IT CAME AS a surprise to most people at Midtown High that I, Bianca Vivafranca ─ the closest thing it's got to the Queen Bee ─ brings her own lunchbox. I say 'most' because that's how the poor ones relate to me. Others, however, find it weird that I clearly spend too much money on myself with the makeup & clothes I wear when I couldn't even buy my own food. No offence to the cooks, I'm pretty sure that they're just doing their jobs, but my standards are higher than Sid Vicious will ever be.

　Like I've mentioned before, I grew up in the Philippines ─ born and raised in Angeles City, Pampanga. We didn't move to Queens until I was ten, but even then, we went back every year during vacation to spend it there. Pampanga is known as the Culinary Capital of the Philippines, so I think you have an idea where this is going.

　My earliest memories were always on Sundays. We would have already spent the night before in Lolo & Lola's house, and we'd wake up to the smell of freshly-cooked arroz caldo*. My sister, my cousin and I would race to the dining table, bowls filled to the brim of the good stuff waiting to be eaten. Our parents already had breakfast while we were still asleep. Mine would always have extra spring onions and no calamansi**. After a morning of playing in the backyard and watching cartoons on TV 5***, Lola would call everyone in for lunch. It always looked like there was a birthday party because there would be more than one dish on the table ─ sometimes two, sometimes three, usually four. We usually had no idea what we're gonna get. Sometimes there's fried chicken and Caesar salad, Tacos on a Sunday, or barbeque for all we knew. We might be having corned beef, chicken biryani and pork adobo. There could be sisig°, patatim°°, chopsuey°°° and heart attacks all around if the adults ate too much of the first two. At meryenda¹, we'd usually be munching on French fries and tusok-tusok or whatever invention Tita Diane and Mama made up or found in a cookbook. Whatever it is, it's what made up for having no snow in this country: homemade food with lots of love and copious amounts of seasoning.

　Lola's hands have magic powers when it comes to the kitchen, and she's passed that on to nearly every single one of us: Tito Ron, Mama, Ate Ria, my cousin and I. I remember that once I turned nine, I was already helping around with mincing the garlic and onions or washing the dishes. Lola would also call me to taste whatever's cooking. If she had the time, she'd even teach me how to cook the dish itself. And she always told me this in a hard Filipino accent: "Never settle for less, Bianca. Otherwise, your future husband will leave you because your food is not good and you will never have babies."

　Yeah . . . well, basically, Lola taught me to always have exquisite tastes.

　"This isn't because the first time you had lunch from school, you got food poisoned and what you're telling me is a load of bullcrap, right?" Magnus asked as we navigated our way through the cafeteria. He was carrying a paper bag with the words 'Shake Shack' in an 80's-style groovy font emblazoned on either side in one hand and a bottle of water in the other.

　I scoffed. "Seriously? Coming from you?"

　"Hey, just making sure. I don't like it either."

　"I can tell. But why?"

　He shrugged. "Burgers are always better than whatever the hell they serve here. Even the water tastes disgusting."

　"Woah, you haven't been even here for a day, you spent most of it in the principal's office and you're already shitting on the food," I wagged a finger at him. "Not that you're going to get yourself another week of detention 'cause of that. Just sayin'."

　The kid faced the music earlier than expected. He was excused halfway through English class and I didn't see him till third period, Physics, which we also happened to share. He said he got off with a warning and a week of detention ─ he wasn't certain about Flash's fate since Morita asked him to leave after he put down the verdict.

　"I'm not having that conversation right now, thank you," he muttered, looking around all over the place for our friends. "Where's your usual spot, anyways?"

　"Just a couple of tables away from the bulletin board . . . there!" I pointed at Peter and Ned, who were already seated at our usual spots.

　"Over here!" Ned signalled at us. Peter was busy staring at Liz again. She was hanging up the Homecoming banner and waving hello to those who greeted him, trying not to fall off the ladder as she did so. They were just as I expected they were; Peter never waits and half his pizza was already gone, Ned hasn't even touched the tray of garbage in front of him. He always waits for me because before I'd have lunch because I'd go to my lockers to get my lunchbox first.

　"He hasn't stopped staring?" I asked as we sat down across them ─ Magnus across Peter, me across Ned.

　"Doesn't look like it," Magnus suggested.

　Ned sighed. "He said he should probably stop before it got creepy, then that girl," he pointed at the curly-haired stranger who had set up herself on the table next to us, "said we were losers and stuff and now he's staring again."

　"She isn't that wrong," I zipped my lunchbox open and grabbed my tumbler, sipping away at the ice cold water inside. "I mean, Peter's torpe² as hell."

　"Torpe? Like a torpedo?"

　"No, dude. It's what Peter is with Liz right now: it's painfully obvious that he'd do anything just to get her to even breathe in his direction but doesn't do anything."

　"That's not true!" Peter snapped out of his trance. "I'm . . . I'm planning to ask her out for Homecoming."

　I raised an eyebrow. If that's so, then I wanna be Sorceress Supreme.

　"Let's just eat, dammit, I'm hungry," Magnus pulled out a box from his paper bag. "How are you guy's classes?" he asked in between bites of his burger.

　"Alright, I guess," Ned popped a chicken nugget in his mouth. "You were the talk of the town, though. At least with the girls. They─"

　"Aww, Lola made me kare-kare³!" I squealed, beaming from ear to ear. Whatever's inside my lunchbox will always be a surprise to me. I just wake up and it's all prepared. Today, there was a little metal tin can keeping the food warm on one corner, and of course, there was half a section dedicated to plain white rice. On the last fourth of the box was my ulam⁴ and there's a high chance this will not survive in the next ten minutes. I hurriedly dug in and helped myself to a big first bite.

　"Uh, is she that obsessed with her Grandma's food?" Magnus leaned into the boys and whispered.

　"That's her favourite," Peter explained.

　"Lola Lolit makes really, really good food, too," Ned added.

　"It's . . . um, Asian?"

　"It's Filipino, White Boy #2," I said with my mouth full. "Here," I scooped up some rice and poured a spoonful of the kare-kare sauce and pork on top of it before handing it to Magnus. "Have some."

　"Okay, I guess," Magnus took the spoon hesitantly. He slipped the spoon into his mouth and pulled it out empty, chewing slowly a few times before his face lit up. "Okay, that's actually pretty good."

　"Told you. Do you want more? I'll trade you in for some for a little bite of your burger. Never been to the Shake Shack."

　"Sure! Your grandma made this, right?"

　"With some peanut butter we brought from vacation and MSG. Like, lots of it."

　"That's peanut butter? Holy cow. I thought you only use that in bread."

　"Hey, hey, hey, hey, that's not fair!" Peter cried out. "You never traded your food with us."

　"Like I ever will," I stuck my tongue out and blew raspberries.

　"But we've been friends since seventh grade," Ned whined.

　"And you've been buying the same shit at this canteen ever since. I'm not trading my cocaine for your cheap cigarettes. Yuck."

　They frowned and continued eating their miserable meals. The boys knew they didn't stand a chance trying to argue with me.

　"Besides, you get your fill at movie night. Oh yeah," I turned to Magnus. "We get together at my house every Friday after school. We watch movies, eat a lot, maybe do homework. I even make these guys some snacks. We just hangout in general. We're gonna wait until your detention time is up so you can join us. You're a member of the Rogue now, after all."

　A smile spread across our new friend's face. "That sounds like fun."

　"Alright! You boys don't mind making some space for him, though?"

　"Not at all," Ned replied.

　"Ditto," Peter seconded.

　"Perhaps you guys have room for one more?"

　I looked up to see where the new voice came from. She sat herself next to Peter, who scooted a little to his right to make space for her. She happily said "Hi!" to him and Ned as pulled a comb out of nowhere and began brushing her hair with it. You can tell a lot about a person by the color they associate themselves with, apparently. She wore the color yellow like she was made to walk out of a Color Pop Trend advertisement. The cropped pastel yellow jean jacket she was wearing reminded me of my teeth when I forget to brush them. I think the white shirt underneath her jacket is the graphic tee I bought her for Christmas, but whatever shirt it was, it was tucked in with the overly-high waisted jeans she has on. She has a leather satchel hanging on her shoulder, too. It's giving me, but yellow and nicer and softer and if I had the guts to settle for 'basic bitch'.

　Her name, by the way, is long. Michaella Giselle Acosta, or Mickey, as she likes to be called because she thinks her name is too girly (as if she isn't already). The smartest girl in Midtown High and its most eligible bachelor. It's the prettiest girl I'll never get to date.

　My cousin.

　"For you, we always do," I assured her. "I don't see food with you, Mick."

　"It's already in my stomach," she continued brushing her hair like she's in a shampoo commercial. "You know I eat fast."

　I crossed my arms. "I know you eat fast and I also know you have a tendency not to eat. Don't lie to me."

　"I swear to God! I made shrimp tempura and some California maki. I was gonna leave you some but I was starving after gym class."

　Mickey always makes her own food for school. Like me, she hates the food here, probably more than I do. If anything, between us both and Ate Ria, she's the one that got the most out of Lola passing down her recipes. Also, she eats a lot and doesn't get fat. Seems about right.

　"Sige. Sabi mo, eh." (Sure. You said so.)

　Her brown eyes drifted to the boy sitting next to me. "Who is he?"

　"Oh, this? A new friend. Magnus Hendrix. He punched Flash Thompson earlier this morning. Magnus, this is─ uh, Magnus?"

　His lips were parted and his gaze was fixated on her, like he was watching something happening before his very own eyes. Whether it was a beautiful portrait in progress or a car crash, I'm not sure. Susmaryosep⁵, I thought, what the hell is it with my white friends just staring?

　"Yo, Magnus," Peter waved his hand in his face.

　"Y-yes?" Magnus stammered, biting his lip.

　I took his hand and placed my tumbler on his palm. He flinched when his skin made contact with the cold metal surface.

　Magnus furrowed his brows together. "Bianca, what is this for?"

　"You need it. You look thirsty. Your bottle of water doesn't seem to be enough."

　Peter and Ned snickered, whispering among themselves.

　Mickey giggled, her hand covering her mouth. "I've been looking for you, you know?"

　Magnus' eyes grew to the size of a watermelon. "You have?"

　"Yeah. I finally have a face to the guy who caused a ruckus on first day alongside Thompson."

　"Oh," he scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah. About that. Erm . . ."

　"I apologise if Thompson gave you an unwelcoming welcome to the school. I would have, but I was ten minutes later than my usual time of arrival. I heard that you're the transferee from the Bronx Sci."

　"Thanks."

　"At the same time, don't use violence to express your disappointment towards him, alright? Even Ate Bianca here has managed to control herself from kicking him in the nuts."

　"Yeah, sorry─ wait. Did you just call Bianca 'ate'?"

　She nodded. "We're related. Cousins, to be exact. Hasn't she told you yet? Her mom and my dad are siblings. She's older than me by a year."

　"And yet you're the one who's ahead of me and these idiots by a year," I smirked.

　"It's what I get for having the common sense you lack. That, and my IQ. It's 59 points higher than yours. And look who's acting like the smartass."

　"Hey, no need to call me out like that, showoff," I retorted, "just because you got to accelerate last year means you get to bitch about me. That's my job."

　Mickey raised her hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, fine."

　"Let's do that again, shall we?" I cleared my throat. "Magnus, this is Mickey. She's the president of the student council and the honor society. Not sure what position you hold at the choir, though, probably the president as well─"

　"Grade 12 Representative."

　"Yeah, whatever. Anyways, she's a genius. Her IQ is at 172 and she knows stuff we don't. That's why when you need help in any subject, just hit her up and she can help. That's also why she's still a virgin and is mothering over us all."

　My cousin snorted. "Well, I'm proud of it. Anyways, I'll get going," she stood up and walked over to my side and leaned into me, "I have some catching up to do with The Secret History. Tuloy pa ba movie night n'yo?" (Is your movie night still up?)

　"Yep. After school, every Friday. We'll be seeing you this week?"

　"Not sure. You know I'm busy. But if I'm around, can you guys introduce me to Star Wars?"

　"No problem!" the Rogue and I said in unison.

　"I-I'll even bring a, uh, extra snacks or something," Magnus said shyly. "It's gonna be my first time, after all. I should probably bring something to the party."

　Mickey smiled as warmly as the colour of her jacket. "Ate will love that, Hendrix. Me as well," she gave me a beso⁶ and went on her way,"kita-kits⁷, Rogue Three!"

　"It's four now! See you, Mik-mik!" I waved goodbye and turned back to the boys, my face wrinkling from a happy one to a death stare pretty quickly.

　"Is the trade still up?" Magnus asked timidly.

　"No," I gave him the side-eye, "I need to eat all of this to stomach what the hell happened."

　Ned laughed. "Yeah, you froze at Mickey. You're no different than the other boys drooling over her."

　"Love at first sight on first day, Magnus? Wow," Peter clapped his hands together, "and you thought your life was going nowhere."

　"Hey, stop that! She's very pretty," he noted. "I like the way she smiles. Bianca, do you think─"

　"Shut up and eat your burger."

Footnotes & Translations!

* ARROZ CALDO: A hearty Filipino porridge cooked with chicken pieces and chicken stock that's usually served as a breakfast or a snack.

** CALAMANSI: A green citrus fruit, oftentimes no bigger than the size of a coin, and also known as the Philippine lime. It is one of the most common ingredients in Filipino cuisine, ranging from dippings with soy sauce & chilli to additional flavourings to dishes such as soups, viands and, in this passage, arroz caldo.

*** TV 5: A Filipino TV network considered as a part of the Big Three alongside GMA 7 and ABS-CBN (they used to have Channel 2, but it's a long story). It's best known for airing Filipino dubs of various cartoons such as Phineas & Ferb and Oggy & the Cockroaches in the mornings.

° SISIG: A dish made from parts of a pig's face, belly, and chicken liver; then, it's usually seasoned with onions, chili peppers, and calamansi. It originates from Pampanga, and is a staple of the region's cuisine. It is also considered as its most popular dish.

°° PATATIM: A dish consisting of braised pork hock slow-cooked until very tender in soy sauce, sugar, and other spices (such as black peppercorns and bay leaves). It often includes mushrooms and Chinese cabbage.

°°° CHOPSUEY: A stir-fried vegetable cooked with meats. Filipinos usually use a mixture of chicken or pork liver (as a cheaper alternative to shrimp) and pork pieces.

¹ MERYENDA: Snack time.

² TORPE: A guy who doesn't know how to approach the girl they like due to fear of rejection.

³ KARE-KARE: A stew with thick, savoury peanut sauce. It's usually made with oxtail, beef tripe, or similar cuts of meat; then served with vegetables such as eggplant and string beans.

⁴ ULAM: Viand. In simpler terms, it's the meal for whatever time of the day it is.

⁵ SUSMARYOSEP: A Filipino colloquial erm meant to express either fear, shock, surprise, disappointment or frustration. It originates from the univerbation of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

⁶ KITA-KITS: A Filipino expression that means, "see you later". It comes from the word kita, which means 'see'.