"Okay class, go back to your respectable seats," nabalik ang tingin ko sa harap ng klase kung saan nakatayo ang aming homeroom teacher.

I was already properly seated on mine, quietly reading a book before turning the page. Madalas ko nang routine ito kapag hinihintay kong magsimula ang klase. Ang boring kasing kumausap at magpalipas oras na nagsasayang lang ng laway.

I think I like it better when my eyes do the job, not my mouth. Not that I'm bad with socializing, I just like it better that way. Especially when my brain automatically pronounces the words my eyes laid on, I feel amused every single time.

Nagsi-balikan ang mga kaklase ko sa kanilang mga upuan habang sumasabay ang tunog ng aming bell, naghuhudyat na magsisimula na ang klase. My chaotic classmates were still pretty loud, murmurs and whispers could be heard from them. The sound of their footsteps, chairs clanging and table tapping.

School year had just started for us senior students, two weeks ago nagsimula ang pasukan. It feels like we just graduated last year, ang bilis ng panahon. It's like in the blink of an eye, I'm on my way out of teenage life. Hindi ko alam kung magandang bagay ba ito o hindi.

Hindi rin naging mahirap para sa akin ang makausap at makilala ang mga kaklase ko for this school year. Our school has two departments; High School and Senior High. Hindi ko masasabing block section kami dahil hindi ko naman kaklase ngayon yung mga kaklase ko noong grade 10, but I know a lot of people from high school.

I can say that I'm approachable and nice, kaya siguro walang kahirap hirap para sa akin ang makisalamuha sa iba. I don't have any close friends, aaminin ko na para ko lang silang acquaintances. I still consider them as my friends.

"We have a transfer student joining us starting from today," napatingin ako sa biglaang paglipat ng atensiyon ng aming guro papunta sa pinto kung saan may inaanyayahan siyang pumasok sa room.

All of the students were very curious about the transferee's identity. I can understand why they're reacting as if there's a new cell mate. Siguro nakakapanibago lang din dahil siya lang ang nagiisang hindi namin kilala. I was about to remove my eyes from the door when I saw them finally enter the room.

Dahan dahan siyang naglalakad papasok. Black smooth doll shoes stepped inside the room, her hands behind her back, her short hair covering her face. She was pretty tall, had fair skin and the school's uniform fit her perfectly as if it was made for her.

She caught everyone's attention. She has that charm where it's hard to look away. It was like looking at an angel who went down from above, she's glowing.

Lahat ng estudyante ay nakatingin lamang sa kaniya, habang siya ay nasa tabi ng aming guro, standing awkwardly. We were all waiting for her to speak and introduce herself, which took her quite some time.

"Good morning," she uttered neatly, "Caezy Bohannan, 19, I hope we all get along." her hair bounced like a ball when she bowed her head.

Her whole introduction felt awkward, and surprising. Nag-hesitate siya noong binanggit niya yung age niya na parang isa iyong kahihiyan para sa kaniya. I couldn't blame her, though. All her classmates are 17, she's the only one who's beyond legal. It may feel uneasy for her, but there is nothing wrong with being older than everyone else.

I then saw our homeroom teacher whispering at her, to which she answered with a nod bago maglakad patungo sa mga upuan. Her walk was different as well. Why is everything about her so interesting? It's making me curious. She seems mysterious but also transparent at the same time.

Ang mga upuan namin dito ay by pair. Two chairs beside each other with a rectangular table in front. The table itself is wooden, habang ang mga paa nito ay bakal. The same with chairs, at mayroong hook sa gitna na lalagyan ng bag. Everyone's seats were fully booked, lahat sila may katabi, except for me.

Nang makalapit sa akin, she paused from walking, slowly pointed at the chair beside me with her fingers trembling. "M-may I sit beside you?" and again, I was surprised by how she spoke.

It's like she had been speaking like this everyday for her life, almost like she grew up specifically with it. Her delicate voice and the way she elegantly mentioned words, it was like music to my ears.

I smiled at her and nodded, "Yes, you may." inusog ko ang upuan na para sa kaniya papunta sa likod upang makaupo siya ng maayos dito.

She sat down properly, straightening her skirt at the back, inserted her bag's handle on the hook while still keeping her head down. She looked a lot more gentle and fresh up close. Her short, black hair was shining and sleek, her fair skin looking all surreal with how clear it was. Not to mention how she smells, like fragrance was embedded in her clothes.

Hindi ko napansin na nakatitig na pala ako sa kaniya habang nakangiti. My admiring side took the best of me again. I just can't explain how I love composed and presentable looking people. There's just something in them that draws you in, almost like gayuma.

"Ms. Jaldova, may I have a minute of your time?" called by the teacher, I averted my gaze from my seatmate towards her, eyebrows up and a smile plastered on my face.

"Sure, ma'am." I quickly closed the book I was reading, got up from my seat and walked with her, leaving the classroom.

I accompanied her towards the teacher's office, walking pretty slowly and taking our time. Napaka tahimik ng lakad namin habang tinatahak ang hallway na papunta sa kanilang tanggapan.

Nang makarating, hinintay ko ang sasabihin niya. Right before she got in, she placed her hand on my right shoulder. Oh, I paused. Must be another favor. Not like I have the option to refuse, I never did. Seems like I have the least right for things considering I have the highest position inside the room.

"I'm sorry, Kasaundria. I know you already have too much on your plate, but she needs your help." she sighed as she flatten her lips, trying to get her point across.

Madali naman akong kausap, so I nodded as a sign for her to continue what she wanted to say. Siguro, panibagong trabaho na naman ito, especially for my position inside the class. I'm not chosen as the class president for no reason.

"Ms. Bohannan needs to be watched and taken care of. Kakagaling niya lang sa isang insidente, which caused her trauma and took her parents' life. Wala na siyang ibang pamilya, she's an orphan..." pity was visible in her eyes, eyebrows drooped down as she illustrated through words how awful this transferee's current situation is.

I was stunned for a moment with what I heard until all that information had sinked into me. Tama ba ang narinig ko? Is she really... an orphan? That was unexpected.

Ang unang pumasok sa isip ko nang makita ko siya ay grabeng pag aalaga ng kaniyang pamilya. The way her whole appearance catches attention and even the way she talks, as though she was taken care of properly and wonderfully. She looked harmless and flawless, like she was the type of person who will never argue with anyone.

Ms. Adie noticed my surprised expression and somewhat thought I was having a hard time comprehending, "That's why I would like to leave her with you. I want you to treat this as one of your responsibilities and obligations as the President of our class. Dahil alam kong kaya mo, Kasaundria."

I walked back to our classroom, dumbfounded. It was another burden for me. I didn't care how pitiful this person was. This is one of those times where I need to put myself first. I know I sound like a bad person, pero masisisi ba nila ako? Kakasabi lang ni ma'am, I already have too much on my plate.

So why should I babysit someone who should've been resting? Kakagaling mo lang sa hospital, sa isang aksidente kung saan mga magulang mo ang nawala. I know for sure that it's hard for her. Homeschool would've been the best option.

I know I don't have the right to decide for someone else's situation. I know that she desperately needs attention and affection because she has no one, but why me?

It was the only question circulating in my mind. Hindi ko napansin na nakabalik na pala ako sa classroom. I was too deep into it again. Over-thinking has never done me any good.

I was back in my chair, sitting, chin placed on my palm and elbows resting on the table while lowkey looking at Caezy's direction. She was very quiet and firm, scratching her notebook, creating a very annoying sound with it.

I was lowkey looking at her, assessing her whole existence. This "obligation" is such a burden to me, but what else can I do? Bukod sa pag-aaral, ang kailangan ko lang gawin ay sumunod sa utos ng teachers. That's how I can survive.

Inilipat ko ang atensyon ko sa kamay niya dahil sa ginawa niya. It looked so pretty, her nails were clean and freshly cut. Her fingers looked like a spider's leg, skeletal and long. Is it actually possible for an actual hand to look this gorgeous?

Nawala ang tingin ko doon nang biglang mag flinch ang kamay niya na para bang nararamdaman niya ang titig ko. I blankly blinked when I noticed her reaction. I didn't mean to stare at it, I didn't even realize that I gave out such an intent look. I then raised my attention towards her face, still curious with how she looks.

Naglahad ako ng kamay sa harap niya, "I'm Kasaundria," with a small smile on my face, my hands on air waiting for hers.

Napansin ko ang maliit niyang reaction. She hesitated, not really sure if shaking my hand was the right decision. Of course, I was confused. Mariin kong sinilip ang kamay kung may dumi ba ito o wala. She slowly raised her hand, reaching for mine and finally shook it.

Her hand was downy and tender. Para akong nakahawak ng isang kamay na bulak sa sobrang lambot nito. A pillow can also be used to describe its softness.

"Would you like to be friends with me?" still grasping her hand, I calmly asked, my eyes showing perseverance.

It seemed that my question alone had caught her whole attention which made her look directly in my eye, hair wasn't covering her face anymore. Tumango siya nang walang pasintabi nang marinig ang aking sinabi.

Her exquisite beauty blew me away. Her dazzling eyes and extensive lashes, her kind eyebrows, the way her nose looks unyieldingly gaunt and solemn pink lips. Para siyang isang diwata na naligaw. Like a greatly sculptured Aphrodite.

Hindi ko napansin na nakanganga na pala ang bibig ko dahil sa hitsura ng transferee.

Isang tanong lang ang nasa isip ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya, "Are you perhaps a... model?"

Waiting for an answer, bahagya niyang inilagay sa likod ng kaniyang tainga ang mga ligaw na buhok sa kaliwa ng kaniyang mukha. Her cheeks were as pink as cherry blossoms, as if blushing. She was flattered by what I said. Doon ko lamang napansin ang isang bagay.

Nanatili ang paningin ko sa puwestong iyon, making sure that I was seeing it right. Kaya ba palagi siyang nakayuko? Basically trying to cover the entirety of her face? Tinitigan ko itong mabuti sa pangalawang pagkakataon. It's a huge and lengthy scar, which looked atrocious. Para bang binuklat ang balat niya at may kinuha sa loob nito.

Nasa kaliwang sentido niya ito, malapit sa anit at natatakpan ng ilang hibla ng buhok. Could it be from the accident? How bad was it to leave her this kind of scar? Pinangunahan ako ng aking kuriosidad. I wanted to know how bad it was for her to hide it that desperately.

Wala sa sariling kong inangat ang kamay. Full of curiosity, I reached for her scar and steadily brushed my fingers to feel it. It felt like there was a weird thick amount of skin patches on it. Para bang lumobo ang kaniyang balat o umusli ito palabas.

I realized what I did. I must've been out of my mind! Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko iyon ginawa. I didn't know what came into me. Balak ko na sanang bawiin ang kamay ko galing sa pagkakahawak dito upang humingi ng tawad sa ginawa, nang bigla niyang hablutin ang pulsuhan ko. I suddenly felt her forceful grip on my wrist. She was unbelievably strong, I couldn't handle the force.

My wrist was throbbing. Ramdam ko ang diin ng hawak niya dito, para bang unti unti itong pinipisa. I felt my skin sinking into my bones with the amount of strength she's inserting. Why is she reacting like this? Did I do something so wrong? I know that it might not be just some scar, but to what extent is she doing this for?

I bit my lips, trying to act like I was feeling nothing. Pinipigilan kong umaray o mag react. This is so unusually absurd. Habang binabawi ang aking pulsuhan, dahan dahan kong inangat ang tingin sa mata niya, dahilan para matunganga ako. I forgot to breathe for a second. Her angel-like looks disappeared like it was never there. Her expression was villainous, showing that my action made her furious.

She was menacing. Para bang may lumalabas na aurang kulay itim mula sa tingin niya. It was as if her eyes turned blindingly black.

"What did you just do?" with my wrist still hurting, her mortifying voice crawled its way through my ears, making me feel perplexed and uneasy with this whole situation.