Meet me in the golden scenery

PROLOGUE

I had no problems with getting first place. It was a piece of cake for me. Mapa contest, exams, o ceremony pa 'yan palagi akong first place. I have seen dissatisfactions and disappointments on every face of my competitor that happened to face me in contests. And I enjoyed it. It was satisfying. I, Kheanneah Adelstein, is always number one.

Not until..

"Keir Kian Zaffre,"

Puno ng palakpakan ang classroom. Everyone was shock, some were amused.

And I was frozen.

This can't be..

"Wow, Kian, first day palang ng school year at nalagpasan mo na si Adelstein sa quiz." Our teacher's smile was wide. Very wide. Too wide.

Ba't mas malaki ang results niya kaysa sa'kin?

It was curling my insides.

"I guess our one and only Kheanne was not doing so well these days." Clair said. She looked at me with a mocking smirk on her face.

Bwiset, ayan nanaman siya. Mainit na talaga ang ulo ni Clair sa'kin, ang big deal na sa kaniya kapag nagkamali ako.

"What?" Tinaasan ko si Clair ng kilay nang napansin kong tinatawanan niya ako. "Worry about your academic performance, Clair. Mas ka worry-worry pa 'yang line of seven mo."

Puno ng tawanan ang classroom at biglang tumahimik at napahiya si Clair. So what? Deserve niya naman talagang mapahiya. She wants to talk about academic performance, then fine, let's talk about it.

Nakuha ng isang lalaking matangkad ang tingin ko. Hawak-hawak niya ang quiz paper niya at walang expression ang kaniyang mukha. He looked like he wasn't even surprised with the results he got. And suddenly, we locked eye contact. He held eye contact pretty well. Nakita ko siyang ngumiti, still holding eye contact. And the longer I examined him, there's something I realized....

He looked pretty familiar.

Palapit siya nang palapit. I suddenly got intimidated, but I didn't lose eye contact. I refuse to—No, I couldn't.

Keir Kian Zaffre.

Keir Kian Zaffre.

Keir Kian Zaffre..

"Kheanne?" He said my name so slow like he saw what he was looking for. Tumingin siya sa'kin na para ba'ng kilala niya ako.

"Do I know you?" Tinarayan ko siya.

Bigla siyang tumawa nang mahina. His smile was annoyingly pretty. And everything about him is very familiar.

"You didn't change," A pause. "maldita ka pa rin."

Kumunot ang noo ko. My brows held down as I was confused of what he said. Kilala niya ba ako? Paano?

"Forgot me already? It's me..Kian." He brought his hand on his chest, pointing to himself.

Kian..

"The fuck," I Swear in whisper. "Kian?" Nakadilat nang malaki ang aking mata. I can't even remember when's the last time I blinked.

I thought I wouldn't ever see him again. I hoped I was never going to see him again. But here he is, standing tall infront of me and stealing the spotlight once again.

"Kian and Kheanne, you two know eachother?" Ang laki ng ngiti ng teacher sa'min.

The class went silent. Napunta sa amin ang atensyon ng karamihan. I'm suddenly in panic and nervous for no reason.

"No-"

"Yes," Kian said, still looking at my eyes.

"No." Pagtuloy ko. "No, I don't know him." I lied.

Kita ko ang pagkunot ng noo niya.

"Kheanne, you can't just deny-"

"Excuse me, I need air." Tumayo ako't lumabas ng room.

Paglabas ko, doon lang ako nakahinga ng maayos. It was very suffocating inside the room despite the air conditioner being on.

"Kheanne,"

My eyes widened when I heard him behind me. I turned around to face him.

Palapit nanaman siya nang palapit sa'kin. I tried controlling myself. Controlling my hate, my anger.

"I told you I don't want to see your face forever!" I burst.

"Why? Are you scared of losing to me?" There's his cocky smirk again. That smirk I despised from the bottom of my heart. "Takot ka ba'ng matalo ulit sa'kin?"

I was silent for a moment. Looking at him while he belittles me with his looks.

"I would never lose to you ever again." Tinapangan ko siya.

"Oh, c'mon, Kheanneah, you haven't won against me." I heard him released a breath of laugh.

"I changed. This time, tatalunin kita. " I said with confidence.

He closed his eyes and look away to laugh. "I would love to see you try."

I refuse to lose. Not to anyone, and specially not to him.