Kissing the fire

Kabanata 1

Deja Vu

"The competition for Mr and Ms. Vera Corpuz is near, hindi ka ba talaga sasali?"

I languidly looked at Byron, moving his mini fan on his face.

Naka-aircon na nga kami dito sa room, gumagamit pa ng mini fan ang bakla.

"In demand ka kaya, Era." Dugtong naman ni Corynn na nasa tabi ko. Ang sarap untugin ng dalawang 'to. "Noong grade 11 tsaka grade 12, hindi ka rin sumali, eh for sure, matatalo mo rin naman nun si Nepthalie."

Ilang beses ko ba 'tong sasabihin?

"And for what?"

"Ha?" Sabay nilang tanong.

"Let's say I join the pageant...and then what?"

They looked at me like I was the dumbest person in the whole world.

"Girl, ofcourse you'll be recognized of this school–"

"I am already recognized." I said and raised my on-fleek eyebrows at him.

"I don't need to join pageants just to be recognized. I am the pageant."

I am always the top 1 since grade 7.

I graduated with highest honors and the Valedictorian of the whole senior high school last year.

Our school won the international dance competition on America last year and I am one of the dancers and choreographers.

I topped six consecutive spelling quiz bee for my last six years in highschool.

won 1st place on Impromptu speech last year and on grade 11.

Always won 1st place on the different writing contests on or outside of our school.

Always the president of our class since grade 7 up until now...

And currently part of the supreme student government at our University as the Auditor.

"Oo na...ikaw na...naiinis lang ako minsan kasi ang feeling ni Nepthalie. Napanalo niya lang ang Miss Vera SHS last year, grabe na kung makatingin sa atin girl, lalo na sa'yo!"

"Let her be. Hanggang tingin lang naman siya. She wouldn't even dare to touch me or just talk behind my back because I know her name's gonna be ruined if she mess with me."

"Mess with you and makakalaban niya ang buong angkan ng Aldana at Saavedra." Saad naman ni Corynn.

We sat still when we heard a gentle knock from the door.

Kanina pa lumabas ang aming professor kasi may kukunin lang daw siya sa faculty kaya baka siya na yung kumakatok.

I stood up to open the door since I'm much closer to it.

Lumaki agad ang mga mata ko nang makita kung sino ang kumatok.

But I managed to fix my composure at pinilit na hindi ipahalata ang reaksyon ko.

Agad umingay ang mga tao sa aking likod.

"Hala, si Zone!"

"Bagay talaga sila."

"They might fight,guys."

"Ang aircon lumalabas!" Hindi talaga mawawala ang malakas na boses ni Byron.

Hindi ko siya pinansin at agad na bumalik sa upuan ko kahit nakita kong marami siyang libro na dala.

"Hi Zone! What brings you here?" The friendly Byron asked while Zone brought the books to the center table...