Prologue

I just followed him. That's all.

"Ma'am Garcia, hindi naman makatarungan na ako lang yung sinita n'yo," I said, biting my lower lip while staring at her face masked with anger.

All I did was read an erotic novel. Unfortunately, my cousin caught me in the act. She then reported me to our adviser. Marami namang nagbabasa ng ganito sa amin pero ako lang yung sinumbong niya.

That showed how good my cousin was. Sumisipsip ng maraming juice kahit may sakit naman sa kidney.

Fakery.

Dumagdag pa yung nakalulundo niyang mukha, because trust me—her face was undeniably her pimple's hometown. Ilang households na kaya nabuo ng mga ito sa mukha niya? Lalong kumapal, e.

"Alam mo namang bawal 'yon, 'di ba? As your adviser, I'd like to impose a penalty on you. You don't want me to report you to the dean of our department, right?"

Hindi na lamang ako nagsalita. Hinayaan kong pumapalakpak yung mga labi niyang paulit-ulit lang naman ang sinasabi.

"You already did this before!" hiyaw niya.

Umirap lamang ako. "Yeah, right."

"Ms. De Castro!"

Nasa harap niya lang naman ako, e. Bakit kailangan pang sumigaw?

"My ears are in good condition, Ma'am Garcia."

She released a heavy sigh, dropping her stare towards the papers on her table. "If you don't want us to call your dad for a disciplinary action, better not do it again. Three offenses lang, puwede ka nang ma-expel. Remember, that this is a conservative school!"

"Then, fuck that conservatism ideology."

"Watch your mouth, Ms. De Castro! Matalino ka pa naman sana, hindi mo lang ginagamit sa tama."

"Hindi naman ikaw ang sinabihan ko ng fuck. It's the ideology itself."

Letting loose a laugh must be really promising to do at the moment. Buti't may natitira pang kaUnting respeto sa ugali ko.

"Ma'am Garcia, just go direct to the point. Huwag mo na akong paulit-ulit na sinisermunan. It's normal for a teenager like me to explore new things—"

"But you need not to do it inside the—"

"I must admit, I was wrong about what I did and you don't need to slap my face with it over and over again. So, what shall I do?"

She heaved a sigh once more, while her eyes were telling me she needed to conceal her raging pride.

Technically, it was my fault; but I was not a kid anymore to be reprimanded every time I make mistakes.

Alam ko na kung ano ang pinagkaiba ng tama sa mali. My desire just kicked in and it wasn't my intention anyway to be caught in the act.

"Kailangan mong gumawa ng narrative report ng grand opening ng La Vista Mall. Mas mabuti na 'yon at nang may magagawa ka namang maganda para sa school na 'to."

"Narrative report? When?" I acted like I really know how to write one.

"Bukas ng umaga. You have to be there on time, para makapagpuwesto ka nang maayos for the grand opening. But if you'll come late, then you're screwed. Because you have to insert yourself in the middle of the crowd."

"Kailan ko naman ipapasa?"

"Two days after LVU's Fright Night Party... and next time around, please report it to me kung may mga iba pang nagbabasa ng ganito sa inyo sa loob ng school."

"I won't dare to. Hindi naman ako palasumbong, because I'm not a kid anymore. Hayaan mo yung nagsumbong sa'yo tungkol sa ginawa ko, ang magsumbong sa kanila."

At nang dahil sa pagkakamali kong iyon, nangyari ang hindi dapat mangyari. Ito ang nag-udyok sa akin para sundin ko siya, dahil sabi niya... ito raw ang tama.