My Best Friend

                        She was an ordinary girl. The eldest of five. She thinks she’s her father’s favorite. His princess. Because of that, some people think she’s a spoiled brat. But she’s not. Her family was proud of her. Why not? Since in grade school, she does belong to the top ten of her class. She always transfers school because her father’s work requires them to do so. But that’s not a hindrance for her. She can easily adjust to the new surroundings and can make new friends. In school, she always stands out. Then, finally her father decided to settle down in Manila (Philippines) for good. She needs to transfer school again for the third time. She was in grade five at that time. I can say she’s bright. She easily outstand her classmates being the number one in her class. That made her confidence boost. Way back in her childhood, her aunt told her that she’s not bright. Her brain was just for province competition. And for that, she was able to prove her aunt wrong. When she was in grade six, her mother doesn’t stay that much on their house. She was busy with their family business which happened to be based at province. Her father was also busy with his work. When he goes home, he’s like more on visiting rather than going home. He just goes home to give the weekly budget for food. At home, she attended to her siblings as if she was their mother. If it wasn’t for her beloved grandmother, I doubt she can do that. The youngest at that time was only six years old. And then there was a blow. It was the day of enrolment and she doesn’t have things for school. Not a single ball pen or paper. On first day of class, she wasn’t able to attend. She went to school on the second day. She didn’t know that there was such policy that if you can’t attend at first day, you’ll be transfer to lower section. Well, she was transferred. I t was really a blow for her. Imagine, she was at the top of her class, yet she was transferred to lower section? Until now, she’s still holding a grudge towards her teacher. When that was happened, she cried, but she knew she can’t do anything about it aside from accepting it. She was really devastated. She told her parents about it. They say it was okay. It was as if they don’t care. And her family was back on its routine. Her mother went again to province and her father, to his work. Until one day, she doesn’t want to go to school. She doesn’t want to stop on schooling; she just wants to ditch school. Her grandmother did everything to force her to go to school but knowing her, she’s hardheaded, and no one can force her. But she still goes to school. Only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Sometimes if she wasn’t in mood, only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. When she goes to school, she feels like a total stranger in her classroom, as if she was again a transferee. But I can say she’s really smart. When she’s present in class, she always participates in recitations. Sometimes she can feel that her classmates wants her to be absent so that she can’t outstand them. Well I think she’s just paranoid. Maybe because of insecurity. Some of her classmates told her, if she’s not “absenera” she would make it to the top of the class. Her parents didn’t know what she’s doing. They didn’t actually suspected anything because she always passes her exams but it didn’t occurred to her that her teacher might not let her graduate. It just occurred to her at the finals day. Her teacher asked her why she was always absent. She didn’t answer her. For the first time, she got nervous. But she found a way. On her recognition day, the top ten of her class were announced. Of course, she wasn’t expecting that she would be one of them. She was shocked when she heard her name called at ninth place. Well, she’s really amazing, isn’t it? On her former section, the top one of the class was her runner up when she was in grade five. Imagine if she hadn’t transferred? But what hurt her most was when this former runner up of her told her “Lumipat ka kasi eh. Ako tuloy ang top one.” It was as if she was slapped on her face. On graduation day, she saw him wearing gold medal around his neck. She wanted to cry. That medal was supposed to be hers. After the graduation rites, she vowed, she would take back those things that were meant for her. On the enrolment day, of high school, there was this station where they would write the general average. When she saw the average of others, she was insecure but she didn’t let that affect her. After all, she’s starting all over again.