Kay aga-aga pa, nasira na ang araw ko. If most people who are away from their parents like it when they receive a call from them, that's not the case with me. The more we interact, the more our relationship gets strained.

"Gazella, your dad wants to know if your allowance will suffice. Do we have to increase it?" Just like Cinderella, I do have a stepmother as well.

Though I grew up with her as my mom, she was never really a mother to me. She obviously preferred her daughter. And so did my father.

But then, I can't blame them. I'm a product of infidelity after all.

"I'm doing fine here. Thanks for asking," I couldn't help but be sarcastic. Just like all the other times, we'd only engage in conversation if it has something to do with money.

Ito ang nakasanayan ko mula noon kaya hindi na ito bago. Malaki ang pasasalamat ko dahil hindi nila ako pinabayaan at sinusustentuhan nila ang mga pangangailangan ko. Pero minsan, hindi ko rin mapigilang mapaisip kung ganoon ba talaga kahirap na kamustahin man lang ako?

My stepmom sighed on the other line. I'm pretty sure that dad was somewhere near her because if he wasn't, she probably would've nagged at me and dropped the call.

"That's nice to hear that you're doing well," aniya, halatang napipilitan. "Your sister wants to talk to you."

Bago pa ako makapagsalita, ang nakakairitang boses na ng kapatid ang siyang narinig ko.

"Galaxy! How are you? Are you doing well? Did you meet new friends? Did you stock your favorite yogurts? I'm sure there are more brands there—"

"Gemini," I cut her off. "First, I told you to stop calling me Galaxy. Yes, I'm doing good but now that you called, I'm taking it back."

I never liked my sister. Everyone's attention were on her and nothing was left for me. I had a miserable childhood because of her because as long as she's in the picture, I was always the least prioritize.

"I... uh... I'm sorry..." she apologized with quavering voice. I heard her mom's voice trying to calm her down. And like what I expected, I received an earful of nagging.

I wasn't in the mood the whole day. I did my school works seriously and didn't even bother in engaging in our usual chikka session. Olivia and Sasha noticed it and I'm glad that they didn't pry.

I prefer not to say anything when I'm in a sour mood. It's better that I'm silent than drag other people to my issues and lash out on them. I am aware of my tendencies so I really try my best to control myself.

The three of us were at the cafeteria, eating snacks before we head to our apartment. May kaniya-kaniya kaming mga lakad noong mga nakaraang araw kaya hindi kami magkasamang umuuwi.

Two cups of Greek yogurts appeared in front of me. I stared at the owners of the hands and they gave me a cheeky smile.

"Eat up, young lady," ani Sasha at binuksan pa ang yogurt para sa akin. "Your aura is so strong that we, too, couldn't seem to smile."

"Sorry," I said apologetically. I didn't know that my mood affected theirs. "I didn't mean to do so..."

Olivia waved her hand dismissively before prompting me to eat. They distracted me with their chitchat and when I finished the yogurts, I was in a better state.

I felt myself smiling. And when the two saw it, they let out sighs of relief. I smiled apologetically again but they just messed with my hair and started another topic.

Kahit may sasakyan kaming mga dala, pinili naming maglakad para makapagkuwentuhan. We shared to each other what we had been doing in the previous week so when I told them that I couldn't have dinner with them, they understood.

Pagkatapos maligo, nagbihis ako sa ternong kulay blue na pang-yoga. At dahil iniwan ko ang sasakyan sa paaralan, nag-commute ako papuntang gym.

When I arrived at the gym, to my dismay, the first person I saw was Inigo. Pagkita ko pa lang sa kaniya na nakasandal sa entrance, parang nanghina na kaagad ako.

"Galaxy!" He ran to welcome me and if I didn't place both hands in front of me, he would've hugged me. Hindi pa nagsisimula ang workout ko pero alam ko na agad na made-drain ang energy ko sa lalaking 'to.

"It's my birthday this weekend," aniya at nilahad sa akin ang isang envelope. "Most of my youtuber friends would be there and they, too, are a fan of yours. I really hope you'd come."

"Oh, this weekend? I think I'm gonna have a headache on that day," I said, serious, but he only chuckled. 

"Damn, you're so funny." Pagkatapos nun, tinapik niya ako sa balikat at umalis na.

Binasa ko ang invitation habang naglalakad papuntang yoga room. Usually, group class ito pero nag-request talaga ako noong nakaraan na mag-isa lang dapat ako.

Natigil lang ako sa paglalakad nang may makabungguan. Sapo-sapo ko ang noo bago napatingin sa mala-batong likod ng nakabunggo.

I was about to apologize when the person turned around. It was Martell.

"So, you're invited too?" Aniya at napatingin sa invitation na hawak ko. I was too preoccupied reading it that I didn't notice him.

I smiled and shrugged, my eyes then going to the book he's holding. When he noticed that I was staring on it, he handed it to me.

Lito ko iyong tinanggap bago binasa ang title. "Art puns? Wow ha!" Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili at napangisi na.

"Good thing I brought this," aniya at at sumandal sa isang pintuan. "You look like you need a good laugh."

"There's no need to remind me, dude." I rolled my eyes at him yet he only chuckled. I had to stifle a smile because there was something in his chuckle that caused me some tingling sensations.

He titled his head quizzically, "Why? How did your day go?"

My assumera self started whispering some assumptions but I was too amused with my conversation with him to even bother with my thoughts.

"Well... everything was fine until 7 AM," I answered with a shrug while fixing the backpack on my shoulders.

"Why? What happened at seven?"

"I woke up," sagot ko at pumasok na sa yoga room. Narinig ko ang mahina niyang tawa kaya napa-iling-iling na lang ako. He was the second person today who laughed at my honesty.

I got too engrossed with my yoga session that I didn't notice that it was raining hard. I usually have no problem when it's raining but now that I'm not home and I didn't bring my car with me, I'm starting to get worried.

Ngunit dahil wala naman akong mapapala kung iiyak ako kasama ng mga ulap, nag-shower na lang ako at dumiretso sa snack bar para kumain. I ordered my usual yogurt drink and chia pudding.

Martell is here as well, sitting on his usual spot at the corner of the snack bar. Unlike the days before, the book he was reading was now different. Kung noong mga nakaraang araw, tungkol sa programming and such, ngayon naman, poetry. Sigurado akong poetry book iyon dahil mayroon din ako niyon.

Pinatuloy ko ang pagkain, nag-iisip ng paraan kung paano makauwi. Pwede naman akong mag-taxi kaso agawan na siguro dahil rush hour na.

Natigil lang ang pag-iisip ko nang may tumayo sa harap ng mesa. I brought my eyes to the guy who was standing with a curious look on his face.

"Can I sit?" Aniya na tinanguan ko naman. Pinatong niya ang librong binabasa niya kanina. Hindi ko napigilang mapangisi nang makita na isang recibo ang ginawa niyang bookmark.

"Don't judge me, receipts can be bookmarks," he said defensively when he noticed the look I was giving his book with a lopsided grin.

"Wala akong sinabi." I smiled, raising both hands. Siyempre hindi ko siya huhusgahan, popsicle stick nga yung akin eh!

He, too, smirked before handing me a black and gold envelope. "That's for a private art exhibit."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig. I smiled widely at Martell and thanked him. I'm always up for anything that has something to do with art and I will definitely go to this exhibit!

Hindi humina ang ulan kaya hindi muna ako umalis ng gym. At isa pa, hindi pa rin naman umaalis si Martell kaya mas ayaw kong umuwi.

Patuloy kaming nag-usap-usap habang kumakain. We talked about anything about arts— from literature to photography and to everything actually!

I realized that Martell isn't just a pretty face. Though we are not that close and it wasn't long after since we've met, I could actually tell from the way he speaks that he's an intelligent one. He's not too serious nor too much of the opposite.

He has a playful and really witty side, but he's also the type of person that whatever comes out from his mouth, it's not stupid. Siya 'yong tipo na lahat ng sinasabi, seryoso man o hindi, may sense pa rin.

"Just a question," I started. "Why did you ignore me in our first few encounters but you're now talking to me as if we're BFFs?"

"Hmm..." aniya at hinaplos-haplos pa ang baba, kunyare nag-iisip. "You were too chatty."

"Well... am I not chatty now?" I raised a brow.

He scoffed, "Of course you are. You're more talkative than I thought you'd be."

Kung hindi niya ako kinausap noon dahil naging madaldal ako, eh ba't niya ako kinakausap ngayong mas naging madaldal pa ako?

"But then... we both share the same interest," he added as he looked deeply into my eyes.

"Arts..." we said in unison.

We were then enveloped by silence but it was a comfortable one. We were still eating but he was reading his book again while I busied myself with my phone.

I subscribed to this website that teaches different skills. My main purpose was to actually learn on how I could make a website. I know that I could just pay someone to do it for me but then... it's really different if I'll do it myself. Plus, additional knowledge pa 'yon sa akin.

"Hey, Martell," I called. He looked up to me with a curious look. "What's HTML?"

"Hypertext markup language," he answered, the curious look on his face not faltering. "May I ask why you're asking that?"

"Oohh," tumango-tango ako. I encountered such term before but I have no concrete idea about it. "I thought it meant... how to make lumpia," I joked.

Saktong pagkasabi ko ng "how to make lumpia", sumimsim siya sa inumin kaya nabilaukan siya. Medyo nataranta ako pero tinulungan ko naman siya bago nag-sorry. Hindi makapaniwala niya akong tinitigan, mukhang hindi inasahan na marinig iyon.

"Where did you learn those stuffs?" He asked, his brows furrowing. "I mean... you practically sent me a weird message last time."

"Well... that's Gazella Axyne for you," sagot ko sabay halakhak. Napangisi siya sa narinig at napailing-iling na lang sa kabaliwan ko. "And also, my best friend and I like to annoy our other friends... so yeah..."

I then started telling him about how I wanted to make a website for myself and seeing him read books about such reminded me of it. We also talked about Inigo's upcoming birthday. I didn't really feel like going but if Martell would be there... I might reconsider...

I smirked at my thoughts yet a part of my mind was also getting curious on how I've been acting lately.

Why am i acting like this? Do I have a thing for Martell? Or am I just simply fangirling over him yet I'm just so good at keeping it cool?

For now, those questions would be left unanswered. But I'm pretty sure that one of these days, I'd figure it out.