Aiah's Pov

"Saan ko nilagay?" I asked myself.

"Breakfast is ready. Ate Aiah ano hinahanap mo?" Sophia said.

"My bracelet," I said.

"Ate Aiah, I'm hungry na," Sophia said.

"Wait, I found it. Tara na sa baba," I said.

I'm Maraiah Queen Arceta, a 4th year college student and captain of the archery team. The one who I was talking to is Sophia, my adopted sister, a 1st year college student. Both of us are studying at Bini University. It's the first day of school, kaya sabay kami aalis ng bahay. Binati namin si mom and dad ng goodmorning.

"Girls breakfast first," Mom said.

"Excited ata kayong dalawa," Dad said.

"Si Sophia lang dad, college na eh," I said.

"Syempre Ate. Tsaka na-recruit na ako sa volleyball team," Sophia said.

"Ayaw mo sa archery team?" I asked.

"Ate parang nagtratraining lang bilang hunter pag sa team mo ako sasali. Gusto ko i-enjoy ang college life ko beside being a hunter," Sophia said.

"Okay, I respect your decision, but we will still train being hunters," I said.

"Mga anak wag niyo na muna isipin ang pagiging hunter. Just take some time to enjoy your life din," Dad said.

"Yes, dad," Sophia and I said.

We're hunters; galing kami sa bloodline ng hunters. We hunt supernatural creatures like werewolves, those who kill innocent people. Simula pagkabata, na-train na ako. Si Sophia naman ay unti-unti tinuruan after siya inadopt nila dad.

"Hephep, eat your breakfast na at baka ma-late pa kayo," Mom said.

Kumain na kami kaagad ni Sophia at pumunta na ng school gamit ang car ko. Pagdating namin ay sakto nakita ko kaka-park ng car ni Colet, alam ko na kasabay niya si Stacey at Sheena. The three of them are my bestfriends and also hunters.



"Goodmorning, mga Ate," Sophia said.

"Dalaga na ang Sophia namin," Colet said.

"Dalaga na mas matangkad sayo Colet," Sheena said.

"Konti lang naman height gap," Colet said.

"Colet matakot kana kay Sophia at sasali siya sa volleyball team. Baka sayo niya itama yung bola," I said.

"Pili ka Ate Colet, bola o pana?" Sophia said.

"Magiging ka-teammate ko si Sophia?" Colet asked.

"Sophia sama ka nalang samin sa archery," Stacey said.

"Hindi niyo mapipilit si Sophia. Tara na sa mga classroom natin lalo na ikaw Sophia," I said.

Nagpaalam na samin si Sophia at pumunta na din sa sarili niyang classroom. Pagdating namin apat sa room ay may iba pa pala maaga dumating. Maloi with her friends. Si Jho, Gwen, and Mikha na mga tulog. Multimedia arts ang course namin walo.

"Goodmorning Maloi, aga niyo ata masyado," I said.

"First day of class, sinigurado ko lang na hindi late itong tatlo," Maloi asked.

"Maloi may mabango ako naaamoy," I said.

"Ah oo pala, I brought cookies para sa inyo. Naisipan ko gumawa," Maloi said.

Binigay sakin ni Maloi ang isang box na may laman ng cookies. Kumuha agad si colet.

"Yves, the best talaga gawa mo na cookies," Colet said.

"Dami naman nito, bigyan mo din sila Jho," I said.

"Binigyan ko na sila at nakain na din nila, ginawa nila pang-breakfast," Maloi said.

"Thanks sa cookies, itatago ko muna para umabot pa hanggang hapon. Baka wala itira samin si Colet," I said.

"Grabe kayo sakin," Colet said.

"Colet sa pagkaka-alala namin, every practice ng volleyball team ay halos nagdadala si Maloi at ikaw nakaka-ubos at nakakadami," Stacey said.

"Hayaan mo Colet sa susunod maghiwalay ako ng para sayo lang," Maloi said.

"Ayun oh si Colet ang favorite sa volleyball team," Sheena said.

"Boang Shee," Colet said.

"Hephep tama na ang asaran, baka magising niyo sila Mikha," I said.

"Yung dalawa pwede magising pero yung isa tulog mantika yan," Maloi said.

Alam namin na si Mikha ang tinutukoy ni Maloi. For the past three years, nakakatulog siya sa class, pero nasasagot niya naman mga tanong ng teacher pag tinatawag siya. After a few minutes, dumating na din mga iba pa namin kaklase pati teacher. Si Ma'am Ica, isa sa Professor namin sa major subjects at coach namin sa archery team.

"Ms. Arceta, any recommendations kung kanino mo ipapasa ang role bilang class representative?" Ma'am Ica asked.

"I recommend Ms. Jhoanna Robles po," I said.

"Ms. Robles, do you agree with Ms. Arceta?" Ma'am Ica asked.

"Yes Ma'am," Jho said.

"Okay, it's decided; Ms. Jhoanna Robles is the class president for this year," Ma'am Ica said.

Hindi masyado nagtagal mga class namin ng umaga dahil first day of class palang naman. Pupunta na sana kami sa cafeteria, pero sinama muna ako ni Ma'am Ica sa faculty office.

Pinauna ko na sila Colet sa cafeteria. Pinahawak ko kay Stacey yung box na may laman ng cookies para hindi maubos ni Colet.

"Aiah, I want to talk about this year medyo magiging busy ang archery club sa competitions," Ma'am Ica said.

"We'll make sure to win, especially since it's the last year for me, Sheena, and Stacey," I said.

"Just enjoy every competition, okay?" Ma'am Ica said.

"I will; don't worry coach," I said.

Pagkalabas ko sa faculty office ay nakasalubong ko si Sophia kasama si Mikha. Sophia was introduced to Mikha as the new recruit for the team.

"Hi Ate Aiah," Sophia said.

"Ate?" Mikha asked.

"We're sisters. My parents adopted Sophia," I said.

"But you look like real sisters," Mikha said.

"Talaga? Sarap pang-gigilan mukha nito," I said.

Kinurot ko pisngi ni Sophia, narinig namin ni Mikha na kumulog tyan ng kapatid ko.

"Kahiya tyan ko," Sophia said.

"Aiah, your sister is hungry," Mikha said.

"Tara lunch Soph, sabay kana samin nila Colet," I said.

"Would the two of you like to have lunch with me outside? Since it's early lunch and we have time to eat outside. My treat," Mikha asked.

"Talaga Ate Mikhs? Tara," Sophia said.

"Hilig mo talaga sa libre Soph," I said.

"Bawal tanggihan ang libre," Sophia said.

"Mikhs nakakahiya," I said.

"Aiah, I insist," Mikha said.

Mahirap din talaga tumanggi kay Mikha. Childhood bestfriends kami pero simula ng naging busy ako sa training bilang hunter ay hindi na din kami masyado nakapag-bonding noon, but we see each other dito sa school.

She doesn't know that I'm from a family of hunters. Gusto ko sabihin noon sa kanya, pero baka matakot siya. I didn't see or kill any werewolves yet.

Nasa fast food restaurant na kami malapit lang sa school. Nag-order na si Mikha, sinamahan siya ni Sophia idala sa table namin mga inorder niya. She ordered three plates of two-piece chicken with rice, coke float, peach mango pie, and fries.

"Ate Mikha nagtatagalog ka pala, akala ko pure English pag-salita mo," Sophia said.

"Marunong si Mikha, medyo conyo lang minsan," I said.

"Kahit si Ate Aiah mo, she's conyo," Mikha said.

"When was it Mikha Lim?" I asked.

"During Pinoy Henyo during the class Christmas party last year," Mikha said.

"Soph pag practice niyo lakasan mo bawat palo mo sa bola at itama mo sa captain niyo," I said.

Mikha is the captain of the volleyball team; she's the setter.

"Aiah, I can easily receive any ball," Mikha said.

"Yabang Mikha Lim, syempre isa ka sa best player ng team niyo," I said.

"Let's play a game," Mikha said.

"Volleyball? That's unfair because it's your sport," I said.

"So you admit na magaling talaga ako maglaro," Mikha said.

Mag-sasalita pa sana ako, pero ramdam ko natatawa si Sophia. Naka-smile naman si Mikha.

"Cute niyo both captains ng different sports," Sophia said.

"Boang Soph, ikain mo nalang yan," I said.

"How about both of you really play a game? Ang matatalo ay magpapakulay ng red hair," Sophia said.

"What game?" Mikha asked.

"Not volleyball or archery, childhood games para masaya," Sophia said.

"Sophia Elizabeth Arceta," I said.

"Chill, Ate Aiah. The game is dodgeball," Sophia said.

"Game ako," Mikha said.

"Mikha Lim game ka talaga?" I asked.

"Oo, I mean, it's still a game. Nag-baback out ka ata Maraiah Arceta," Mikha said.

"Game din ako. Kahit ngayong hapon pa natin gawin after class sa gym," I said.

"This should be fun," Sophia said.

Lakas din maging pasimuno ng kapatid ko eh. Nag-message sila Stacey sa group chat.

Chat Conversation:



Sigurado mang-aasar si Stacey pag balik namin ni Mikha sa classroom. Tinignan ko post ng BiniU. Kami ni Mikha ang topic, the mikhaiah tandem. First day of class ang lakas mang-asar ng page ng school. Hindi din naman mawawala pagka-close namin lalo na childhood bestfriends kami. Well, we support each other's games.



After namin kumain, naglakad na kami pabalik sa school since malapit lang talaga.

"Ate Mikha, thank you po sa libre," Sophia said.

"Your welcome, Sophia," Mikha said.

"Mikhs, I'll treat you next time," I said.

"Aiah, you can just bring me cookies," Mikha said.

"Cookies? Halos dinadalhan kayo ni Maloi ng cookies. Ginawa niyo pa pang-umagahan daw kanina," I said.

"Namiss ko lang gawa mo chocolate chip cookies," Mikha said.

"Isumbong kita kay Maloi nag-sasawa na ata kayo sa gawa niya," I said.

"I'm not nag-sasawa. Sometimes she makes healthy cookies for the whole team's health," Mikha said.

"Well, she just cares for your team being the team's student manager, especially since she's also your friend," I said while laughing a bit.

"But you can just bake some cookies, please," Mikha said.

"Okay, I will Mikha Lim," I said.

"Ehem ehem," Sophia said.

Sa pag-uusap namin ay hindi namin namalayan nakabalik na kami sa school.

"Mga Ate mauna na ako sa classroom ko," Sophia said.

"Sige Soph focus sa class," I said.

"Remember yung game niyo dalawa after class. Ni-record ko yun para wala talaga atrasan," Sophia said.

"Sophia, see you in the gym," I said.

Naglakad na din kami ni Mikha papunta sa classroom.

"Coach recruited her. Is Sophia really that good in volleyball?" Mikha asked.

"Yes, hobby niya lang talaga. So be careful, baka siya na lagi maging mvp sa mga games niyo," I said.

"I don't mind if she can be the player of the game or mvp. Everyone in my team also deserves that award," Mikha said.

"Humble captain Mikha Lim," I said.

"Aiah, I'm serious. I just love playing volleyball," Mikha said.

"Maybe you can become a pro player after graduating," I said.

"I'll think about it, and we still have time this year to think about plans in the future," Mikha said.

Nakarating na kami sa classroom. Sakto kakarating nila Sheena.

"Nandito na pala ang mikhaiah," Stacey said.

"Boang ka talaga Staku," I said.

"Staku baka ikaw naman ang admin ng BiniU," Jho said.

"If ako ang admin eh di sana wala ako sa cafeteria kanina," Stacey said.

"Ayan na naman po sila," Maloi said.

Si Stacey at Jho mahilig magbardagulan. Hindi ata makukumpleto ang araw nila na hindi sila ganyan.

"Si Jho kasi," Stacey said.

"Si Stacey kasi," Jho said.

"Since nasa mood kayo magbardagulan, samahan niyo kami ni Mikha maglaro ng dodgeball after ng class sa gym," I said.

"Huh?" Sabay silang anim except Mikha.

Si Mikha naglalaro sa phone niya habang ine-explain ko ang nangyare. Si Stacey at Sheena ang makakasama ko maglaro, si Jho at Gwen naman kasama ni Mikha.

"Sino kaya ang magpapakulay ng red hair sa dalawa? Nakaka-excite naman," Maloi said.

"Pwede may idagdag sa punishment ng matatalo?" Stacey asked while smiling.

"Staku yang smile mo ah," I said.

"Para kay Jho lang sana ito pero damay na din si gwen. Kung si Mikha magpapa-red hair, yung dalawa naman ay magpapa-gupit," Stacey said.

"Noooo buhok ko," Jho said.

"Next week pa sana ako magpapagupit," Gwen said.

"Sakto bebe agahan na natin pagpagupit mo," Sheena said.

"Jho maawa ka sa buhok mo ang haba na," Stacey said.

"Guys, good luck," Colet said.

"Natatawa na ako agad ini-imagine palang punishment sa inyo," Maloi said.

"Colet ang supportive mo na teammate ah," Jho said.

"Maloi walang support," Gwen said.

"In your situation, I pick friends first before teammates," Colet said.

"Eh di wag kayo magpatalo Gwen," Maloi said.

"Kaso palaban ang nahamon. Mikha Lim jusko galingan mo," Jho said.

"As if pagbibigyan ko manalo si Mikha," I said.

"It's only dodgeball. My team can win," Mikha said.

"Mahangin Mikha Lim. Be ready, magpa-red hair," I said.

Nag-smile ako ng mapang-asar kay Mikha. Basta ako hindi magpapatalo.