Sweet And Sour

Chapter 1: When I melt

His gaze wandered all over my face, from my eyes, nose, then he stopped and intently looked at my pinkish lips. He slowly licked his lips while he was doing it. I feel my cheeks heat up.

"You look cuter when you blush", he lightly uttered. I feel like my cheeks reddened more because of embarrassment.

 I noticed his Adam's apple, it moves up and down. I can feel his urgency to kiss me. I swallowed hard when he began to close the distance between our face. Our lips were an inch apart, I closed my eyes. "Oh my, is this for real?!", I thought to myself.

"Kathalinaaaaaa!!!", I immediately covered my ears. 

Damn it, I feel like my eardrums were ruptured. I lazily got off from my bed and my heavenly dream was disrupted by my one and only lovely mother.

 I haven't fully opened my eyes when I opened the door. In front of me was a lady in her late forties but still young and fresh looking.

"Argh! What now, mom?", I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

 Oh! by the way, I am Kathalina Madrigal, 16 years old, Philippines!!! Just kidding. I have a height of about 5'1, a natural short wavy black hair, long eyelashes, a pair of dark orb eyes, a complete set of white teeth and a fair skin. In short, I am beautiful and attractive though no one's perfect. I don't have a curve sexy body but I am confident. Yes, confidence. That's what I have.

"What?", mom angrily said. She would've pinched me if I didn't step back. I smiled in victory.

"It's your first day of school", she said. Her words echoed in my ears. "Uhm, first day of school?" my smile suddenly vanished and my eyes widened while looking at her.

"Oh my! It's my first day of school!", then I slammed the door and I knew behind it was my mom smirking.

 "Why did I forget my first day of school?" I groaned out of frustration.

 I went to the bathroom, removed my clothes, took a shower while brushing my teeth, then, my phone rang. I answered the call without looking who the caller was.

"Hey girl, guess what?", I recognized the voice of the caller, it was my best friend. 

Her name is Victoria Lim, she's 17 years old. We have been friends since we're little. She has a pretty face, figure of a model and classy. Their family owns a prestigious boutique "LimCare".

We met in a party my parents attended. She spilled a glass of juice on my dress when we bumped into each other and of course, I got mad and released my anger to her. She cried and a mucos suddenly bubble out of her nostrils. There, we both stopped and bursted in laughter.
Since then, we've been inseparable.

"It's our first day of school." she added excitedly. 

When I finished brushing my teeth, I went out of the bathroom, walked to my wardrobe and picked some clothes while she was still on the other line.

"Girl, I saw your crush hanging out with...", I didn't let her finish, I quickly ended up the call. Well, I don't want to hear anything about that jackass.

 I dressed up and put some light make-up and ran downstairs. I passed through the dining room and I saw my parents eating.

"Hep,hep,hep! Where do you think you're going, young lady?"

"Uhm... school?", I replied.

"With that clothes?", she raised her eyebrows and looked at me from head to toe.
I am wearing a simple jeans and knitted crop top.

"Go upstairs and change your clothes. Wear your uniform, young lady and come back here. You must eat your breakfast first.", she calmly said.

"But mom, I'm going to be late."

She coldly looked at me. Uh-oh, she's serious.

 When I was about to do what she said, I heard a baritone voice that held authority.

 Dad patted the empty seat beside him. "Sit down and eat.", he said.

 "You're spoiling her, Alejandro.", Mom said to Dad.

Alejandro Madrigal, 3 years older than my mom, business tycoon, and a heartless man when it comes to his business. He believes in arranged marriage because both of them are products of it.

I finished my breakfast. I was already at the entrance of the campus. When I got out, everybody stopped what they were doing and looked directly to me. The perks of being rich? No, not for me.

"Good morning, Kitty.", someone said.

 I roamed my eyes around and looked at the owner of the voice.

 "Hey, Vic.", I replied. 

She pointed to someone behind me so I turned around and saw Warren William, the guy that I admire the most because of his seriousness to his studies, with a girl named Gayle Prime whose arms wrapped around his waist like a leech. What a whore?

 By just looking at him, I remembered being rejected and humiliated as I confess my feelings for him. I walked towards them and when I was already beside him, I stopped. I leveled my lips to his ears and I harshly whispered every word. 

"I can still recall what you told me. You will never like a spoiled brat." 

But oh, I never asked someone to stay and accept me. They actually do it willingly. I resumed walking, turned back and said "Oh, I'm not pretty? You will never like me? So what? You jerk!", I smiled sweetly at him and continued, "I'm unique, no one deserves for my love."

I have no problem if William would like someone else, but the words are really hurtful like a sword that stabbed my chest. He makes me remember the relationship that I had with my parents when I was young.

 I felt a liquid touched my cheeks. Someone handed me his hand, I looked at it with confusion. When I looked up, I saw a guy with his eyes closed. When he noticed that I didn't do anything, he opened his eyes, looked at his hand and his lips partly opened. 

"Geez! Where's my handkerchief?", I heard him whispered.

 Maybe because he's shy, so he looked at the floor and I laughed at him.

 "The next time that you'll help a girl who's crying, make sure the handkerchief didn't slip off your hand.", then I laughed again. 

Obviously, his handkerchief was on the floor, so he panicked. He checked his pockets, then he gave it to me. 

"Seriously?", I raised my eyebrows. It was a handkerchief with a Disney princess design on it. He blushed.

 "What's your name?", I asked. 

"I am Mark Pedrosa, an engineering student." He scratched his neck. He looks cute. 

"You're pretty awesome" he suddenly uttered. 

I blushed and responded, "Thank you". 

"Don't believe in that jerk." he uttered. I stared at him with confusion. 

"Hmmm, I'm sorry. I was just passing by at the corridor when I accidentally heard your conversation."

 "HAHAHAHAHA! It's okay, he's really a jerk.", I said smiling bitterly. 

"A jerk that doesn't deserve an angel.", he said intently looking at my eyes. I blushed at his remark.

 Since then, he became my confidant for everything.