Graded Hearts

Chapter 10 : Special

Leighlagh's PoV

September 13, 12:06

"Happy Birthday Leighlagh Yap." I murmured while still lying on the bed. It's already 12:06 am in Emma's luminous clock. Thankfully, even if the lights are on, Emma is still sleeping deeply, it will not be hard for me to burst out everything. A sudden tear escaped from eyes.

Birthday. The day when someone must be happy, must enjoy and savior the day, but it's the total opposite scenario of mine. My birthday was an underlying agony, a remembrance of universe's mistake, a mistake of giving birth of me. I tried to convince myself not to worry, it's not a big deal anyway, it's just a birthday. But I cannot stop myself from being sad knowing that I am alone in this, that my existence doesn't matter to anybody, not even to my family. It is a definite loneliness, lonely not because I am entirely alone, but the fact that no one really cares.

Why does it always rain on me?

*****

Everything we did in school was the usual. Taking notes for the midterm exam and a long study hours ahead is given to every student, no class for the entire week. See? Just the usual. The unusual is, me studying with Lim. That's pretty odd isn't it? I can see the curiosity of every student while watching us. The top students who used to compete in everything are studying together, going everywhere together.

"You don't need to memorize everything, just understand the key points." He keeps telling me. He reminds me of Calleighxe, ganun na ganun rin siya kung magturo sa akin noon.That was effective, though. Pero kung kay Lim, ewan ko lang.

"Use this." Inabot niya sa akin ang isang hard bound na notebook. "The top one's great notebook. All they key points are here. You don't have to study the whole book." He was so proud of his notes which is obvious in his way of saying it. Maybe if an average student has offered to have it, for sure, she will pay as much as gratitude as she can. Having the top one's notes would be a clear advantage. But I was different. Leighlagh Yap was different. Lim had already did so much, I know he was doing this to make things easy for me. And I can't even return that goodness; I can't even utter a single 'thank you'.

"I'm afraid I can't take it." I said. "Don't do good things for your rival Lim, it will harm you." I warned him, sort of a friendly reminder.

"No one is competing with anyone Yap. Since we've been together, competition is nothing but a trashy crap. Take this." I don't think I have the choice anymore. As what I said before , Lim has something that can make me follow him without any doubt.

I took his notebook. Kinuha niya rin ang libro at notebook na binabasa ko kanina. Akala ko ay babasahin niya ang libro, instead ay binasa niya ang essay na ginawa ko. Heck, I won't embarrass myself. I immediately grab my notebook. "This is off limits." I told him.

I was making an essay about myself, or should I say more about my life. It was like a life story though. Which means that it is sad, miserable and imprisoned. And I won't let someone know how miserable I am, not even Alekhine Xenon Lim, he already knew half of it, that for sure is enough. I won't take any laughs and pity from anyone.

"Oh well, well, looks like the top students are currently dating." Napalingon ako sa nagsalita, pati na rin si Lim na nasa tabi ko. It was Kier, kasama niya si Hunter Monteverde, as usual, Hunter Monteverde has this serious look all the time. I wonder if he tried smiling once.

Without any thought, Hunter sat in the opposite chair in front of me, with table in between. He was looking intently at me, I, without any idea why he was staring gave him a curios look. Napatingin rin si Kier at Lim sa inasta niya, natigilan pa nga ang mga ito. Kung tutuusin wala namang masama sa pag-upo niya, ang masama ay ang pagtitig niya ng diretso sa akin. He's making me feel uncomfortable.