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Chapter 13: Cutting Classes

13 Cutting Classes

Nicky hated it that they had no class in Filipino that the entire room was filled with noise of chatters and laughter. She had already tried a few times of shutting everybody up to no avail. It seemed like nobody wouldn't listen to her anymore, and she even attempted to threat them by coming up with a list, but her classmates would just laugh at her, or worse ignore her. She didn't make any list.

"Everybody, if you want to keep on talking and make noises, do the next room a favor, and lower your voices, please," Nicky tried again. This time, her voice choked and almost lost in the midst of the chatters.

"Jeez, Ms. President, cut us some slack and get a life," hollered Priscilla as she sneered at Nicky.

Caught of-guard, Nicky slumped back on her chair. She didn't turn to look at Priscilla who was hovering over a group of girls, as she showered them some gossip. But as Nicky sank down on her seat, from the corner of her eyes, she caught a glimpse of the girls laughing meaningfully at her. One of them was Lois. For a split second, Nicky met Lois' eyes, but Lois immediately looked away. Nicky also spotted Camille giving her a smirk.

Nicky tried her best not to sulk on her seat as she glanced around to look for June, but June was also chatting with Frank, who was like June, obsessed with anime and manga. Nicky already figured they were probably talking about the latest Naruto chapter. She wished she could join them, but unfortunately for her, she's way behind with the story.

Suddenly, John Michael came up to her. "Nicky," he said in his throaty but loud voice. He was a wiry boy and like Frank, also wore glasses, but not really because he had some poor eyesight but just as so he could look smarter. He squared his arms as he looked at Nicky condescendingly. "I had a proposition to make for the exchange gift for Christmas."

"What? But Christmas party won't be until two or three weeks."

"I know. I'm thinking about having this exchange gift activity I personally called The Twelve Days of Christmas," John Michael said with great enthusiasm. "This is our senior year and we should lengthen the giving season."

"I'm not really sure if I'm following you."

John Michael rolled his eyes before he forced himself to smile. "Starting next week, first Monday of December, we are to exchange gifts for everyday for twelve days, with the twelfth day being the day of the Christmas party."

"You mean to say each day we are to give something to our manito or manita for twelve days? Wouldn't that be costly?"

"Of course not. You don't have to buy for a gift. It can be anything you own or make yourself, and well, at least it won't cost less than thirty pesos, except the final gift, which shouldn't be not less than one-fifty."

"That would be four hundred eighty in all," Nicky replied without any hint of stopping for computations. "Almost five hundred. I don't think anyone is okay with having to spend that much for a gift. I myself couldn't afford that."

"C'mon, Nicky. You've got to at least sacrifice for the giving season, and what's best time to do that is this year-our senior year."

Nicky was slowly shaking her head as she thought on the idea.

"Fine, at least twenty pesos each day," John Michael grunted. "Again, it can be anything-like a personalized letter, a card, some crafts, or even a cellphone load if you're that stingy. Don't worry, no themes this time."

Nicky still wasn't sold. She was still shaking her head. "That's really a thoughtful idea, John, but I don't think everyone would commit to giving gifts to his manita or manito for twelve days. It's a hassle enough to think of twelve different gifts for a person."