This is a Tagalog (Filipino)-English story

I just need one...

One person who can save me...

Save me from my loneliness...

Save me from myself...

And eventually find me my happiness...

<Re-written>

“People and stars are the same. They have to shine bright so that they could be remembered.”

“Okay class, before we start our lessons, we have a transferee student”, announce ne Ms. Bernardo

“Come in”

“Hi, I’m Arven Michael Ferrar. Nice meeting you” pakilala niya at nagtilian ang mga babae

“Okay settle down girls, Mr. Ferrar there’s a vacant sit there" turo ng guro sa back row at he obliged by sitting there

 After settling down, she went on with their lesson and he let himself to be drifted with thoughts. Is it worthy to come in here? Well, I guess I just have to find out, he said to himself. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

                Today’s headline. May isang highschool na babae ang nagtangka mg suicide sa ibabaw ng rooftop dahil sa depression. Para naman sa mga babayahe patungong EDSA Kamuning ay may kasalukayang traffic dahil sa ngsalpukan na boss.

“Turn it off”, his mom said sa driver nila

“Is there other way papunta sa school ni Mikee?” She ask the driver

“Meron naman ho ma’am”, sagot ni manong

“Let’s go, baka ma late pa kami ni Mikee sa school”

“Ma? What will you do sa school namin” he ask her, refusing to show that his annoyed and irritated

“Wala lang, just paying a visit to your  teachers and other staff sa school” she replied in the most concern way a mother should be, but he knows her mom too well and the concern is not directed to his well-being, so he fight the urge to talk back to his mom in a rude way

“Ma, don’t bother. I agreed to transfer because you said you’ll let me on my own”, he almost yelled in frustration

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean na hindi ko na mamomonitor yung grades mo and other stuffs”, see what I mean? She's a sophisticated mom. Oh-- and she's also a proud one. Gusto niya lahat plantsado, she wanted people to bow on her feet at kung pwede kiss the floor she's walking in. She's strict, lalo na pagdating sa grades niya at other stuff, that's why she's her with him now, in this goddamn car.

“Ma, first week ko pa lang sa Velmont Academy, and I’ll do well in my studies kaya pwede ba…” he rub his temples dahil umiinit na ang ulo niya

“No, I’ll still go, gusto ko lang makasigurado na you’ll be on top”, at ito ang dahilan kung bakit they're not close at all. She cares... but she disregards his decisions and what he feels

“Whatever.” Pagkatapat nila sa traffic light ay lumubas siya sa kotse because he don't wanna fight with her, atleast not today.

“Where are you going?” her mom shouted

“Maglalakad nalang ako! Leave!” pissed off, is written all over his face, dahil ganyan nalang palagi  ang mom niya ever since nang iwan siya ng kanyang ama. He walk further away from the crowd and stuck his earphones, blocking all the sounds including her mom's voice

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hey, hey andyan na siya.” Bulong nung isang babae habang palakad si Mikee sa corridor ng school

“Oo, nga ang gwapo-gwapo talaga niya”, tili nung isa pa

He just give them a small smile, his trying to be respectful even deep inside he just wanted to be left alone in peace

“Ahm, Arven… Para sa’yo oh”, sabay pinatong ng gift ng tatlong babae sa desk na kina-uupoan niya

“Thanks...” he answered weakly and forced a smile

At ngayon, they're in the middle of their physics discussions nang biglang may pumasok na estudyante at lahat sila nakatingin sa kanya. She just walk in na para bang walang  pakialam sa mundo at ng naabot na niya ang desk niya,she slump on her sit and she just decided to go to sleep.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Galit na tanong ng ni Mr. Pascual

She didn’t move a muscle. Then said “sleeping”

Bakas sa mukha ni Mr. Pascual na nanggagaliiti ito sa galit

Tapos biglang ng-iba ang expression niya at…

“Ms. Cuenas, what is the standard volt that is appropriate to use inside the house?”

This time, umayos na siya ng upo at akmang sasagot…

“Stand up!” They're teacher demanded.

Kitang natutulog yung tao di ba?  Tanungin ba naman ng useless na tanong?

“220 volts”, she answered confidently at natawa ang mga classmates nila. Ang kawawang Mr. Pascual ay napahiya

“Now, then what is amplitude?” tanong niya ulit at para bang sigurado siya na hindi niya ito masasagutan. Wala na bang ibang maisip na tanung tong si sir? She asked herself.

“It is the maximum displacement of a periodic wave…” she paused tapos

“Isn’t it good enough?” she asked in a provocative way

“What? Good enough?” galit na tanong ni Sir Pascual at akmang pagbubuhatan na siya ng kamay

“Sige, gawin niyo, according sa Article 12 sec 3 sa students handbook, all teachers and staff should not use violence against the student, either verbally or physically”, then Mr. Pascual stops and she smirk smugly nang walang ibang magawa ang guro kundi  magpatuloy nalang sa discussion ng klase

Feisty. Different. Gorgeous but...

“Sino siya?” Tanong ni Mikee sa katabi

“Ahh… Siya ba? Superstar yan dito”, sagot nung sitmate niya

“Ha?” he ask confused

“Oo, sikat siya dito sa school. She’s the top student with the lowest attitude”, he grins mischievously

“Ganun ba…” well no wonder with the attitude she showed earlier

“Oo, kahit nga principal o guro hindi niya sinasanto”, dagdag pa nito

Well, she's really is something... he thought

“Kaya nga kahit maganda siya walang mga lalaki na may lakas loob na ligawan siya. She’s the Queen of RUDEEEEEness" he emphasize the rude part and he can't help but chuckles lightly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Isang buwan narin simula nung magtransfer si Mikee sa St. Michaels Academy, so far walang changes and his loving it here. Peaceful at walang masyadong trouble.

Papunta ngayon sa bulletin board si Mikee, na kung saan ipinapakita ang ranking ng mga students. Lahat nakatingin sa kanya. Nott the usual look of admiration, just a look of suspicion, irritation and shocked.

“Anong meron?” he ask PJ. Siya yung kasitmate niya na tsinoy.

“Halika dito, tingnan mo to”, tapos hinila niya si Mikee papalapit sa board.

Itinuro niya ang name niya sa tapat ng number one

“Ano naman ngayon?” he asked him warily

“Number 1 ka? Tapos ano naman ngayon?” PJ exclaimed na para bang hindi siya makapaniwala

“Is it a big deal?” he ask again.

“Oo, naman. Kahit kalian hindi pa nagging #2 si…” napatigil siya nang nakita niya si Cuenas sa

gilid ni Mikee

She looked depressed ng tingnan niya yung scoreboard and she just glared at him. Ano yun?

At bigla nalang siyang umalis.

~~~~~~~~~~~

“Oh, guys. Let’s congrats our top 2 students. I’m happy kasi they are under my supervision” Ms. Bernardo said proudly

“Congratulations!” sabay sabi ng mga classmates nila

“Ahm, Mr. Ferrar…”

“Yes, maam?”

“San kaba na school nanggaling?” she asked him

“From Sto. Dominggo Elite”, at lahat sila gulat na gulat

“Kaya pala ng #1 siya dito”, bulong nung isa

“Kahit naman siguro sino, pwedeng mg ranked 1 pag galing sa school na yan”, bulong din nung isa

“Class… settle down”, sabi ni maam

“Dude, don ka pala galing sa prestigious school na yan”, pabirong sabi ni PJ

“Oo”,

“So, ano ka don, top 100?” Tapos nagtawanan sila

“Guys…” saway ni Ms. Bernardo sa kanila

“No”, sabi ni Mikee

“Ahm, anong ranked mo don, hijo?” Tanung ni maam

“Top 1”, tapos napatigil silang lahat na para bang he just drop a nuclear atomic bomb

“Si…si…sigurado ka?” bulol na tanong ni PJ

“Yes! Bakit ba big deal sa inyo nito?” he asked them irritatingly

“Oo, nga! Siya nga!” sabi nung isang babae habang pinapakita niya ang phone niya sa lahat, isa yung article sa previous school nila during their recognition day

“O…o…okay class, let’s start our lesson”, sabi ni maam at thankfully his bunch of idiotic classmates listened

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Dude! Bakit hindi mo naman sinabi sa akin yun”, sabay akbay sa’kin ni PJ

“Hindi naman talaga big deal yun eh,” he answered in the most boring tone

“Anong hindi, lahat kaya ng magulang gusting do’n makapagtapos ng pag-aaral yung mga anak nila”,

“Huh, talaga lang ah”,

That’s the main reason why he transferred. Ayaw niya  sa fact na big deal sa lahat yung pagiging number 1 niya sa school na yun. It’s so overwhelming na hindi na siya halos makahinga.