VOLUME 1: TEENAGE DREAMS

Entry #3: The Problem With Teen Fiction

THE PROBLEM WITH TEEN FICTION

"You know, I think I'm less scared of you when you're in the 'let's go stab people' type of mood compared to...this."

"Why? Don't you want me to braid your hair while I ramble about my thoughts?" Danna said as her slender fingers guided her friend's raven locks into the pattern she desired.

"I just find it...odd. You're usually not like this. You sure you're okay?"

"We'll be in college soon, Sally. At least let me enjoy being a high school girl while it lasts."

"But, we can still braid each other's hair in college, though," Sally said, "unless you're lying about studying in the same university with me."

"I'm going with you, silly. That's not what I'm thinking about."

For a while, they just sat there in silence, Danna on the bed and Sally on the floor, her back faced towards the braider. This was how their Saturday afternoons usually went: best friends hanging out with each other (usually in Danna's bedroom) listening to random playlists and podcasts.

However, Sally knew that the lack of any audio coming out of Danna's speakers implied that this was different than their other typical Saturday hangouts.

"This is about Cyrus, isn't it?" she asked.

The silence answered a lot more than words.

* * *

"You already have Chad as your partner. Why bother swapping him with me?" Cyrus asked, rubbing the sleep off his eyes.

Danna made a short, mocking laugh before responding. "Yeah, as if Chad will participate. He's not even here in class right now. How do you expect a guy like him to do his part in a cheesy partner dance, huh?"

"I'm already exempted for this activity so...nope. You may leave me alone now," he responded, ready to go back to his peaceful nap.

"Uhuh. And that's too damn unfair if you ask me. This is a performance task, and I'll be damned if I ever saw you do anything but sulk here in the back seats."

Danna struck a nerve and she immediately knew it, as hinted by Cyrus looking at her straight in the eye. A silent but well-performing student, he rarely made interpersonal gestures like eye contact. Not this time.

"I single-handedly finished a goddamn research paper about the correlation of the common Filipino lifestyle to the downward trend of mental health in our youth. I represented our school. Be thankful for that."

"Yep. And that makes you a nerd."

"Oh yeah? And that makes you an asshole. If I'm not mistaken, you're the one who needs me. Shouldn't you be begging me for my approval?" he said with one of his eyebrows raised for added effect.

Cyrus left her completely dumbfounded. Realizing the situation, Danna took a deep breath before making a response.

"Look, I'm sorry about that. I'm just...frustrated, I guess. I don't want to fail P.E., okay? This is the only subject where I don't do well, so please, help me."

With a huge grin on his face, Cyrus spoke. "See? It isn't that hard to say please, right?"

* * *

Danna never anticipated that going to school before the sun rose was part of the bargain. Drowsiness still haunted her eyelids, but like what Cyrus said, she needed him more than he needed her. He didn't even need her in the first place; Cyrus was doing her a favor.

When Danna entered the gymnasium wearing her gym clothes, it didn't surprise her that he was already there, all stretched up and ready in his gym clothes as well.

"What took you so long?" he said with a mocking grin on his face.

"You have no idea how long it takes for us girls to dry our hair. It's not even fully dry yet. Plus, it's five in the morning, you dingus."