"Via! Anak, wake up! You have school today!" I could clearly hear Papa shouting from downstairs, but honestly, he didn't really need to wake me up because I had already gotten up earlier to cook breakfast for my younger siblings, including their packed lunches. I just went back upstairs to shower and put on my uniform: a gray skirt that didn't go past the knees, white knee socks, and a white blouse tucked into the skirt. There was also a gray necktie and an ID lace. The necktie said "1st year H.S." That was the Valeria High School uniform.
I didn't really want to go there, but Papa got a discount from a friend for the tuition fee. They said the school was different from other high schools here in Manila. To me, it all felt the same. As long as I could study, it was fine. I grabbed my white bag and slung it over my shoulder before going downstairs.
When I entered the kitchen, my two younger sisters were already fighting over the pink lunchbox I had prepared earlier.
"Ate! Alysha's taking it! Isn't it mine?!" Almira snatched the pink lunchbox. "It's the same inside. Stop fighting," I said seriously, filling their water jug. "You're already old, Mira, and you're still fighting with your sister." Mira was 8 years old and going to school nearby, while Ysha was 5. Both were studying at home—Mira in elementary, Ysha in kindergarten. Since our mother passed away from illness last year, I had taken on the role of mother for my siblings, being the eldest among them.
"Child, I'm late! I'll leave Aidan with the neighbor, okay?" Papa came down carrying our youngest brother, just 2 years old. Since no one could stay home when we were out, Aidan was left with Papa's friend. He couldn't come to school with me because I wouldn't be able to focus.
"Pa, here's your lunch!" I shouted as he left. I even ran to hand it to him before closing the door. Suddenly, a boy appeared outside, running up. He stopped to greet Papa before waving at me.
"Hey, Via! Early and grumpy! Hurry up! We're going to be late!" shouted Arkin. He was disturbing the neighbors—so embarrassing. Arkin, or Kino, was my best friend. We had known each other since birth because our moms were friends, and even our dads were close. Our families were so close that we naturally became close too. I wasn't really the friendly type, thinking I didn't need friends. I had too many things to handle, and having friends just added drama to life. People said high school was full of fake people and drama, so I preferred being alone… but then he came along.
"Mira! Ysha, come on! We'll take you to school!" I shouted outside. My sisters ran out before I closed the door.
"Kuya Arkin!" Mira greeted. Ysha ran to him too. This was our routine every school day. Arkin picked me up because his house was nearby, and then we would take my two sisters to school before riding the jeep to Valeria High. I didn't understand why he always followed me—even to school! He was supposed to go to an all-boys school. What was it again? Lopez High, maybe. There was also Heinrich International School nearby, but it was full of rich kids, so he didn't want to go there.
"Papa will pick you up later, Mira. If he's late, text me," I instructed, giving her my old phone in case she needed to reach me.
"Okay, Ate," she replied, holding Ysha's hand. I glanced at Arkin as he waved at my siblings until they disappeared from view. I walked to the side of the street to wait for the jeep, nervous that I might be late even though the school was nearby.
"Relax, Via. You won't get dropped for being late once," Arkin said, pretending, his hand still on the back of my head, acting carefree. I looked at him. Freshly showered, wearing gray slacks and a white polo, with a gray necktie as well. Same year as me, but in a different section because our sections were randomized. He smelled fresh, like he had used perfume. Honestly, even like this, he was clean.
"What are you thinking about me now? Judging me?" He caught me staring at him. I ignored him because the jeep had arrived. It was crowded, and I struggled to find a seat. Arkin squeezed in beside me like he would die if separated from me! Like a loyal pet.
"I got this," he said arrogantly, taking out his wallet to hand twenty pesos to the driver. "Two students! To Valeria High, please!" he shouted as he handed the money. I silently watched the traffic while he put on his earphones to listen to music while waiting.
"Stop here!" he shouted as we arrived at the school. We got off. He held my hand to help me down, even though I didn't need it. I grabbed my bag before entering the gate to give him his lunchbox. He wanted one too! Not my sibling, after all!
"I'll get it from your room later!" he insisted.
"Don't go around my room! You'll bring your friends!" I scolded him. Other students stared at us because we were arguing at the gate. "My classmates are scared of you!"
"Why?! Am I scary?!" He held his face.
"Probably! They say you're a troublemaker, damn it!" I tried handing him the lunchbox. "You're always picking fights!"
Arkin was different at school than with me, so sometimes I wished we weren't linked there. Students feared him because he had so many male friends and seemed like the leader of mischief. Sometimes his friends fought too. He wasn't really violent, but he always got dragged into things because of his friends.
"I'm not the one fighting! My friends fight! I just watch!" He defended himself.
"See! That's the same! Just take it! Don't go to the room!" I handed it again. Since he refused, I grabbed his bag and forcibly put it inside before running into the big school building.
"Via! Wait for me!" I heard him shout. I winced and hurried into the room. I sat at the far side of the second row, placing my bag beside me. I also put on my jacket because the aircon was cold. Early morning chaos—some classmates were chatting, some cramming, some dancing—I just put on my glasses and tried to humble myself while waiting for the bell.
"Good morning, class!" greeted our adviser, Ma'am Espina. "First things first, attendance!" Classmates returned to their seats. Honestly, I still didn't know most of their names since I didn't interact much. During breaks, I was alone or with Arkin at the back of the school.
"Diaz, Avianna Rye?" I raised my hand. "Present." Then returned to reading my book.
After attendance, there were class fund collections and announcements before Ma'am began the lesson. Since it was near the end of the school year, group work was back, which I hated. I was often placed in any group that needed a member, usually last. I preferred individual projects, but I couldn't do speech choir or dance performance alone.
"Group yourselves into three for the art project," announced Ma'am. "You handle your own groups. Pass the names of your members on a ¼ sheet of paper."
Everyone started forming groups while I waited for someone to pick me up because others were short of members. I went back to my book.
"Go on, you talk to them!" whispered a girl behind me. "Rock-paper-scissors. Whoever loses…" They stopped when I turned. I realized it was the two girls fighting behind my seat. I didn't know if they meant me.
"Hello! Want to join our group? It's just the two of us!" Luna smiled. How could I forget her name? She was active in class.
"Join us! I'll write your name!" said her cousin, Kierra, daughter of the school owner. "Avianna, right? Spelling correct?" She showed me the paper. They had already written my name even before I responded. Oh well. I didn't care who my groupmates were. One was active, the other seemed good at drawing.
"Double n," I corrected Kierra's spelling. Luna pulled a chair closer and sat backward. I was surprised because she was wearing a skirt. Her jacket covered her legs but I still noticed.
"Why Via as a nickname? Why not Anna?" Luna asked.
"Why not Avi?" Kierra asked.
"I don't know," I replied briefly. I hoped they were kind and wouldn't fight me during the project.
"Ma'am! Group 1!" Luna stood up to pass the paper after Kierra finished writing. She returned to her seat, smiling, ready for a meeting.
"Who's the leader?" I asked, confused.
"Huh? I thought it was you?" Luna frowned.
"Huh?" I asked back, because I hadn't said anything.
"Right, Ke? She said earlier," Luna teased her cousin. She laughed loudly when she saw my expression.
"I'm the leader," said Kierra. "What's your Facebook, Via? I'll add you and make a group chat. By the way, Luna has an idea for the project. Here's the sketch. Is that okay with you?" She placed a notebook on my desk.
I was stunned by Luna's sketch. A sketch? It could actually be displayed. I realized Luna had a natural talent for drawing, though she seemed casual about it. She fiddled with her lips, waiting for my response. When our eyes met, she smiled and scrunched her nose like a happy kid.
"Avianna Diaz is my Facebook. The one without a profile pic, that's me," I replied.
"Ah, good. We'll use the illustration board, right?"
"Yes! Want to help color? Or draw?" Kierra asked. We were making a drawing of a historical place in the Philippines. Luna chose Vigan, Ilocos. She said it didn't need to be perfect but apparently, I got grouped with the artistic students.
"Do you want to join us for lunch? You're always alone. We can talk about the project too," Luna invited. I had spoken to them casually before, but this was the first long conversation. She even invited me to lunch. I didn't know if it was for the project or to be friends.
"If it's about the project, sure." I had no other reason to join. I wasn't fond of making friends. That's how it went. They took me to the canteen. I had a packed lunch, so I just took it out and ate. When Kierra and Luna returned, they had a boy around our age. Oh, I knew him—Arkin had fought him before. Lance, maybe.
"Via, this is Lance. My boyfriend!" Luna introduced.
Boyfriend? She already had a boyfriend? The boy looked scary. I heard he often got into fights. He didn't suit Luna—she was loud but kind.
"Who were you talking to earlier?" Lance asked Luna. He didn't even greet me after the introduction.
"That guy?"
"My classmate!" Luna sat across from me, placing her plate down.
"Didn't I tell you to stay away? Where have you been last night? Did I allow you?" Lance asked irritated. I frowned at their conversation. What? Did I hear correctly? Was he Luna's father? Even though I wasn't involved, I felt annoyed. I stayed quiet and ate.
"Gotcha!" I almost choked when Arkin suddenly hugged me from behind. I could smell his perfume immediately. Kierra and Luna were shocked to see him appear beside me. Lance's eyes widened. He raised his eyebrows at Arkin, wondering why I was with him.
"Aren't you suspended?" Arkin asked carelessly. He had an arrogant tone. That's why people called him a troublemaker.
"Talk later," Lance said to Luna before quickly leaving, looking scared.
"Why is he with you? Your friend now?" Arkin whispered as he still had his arm over my shoulder. I was standing while sitting.
"They're my groupmates. Go to your side," I said, nudging him away. They were watching us. So embarrassing.
"Hello, groupmates!" Arkin smiled at the two and waved. "Fine, I'll go. Wait for me at the gate, okay? Do you have training?"
"Later, yes. Don't wait for me." I pushed him away again. He just grinned and messed with my hair before running off to his male friends.
"Your boyfriend?" Kierra asked.
"Huh?! No!" I immediately denied. We were often mistaken as a couple, which I always denied! Me and Arkin? Ridiculous! Not happening. I couldn't even imagine having a boyfriend. I had too much on my mind. More than that! I was still a kid! I focused on my siblings and school.
We didn't talk much about the project with Luna. Just the materials and schedule. They said the weekend at Kierra's house. Close to school, so I agreed. I had no choice; I couldn't do it alone.
After class, I had volleyball training. I was forced to join because I played in elementary and got a tuition discount as an athlete. I wasn't very skilled yet, but it was fine. I learned something. First year only. We trained in the covered court because the outdoor court was wet from rain. We shared space with basketball players.
"Pst, in black! Can you pass the ball… sorry!" shouted a basketball player adjusting his stuff. I had changed clothes earlier and waited for my teammates.
"Catch it, Sevi!" I grabbed the ball that bounced off the wall and handed it to a tall player who stopped in front of me. Ah, he was the guy everyone admired during games at school and other schools. Definitely him. Handsome too.
"Thanks, lodi!" He smiled and saluted before running back to the court. He shot the ball, confident it would score.
Training started when our coach arrived. Short session; the games were far away. I was a setter, but someone better than me. He was my partner for training, teaching me to replace him next year.
After training, I changed back and left first. I was surprised Arkin was waiting on the bench. I told him not to wait.
"Are you done?" He asked, wearing his backpack.
"I told you to go home." I shook my head and walked away with him following.
He stopped and grabbed my bag to carry it. I carried the paper bag with my shoes. I forgot my locker key, so I couldn't put it away.
"I said we go home together," he argued.
I should be used to Arkin; there was no day he didn't accompany me. Even when I told him to leave, he refused. It was dark, and he said he wouldn't rest if I went alone. I could handle it!
We took the jeep again. I paid for his fare this time. When he dropped me off at home, I thought he would leave but he went inside. Papa invited him to dinner!
I sighed and went upstairs to shower. Changed into a shirt and shorts. Not surprised to see him holding my guitar. Actually, it was Mama's guitar, left to me.
Arkin sat on the floor, leaning against the wall, playing something. Member of the music club. Talented with instruments.
"Play 'More Than Words.' I'll just watch." He handed me the guitar, so I placed it on my lap. "Sing too."
I checked the tuning, then played. Mama taught me guitar, so it was a hobby.
"Saying I love you… is not the words I want to hear from you… It's not that I want you… not to say, but if you only knew…" I sang.
He joined in with the second voice. He was good at playing and singing. No wonder he was admired in school, despite being known for fights.
"That song you wanted to write? How's it going?" I asked after putting down the guitar.
"Nothing yet. Don't even know what it's about," he scratched his head. "You? Any plans?"
I shook my head. I didn't care much for singing or guitar. I think he just picked up the hobby from me, but he was better. Maybe he'd make it a career. He had no college plans yet. Well, he still had time.
"I'll sleep here on the weekend!" he said while I studied, holding my guitar.
"I won't be here. Going to Kierra's to work on the project. And no, you can't come," I preempted him.
"Why?!" He complained. "I'll be quiet! I'll help!"
"Nope. We're not friends," I said firmly. "Just groupmates."
"Why not? Try being friends! I worry about you sometimes. They seem nice," he persisted.
That's always Arkin—trying to make me friends. I couldn't handle socializing much. I interacted, yes, but I didn't consider them friends because maybe they didn't see me that way.
"Fine, ask them on the weekend if they want to be friends with you!" He still insisted.
"No." Short. "They won't be friends with me." Luna and Kierra? Both out of my league. Impossible.
"Who won't be friends with you?!" He complained. "First, you get free lunch. Second, free lunch. And third, free lunch—"
"Those are the only perks you think about, huh?" I didn't know whether to be insulted. He laughed loudly to tease me.
"No, seriously. Via… even if we hadn't met now, I'd still want to be friends with you. You're great as a person."
"Stop being serious. Doesn't suit you." I rolled my eyes.
"Deal then. I won't ask for your lunch if you make friends with them! Deal?!"
I looked at him. I wasn't against cooking lunch for him like my siblings, but… okay, saving money if he doesn't add to lunch! And he won't come at lunch anymore.
"Deal," I said. Fine. I didn't think they'd want to be friends, but I'd try. Didn't need to chat daily, right? Didn't need to share my life? I didn't know!
Until the weekend, that's all I thought about. Making friends was so hard! I couldn't even handle Kino!
"Come in, Via!" Kierra smiled as I opened the door to their house. Their house was huge.
"Luna, here she is!"
"Via! Hi!" Luna ran down the stairs excitedly, holding a pencil. "Come on! Let's go to Ke's room! Look at what I drew! Almost done!"
Kierra guided me upstairs. Their parents weren't home, so I didn't even greet them. We sat on the floor beside the illustration board. Luna proudly showed her drawing, smiling.
"See?! Can you tell if this is a horse or not?"
"Ah, looks like…" A dragon… I didn't say it.
"Needs to be redone." Luna laughed. I felt guilty. Was she angry? Hurt? I wanted to apologize.
"Luna—"
"I was just following your drawing, Ke! Don't laugh, it's yours! If I did the outline, it'd be better!" She threw a pillow at her cousin, then resumed drawing.
"Yes, Via? You wanted to say something earlier?"
"Ah, nothing…" She seemed unfazed. Why was I afraid she'd be mad? Did I care what they thought?
"Kierra?" I straightened my posture when someone knocked. Their mom peeked in, looking like she just arrived, carrying a bag.
"Did you eat already?" she asked, smiling.
"We already got snacks, Mommy!" Ke replied.
"By the way, Via!" She introduced me.
"Via, Tita! Friend!" Luna said, linking arms with me. I was stunned.
"Friend?" I whispered.
She smiled proudly at me.
"Don't you like me?!" she asked.
"If I were Via, I wouldn't want to be friends with you either." Kierra laughed.
"But why?! I'm nice! I'll give you my fried chicken skin! I'll go with you to the mall, library, or park! I'll help with assignments! I'm good at drawing! Still don't want to be friends?" Luna kept talking.
I didn't know how to process all that. Why… did she want to be my friend?
"Why me?" I asked.
"Huh?! Why not?! You're always alone! I don't want you to be alone!" She smiled again. "From now on, I'll be with you!"
And… they never left me alone after that. It seemed Arkin wasn't the only one I found a friend in.