When Straight Bends

Prologue

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"Good morning, Aya."

"Good morning, Kris---seriously? Ang aga-aga wala ka ng energy?"

Umupo ako sa katabing upuan ni Aya. It's my first day of class, my last year in senior high pero tinatamad na ako kahit one week na akong absent, with excuse naman. Ayoko pa sanang pumasok dahil nag-e-enjoy pa ako sa bakasyon. Kulang talaga yung dalawang buwan na bakasyon sakin.

"Nakakatamad, Aya. I just got home yesterday from vacation, I need more rest."

Napabuntong-hininga si Aya before adjusting her eyeglasses. "Saan ka na naman nagbakasyon? Last year you went to Japan with your family, what now?"

"Supposedly, our destination was Japan but then my mother changed her mind and we ended up in Australia."

"I see, iba talaga kapag mayaman. So how was it?"

I stretched my arms on the table while having my head lying on top of it, my face is planted sideways.

Ah, I need more sleep.

"Well, we did the usual. Going around the country and such. But, most of the time I stayed at home and do whatever."

"Wala ka man lang pasalubong sa amin?" Nakapangalumbaba si Aya sa kanyang desk habang pinapanood akong magpakatamad. Sigurado naman ako na hindi na bago sa kanya 'to, one year na kaya kaming magkasama dito sa STEM strand.

"Syempre, meron, pero hindi ko dinala, nakakatamad magbitbit."

"Grabeng katamaran na 'yan, Kriscia. Buti na lang talaga sobrang yaman ng pamilya mo kaya hanggang ngayon humihinga ka pa din kahit wala kang gawin. Imagine if that's not the case, you'll cease to exist."

Hindi ko napigilang matawa sa sinabi niya. "Ang lala naman ng imagination mo, Aya. But what can I do? Being lazy feels so good."

Aya frowned. "Alam mo---"

"Hindi ko alam."

"Tsk, malamang di ko pa sinasabi!" She pouted. "Pero seryoso, nagtataka ako kung bakit ka nakaabot ng Grade 12 kahit na yung mga scores mo sa exam kapag pinagsama-sama lahat ng subjects total of 100. Personal Development nga lang yung na-perfect mo, tapos 50 points pa yun. Hindi ko talaga makalimutan, hindi ko in-expect na may mas malala pa kay Rhianne." Natatawang sabi ni Aya.

"Hindi ko din alam kung bakit pa ko nag-aaral." Dahil dyan, binatukan ako ni Aya. "Aray ko naman!"

"Baliw ka, at least tapusin mo na yung senior high saka ka mag-decide kung tutuloy ka o hindi. Saka yung mga fans mo baka madismaya kung hihinto ka."

I'm the captain of cheerdance here in Z Academy. I flunk my academics but I excel in extracurricular category. That's why even if I can't see my name on the bulletin board for ranking of students regarding academic achievements, I'm number one in terms of popularity. That's how gorgeous I am.

"Eh, is it my fault that they are idolizing me? They are free to admire me but they're not my responsibility, right?"

"I don't know if you're lowkey being boastful or something."

"Hoy, honest lang ako. Maganda naman talaga ako 'no, magkakaroon ba ako ng fans kung hindi?" I rolled my eyes but Aya just laughed at me.

"Oo na nga, wala naman akong sinabing hindi."

Nagdatingan na ang iba naming classmates at binati kaming dalawa ni Aya. Kung ako sikat kasi maganda at magandang-maganda, si Aya naman sikat kasi top 1 siya sa overall ranking at maganda din, pero mas maganda ako.