CLIO    "Ewan ko ba kung pinaglalaruan ako ng tadhana o ano!" I hissed. Padabog kong ininom ang iced tea na inorder ni Kelly. Kasalukuyan kaming nasa cafeteria dahil lunch na at tinatamad magluto si Ashanti.  "Favor pa nga 'yan sa'yo, 'no! He's your crush, remember?" Umirap ako dahil sa sinabi ni Kelly.  Crush? Psh, oo.  "But that doesn't mean na paglaruan niya ang feelings ko. Ugh, magm-move on na dapat ako tapos—"  "Tapos ano?" Celeste cut me off. Lumingon kaming tatlo sa kaniya samantalang prente siyang umupo sa upuan sa harap ko, katabi si Ashanti.

CELESTE    "Where is... it?" I mumbled as I scan the bookshelf. I volunteered a while ago para hanapin 'yung librong gagamitin ni Ashanti para sa quiz bee niya. She's too busy kaya ako na ang nagpresinta na pumunta sa library at maghanap.   "Anong hinahanap mo?"  Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakita si Markus na may dalang tatlong libro.    "The History of the Ancient World," sagot ko.

ASHANTI"I warned you before to stop drinking coffee, right? Look at what have happened... Ugh! Hindi ka kasi nag-iingat," Celeste nagged. I just gave her a simple nod as a sign of defeat. She's right though, it's my fault. "Teka nga, ilang baso ba ng kape ang nainom mo, Ashanti?" tanong ni Clio. My brows furrowed as I tried to remember."Two," I replied."Isn't it weird?" Bumaling ang tingin namin kay Kelly na prenteng nakaupo at umiinom ng... kape. "Anong weird?" Celeste asked Kelly."Dati naman umaabot pa ng apat na baso ng kape si Ashanti pero hindi naman siya nagpapalpitate— sino nga bang katabi mo, Ashanti?" Her pupils dilated as if she figured out something."Si Courtney." Awe transformed her face. My brows arched an inch while looking at her."Hindi kaya may inilagay si Courtney sa kap

CELESTE"Why are you so grumpy?" I heaved a sigh before shaking my head to Clio. "Wala lang."She sat beside me and crossed her arms. "Kahapon ka pa tahimik. Are you sure you're alright?" "Don't worry, I'm fine," I lied."Fine. If you don't want to share your problem right now, tell it to me some other time. I'm always willing to listen, okie?" I smiled at her and gave her a continous nod."Uy! Anong meron?" tanong ng bagong dating na si Jarvis.May dala siyang plastic na may softdrinks at iniabot niya ito sa amin ni Clio. "Sabi ko, bumili ka lang. Bakit inabot ka ng trenta minutos, ha?" Clio nagged at him."Hinarang kasi ako sa daan noong mga babae, nagpatulong lang naman." Jarvis answered and scratched the back of h

 ASHANTI   What is a dream?  Is it really necessary for a person to have a dream?   What if I don't have one? Am I not normal?  I bit my lower lip as I massaged my temples out of dissapointment. It's been an hour since I started to write my essay  for my English subject but up until now, the paper is still blank.  I sighed. Why is it so hard?  "Why do you look so grumpy?" I lazily looked at Celeste when she arrived together with our friends.  Umupo si Celeste sa tabi ko samantalang kaharap naman namin sina Clio at Kelly.   "'Yan ba 'yung essay sa English?" Kelly tried to pry on my paper but she gave me a dissapointed look when she saw nothing on it.