Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Princess Pedregosa

I heard my phone start to ring, non-stop. Also my pillow started to vibrate, my phone was put underneath my pillow. I reach it while half awake, my eyes were half open.

Kinapa ko ang parte ng cellphone ko kung nasaan matatagpuan ang volume para i-snooze ang alarm ng cellphone ko. At ipagpatuloy ang mahimbing na tulog ko.

Binaling ko ang katawan ko pakabila para humanap ng magandang pwesto para makatulog muli. Pakiramdam ko mga limang minuto palang ako nakakatulog pero hindi.

When I close my eyes and turn down my senses, I drift off, back to my peaceful sleep without the buzzing of my phone underneath.

"Princess Pedregosa, bumangon ka na d'yan at tanghali na," I heard the voice of my mother and keep bombarding my door, repeatedly not until I answered.

"Babangon na," I lazily and hoarse voice said.

I'm half awake, lazily move on the bed to sat down and shake my senses to waken up for this new morning.

To early to off to bed not my usual routine last summer. This is what I really hate the most. First day of class. My mother transfer me without my permission tho. Sakit sa puso.

I opened my eyes and stood up from bed. I started to stretch my body parts: thirty seconds jumping jacks, thirty reps of squats, and thirty seconds high stepping to wake my senses.

I'm now awake. Ready to move my ass, and welcome the new environment would welcome me once I stepped inside the prestigious school of Montessori de Sueños Verdaderos.

Inayos ko na ang single bed na hinihigaan ko. My mom house was a tiny home for the three of us. My mom, me and my jackass brother. Just kidding, my brother might kill me and burn me in the pits of hell.

I look myself on the full length mirror that can be found in the corner between the closet and the window with blinds, katapat no'n ay ang study table ko kung saan nakalagay lahat ng notes ko para sa semester na 'to. Nag-advance reading ako.

I gaze myself from head down to my toe. I look stupid with my uncombed hair in its messy bun. A slight sweats on my forehead. I forget to removed the pony before I slept last night.

My pajamas were aren't cool. I'm wearing a army green huge plain loose shirt partnered with a Mickey Mouse printed pajamas. My skin were still pale and white, nothing new. Para akong may sakit.

I get my comb on the white mini side table beside my quite clean single bedding with a neat bedsheet attached on it.

I had trouble combing my hair due to some knotted hair, na parang nawalan ng direksyon sa buhay at nabuhol ng wala sa oras. Sa sobrang antok ko kagabi nakalimutan kong magsuklay. Para tuloy akong nasisiraan ng bait sa sobrang gulo ng buhok ko.

Mga ilang minuto akong nakaharap sa salamin at nakikipag-away sa buhok kong nalihis ng landas bago ko tuluyan ay maayos ang kulay blonde ko na buhok. It's natural. Nasubukan ko na rin pakulayan ng light brown dahil akala ng mga guro ko na nagsisinungaling ako sa tunay na kulay ng buhok ko.

I walked out of my room when I'm already satisfied sa ayos ng buhok mo. Mukha na ulit akong tao, kanina kasi mukha akong na-abduct ng mga alien tsaka binalik sa mundo ng mga tao dahil sa sobrang tamad ko.

I saw my mother on the kitchen doing her daily chore before she go off to work.

Sinasalansan niya ang mga plato na kakainan namin sa mesa para sabay-sabay kaming kumain. That's our daily routine, walang kakain hanggat hindi pa gising ang lahat.

Her gaze meet mine. I smiled at her and walked inside the kitchen. The kitchen were neat as the other part of the house. Like there is no dust flying and roaming around.

"Oh anak, good morning," Mom greeted me with a half smile.

"Good morning din po, Mama," I replied back, pulling chair where I was going to sit.

"Good luck sa first day of school, anak." Mom wishing for my good fortune, today.

I started scooping some rice and put it to my plate, as well the dishes also. Eggs and hotdogs for today's morning dish. "Syempre naman, Ma," I assured, smiling genuinely.

I continue eating in silence while humming some instrumental tune in my head. It was suddenly interrupted when I heard my irritating manly voice of my brother.

"Oh, ate. Saya mo yata," I don't know but he kinda sound sarcasm when he says those words.

I shifted up my gaze to meet his eyes. "Hindi naman kapatid," I rose my left brow. "Sadyang masaya lang ako na makakasama na kita sa iisang school." I smirk playfully, wiggling my brows repeatedly.

He shook his head with a huge grin on his face. He smirked at me, same intensity as mine. Hindi yata ako papatalo. I'm competitive kapag ang kapatid ko ang kalaban ko.

"Ate naman, e." he winched.

"Baka bantay sarado ka sa'kin doon ah," pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata at ginulo ang may gel na buhok niya.

He's throwing me some death glares that never had an effect on me. "Hirap kayang ayusin nito tapos guguluhin mo." He look at mom, opposite seat on his place, begging for help. "Mama," he called Mom.

"Naglalambing lang ako. Hindi ba pwede? Once in a blue moon lang mangyari 'to." When he looked aways, I got a chance to pinched his cheeks.

"Ang cute-cute talaga ng baby brother ko," I blurted out. I let go my hold on his cheeks. It's burning red.

Hinawakan niya yung pisngi na piniga ko na namumula. Nakaramdam ako ng kaunting awa sa mukha niya. "Aray naman. Masakit kaya." He look at me like he's trying to murder me inside his mind. He's furiously mad. "Hindi na ako baby. Hwag mo na akong baby-hin."

"Binata ang kapatid mo ginaganyan mo pa," sabat naman ni Mama sa kulitan namin. "Nasa harap kayo ng pagkain. Tapusin niyo na ang pagkain niyo at pumasok na kayo." Marahan na sabi ng aming ina.

Binilisan ko na ang pagkain para makapagpalit na ako nang madamit pamasok. Ayokong ma-late sa unang araw ng klase. Hahanapin ko pa ang room ko.

Agad akong tumayo sa upuan ko nang matapos akong kumain. Halos takbuhin ko na ang daan patungo sa kwarto ko upang kumuha ng tuwalya para maunahan ang kapatid ko sa banyo. Isa rin na makupad gumalaw 'yon.

I took a quick bath, quick enough to sure that I am clean when I walk outside the bathroom. I'm already wearing a white spaghetti strap sando that vividly see the beige color bra strap and black cycling short. Nakalagay ang white towel sa ulo ko para matuyo agad ang aking buhok.

My uniform are inside my closet. I iron it last night bago pa ako tuluyan na makatulog kakapanood ng korean drama sa Facebook. Hindi ko afford ang Netflix.

Nakita ko ang kapatid ko na nag-tu-toothbrush sa sink na pinaglalagyan ng mga pinggan.

His gray towel was snake around his nape. He brushing his teeth when I bumped his shoulder to reach my toothbrush on its holder.

He groaned in annoyance. Mas matangkad siya sa 'kin pero hindi ako kayang kalabanin. Sayang ang tangkad, weak naman. His murmuring some noise that I couldn't understand.

I put some toothpaste on the toothbrush and begin brushing my teeth. I keep brushing it until I'm satisfied that there is no more dirt left between my teeth.

I went upstair without any hindrance on the way. I'm humming and almost dancing while heading to my room. Ganoon pa rin ang ayos nito bago ko iwanan kanina. The bed is still neat, parang walang nahiga sa ayos.

My head was held up high when I opened the double door of my closet. I'm feeling the scene as if I were in a movie.

I found my fancy and cute uniform hanged up inside my closet. Naka-arranged siya depende sa set ng damit. I got three sets of uniform that I should wear daily. These sets of uniform are expensive. Ayon sa receipt na nakita ko nang magbayad ako. Every sets cost one thousand and five hundred pesos.

I won't tell how much is the tuition fee, as well the miscellaneous fee because I don't know the answer. Si Mama ang nagbayad sa registrar. Yung sa uniform na receipt lang ang nakita ko.

I wore the uniform one by one. Una kong sinuot ang white long sleeve polo at ti-nuck in sa navy blue palda ang laylayan ng polo. There is also a navy blue long sleeve suit blazer na pangpatong sa puting long sleeves. Last thing to add on my top clothes are the long red neck tie and my ID that something in it as the pass to enter the school.

For foot wear, there is a ankle length white socks and 2-inches black leather shoes, this is required.

I comb my waist length straight blonde hair and put some gold color hair pins with some fake pearls and crystals for design. I put some light foundation, a vice cosmetics liptint and a blush on, light as natural. I am now all set.

Last look on the full length mirror. I mouthed, wow, when I saw how fabulous and fancy I am when I wear these clothes. Para akong anak ng mayaman sa itsura ko ngayon.

"Ma, nasaan na ang baby brother ko?" I asked Mom, arranging some stuffs inside my white tiny backpack.

"Ate naman eh. Sabi ko naman sayo 'di na ako bata," he babbled.

I smirked at him when I saw his hair, combed well. Guguluhin ko sana ulit yung buhok niya kaso umatras siya. "Hephep!" He squelched. "Ate, kakaayos ko lang nito."

"Okay," I surrender and turned back. Since I had a hyper playful mind, I shifted back and faced him, pinching his soft cheeks.

"Aray naman ate." Reklamo niya sa 'kin. He pouted. Lumapit siya kay Mama at kiniss ito sa pisngi. "Ma, alis na ako, ah." He bid goodbye, walking outside the house.

I get back my senses. I kissed also her on both cheeks and bid goodbye, started running outside. "Hala, kuya! Wait me!" I scream at the top of my lungs but he never look back.

"Ingat kayo," rinig kong sigaw ni Mama.

Muntik ko ng makalimutan na naka-heels pala ako kaya halos matipalok ako papalabas ng bahay. I sighed in relief nang makita ko siya na nasa labas at nakasandal sa pader ng bakuran namin.

I stopped in front of him and pout. Baka tumalab. I don't know if he's angry or not. Usually, poker lang siya. Hindi ko alam kung kanino nagmana.

"Oh ano pang tinatayo-tayo mo dyan, ate? Tara na, mukhang gusto mo pang malate." I came back to my reverie when I heard his irritated hoarse voice.

"Ayokong ma-late. Come on, vamonos." I started pulling him with force, para bilisan niya ang paglalakad.

Nagsimula na kaming maglakad ng kapatid ko. Maaga pa naman kaya hindi pa gaanong mainit para pagpawisan kami, hindi pa tuluyan na lumalabas ang araw. Nasa lilim nang mga kabahayan kami naglalakad.

Montessori de Sueños Verdaderos, school of heir and heiress of different clans are studying here. Me and my little brother are just commoners who got full scholarships to enter this prestigious elite school.

Halos lahat nang nakikita ko sa gate na pinasukan na namin ay nakasuot ng uniporme na katulad ng amin ni Duke. Ang pinagkaiba lang ay ang lace ng ID holder namin. Red for grade 11 and Blue for grade 12. Halos lahat nang natatanaw ko kay kulay pula. Wala ba akong kababaruyo rito?

Every glances pierced on us had written judgment unto their eyes. Examining my body from head to toe. Their eyes wrinkled when I clinged my both hands on my brother's arm.

"I am scared," I whispered.