"Is she serious?"

I am on call with Blake and I told him that my mother wanted me to invite him here. He couldn't believe it like me. Ilang beses ko pa siyang tinanong kung bakit pero lagi niyang sinasagot ang 'basta'.

"Well, I guess. I don't know. Maybe? Hindi naman siya palabirong tao." I shrugged it out. "Y-You don't have to go here if you can't. I'll just tell her----,"

"No, no. I would love to go there." Excitement is evident in his voice making me smile a bit. "Uh...I'll hang up na. Tinatawag na ako ni Papa. Goodnight, Xi."

"Yeah, goodnight." As much as I want to hear his voice, I also have something to do. Hindi lang naman umiikot sa isa't isa ang buhay namin.

Mabuti na lang at hindi masyadong marami ang binigay na assignment sa amin. Pinagagawa lang naman kami ng miniature na building and it will just take me a day to finished. Of course, I won't finish it now. I won't rush this so I'll have a better output. As of the moment, iginuhit ko muna ang design na gagawin ko.

Tatlong building na magkakadikit pero magkakaiba ang height. I think, sky blue or baby blue will fit the color of glass. What if dirty white? What if I just colored it white paint? Oh, that was silly idea. Sa huli ay shade of blue na lang ang inilapat kong kulay sa dri-na-wing ko. I just thought of some exterior design but I know that on the process, it will just ruin everything.

Wow, fuck this. Junior Highschool pa lang ako, ganito na ako ini-stress. What about senior highschool's research? And college's thesis? I wonder if I can do all those things. Sa ngayon pa lang, kinakabahan na ako. Parang ayoko na lang mag-senior.

I immediately clean my workplace when I heard knocks. Akala ko si Mama na pero 'yung maid lang pala. She informed me that it's already dinner time. She left when I answered yes.

"How's your performance in school, Xia?" As I sit down on my chair, that's the first question my father asked me. But this time, I didn't feel that exhausting feeling like I always feel whenever he's asking me that. Instead, I smiled and answered him proudly yet politely.

"I'm still one of the honor students so don't worry about it."

Dapat ka naman talagang maging proud kapag kasama ka sa honor students. Magagaling din ang mga kasamahan ko sa section na 'yun so nakakatuwa kapag isa ka sa mga nakakasurvive.

But being honor student has it's own cons; if you fail, even just once, everybody is disappointed with you.

Dibale, ilang buwan na lang naman, matatapos na ang school year. Makakapagpahinga na rin ako from all academic stress.

That night went well and I sleep peacefully after Blake called me. We just have some random conversation. Hindi daw kasi siya makapag-review ng maayos.

"It's annoying. Everyday that God created, our teacher can't just stop giving us graded recitation and tests." He release a heavy and exhausted sigh.

"Review when you feel like doing it, don't force yourself. You don't have to put everything in pressure. You're too young for that." I chuckled and I heard his chuckles too. "Just do your best and believe in yourself. You're great."

Funny how I gave advice that I can't even done to myself. That's it. I told him to rest his mind before reviewing so his brain won't overload. Naantok na ako kaya hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog pala ako habang katawagan siya. Ayaw niya kasing ipababa ang tawag! Tinulugan ko tuloy. Pag-check ko ay nagtext lang ito ng 'goodnight, babe' na may emoji'ng kiss. I just snorted to conceal my smile. So corny.

So, this is another day of survival. Half of me doesn't want to attend school but the other half does. Sobrang gulo pero sa huli, pinili ko pa ring um-attend. Baka mamaya bigla na lang mag-announce teacher namin na merong surprise quiz. Ganon pa naman 'yung teacher namin especially the teacher in AP subject. Akala mo naman major.

"Good Morning, beh!" Napatingin ako sa tumabi sa akin. She giggled when she saw that I was shocked of what she does. "Nakasabay din kita. Gara 'nung car mo, ah? Nanakawin ko 'yun mamaya. Ayan, ha? Nagpaalam na ako." Fiona, even in the morning, have her energy to talk. Sinabayan niya ako sa paglalakad. Niyaya niya pa akong magkarera. Ayoko 'no! Baka mamaya biglang lumipad 'yung palda ko.

"Huy, gagi." Sigaw ko nang muntik na itong madulas. Nagawa pa rin nitong tumawa at muling naglakad na parang hindi siya muntikang madulas. "Bye, Fiona. See you around." When I reach the end of the pathway, we needed to part ways dahil magkalayo ang 10-B at 10-A.

As I reach the room, binungaran agad ako ng treasurer ng ambag sa bibilhing cleaning materials. Hindi na rin naman namin ito magagamit since malapit na ang alis namin sa grade na ito so I don't get the point of buying those. Sinong gagamit 'nun? Bagong batch na walang ambag?

I know that I have no other choice but to give her what she needs. She's just doing her work, Xia, chill. Nag-iinit na naman ang ulo mo. I sighed and chose to plant myself on my desk. Tinatamad ako, nakakainis. Nakakainis ang ingay nila. Nakakainis lahat ng nakikita ko.

"Wala pa akong nasisimulan sa minyityur na 'yan. Ano ba 'yan? Kukuha na lang ako ng pinya tapos sasabihin ko Real State Company ni Spongebob, bahala sila." I heard one of my classmate said. I didn't bother to look for who she is.

"Ah, basta ako, hotel ang gagawin ko."

"Char. Baka mamaya maglagay ka lang ng pinagpatong-patong na bahay ng posporo, ha?"

"Ah! Spoiler, buwiset."

The teacher entered the room. I just look outside all the time. Good thing, the teacher didn't call me for recitation. And another good thing, she didn't gave a surprise quiz. Mukhang hindi lang ako ang nakahinga ng maluwag 'dun. Ang hirap pa naman mag-saulo ng iba't ibang dates and places regarding the World's History kaya hindi na bago ang bagsakan kapag quiz. I even failed once there.

"Hi." I just nod at Blake when he sat beside me. He also greets our friends. We're here at the canteen, spending our recess time. I just bought Combi and a bottle of water because I forgot to bring mine. "You have good sleep?"

"I don't know." I lazily open my food. I know that my lips now is on grim line and my face is emotionless. I don't why I feel annoyed every time this day.

"Are you mad?" His voice saddened making me look at him. I felt guilty so I tried to smile and shook my head. "Then why are you like that to me? Is it because I told you not to hung-up the call last night? I'm sorry."

"Hayaan mo na 'yan, Blake. Red days." Humalakhak pa si Fiona. Lola also laugh with her but I can't just set my mood up. "Normal lang 'yan kapag red days, malakas ang mood swings. Ikain natin 'yan, Xia. Babalik 'din 'yan sa Xia na nakilala mo, ano ka ba."

Yeah, may dalaw ako ngayon kaya mabilis lang ma-trigger ang annoyance ko. Hindi ko nga alam kung required bang laging mainis kapag may mens.

Mukha namang naintindihan ni Blake ang sitwasyon kasi hindi niya na rin ako masyadong dinaldal. Pinag-aaralan niya siguro kung maayos na ba ang mood ko. Medyo madami din akong nakain.

And like that, my day didn't go well for I am not in the mood all the day. Buti na lang hindi din nakisabay si Blake sa ka-emo-han ko. He will just look at me and when I look at him, he will just smile as if something silly is running in his mind. I can't but to frown at him. Parang ewan.

Parang gusto na lang maging lalaki para hindi na nakakaranas ng regla!

The next day, I felt better. I don't feel annoyed at everyone anymore. I can talk to them now in a calm way. Kahapon kasi, medyo napagtataasan ko sila ng boses pero sa tingin ko naman ay wala lang sa kanila 'yun. Mabuti nga at na-control ko pa rin ang bibig ko.

"Ganito ka kahapon, beh, oh." Pinakita pa sa akin ni Lola ang masungit na mukha niya. Kunot na kunot ang noo nito at napakatulis ng nguso, konti na lang ay parang mananapak na. "Kita mo?"

"Ang oa ng pagkakadescribe mo, Fiona." I chuckled. Hindi naman siguro gan'on ang itsura ko. Knowing her, she loves to play with everything.

"No kaya 'no! Ganyan ka! Tanungin mo pa si Lola. Di'ba, Lola?" Lola is extra quiet today unlike her usual self. She looks so down.

"Ha? Oo. Ewan?" Tanging nasabi niya saka napabuntong-hininga. Fiona still laugh but I know she can sense something, too.

"Lola, kung anuman ang tumatakbo sa isip mo, okay lang 'yan. 'Wag mo lang lunurin ang sarili sa kung anuman ang iniisip mo. Mag-open ka sa kahit kanino. Sa'kin, kay Xia, oh kahit sino! 'Wag mong sarilihin problema mo." Pinilitik pa ni Fiona ang daliri niya na animo'y nakaisip ng bright idea. "Alam ko na. I-ice cream natin 'yan."

That day, I realize how happy our friendship is when Fiona came. Even though sometimes she is untamed with her wild thoughts, she's a good friend. She deserves something good in her life. She deserves the things that can make her happy.