Chasing Her Fire (Vol 01-03)

Kabanata 01: Arch Nemesis

Stomach in, chest out, and ignore the noise. I have to make sure that I'd be the one to stand out in our school, Evergreen Heights High.

I flipped my brown wavy hair as I walked past the students who kept looking at me. I could hear some girls admiring my OOTD — a dark pink leather jacket with a white tube inside, a leather skirt for the bottoms, and high-knee cut shoewear.

My name is Claire Saddie Dela Vega.

I am well-known at school as 'Claire' — the captain cheerleader, the top achiever in class, and the muse of Evergreen Heights High.

Maganda ang reputasyon ng Evergreen Heights High kaya naman kilalang-kilala ito sa amin. The teachers could teach well, maganda din ang ambiance ng school grounds, classrooms, cafeteria, gymnasium, and music room.

Ang maganda din sa Evergreen Heights High ay napapalibutan ito ng mga puno kaya naman presko ang hangin sa paligid.

Malawak ang school grounds kung saan kadalasan ginaganap ang mga school events kagaya ng Sports Fest, Foundation Day, Graduation Ceremony at JS Prom.

The only problem with this school was the students who kept bashing me. Alam ko na may sinasabi ang iilan tungkol sa akin kapag nakatalikod ako.

I tried not to pay attention to those haters and only focused on other people's kind words. Sabi nga nila, we are not everyone's cup of tea which is true.

Mabuti na lang, mayroon akong isang matalik na kaibigan na hindi nakikinig sa ibang tao. As long as may kaibigan ako na ganon, I'm all good.

Her name is Jessica Abad.

Siya ang bestfriend ko since first year highschool. We were both in our last year of highschool at ilang buwan nalang, matatapos na din kami sa highschool.

Sadly, after ng graduation, pupunta siya sa Canada para mag-aral ng college. Lihim akong napa buntong hininga dahil dun.

Lost in thoughts, I heard Jessica's voice calling my name. I stopped and turned around to face her.

“Claire!”

As usual, her brown eyes glimmered in joy as she kept on waving her arms up in the air at me. Napakamasayahing tao ni Jessica at bihira mo lang siyang makikita na nakasimangot.

Unlike me, Jessica is very simple. Kagaya ngayon, her long brown hair was tied up in a bun and she was wearing a simple t-shirt and simple jeans. Pero kahit na simple ang suotan niya, kayang-kaya niyang dalhin ng walang ka effort effort.

“Jessie!”

Hinintay ko siya hanggang sa nakarating na siya sa tabi ko at sabay na kaming naglakad papunta sa classroom namin. While walking, I could feel that people's attention was on us and I loved every bit of it.

Hindi ko napansin na napapangiti na pala ako, kung hindi pa sinabi sa akin ni Jessica. We are having a great conversation until we reached the second floor and began walking through the hallway.

Habang naglalakad kaming dalawa, may dalawang estudyante na tumakbo who "accidentally" bumped into me. I stumbled a little but was able to regain my composure quickly.

“Whoa, watch where you're going!” I called out to that student.

Alam ko na sadya 'yun dahil naramdaman ko kung paano niya itinima ang balikat niya sa balikat ko.

Buti't hindi ako lampa kaya hindi ako napatumba agad. “Saka, hindi ba, against the rules ang pagtakbo sa hallway?”

“Ugh, look at her. Pabibo nanaman.” Tinignan ko ng masama ang nagsabi 'non saka siya nanahimik.