His Sweet Flavored Deception

Chapter 1

I am looked up to by some.

I am hated by others.

Sabi nila, matalino daw ako.

Sabi ng iba pabida ako.

Magaling.

Nakakainis.

Palaging may pinaglalaban.

Sometimes, an insensitive prick.

To be frank, where I am right now standing and what I've achieved are things that I fought and worked hard for. It was not mere luck, I've sacrificed a lot just to gain this so-called "spot" in the rankings.

Marami akong pinagdaanan, and I fought numerous battles with my own self. It's very exhausting to always fight with the unspeakable thoughts that are swirling inside your head everyday.

It's even harder for me to 'act like nothing' every time I'm caught by someone who harbored deep hatred towards me for some shallow reasons, such as their jealousy and insecurities.

These are the kind of people who will hurt you—not physically, but emotionally and mentally. They will attack you with their words and actions, doing everything in their power to pull you down.

They will leave you with scars that may not be visible but are deeply felt within, and these scars will slowly gobble you up as they go bigger and bigger.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror as I tied my necktie.

Even though some people think of me like that. I have come to understand that getting mad and trying to change their perspective towards me will not do me good at all and a waste of my time. I cannot force everyone to like me, right? There will always be people who will like or dislike you, even if you have never wronged them. So, why waste time thinking about it?

I have plenty of problems to deal with to get myself busy with some insignificant bystanders.

Anyway, It's our last school year in senior high, and we will probably not see each other's faces anymore. Once we graduate, bawat isa sa amin ay magkakaroon ng kanya-kanyang destinasyon sa buhay. May mga mag-aaral sa abroad, pupunta sa Maynila, o sa iba't ibang unibersidad.

I put on the maroon-colored vest na may golden crest ng school namin and my ID of course, beneath it was a white long-sleeve polo shirt paired with a maroon necktie. For the bottom part, I wore a maroon skirt with above-the-knee-length. Ganito ang itsura ng uniforms namin, and finally natapos na rin ako. Bago pa man ako umalis ay tinignan ko muna ang sarili ko sa salamin.

"May tumubo na naman na cheese."

Cheese. Iyan ang tawag ko sa pimple na tumutubo sa mukha ng mga tao. Bakit ko nga ba natawag na cheese 'yon? Similarly sa cheese, may pagka-yellowish ang kulay nito at kapag pinipiga mo, may parang creamy na dilaw na lumalabas—kaya cheese.

Kumuha nalang ako ng pimple patch sa aparador to masked it up. I looked at the tiny cute pink heart na nasa cheeks ko and I felt cute at that moment.

I snickered at the thought of it.

I grabbed my backpack and headed downstairs.

Walking downstairs I was greeted by the sight of my parents sitting at the dining table.

They both looked up to me after nila maramdaman presensya ko, before continuing to eat as if they hadn't seen their own child.

No greeting.

Walang 'kumain kana'.

Wala.

Wala silang pake.

"Sila Celes po, Ma?" tanong ko.

Huminto sa pagkain si Mama at inis na pinahiran ng napkin ang bibig nito sabay marahas na tumayo mula sa upuan.

"I'm done here. Bigla akong nawalan ng gana."

Wala akong imik sa nangyari at manhid na tinignan ang mga bawat aksyon na ginawa ng babaeng nagluwal sa akin. Marahil ay sanay na rin ako.

Nakayuko akong nagpatuloy sa paglalakad at nilagpasan ang dining hall.

"Nauna na sila Celes sa 'yo ng limang minuto. Take a taxi to go there—and next time, huwag kang mabagal. Hindi ka senyorita dito para hintayin."

I stopped walking. Muli kong niligon ang dining hall at sumalubong naman sa paningin ko ang papalayong likod ni Papa.

Hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng expression ang sumusulat sa mukha ko ngayon, probably not that good. Umiling nalang ako at inalis sa isip ko ang nangyari. At nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad.

When I arrived at Nale Lake University, I immediately headed to the SHS Department building. Some of the students, especially those who knew me, stopped what they were doing and greeted me, while others went about their own ways.

"Good morning, Pres!"

"Have a good day, President!"

Marami ang bumati sa 'kin habang naglalakad ako sa hallway. Of course, I greeted them back dahil hindi naman ako bastos and it's also a good opportunity to set as good example for my peers, lalo na't isa ako sa officers ng SSGO (Supreme Student Government Organization) at hawak ko pa ang pinakamataas na posisyon.

Before sitting in this position, I started in my freshman year in junior high as a year level Representative, then progressed to become a Peace Officer, Public Informant, Event Coordinator, Treasurer, Vice President, and finally President. I slowly climbed from the bottom to the top of the food chain.

Those years served as my foundation—it is where I gained valuable experience and learned a lot about leadership through hands-on experiences.

Dumiretso ako sa SSGO office dahil may quick meeting kami regarding sa papalapit na Intramurals. Ako nalang siguro yung kulang. Kahit na hindi ako kumain ng almusal natagalan naman ako sa paghanap ng masasakyang taxi. Hay naku.

"Good morning, Sir Isko," greeting the janitor who was mopping the hallway.

"Good morning din, ma'am." sagot nito.

Agad kong binuksan ang pinto ng opisina, at sumalubong sa akin si Alexander— o Lex, the SSGO secretary. Hindi sexy ang aming sexytary este secretary, obvious naman sa name diba, Lex's a male with buff physique at that dahil sa pagiging gym rat nito. He has a tall and imposing figure, contrasting with his friendly face and a somewhat childish demeanor. Ika nga ng iba siya raw ang golden retriever ng department namin.

"Sorry, did I keep you waiting for too long?" I asked while looking at the relaxed faces of my officers.

"Hindi naman masyado, sakto lang," Gio, our Vice President replied and smiled at me. I couldn't help but be captivated. He's really cute especially with those sparkling eyes.

I cleared my throat, as if clearing my own mind.

I then took a seat. "Okay, let's start the meeting. Lex, you may now read the summary of the previous meeting's minutes for everyone."

"Alright, Pres!"

This is Tatiana Valera, also goes by the nickname Tati—the President of Nale Lake University's Supreme Student Government Organization.