Chapter 1
High school life is hard! Everyone knows that. As far as I know, there are two kinds of people in high school; the ones who enjoy it, and the ones who’re sick of it; I belong in the latter category. My name’s Wu Daiyu, and I’m a senior at Manila Cathedral.
I don’t have a lot of friends. I don’t mind. Naniniwala ako na mas mabuti ang konting kaibigan instead of having a lot who’s stabbing you in the back. So far. I have one girl friend, Aurora Taylor. Grade three palang mag-best friends na kami.
“Hey!” she greets, “Ang aga mo today, girl!”
I smiled in response. “Siyempre. I had a report to finish.”
She rolled her eyes. “Ang sabihin mo inaabangan mo nanaman si Angelo Nakayama! Naku naman, Daiyu; ilang taon nang nakalilipas crush mo pa rin?”
Binatukan ko siya ng mahina para magising siya. “Gaga! Anong sinasabi mo? Hello; I’m Wu Daiyu! I’ve better things to focus on.”
Angelo Nakayama was my first ever crush. Yung seryoso na crush. Why? Simple. He was an outsider like me. I’m Chinese who’s born in this country, and he’s a halfbreed. I always admired him, pero that was until the sixth grade. High school made me focus on the more important things like academics.
“Babe,” she snaps her fingers, “Okay ka lang?”
“Oo naman,” sagot ko, “I was just thinking about this year.”
“Girl,” she says, “First quarter palang ang nakakalipas. We still have three quarters to go!”
“Napag-isipan mon a ba kung saan ka mag-aapply?” I asked curiously.
For me, I always wanted to study abroad. It’s always been my dream to study in the States, Canada, Europe, or Korea.
“UP,” sagot niya, “Sa UP ko gusto mag-college. Ikaw ba?”
“Abroad,” I replied, staring at the cloudy sky. “My family promised me the chance to choose if my grades are high enough.”
“China?” tanong niya.
“No!” I exclaimed, “That’s a big no.”
“But you’re Chinese,” she argues, “Where else would you study?”
“Korea,” I replied, “Ako ang tutupad ng mga pangarap ng maarte dito sa school! Hahanap ako ng “Oppa” ko!”
She laughed at my statement. “Baka marinig ka ng mean girls at sugurin ka!”
“Sorry,” sabi nung nakabangga sa akin. It was Dae-hyun; another boy who suffers the same fate as mine.
“Okay lang,” sabi ko, “You look stressed. Is everything alright?”
“Yes, Daiyu,” he replied, “Zàijiàn.”
“You speak Chinese?” I asked curiously. His goodbye stunned me.
“Shi de,” he nods, “Well, see you later, meili.”
“Zaijian,” I bid farewell.
“Ano yung meili?” tanong ni Aurora.
“Ganda,” I replied.
“Alam mo, ngayon ko lang napansin,” she began.
“Na ano?” tanong ko.
“Gwapo rin si Dae-hyun,” she winks, “I mean look at him! He’s got it all!”
Aurora has a good eye at men, pero medyo shonga-shonga pa rin. She never finds a jowa that stays true to her.
“The two of you would make a good couple, wouldn’t you agree?” she comments.
I rolled my eyes at her. “Dae-hyun is a flirt,” I say in annoyance, “He’s one of the big thirteen, remember?”
The big thirteen; the thirteen heartthrobs in school. They’re all stunning.
The first one is Angelo Nakayama. Siya ang reigning king dito; grade one palang siya na yung hari. He has that Japanese anime charm to him. He’s a flirt, but he’s never had a girlfriend before. He’s tall, pale, chinito, and has Sasuke Uchiha’s vibe. He’s too intelligent for his own good.
The second one is Kenji Tokyo. Unlike Angelo, his best friend who’s half Japanese, he’s pure. He’s taller than Angelo, but his looks are second. He’s intelligent, but stupid when it came to girls. He doesn’t know how to play it cool, making him the most innocent among the thirteen.
Third is Chen Lee, the principal’s son. He’s very popular for being rich and generous with his cash. He’s a ladies’ man though he has a girlfriend. His looks make up for his missing brain cells.
The fourth one is Nigel Ross, the half American stud. He’s the wildest and the biggest pervert I’ve ever met.
Fifth is Andre Rodrigo. Siya ang dakilang fuckboy ng school.
Ang ika-anim ay si Nick Gonzales. He’s one of the gangsters in this school.
The seventh is Troy Mendoza, the king of Nick’s gang. Even Angelo’s beneath him.
Pang eight naman si Joaquin Anders. He’s a sweetheart since the beginning. He’s the kindest among them.
The ninth is Alexei Madrid. He’s considered deadly and fears none; not even Troy.
Tenth is Ezekiel Jones, another gangster. He’s shorter than most of them yet rumors say he’s the gang leader of a bigger organization than Troy’s.
Eleventh falls on Josh Gallardo. He’s kind, intelligent, and a total ass when it came to girls. He rejects anyone who confessed which is why maraming tsismis na bakla siya.
Number twelve is Benedict Marquez, a very rich Spanish-Filipino. He’s loyal to Troy as well.
And lastly, Dae-hyun Park. He’s the “Oppa” of our school. Rumor has it that he’s part of Ezekiel’s gang. He’s also a fuckboy. He’s the girl’s daydream of a bad boy; that’s all I know of him.
Aurora sighed. “Oo nga pala,” she rests her face in her palm, “He’s part of the thirteen asses of this school.”
Angelo passed by, nodding at me while he flashed that killer smile.
“Pathetic,” I mouthed, looking away.
“What’s the matter, Daiyu,” tanong ni Aurora. “Why’d your face change?”
“Nakakita ako ng zombie,” sabi ko, “Tara na at baka sundan pa tayo.”
“Ayie,” kinikilig niyang sabi, “Nagpapansin nanaman sayo si Angelo, no? Ano ka ba, Daiyu! Kung gusto ka rin niya, bakit di mo bigyan ng chance?”
“Ayoko ng laro, okay?” I replied, “We’ve been on this rollercoaster since the second grade, Aurora. Pagod na ko maglaro. If he wants me, he’ll come after me.”
“Ako ba ang pinag-uusapan niyo,” singit ni Angelo.
I turned to him slightly embarrassed. “What do you want?”
“You,” he replied, leaving me confused and Aurora excited.
“Nakadroga ka ba?” tanong ko, “Why don’t you bother girls who care? Like I don’t know; Mitchie perhaps? Hannah can be of use to you! Or what about Rini?”
He shook his head in amusement, pulling me closer. “I’m flattered you watch over me.”
“People talk,” I say, “I hear things, but that doesn’t mean I follow your story.”
“Aalis muna ko ha,” sabi ni Aurora. She fled the scene before I could even object to her idea.
“Tang-ina naman,” I muttered beneath my breath.
“Minumura mo ko?” tanong niya. “You never change at all.”
“Malapit na mag assembly, Angelo,” I say, “Mamaya mon a ko kulitin.”
“So pagbibigyan mo ko?” a grin appeared over his face. “Will you spend recess and lunch break with me?”
Gustong guto ko siyang sabunutan. Ang kulit eh.
“Yes,” I lied. “I’ll see you during recess,” I say, trying to leave.
He grabbed onto my wrist, taking me by my chin.
“What?” I groaned.
He sealed his eyes with mine like a vampire trying to compel the innocent. “I’ll be waiting for you.” He let go of me and walked out.
I could feel the intense glares from his admirers all around me. Why? I didn’t do anything wrong! He was the one who came to me.
