Chapter 1
"Daisy Abigail! Wake up or you're going to be late for class!" Dione's voice echoed from the hallway outside my bedroom.
I groaned, burying my face in my pillow. "Okay, Ate! No need to yell," I mumbled as I forced myself to sit up.
Dragging myself out of bed, I made my way to the bathroom for a quick shower. The cold water helped snap me out of my grogginess. Once I was done, I stood in front of the mirror and reached for my makeup kit. I applied a light layer of powder, a touch of blush, a bit of eyeliner, and some lipstick. Afterward, I blow-dried my hair and tied it into a simple ponytail, letting my curtain bangs frame my face just right.
With everything ready, I stepped out of my room and headed to the dining area where Mom was already waiting.
"Come eat. You don't want to be late on your first day back," she said, placing a plate of breakfast on the table.
I took a seat and began eating.
"I'll come pick you up after school, okay?" Dione said between bites.
"Okay, Ate," I replied.
After finishing my meal, I brushed my teeth, grabbed my shoes, and slipped them on. Then I headed out of the house toward my sister's car. She was already waiting behind the wheel, and as soon as I got in, we drove off.
During the ride, Dione and I talked about so many things—music, school, random gossip—that we didn't even realize we'd already reached the school gate.
Dione and I have always been close. With Mom busy as a school principal and Dad running his business, we've relied on each other a lot.
"I'll call you later, okay?" she said as I opened the door.
I nodded. "See you later!"
"Bye, sis!" she called out, then drove off.
I walked into campus, surprised by the number of students already there, especially for such an early hour.
Just as I was looking around, someone suddenly hugged me from behind. I turned and laughed—of course, it was Zia, my best friend since seventh grade.
"Hey, Daya! Just got here?" she asked brightly.
"Yeah, Zi. You came at the perfect time," I said, looping my arm through hers. "So... how was your summer?"
Zia gave a little sigh. "Honestly? Nothing special. I mostly stayed home and worked part-time at a café. What about you? Didn't you say you were planning to perform somewhere?"
"I did! I had a gig at a restaurant," I replied with a grin. "It was exhausting, but fun—and I got paid, too."
Because I'm only seventeen, I couldn't sing in bars, so I found a local restaurant willing to let me perform. It wasn't glamorous, but it was something—and it made me happy.
When we reached our classroom, most of our classmates were already there. We recognized a lot of them, though a few were from other sections last year.
Zia and I chose seats near the middle. We picked up our conversation right where we left off, chatting until the teacher finally arrived and the first day officially began.
"Good morning, everyone," our teacher greeted as she stood at the front of the class. "I'm Allysa Navarro, and I'll be your adviser for this school year. I'll also be handling your homeroom and English classes. You can call me Miss Allysa or Miss Navarro—whichever you prefer." She gave us a warm smile.
She glanced around the room. "Now, let's hear your introductions. We'll start from the back row."
One by one, my classmates stood up to introduce themselves. When it was finally my turn, I stood up, brushing my skirt lightly and facing our teacher.
"Good afternoon, Miss. My name is Daisy Abigail Advincula. I'm 17 years old."
Miss Allysa's eyes lit up, recognition flashing across her face. "Wait—are you the singer at Savor Spot? I think I saw you perform there last week."
I felt my cheeks grow warm but managed a small smile. "Yes, that was me, Miss."
Her smile widened with delight. "I loved your voice! It was so soothing. I remember thinking how talented you were."
"Thank you so much, Miss," I said, trying to hide my embarrassment and happiness all at once.
I sat back down as Zia stood for her turn. Then the next student followed.
After everyone finished introducing themselves, Miss Allysa spent a few minutes telling us what to expect in her class—her teaching style, the kinds of activities she liked assigning, and a few class expectations.
Time passed quickly, and after about an hour, she exited the room. Soon, another teacher stepped in for the next subject.
Before long, our morning classes wrapped up, and it was time for lunch.
Note: Ate means Older Sister
