CHAPTER ONE
BEING someone who have everything seems to be fun. Not until the tables turned upside down. Life can sometimes be in your favour. But most of the time, life turns its back to you. We never know what would happen with our lives as time goes by. The only thing we are sure is that everything would eventually change. Nothing is permanent afterall.
While watching the sunset from the balcony of our house, thoughts came rushing through my noggin. May mga kakilala akong mga foreseer na namatay sa hindi inaasahang pangyayari. How could that happen? Bakit hindi nila nahulaan ang kamatayan nila? Or did they knew but did nothing about it and just accepted their fate? I don't know.
I wish I could foresee what would happen tomorrow. Ito na ang huling araw ng kaligayahan ko dahil pasukan na naman bukas; my last year in Arinthian University. Yes, I'm one of those privileged citizen of Arinth. AU is the biggest school here in Arinth and it is located in the heart of the region. May limang mga paaralan lamang ang nakatayo sa aming rehiyon. The other four are named after their locations: West, East, North and South University.
Being the eldest daughter of the head of the Department of Investigation, I have a reputation to keep. Being on that wicked school feels like I am on a dungeon. There, people with lower incomes are called Inferior and those rich rich kids are called Superior. Unluckily, I'm branded as a Superior because of my father's rank in the society. What a messed up system we have.
"Hoy!"
"What are you doing here?" Agad namang napasimangot si Mafi. She's trying to surprise me again and still failed.
"Bakit ba hindi kita magulat-gulat? Ang boring mong kaibigan," biro niya. Mafi is my childhood best friend. Tatlong bahay lang ang layo ng bahay namin tapos magkaklase pa kami since prep.
"Alam mo minsan, ang sarap mong tuktukan," sagot ko. "Duh! Naririnig kita kahit wala ka pa sa loob ng gate namin."
"Sana nagpanggap ka na lang na nagulat. Wala kang pakisama," irap niya. Natawa naman ako at tumabi sa kaniya habang nakatingin sa kulay purple na langit.
"So ano ngang ginagawa mo rito?" Tanong ko matapos ang sandaling katahimikan. Nagkatinginan kami at ngumiti siya sa akin nang malawak.
"Ready ka na ba tomorrow?" Excited niyang tanong. Pfft! Sino namang ma-eexcite pumasok?
"Hindi," simpleng sagot ko saka siya tinalikuran at naglakad na papasok sa loob ng bahay.
"Ano ka ba naman! Last year na natin tapos tamad ka pa ring mag-aral." Nagsasalita siya habang naglalakad kami papasok sa loob. Isinara niya ang sliding door saka sumunod sa akin pababa sa kusina.
"Kung ako pa rin ang president, walang nakaka-excite do'n! Mas na-eexcite pa ako sa Senior Ball eh," sagot ko. Binuksan ko ang ref at kinuha ang nag-iisang slice ng cake na nasa platito. Tira ko 'to kaninang meryenda. Ibinigay ko 'yon sa kaniya at agad naman siyang naupo para kumain.
"Wow! Is this a strawberry cake?" Masaya niyang tanong saka nagsimulang kumain.
"So ano? Nagpunta ka lang dito para maki-chismis at makikain?" Nakapamewang kong tanong. She's always unbelievable.
"Actually napadaan lang ako rito eh. Kasi pupunta sana ako sa tindahan para bumili ng- oh shoot! May pinabibili nga pala si Mama!" And in just a split-second, nakatakbo na siya palabas ng bahay namin. Napapailing na lang ako sa kabobohan niya. Sayang 'yong cake! Hindi niya naubos. Dinampot ko ang tinidor at susubo na sana nang marinig ko ang sigaw niya sa may kalsada.
