"Should I make it tighter? Like this?"

***

Everyone in class is cramming their activity in Philosophy, which was given yesterday afternoon. It should be passed earlier during our professor's period, but since most of them was not done yet, she extended the deadline.

I sighed, am I really on the so-called top section?

I was rewriting my notes for Basic Calculus while waiting for our next subject, General Chemistry. Ms. Saavedra, our professor, will be here in a minute, I suppose. She never gone late, after all.

The noise in the room suddenly disappeared when a woman's voice filled the entire room. It was gentle yet full of authority. She's here, my favorite teacher.

She went to the table in front and put her folders and laptop down. "Cramming again, Andromeda?" she asked and chuckled. My classmates laughed.

Ms. Saavedra gave us a short recap of our lesson yesterday. Then she connected her laptop to our classroom's television to show us her PowerPoint presentation.

"Before we start, does anyone here knows how to do chemical balancing?" our professor asked but no one raised their hand, aside from Amber of course. If I'm not mistaken, chemical balancing is where you change the coefficients of the elements to make it equal to the reactants or products.

I raised my hand. "Only them, the rank one and two? What about you Mr. Gonzales?" she asked, pertaining to last year's rank three.

"It's quite familiar but I don't have a clue about it," he honestly replied.

"What about the others?"

"Miss, hindi pa po naturo sa amin 'yon." "Yes miss, General Biology lang po kasi science namin last year." Some of my classmates said. Well, obviously it's not yet taught to us. Pero sa pagkakaalala ko, naturo iyon or kahit nabigyan lang ng kahit kaunting discussion noong grade eight or nine.

"I know. I'm working here at Criston University for many years, kabisado ko na ang curriculum ng grade 11 and 12," sagot ni Ms. Saavedra. She got a point, but I think she offended those two.

"Since Ms. Legaspi and Mr. Misaki knows it. Let me test your schema," she said and looked at me and Amber consecutively.

"Explain to me, what is chemical balancing." Agad na nagtaas ng kamay si Amber. Nang tawagin siya ni Ms. Saavedra ay tumayo siya at sumagot.

"Balancing chemical equations involves the addition of stoichiometric coefficients to the reactants and products." After answering, she sat down and took a glance of me. She's sitting one row ahead of me so I can clearly see her proud smirk. May pinapatunayan ba siya?

"Good, then do you know the balanced equation for glucose in cellular respiration?" Ms. Saavedra asked once again.

"C⁶ H¹² O⁶," Amber answered without raising her hand. Before our professor could even react, I immediately raised my hand, making the whole class look at me as well as Amber.

"Yes, Mr. Misaki?"

"She's wrong." One phrase that made the whole room filled with some strange tension. Parmg biglang bumigat ang ihip ng hangin matapos kong magsalita. I looked at Ms. Saavedra and noticed she was looking at me with a proud smile on her face.

"What do you mean-"

I looked at Amber with a plain expression. "You just stated the chemical formula of glucose but not the balanced form. C⁶ H¹² O⁶ plus 6O² is the right answer, isn't it Ms, Saavedra?" A few seconds of deafening silence.

"Correct." And my professor broke that silence.

May mga narinig akong bulong sa paligid at malalim na paghinga, "So that is what a fight between the two smartest students can do, huh?" "I almost lost my breathe." I guess they did feel that tension too.

It's not a fight or even an argument, because I don't intend to in the first place. I just answered and corrected a mistake.

***

After our last subject was dismissed, like I always do, I went to my locker and left there some of my things.

"You're really going for it, huh?" Amber. I ignored her and was about to walk away when she talked again.

"You think you can replace me on being the rank one, don't you?" she said and looked at me with her competent gaze.

"No, I don't. I don't intend to either," I retaliated.

Before I walked away, I told her something that made her burst into rage. "Sorry for cutting you off earlier. It's just funny that you know how to balance chemical but not the balanced form of glucose."

Naglalakad ako sa hallway nang biglang may humarang sa daan ko. He's much taller than me so I have to look up just to see his face and the first thing I saw was his smile. "Hello!"

Who's this guy again? From yesterday.

"Hi, Sandro. I mean, Saber?"

"Savior. Savior Kyle Ramirez, you already forgot," he chuckled and scratched his nape.

"Oh, sorry. Hi, Savior. Do you need anything?" I thought we wouldn't meet again but I guess that's impossible.

"Nothing. Just wanna say hi? Anyways, do you have plans today?" he asked while we were walking along the hallway.

"Not much, I suppose. Why?" Does he want to get close to me? He suddenly acts all friendly.

"Hmm, I see. Then, wanna hangout? May bagong bukas na- "

"No." He stopped when he heard my immediate answer. I guess I offended him. I know he's trying to act kind, but I can't just let my guard down and go with someone I just met yesterday. I'm not that naïve.

"O-Okay. A no is a no, I respect that. I'll get going, ingat sa pag-uwi!" pagpapaalam niya at pinilit na ngumiti. Nauna siyang maglakad sa akin habang ako ay naiwan sa kinatatayuan ko habang tinitignan siyang makalayo at tuluyang mawala sa paningin ko.

Why did I suddenly feel bad? I'm just protecting my safe space, and he respects it just like he said. I always say no in offers like that, even before. But it's strange that this time, I feel like I should've said yes.

I shrugged my shoulder and continued walking. I went straight to the parking lot and saw a Honda Acura; one of the luxury cars of Honda that cost over 40,000 US Dollars and was first released in United States. I went straight to the car and opened the door of the shotgun seat. There, I saw mom in the driver's seat.

"Just in time honey," she greeted and smiled.

"I took care of some things before I went here kaya medyo natagalan po, sorry." That's Amber and... ah yes, Savior.

"I arrived just now, hindi naman ako masyadong matagal na naghintay so no worries," mom responded, and she started the car's engine.

While mom was driving, I put my headphones on and rested my head on the windshield. I was looking at the door to see the buildings we were passing through. Maybe it looks good and fascinating if it's not in black and white. I don't remember when was the last time I saw colors without the fear of seeing yellow.

"Honey," rinig kong pagtawag ni mom sa akin kahit naka headphones ko, well I did not turn the volumes into maximum, t might damage my eardrums if I do so.

"Yes mom?"

"Gusto mo daan muna tayo sa café bago tayo umuwi? There's a new flavor of croissant that I made. You might want to try it," she offered while staring directly on the road.

"Sure mom, miss ko na rin doon e," sagot ko. Isang buwan na rin ata aakong hindi nakakapunta sa main branch ng café ni mom, and I really miss the calm vibe of that place.

***

It took us half an hour before we arrived at the café. Until now, I'm still astonished by the exterior design of our main branch. My parents decided to have a monochrome BNW motif so that I can go there whenever I want. They always prioritize me, and that's why I am so grateful to have them.

We went in. The fresh scent of lavender and brewed coffee filled my system. It was so comforting. Even though I'm wearing my glasses. I know that the purple orchids placed on each table compliments the black and white interior of the café. It was my mom's favorite flower and color.

The café isn't that spacious. I once asked them why they aren't expanding, but they said that to prevent from having too much crowd which will surely be hindrance to the people who came here to study or to meet someone, they lessen the space. It is good that they also think about the customer's sake.

"Maupo ka muna, I'll make your special coffee," mom uttered and went inside. I have this 'special' coffee na si mom lang ako nakakaalam kung paano gawin, and whenever she's here, she always made that for me. Pero minsan, kapag pumupunta ako rito at wala siya, ibang kape and in-o-order ko, well, all the coffee and pastries here taste good.

Saktong paglabas ni mom ay ang pagtunog ng chime sa pinto, a sign that a customer entered. Hindi na ako nag-abalang lumingon pa pero agad na kumunot ang noo ko nang makarinig ng pamilyar na boses.

"Hello, tita café owner!" the guy stated and judging by its cheerful tone, I know who it was.

"Oh, Savior, buti naman at bumisita ka ulit," mom spoke and looked at the guy who just entered the café.

Wait, what?