scene:

Kate walking with poker face while other students passed by her.

Suddenly, someone grabs her.

TIN-TIN: Kate! Kanina pa kita tinatawag, di ka man lang lumilingon. Ha! *sigh. Ang bilis mo pa man

maglakad.

KATE: Oops. Pasensya na. May iniisip lang kasi ako.

TIN-TIN: Problema ba?

KATE: (Titingin kay Tin)

TIN-TIN: Homeworks. (bored look) My goodness Kate! Speechless na talaga ako sayo.

KATE: I know. I know. (roll eyes)

In the class…
PROF: Good morning class.
STUDENTS: Good morning Sir.

PROF: Well before we start, there’s something I would like to announce. Starting today, a new student will be joining us in our class. He’s a transfer student from ________ university  and had currently moved here in Manila. Student you may now come in.

(may papasok na lalaki) He’s wearing a white polo shirt and black pants. His hair is rudely made.

PROF: Class, this is Paolo Cruz.

(bulungan)

PROF: Ok Mr. Cruz. You can take your seat at the back.

He just smiled.

The class started normally and after 2 hours, they were dismissed.

TIN-TIN: Kaaaaaaaaaaaateeeeeeeeeee!

KATE: (Tahimik na nakaupo pero nang may narinig siyang sumisigaw ng pangalan niya, titingin sa paligid) What the hell? – sa isip lang niya

TIN-TIN: (pupunta sa seat niya) Oh my god! May bago kaming kaklase and guess what?

KATE: (bumalik sa pagbabasa at pasulat) What? (tumingin siya na para bang alam na niya ang sasabihin nito)

TIN-TIN: (sabay lapit sa kanya at binulong) ang gwapo!!!

KATE: (rolled her eyes and sa isip niya – Here we go again! Tin, the face hunter… ) And?

TIN-TIN: hmh. (parang maiinis na nagulat) Anong and? That’s it! Well, for now. I hope. (biglang lungkot at tingin sa may pintuan)

                Kate! Kate! (sabay yugyog sa braso ni Kate)

KATE: What?! (nainis kasi nagulo yung sulat)

TIN-TIN: ung sinasabi kong gwapo nasa labas…

KATE: (sabay tingin sa pinto then kay Tin)

TIN-TIN: ang gwapo niya talaga… (kinikilig)

KATE: (monologue) *smile I’m Katelyn Creig, 3^rd year high school and currently running for valedictorian. Grade 1 pa lang ako, nakaplanado na lahat ng mga pangyayari sa buhay ko but not by my parents but by me. I graduated elementary with flying colors and I really love being on the top but I don’t like attention, I just like the power of being in the top. But due to reasons, both have my way. My father is in a business that deals with oils. He’s busy but…

MR. CREIG: (talking to phone) “Ok. I’ll be there at 7. Prepare the contract for signing…”

Pababa sa hagdan si Kate nang makita ng daddy niya.

MR. CREIG: “ahm… hold on for a minute. Good morning darling. I brought home chocolates last night but I think I was already late to give it to you.” *smiles then balik sa phone

Continuation of the monologue: He’s a very good father. And my mom…

MRS. CREIG: Katie dear, I cooked your favourite, adobo. I hope you eat more, pumapayat ka e. Masyado ka kasing nag – aaral at nagpupuyat. Take it easy, ok.

Continuation of the monologue: My mom is kinda a cooker, not like a chef because she can’t really cook. But I eat all food she cooks. I don’t know why, out of love I guess.(smile) And this is my best friend(balik sa present) Kristine Manahan. Well, she’s very beautiful for a start. His dad is the principal of this school for a support. *smiles. Thus the fame. Again, I don’t know why she became my best friend, since I obviously didn’t want the attention. But I guess some things just goes as it is without noticing, you come to  care about a person and have special importance in your life.

KATE: Nagugutom na ko. Halika na nga.

Halos kaladkarin na ni Kate si Tin papunta sa opposite direction ng pinupuntirya na naman nitong boylet. Nakatingin siya kay Tin kaya hindi niya napansin na may tao na harap niya. Nahulog lahat ng dala nito.

KATE: Ah! Sorry! (sabay biling pulot sa mga libro)

TIN: Kate!!!

BABAE: Salamat. Pasensya na. Hindi kasi ako tumitingin sa daan. (tumitingin tingin sa paligid)

KATE: (Napatingin din si Kate sa paligid, pinagtitinginan sila ng mga students) Ang lakas kasi ng boses nitong si Tin e.

 No. Ako may kasalanan. Ako ang di tumitingin sa dinadaanan. Ok ka lang ba?

BABAE: *tango

KATE: *smile

                Yumuko ang babae na para bang nahihiya sa kanya at dali – daling umalis. Kahit na naguluhan sa inasta ng babae ay hindi na pinansin ito at nagtuloy na sila sa Canteen.

TIN: “Nicely done, Ms. Popular. *smile”

KATE: Ms. Popular? “Wag mo nga akong tawagin na Ms. Popular. I hate that.”

TIN: “Bakit ba? Totoo naman e. Madadagdagan na naman yung mga suitors mo na rereject – in mo.”

Tumigil at tinitigan ni Kate si Tin, sabay hawak sa mga labi nito na para bang sandwich.

KATE: “You. Tsaka ka na mangumpara kapag mas unti na sakin ung mga nireject mong mga suitors”

Natawa ito. Nagpatuloy si Kate at Tin sa bilihan ng pagkain at bumili. Nakanahap sila ng upuan malapit sa bintana. They can be really an outcast sometimes with eyes all on them. Dedma na lang.

TIN: “Is it my fault kung wala sa kanila yung hinahanap ko?”

KATE: “Ah huh~” sabay subo sa cheese stick.

TIN: “At I have a feeling na na kay Mr. Cruz na yun…” na para bang nananaginip ito.

KATE: “Gutom lang yan. And oh, change topic, hindi ako makakasabay sa’yo pag – uwi. Pupunta muna ako sa student council.”

TIN: “Hellooo?! Where’s the love Katelyn Creig? Are you blind? Didn’t you see what I had just saw?”

KATE: “Actually I did. Super nakita ng mala-3D kong mga mata. Did you hear what I just said?”

TIN: “Fine. Yeah~ di ka makakasabay mamaya pag – uwi. What’s with the student council?”

KATE: “You know naman my responsibilities as a secretary. I need to report something to the president. And….”

Nahinto si Kate nang mapansin na di naman nakikinig ang kaibigan.

KATE: “Hey!”

TIN: “Ang gwapo nya talaga…”

Tinignan ni Kate kung anong tinititigan ni Tin at as expected, it’s Paolo Cruz.

KATE: this girl! “Ok. I’m going now. Don’t want to be late on my next class.”

                Patayo na si Kate nang biglang may lumapit sa kanila.

GEORGE: “Hi.” (sabay kamot sa ulo)

                Nagkatinginan sila ni Tin.

TIN: “Hi?”

KATE: “Well, I guess I’m going… ‘gonna leave you two alone…”

GEORGE: “Actually it’s you (pertaining to Kate) who I want to talk to. I’m George Hernandez. And you are?”

KATE: “Oh. I’m sorry. I’m Katelyn Creig. What do you want to talk about?”

GEORGE: “Well… I just want to be friend”

KATE: “I don’t understand. You said talk. So there must’ve been something you want to say than that.”

                Halatang nagulat ang lalaki. At medyo nakakatakaw pansin na rin sila.

TIN: “Ah. Eh. Kate. Ah. George, pagpasensyahan mo na si Kate, stress lang siya ngayon.”

KATE: (kumunot ang noo) I’m sorry. (Napansin na pinagtitinginan na sila ng ibang students) Ahm… George. Can I talk to you next time? I’m kinda late to my next class…” *smile

GEORGE: “Oh su- ure.” (nauutal nitong sagot)

Kristine Manahan just rolled her eyes. Kate immediately walks out of the canteen.