“Run now!”

The woman shouted at me as she ran away. I was on my way home and I looked behind me. My eyes widened when I saw people who looked like they were also eating humans. Zombies. People are running away while others are caught by zombies and bitten. I ran in fear and hid in a deserted grocery store.

A man was running towards the direction I was standing. I couldn't move in shock and at that moment he suddenly bit me on the arm.

“AHHHH!!!”

And suddenly mom hit me with a pillow.

"What's that, Maya? You're screaming so early. Come on, get up and take a shower."

I immediately got out of bed, sweating profusely because of my dream. Yes, it was just a dream. A few minutes passed and I went down to the bedroom, already dressed and freshly showered.

"Oh, it's a good thing you're already dressed. Go get a plate and utensils from the kitchen and eat."

Mom said and I headed to the kitchen to get the plates.

By the way, I'm Maya Dimakausad, a 17-year-old, and Lora, my mother, a single mom and kind person who also has a bit of an armalite in her mouth from time to time.

“Mom, I’m leaving!”

I said goodbye to my mom and walked out of the house.

“Your bag, is it there?”

“Yes!”

“Be careful. Be careful crossing the road.”

Mama reminded me. I nodded and left. When I arrived at school, Sib, the guard at our school, immediately greeted me.

“Good morning, Maya! It seems like our postures are different.”

Manong Sib greeted me and ushered me through the gate.

"Good morning to you too, manong."

I also greeted them as I entered the gate. Our school gate is just a few steps away from our school building. There were other students who entered with me. It's been an hour since our teacher came in to teach Mathematics. Our first period in the morning is already stressful. I was feeling a little sleepy so I took a nap for a while, but then someone kicked my leg so I raised my head.

“Don't sleep in class, you lazy bastard”

A scolding from my classmate Dustin.

Dustin Kritiko is the son of a famous artist and the owner of the largest company KritiCo. Dustin is also 17 years old, just a month younger than me. He is smart, especially in math, which is the opposite of me.

“Don't sleep in class, you lazy bast☆rd”

“Don't call me "lazy" and don't kick my foot either”

I answered him with a smile because he was asking me so much. He leaned back in his chair and stared at me.

"Well, if you keep that stubborn attitude of yours maybe I just tell Ms. Majime that you're sleeping in her class and... she will get mad and scold you or... she will report this to your parents"

This was a threat to me and I immediately got scared. I was afraid that my mom would scold me again just because of this.

“Shhh! Okay, okay. I don’t sleep anymore. Happy?”

Annoyed, she just smiled and continued writing for her notes. I had nothing to do but listen to Ms. Majime's math lesson.

"See you at the next meeting, class. Copy this one, this will be your assignment."

"Thank you and good bye, Ms. Majime."

We said goodbye to Ms. Majime and sat back down in our seats for the next subject. After an hour, the bell rang and we left the classroom. I took my wallet from the pocket of my bag and headed to the canteen.

“Dustin, give me a treat there, oh.”

Her female friend joked while the others were busy choosing what to eat.

“A cooler and a biscuit.”

I said to the vendor in the other space of the canteen. Dustin heard my voice so he turned to look at me but I didn't realize he was looking at me.

"Oh, dust! Aren't you going to buy something for your recess?"

One of his friends, Zandro, asked.

“Ah, just one corndog and one lumpian shanghai for Denise.”

Denise is their only female friend whom they call "The princess over the five knights" and she is the one who teases Dustin into treating her to a treat.

“Naks, I'm pretty so Dustin treated me well.”

Suddenly, another friend of theirs, Josh, was taken aback by Denise's words.

“Oh, just take it easy. That's because you're so hungry.”

Zandro joked with him while patting his back while the others just laughed, including Denise, but Dustin's gaze kept wandering around the canteen as if looking for something or perhaps, someone.

When I got my food, I immediately left the canteen and I caught his eyes.

—☆to be continued...

When I got my food, I paid for it and left the canteen.

"Maya! Maya, just a moment!"

My friend Jessica called out to me. So, I stopped, so she could catch up with me.

"Thank you, you're really fast. Are you the flash?"

I just chuckled.

"Oh, why are you chasing me?"

I asked laughing, and she pulled me to the side of the hallway.

"Wait a minute... I'm tired of chasing the Flash's daughter."

She told me a joke and we both laughed.

"What are you going to say?"

"Yes, here it is. I have some new gossip."

"You always have gossip to share."

"Listen to me first"

Jessica whine.

"Yes, that's right."

"Aren't you and Hiroshi Yuki's half siblings, the Japanese?"

I was taken aback by Jessica's words.

"Yes. What's wrong with him?"

"Here it is. You know that mom works at your father's company here in the Philippines. She told me that your father mentioned that Hiroshi's school will be transferring here in the Philippines. Guess which school he's transferring to, Maya?"

"Where? I don't know. So, where?"

Jessica came closer and whispered

"Here. It's here at our school, Maya."

"Oh! They don't like private school? There are so many private schools here, I'm sure they can afford the expenses of private school."

Jessica just shrugged and just then the bell rang, signaling that recess time was over.

"Later, Maya. Let's go home together."

"Okay, okay."

And I walked towards our classroom.

A few hours passed, it was 12:30 pm, and it was time to go home, so I packed my things to get ready to go home. As I was about to walk out the door, I was suddenly stopped by someone calling my name. It's Dustin.

"Oh, wait a minute."

I turned behind me and saw him handing me a piece of paper.

"What is this?"

I asked Dustin curiously.

"Paper. I know you don't have any paper left, so I'll give it to you for our Math assignment. I don't want to have a seatmate who hasn't done the assignment so take it. That doesn't mean anything else."

I agreed and accepted the paper.

"Thanks"

I simply said.

Dustin just nods and walks out of the classroom.

"TSK! Does he have to face me so that I have no money to buy some paper, huh? He's just lucky he has a wealthy family."

I muttered under my breath and I walked towards Jessica's classroom.

"Oh! Jessica? She just left with her crush."

Jessica's classmate named Amie said.

"Is that so? Thanks."

I walked away.

"This is another Jessica. When it really comes to flirting, she forgets about me."

I mumbled to myself while walking towards the school gate.

"Who's going to pick you up?"

A Manong guard asked me.

"I'm taking a bus, as always. You already know that, Manong."

I said and he just chuckled.

"Alright then, take care."

"I will."

I went out the gate and waited for the bus in the school waiting shed.

Time skip...

"Mom, I'm home!"

I took off my shoes and put on slippers.

"Welcome home, Maya!"

Mom greeted me from the kitchen. I can smell the aroma of her cooking, so I went to the kitchen.

"Mmmm. Smells delicious, mom. What are you cooking?"

I asked when slowly walking towards her side.

"Your favorite. Chicken adobo."

Mom answered me with a smile on her lips while mixing the adobo in the pot.

Chicken adobo is a traditional dish in the Philippines. It is the favorite dish of some Filipinos.

"Wow! I'm so excited to eat, mom"

I excitedly said, and I went to the dining table, arranging the plates and utensils.

"Dinner is ready"

Mom puts the bowl of adobo and a bowl of rice in the center of the table, and we start to dig in.

After we ate, I immediately went to my room to study. I used the paper Dustin gave me and started to answer our Math assignment. I started at 7:45 pm and finished at 10:11 pm. Furthermore, I was getting sleepy, so I decided to put my books away and then lay down on my bed and go to sleep.

"Maya! Maya!"

Jessica called me.

"Look. A handsome guy is looking for you."

She pointed to the man in the school parking lot, and suddenly he turned to face me. I was so surprised when he turned to face me, his face looked like a chicken adobo that mom had cooked and then I screamed.

"AHHHHH!"

I woke up when my mom threw a pillow at my face.

"What is that, Maya? You're giving me heart attacks every morning. Why are you screaming?

She scolded me.

"Nothing, mom. I just dreamed of some nonsense dreams. I'm sorry."

I answered while scratching my head.

"Get ready. You still have school today."

"Yes, mom."

And then mom left the room and I went to the bathroom.

—☆to be continued...