Chapter 1- Missing Pencil

[Vida's Point of View]

"Sir, 5 more minutes. I'm just waiting for a tricycle -What? Sir! 3 minutes. Yes, I'll be there in 3 minutes. Promise! -" and he immediately turned off the call.

"Arghh!" I grumbled to myself, disgusted. Is it really my fault that I'm poor and must work before going to school?

I immediately got on the tricycle. I cannot be disqualified from the contest. I've been looking forward to this for a long time.

"Kuya, here's the fee," I said as I handed him the cash.

"Kuya, hurry up," I yelled when I noticed he was taking his time getting the change from his wallet.

"I'll just keep the change," he said, smiling.

"What?! I'm a working student, Kuya, which means I work so I can go to school, and you just take it? Don't you have a heart?"

"Okay, okay. Your money is yours. Don't pay. You're making me feel guilty."

"Tsk. That's it."

Without a second thought, I took my money and walked to the gate. Fortunately, the guard was busy and didn't notice me.

I ran to reach the 3 minutes I promised to Sir Brenzon, our mapeh teacher. And at exactly eight o'clock, I entered the room where we were going to hold a poster-making competition. I took a deep breath and sat in the back seat since that's all that's available. The ones in front are already occupied by other students so I also have no choice.

"Now that, all the participants are here. Let's start the contest. Criteria for judging..."

Sir Brenzon was nowhere to be found in my search. Maybe he's too busy dealing with our school's other contestants.

I've gathered my belongings to begin. But there appears to be a problem. Something appears to be missing.

When I realized my pencil was missing, I exclaimed angrily to myself, "Ohh stupid!"

In annoyance, I closed my eyes. Vida, why are you so stupid?!

"Ms. Resores, why haven't you started yet?" inquired the teacher who was keeping an eye on us.

"A-ahh, Sir. Can I go to comfort room? My stomach suddenly hurts."

"What? Why now?" he asked, scratching the back of his neck. "Ok but hurry up or you'll run out of time."

I left the room and stared at the road. I'm sure it fell because I was in such a rush before.

"Argh! Where have you gone, my pencil? Please appear."

Aha! Perhaps I just tripped near the gate.

I made my way to the gate. Because the guard was still busy, he didn't notice me. What kind of guard ‘is he? So useless.

I carefully searched every nook and cranny for the pencil and was overjoyed when I finally found it.

"You're just here," I said as I picked up the pencil. But suddenly someone snatched it from my hand, so I was very surprised.

"Are you being rude? Why did you take my pencil?"

"This is it. I've been looking for it."

"What? It's mine," I said, reaching for the pencil in his hand because he is a little taller. Just a little.

"Give it to me!"

"I won't. This isn't yours."

"That's my staedler. Just give it to me!"

"Why would I?"

"Fvck," I whispered.

"What?"

"Excuse me, ma'am, but I believe I own that pencil."

"Huh?" I asked the guard, who had appeared unexpectedly in our conversation.

"How did it come to be that it belongs to you?"

"Ma'am, this pencil has a name engraved on it." It's the name of my wife. ”

I looked at the pencil. And he is telling the truth. ‘Josefa'

Gosh, Vida! Shame of you!

"Thank you, Sir Dion, for assisting me in finding this pencil. I'm sure my wife would be furious if I didn't get to bring this home," I said as I smiled at the man in front of me.

I can't look at them both. My entire body was engulfed in embarrassment. I'm afraid I'm going to trip at any moment.

"A-ahmm, please excuse me. I have to leave," I said.

I think I'm going to pee. My steps are becoming heavier—oh no! It's as if I've forgotten how to walk. This is completely insane. I need to get out of here as soon as possible. I can't stand the fact that someone is staring at my back. They're probably laughing at me and gossiping about me. Tss.

But it's not entirely my fault, is it? I was only a victim, and that jerk was to blame!

I'd really blame him if I didn't win this contest.

As I went back at the room, Sir Brenzon was already there searching for me. He appears uneasy, which made me even more nervous. I'm sure I'll get chastised again.

"Vida, what have you been up to? What took you so long? ” he asked, controlling the tone of his voice.

“S-Sir, I just went to the bathroom. I-I…”

“Oh, God. Go, go- start sketching your outline now. Your time is running.”

“Y-Yes, Sir Brenzon. I’m sorry.”

I immediately turn to my place and started sketching. But wait…I think there’s something wrong going on here. There really is.

Gosh, why am I using this staedler pencil now? Where did I get this? How did it happened that I was holding it right now? So, all this time, I was fooled by myself? That this pencil isn’t really missing and maybe, I just didn’t get to see it right away earlier? Wtf! I'm so stupid.

“Vida!” said Sir Brenzon as he noticed that I stopped from sketching my outline.

“S-Sorry, Sir hehe.” I faked a smile to him and so he is. Damn plastics.

…

Two hours later, Mr. Quizon told us to raise our pencil because time is up for the time given. I was relieved that I got to finish my poster but disappointed at the same time because I am not satisfied with the outcome. It's quite messy.

"Good job, Vida," Sir Brenzon said as he approached me. His face looks brighter than before.

"Thank you, Sir."

"Mm. See you around. Please don't be late this afternoon for the awarding. Okay?"

"Yes, Sir."

"M'kay. Go take your lunch first with your friends."

"I only have one. It should be just *friend, Sir."

"Whatever. I have to go."

I then turned around and it surprised me after seeing Faye with her huge teddy bear. Probably a gift from her new suitor, Ken.

"Congrats my dear!" She's about to hug me but I stopped her cause I'm not really into physical touches.

"E? What's with you? Don't you love me anymore, Vida?"

I shook my head and started walking as if I didn't hear anything.

"Vida! Where are you going?"

"Let's eat. I’m starving."

"Wait what? Vida, you're so rude! I'm still talking to you, don't run away from me!" she shouted as I kept walking and ignored her.

But don't get me wrong. I'm always like this with her particularly when I am in bad mood. She's used to it, and she understand this behavior of mine. And that's what I really like about her.

We went to the canteen and ordered rice and chicken for our lunch.

"Dear, congrats!!"

"Can you please stop, Faye? We don't know the result yet. Please don't expect too much from me. I'm not that good at making posters."

"Hey, hey. Who told you that? You are the best of all the best artist I've ever known, dear. I know you'll win this time."

"Tsk. You kept saying that, yet I kept losing with such contests," I fake a laugh to her.

"Oh c'mon, dear. Will there be costumers who wants to pay you for something not worth to pay? Please, don't lose your confidence."

"I am not. I just wanted to be humble, y'know?"

"Hahaha." We both laughed but mine was faked.

Faye didn't even know what I was dealing with whenever I do commissions—their feedback on me after I deliver my works. They will always say my artwork was great but there is something missing on it. And 'til now, I haven't figured out what was it. That's also the reason why I gradually loose customers, and Faye didn't even have a clue.

Thus, I'm so eager to win this poster making contest because of the prize. But I think it's impossible now, it's already done, and I'm not satisfied with the result. I just hope I'll still be able to get the consolation prize, so I can supplement my grandma's medicine.

It's difficult if you're financially unstable. You had to go through a lot of hardships before you get the money you needed, and you can't even buy those stuffs you wanted. And the only purpose you'll see, is to survive. To survive for your everyday life and nothing else. If you feel like resting, you always have this mindset that your time will be wasted. And that's how my life going. It's so difficult. It's so unfair.