Fit the Puzzle (Azcona Cousins #3)

01

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Chapter 01

"Ara!" mahina kong sigaw para kulitin ang seatmate ko. I grunted when she didn't even flinch when I bumped her shoulder. Nawala sa tamang linya ang pagsulat niya sa yellow paper pero hindi pa rin natinag!

"Arabelle Yozon!" binuo ko na talaga ang pagtawag sa kanya. She blew a sigh, obviously done with me.

Ito talagang si Ara tinuturing akong hangin. Parang hindi kaklase! Minsan nga pinapakopya ko siya ng sagot ko!

Iritado niya akong sinulyapan.

"What now?"

"Ano nga ulit 'yung gagawin?" I asked and scratched the back of my head. There was a bubble gum inside my mouth earlier but I already spat it out.

Noon kasi ay nahuli ako ni Arabelle... aba't sinumbong ako?! Nagkaroon tuloy ako ng violation tapos kailangan ko pang maglinis ng restrooms!

Luckily, Kuya Alex was on his way to save me that time. Pinag-ayos na lang ako ng files.

Mas lalo siyang nagsungit sa akin. "Really, Croozian? Hindi mo alam ang gagawin?"

"I was playing..." I minimize my voice. I pointed to my bag which was opened. Tinabunan ko na ng notebooks ang cellphone ko para hindi makita.

"You did what?"

"Naglaro nga," kamot ko muli sa aking ulo. Ginawaran niya ako ng isang matalim na tingin at dismayadong ekspresyon.

Kahit maliwanag sa buong room ay sumungaw pa rin ang dilim dahil sa kanya.

"You really don't have a brain... at all. Why are you even our classmate?" bulong ni Arabelle na akala niya siya lang ang matalino.

Ganoon pala, ah? Sige, hindi ko na siya pakokopyahin! Ungrateful!

"Hinay ka naman sa sinasabi mo," tawa ko. "I was just asking!"

She rolled her eyes. It's normal for me to get that reaction from my classmates. They basically don't like my attitude or my study habits. Nagtataka sila kung bakit pumapasa pa rin ako kahit minsan ay nahuhuling natutulog.

"We are asked to write an essay, Croozian," she looked at her wristwatch before glancing at me again. "And you're only left with seven minutes to finish it."

Nanlaki ang mata ko at walang sabi-sabing kinuha ang yellow pad niya at puminit ng isang papel. I didn't mind her shocked reaction. Binalik ko naman, kumuha lang ako ng isang papel.

"Seryoso?! Hindi ba dapat bukas kasi hindi naman pumasok si Miss Castillo?"

That was why I had the freedom to play! Akala ko pwedeng ipasa bukas 'yung gagawin ngayon.

"Look around you, Croozian, they're cramming their essays."

A cuss smoothly escaped my lips as my eyes checked every row of seats in the room.

Busy nga silang lahat. I was the only one who was so relaxed. I mean... I didn't want to be in here! I hate this section because they're all competitive. Kaya ang hirap din magkaroon ng kaibigan sa room na 'to kasi wala talagang nabubuong tulungan.

Boring. Puro hatakan pababa.

I just got lucky with Yuliya. Siya lang siguro ang maituturing kong kaibigan.

"What's the word count?"

"700. It covers our mini performance task," she said simply.

Malala pala 'to. Akala ko simpleng activity lang.