Beneath the Edge

Simula

I walked down the hallway of our school after our driver dropped me off. I silently made my way through the noisy corridor and headed to our classroom.

As I entered the room, my friend Lilith hugged me and said, "Portia, we have a quiz today in Economics. Nakapagreview kana ba?"

"Of course, yes! Ikaw na 'yan e haha!" she added, laughing as we walked together to our seats.

"Really Lili? So early and you're full of energy!" I told her.

"Really, Portia? It's so early and you're already showing what a morning hater you are!" she mocked me, habang ginagaya kung paano ako magsalita

"Try me, Lili. Try copying my answers if you can." pabiro kong sabi na nagpatakot sa kaniya.

"I'm just kidding, Portia! You know how much of a joker I am, right? I'll treat you later sa cafeteria, 'kay?!" sabi nito at napailing nalang ako sa pinagsasabi ng kaibigan.

My attitude is the complete opposite of Lilith at hindi ko alam kung paano kami naging magkaibigan. Well, our parents sort of helped but we really became friends naturally.

Napaayos ako ng aking upo nang pumasok ang professor namin at nagpalabas ito agad ng sheet of paper para magsimula na kaming magquiz.

Well, I got the perfect score. Lilith was short of 5 points because of our rule. Ayos lang na kumopya siya sa akin basta't hindi kami pareho ng score. Ayoko magtaka ang professor namin dahil alam nila kung gaano katamad si Lilith sa pag aaral. Kung hindi lang siguro ako ang kaibigan nito baka palagi na siyang nagc-cutting classes.

What a good influence you are, Portia!

Nang mag break time na ay pumunta na kami sa cafeteria to buy some food and just like what Lili said, she treat me. I was about to get my order nang may kumuha nito.

"Hey Mister, that's my food." sabi ko sa lalaking nasa harap ko. Napatingin ito sa akin at sunod sa pagkain.

This man. He looks good. He's tall and has fair skin. He looks like a classic man and he has taste in clothes, huh? I assumed he's not a beggar, especially with his annoyingly shiny Rolex watch.

So why the hell would he take my sandwich and zero-sugar cola?!

"You do not own this food Miss. Might as well checked your order if you really ordered." he said arrogantly, and without a blink, he left in front of me.

What a jerk! I looked at the cafeteria crew in disbelief.

"Kuya, did you see that? You know my usual order, right? He took my food!" I complained to the crew na nagbigay ng pagkain sa kaniya.

Sinabi ko ito sa kaniya ng mahinahon because I didn't want drama but I knew the people in line behind me heard everything.

"Ma'am, pasensya na po pero pareho po kasi kayo ng order, at nauna po siya, kaya siya po talaga ang may-ari ng pagkain na 'yon," paliwanang nito sa akin, and my cheeks turned red with embarrassment.

What the hell!

I complained just for what, to humiliate myself?

Inis kong hinintay ang order ko at naglakad papunta sa kung nasaan ang table namin ni Lili. She's scrolling through her phone and I noticed that she haven't touched her food yet.

  Considerate, Lili.

"Ba't ang tagal mo? Sandwich at cola lang naman inorder mo, right?" reklamo nito sabay patingin sa kung saan ako umorder ng pagkain kanina.

"Oh, I didn't know marami palang pila sa usual store na pinagbibilhan mo." dagdag nito, I rolled my eyes with her response to her own question. She didn't even gave me a chance to answer.