“Mga anak!” Jenelle shouted as she called her daughters.

“Mama!” Juliet and Diane said as they walked towards their mother.

“Ito ang regalo namin para sa inyong dalawa dahil nakakuha kayo ng With Honor sa klase niyo,” Michael said happily as he handed over the gifts.

Abigail walked towards them and watched as her sisters received their presents from their parents.

“Ay nako, sorry Abby, anak. Nakalimutan ka naming bilhan ng regalo,” Jenelle apologized to her daughter.

“It’s okay lang po, Mama…” Abigail said in an upset tone.

Juliet came towards her and gave her a ribbon. “Ito, share tayo sa gift. Look, we both have the same ribbon!!!”

“Ah! Thank you, Ate!!!” Abigail took the ribbon and put it in her hair. “Wow!!”

“Share din po tayo, Ate Abby, sa gift na teddy bear kapag naglalaro tayo!” Diane said.

“Thank you so much!!!” Abigail said happily.

They all played together, filled with joy.

Three years later...

“Bakit mo sinira ‘yung regalo sa’kin ni Mama, Abby?!!” Juliet said angrily as she pushed Abigail away. “Papa!!! Sinira ni Abigail ‘yung regalo ni Mama, kasi na-iinggit daw siya!!!” Juliet lied, making up stories about her sister.

“Hoy, Ate! Hindi naman ‘to totoo! Hindi ko naman sinasadyang masira ang laruan mo!” Abigail defended herself.

“Papa oh! Nagsisinungaling pa si Abby!!” Juliet shouted.

Michael came inside the room and held Juliet’s hand. “Ano naman ‘to, Abigail? Huh?!! Ikaw bata ka!! Anong nangyayari sa’yo? Bakit mo sinira ang laruan ng kapatid mo?” Michael shouted at Abigail.

“Papa!! Hindi man po ‘yun totoo na sinira ko basta-basta ang laruan ni Ate! Hindi ko man po sinasadya...” Abigail started to cry, begging for them to believe her.

“Ikaw ah! Sumasagot ka na ah!” Michael grabbed a hanger, took Abigail’s hand, and brought her to another room to lecture her—though he used the hanger to hurt her.

“PAPA!!! MASAKIT PO!!! ‘WAG PO!!!” Abigail cried out in pain, even though she didn’t mean to destroy her eldest sister’s toy.

“Bagay sa’yo ‘yan. Sinira mo ang regalo ni Mama ko. Hindi na kita tuturinging kapatid hanggang ngayon, Abigail,” Juliet swore as she locked her room door.

After seven years...

Warning: This story is not recommended for readers under 10 years of age. It deals with family conflicts and political issues and is based on a true story. It contains sensitive and mature themes, including references to sexual violence, sexual content, abuse, murder, and kidnapping.

Please note: Do not imitate any of the actions or behaviors depicted in this story. This work is created solely to reflect reality. The narrative may use a mix of Tagalog and English (Taglish) throughout its chapters.

Thank you for your understanding.

(Chapter 1)

The Jasmine family stood as the most influential family in their country. At the head of the family were Jenelle S. Jasmine, a professor of Master’s in English, and Micheal D. Jasmine, a wealthy CEO based in Manila. Together, they raised three daughters known affectionately as the "Tres Marias": Juliet, Abigail, and Diane.

Juliet S. Jasmine, the eldest, was a Grade 12 student. Abigail S. Jasmine, the middle child, was in Grade 10, and Diane S. Jasmine, the youngest, was a Grade 9 student. Excellence ran in their blood—all three consistently graduated with honors year after year. Yet, for the longest time, there was a quiet rift within this accomplished trio. Juliet and Abigail were not close; instead, they often found themselves clashing over the smallest things, turning trivial matters into full-blown arguments.

As the morning sun streamed in, Jenelle was always the first one awake. Today, she was busy preparing the ingredients for their lunch—everyone’s favorite, adobo. Once she was done, she arranged everything neatly on the dining table, then stepped out of the room to call her family.

“Ang aking Tres Marias! It’s time to eat na, pagkatapos niyo ‘yan sa ginagawa ninyo. At ‘pa, bilisan niyo rin baka ma-late na kayo! First day of school niyo pa naman!” Jenelle shouted, calling her daughters for lunch. Then she turned her attention elsewhere, calling out, “And also sa aking asawa, mahal, kain na!!”

She couldn’t help but giggle after calling out, the warmth of the moment filling her heart. After a short while, she headed back inside the dining room and settled onto her chair, patiently waiting for her girls and her husband to join her.

A minute later, Juliet walked into the dining room, but there was something different about her mood today. She stood before her mother, reaching out her hand expectantly.

“Mama, wala akong ganang kumain. At kailangan ko na ring mamadali baka ma-late ako. Tsaka yung—” She stopped mid-sentence when her mother stood up, cutting her off.

“Hindi ko ibibigay ang allowance mo hangga’t hindi ka kumakain!” Jenelle said, her voice rising with frustration, though she took a deep breath to keep her temper in check.

“Augh! Mama naman!” Juliet huffed, exasperated. She was about to say more when Abigail spoke up.

“Being tough today, Ate? Grabe naman,” Abigail remarked with a smirk, crossing her arms as she sauntered into the room and plopped down onto her chair.

“You!” Juliet snapped, ready to snap back, but their father walked in just in time.

“Ano naman ‘to? Mag-aaway naman kayo ulit?” Michael asked, his tone firm but weary. “Why don’t you both try to have a good relationship? No fighting. Ayaw ko nang gulo dito sa harap ng pagkain.”

He walked over to his wife, gently patting her back to calm her down before sitting beside her. “Umupo ka na, Juliet,” he said, looking steadily at his two daughters. Reluctantly, Juliet took her seat.

Suddenly, Diane came running into the dining room, nearly slipping on the floor.

“Oops!!” she yelped, quickly catching her balance. “Sorry po, hehehe.” She slid onto the chair beside Abigail, looking around the table with wide, curious eyes, sensing the heavy air. “Okay lang po ba kayong lahat?” she asked, her voice soft but clearly wanting to know what had gone on before she came in.

No one answered right away, so Jenelle gently broke the silence. “Magdasal na lang tayo para makakain na, baka ma-late pa kayo sa klase.”

She bowed her head, and the others followed suit. In a quiet, heartfelt whisper, Jenelle prayed:

“Lord, salamat po sa pagkaing nasa harapan namin ngayon. Gabayan niyo po ang mga anak namin sa kanilang pag-aaral. At sana po, payapain niyo ang puso nina Juliet at Abigail. Alisin niyo po ang tampuhan at pagtatalo sa pamilyang ito. Amen.”

When the prayer ended, they all started eating, but the room remained quiet—only the sound of spoons hitting plates could be heard, as everyone kept their thoughts to themselves.

Juliet was the first to finish her meal. She quietly placed her plate in the sink and marched back to where her mother was sitting, her steps heavy with irritation.

“Ma, aalis na ako. Hihingi na lang ako ng pamasahe sa’yo,” she said, her voice sharp and laced with anger.

“Bakit ka ganyan makapag—” Abigail started to remark, but Jenelle quickly cut in, giving her a sharp look to stay quiet.

“Kunin mo na,” Jenelle said, her voice softening into one of deep confusion and worry. She reached into her pocket and handed Juliet the allowance—₱500. “At ‘pa, bakit ka nagkakaganyan ngayon, Juliet? Anong nangyari?”

Without a word of thanks or even a glance back, Juliet snatched the money from her mother’s hand and stormed out of the dining room, leaving the air thick with tension.

“Baliw…” Abigail muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes as she watched her sister leave.

Diane, who had been watching everything with wide eyes, looked between her sister and her parents, completely baffled. “Anyare sa kanya? She’s being so different today, hindi naman siya ganito dati ah?”

Diane turned to Abigail, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “Ate, sabay tayo sa pagpasok!”

“Hay nako, Diane!” Abigail chuckled as she carried her plate to the sink. “Tandaan mo, pang-hapon na ako dahil Grade 10 na ako, ‘di ba?”

The excitement faded from Diane’s face, replaced instantly by a small pout of disappointment.

“Don’t worry, mga anak,” Michael said playfully, trying to lighten the mood. “Diane, magkakasabay din kayo ng Ate mo kapag Grade 11 ka na.”

Jenelle smiled, a playful glint in her eyes. “Hay… bilisan mo na ‘jan sa pagkain mo, Diane. Sasabay ka sa akin sa pagpasok ngayon.”

Diane’s sadness vanished, and she laughed happily. “Ay, ‘sige na nga! Advisor rin naman po kayo sa amin, Mama eh!”

Once she finished eating, Diane put her plate in the sink. “Toothbrush muna po ako, Ma!” she chirped. She grabbed her toothbrush, squeezed on some paste, and started brushing her teeth.

Abigail went to the sink and began washing the dishes. “Bagal mo naman mag-toothbrush, Diane! Eme lang!” she said, laughing at her own joke.

Diane simply ignored her sister’s teasing. As soon as she was done, she grabbed her bag and headed outside. Before getting into the car, she looked back at Abigail standing by the door and called out, “Bye po, Ate Abby!!” She climbed inside, and her mother drove off.

"Bye..." Abigail stood there in silence for a moment, then turned back inside and closed the door.

Michael walked over to his daughter. "Anak, aalis na ako ah... Ikaw na ang bahala sa bahay muna, thank you." He gave her a warm smile before heading out.

"Keep safe po, Papa..." Abigail walked to the door and locked it. She then went to the sofa, lay down, and closed her eyes to take a nap.

Meanwhile, Diane and her mother arrived safely at Camachiles National High School, and Jenelle parked the car near the side court.

Jenelle turned off the engine and stepped out. “Baba ka na, Diane.”

Diane opened the door, got out, and closed it. “Nakaka-antok pa naman po eh…” she mumbled in a lazy tone.

Jenelle just giggled at her daughter’s complaint. “Hindi ka mabobored mamaya, anak,” she said with a smirk before heading towards the faculty room.

“Hmp! Sige na nga! Hahanapin ko na ang room ko!” Diane walked towards Building 107, right next to the canteen. She went up to the second floor, found Room 6, went inside, and chose a seat near the front. She spotted her friend Jessa and called out in a hushed voice, careful not to disturb the others. “Psst! Psst! Jessa, dito!”

“Sino ‘yun?” Jessa looked around, confused, until she saw Diane waving her over. She grabbed her bag, stood up, and sat beside Diane. “Hoy, Diane! Mag-classmate pala tayo! Ang unexpected nito ah!” she exclaimed happily.

“Oo nga eh, pero masaya ako dahil may classmate akong kaibigan… at ikaw ‘yon!” Diane said, laughing like it was just a silly joke.

Jessa just smirked, playing along. “We? Di nga totoo ‘yang sinasabi mo? Baka fake lang ‘yan ah?” she teased, barely holding back her laughter.

“Hoy, grabe ka naman!” Diane reacted, suddenly looking genuinely upset and crossing her arms. “Sige na nga, magfo-cold war na tayo niyan eh!”

“Diane, joke lang ‘yun! Ikaw ka, hindi ka mabiro!” Jessa said quickly, her expression turning worried, thinking she had actually hurt her friend’s feelings.

“It’s a prank!!” Diane burst out laughing, unable to keep the act up any longer. “Muntik nang maiyak si Jessa! Hahaha!” she teased, laughing even harder.

Jessa wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes and shook her head, letting out a sigh of relief. “Grabe ka naman sa akin, Diane! Muntik na ‘yon ah… akala ko totoong nagalit ka na,” she said, joining in on the laughter.

Meanwhile, at Juliet’s school—the Senior High School campus in Phase 1, Mabalacat—class was in full swing.

Mrs. Alores was teaching English and asked a question for the class to answer.

“Ugh!…” Juliet raised her hand high. “Ma’am!” she called out loudly.

“Yes, Ms. Jasmine? What’s your answer?” Mrs. Alores asked respectfully.

“Ma’am, it was… uhm… it was that social media significantly alters patterns of human communication. While many individuals perceive an increased sense of connectivity, research suggests that this medium may paradoxically contribute to feelings of isolation. This creates a situation where digital interaction increases while face-to-face communication decreases,” Juliet answered confidently. She looked proud as she finished and sat back down. “Is my answer right, Ma’am?”

Mrs. Alores looked genuinely impressed. “Very good, Ms. Jasmine, that is correct. You are such a bright student. Everyone, give her a round of applause!”

The classroom filled with the sound of loud clapping from her classmates.

I know I’m smart~ Juliet thought to herself with a hint of arrogance. At least I’m not like the others who can’t answer that fast.

Then, the bell rang.

“Okay class, dismissed for now. Have a good day!” Mrs. Alores said before leaving the room.

“Goodbye, Ma’am!!” the class chorused.

“Augh! Recess time? So boring naman…” Juliet sighed, resting her head on her desk and closing her eyes.

Then, a group of three girls approached Juliet.

“Hi? You must be Juliet? I’m Divine, nice to meet you,” she said, reaching her hand out for a handshake.

“Divine? Hello, it’s nice to meet you too… and your friends as well,” Juliet replied, shaking her hand.

“It seems you’re really smart, Ms. Jasmine,” Gabrielle remarked.

“Wanna be friends with us, Juliet?” Mary asked.

“Uh?… uhm… sure, bakit ko naman tatanggihan ang offer niyo when it comes to friendship, ‘di ba?” Juliet said in a dramatic tone.

“Good! New friend natin si Juliet! Welcome sa Girlies Only Squad!! Yey!!” Mary exclaimed, sounding overly excited and bubbly.

Meanwhile, in the corner of the room, a boy sitting by the window was watching Juliet with a sharp, intense gaze.

“Hm!… Mapapasagot ko din ‘yang Juliet na ‘yan sa loob ng tatlong araw. Sisiraan ko ang buhay niya at ang pagiging matalini niyan,” Nicolas muttered with a menacing look. He stood up and headed out of the classroom for lunch.

Back at the house, Abigail was still fast asleep—until suddenly, she jolted awake.

“AHH!!!… Oh no! Ang lala naman, nakatulog ako!… Nakalimutan ko pang hugasan ang mga plato!!! Argh!” she shouted, panic rising in her chest. She was terrified that her parents would be disappointed if they came home to find the dishes still dirty.

“Okay! Bago sila makauwi lahat, maglilinis tayo!!! Let’s go!” she said to herself, scrambling to stand up and immediately getting to work cleaning the house.

As soon as Abigail finished the housework, she grabbed her towel and headed to the bathroom to take a shower. “Lalala~” she sang happily, her voice sounding beautiful as she enjoyed her moment of peace.

Back at Diane’s school, it was time for their third subject, and their teacher was none other than Jenelle, who taught English.

“Hello everyone, good morning,” she greeted warmly.

Every student stood up and bowed respectfully. “Good morning, Ma’am!” they chorused.

“Okay, you may all sit down now,” Jenelle said. She placed her things on the teacher’s chair, walked to the blackboard, picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote her name: Jenelle S. Jasmine.

“So, I am Jenelle S. Jasmine, and I’ll be your English teacher for this year. You can also call me Ma’am Jene or simply Jenelle,” she announced as she stood in front of the class. “I want you all to introduce yourselves one by one, para naman malaman ko ang mga pangalan niyo.”

As she scanned the room, she spotted her daughter sitting near the front and gave her a subtle smirk.

“Grabe…” Diane whispered to herself, feeling a little shy seeing her mother standing there as her teacher.

When everyone had finished introducing themselves, it was the turn of Diane’s friend, Jessa.

Jessa walked to the front of the class. “I am Jessa Rose G. Yanga. I am 14 years old, and my hobbies are drawing, singing, and dancing.” She bowed and sat back down beside Diane. “Ikaw na ang next, Diane…” she teased playfully. “Hehehe… kaya mo ‘yan, best!” she whispered to encourage her.

“Luh…” Diane stood up and made her way to the front. She felt very nervous with all her new classmates looking right at her. “Uh… uhm… I’m Diane S. Jasmine. I am 14 years old. My hobbies are dancing and writing stories, and that’s all. Thank you so much. Sana magkasundo-sundo tayong lahat, mga classmates,” she said softly. She bowed politely and headed back to her seat.

“Phew~… Okay ba ‘yon, Jessa?” she asked, letting out a breath of relief.

“Oo naman! Para kang baliw kung mag-iisip ka masyado. Dapat confident ka palagi, understand ‘ah?” Jessa advised her friend with a grin.

“Okay…” Diane giggled, feeling much better.

Watching from the front, Jenelle felt very proud of her daughter for introducing herself so well.

“Very well, everyone. Ngayon, tatalakayin lang natin ang ilan sa mga leksyong natutunan niyo noong Grade 8,” Jenelle said as she walked to the blackboard and started writing.

“So, Mama mo pala si Ma’am Jenelle?” Jessa whispered to her friend.

“Yes, kaya masyado akong nahihiya ngayon,” Diane whispered back.

“Baliw ka, bakit ka mahihiya? Dapat nga proud ka kasi Mama mo siya, ‘di ba?” Jessa said, giving her friend a small smile before turning her attention to listen to the teacher’s discussion.

“Sige, salamat,” Diane replied with a smile, and then she too began listening intently to the lesson.

Back at Juliet’s school, the group was gathered during their break.

“So girls? Sino kaya ang manglilibre ngayon?” Gabrielle asked.

“Ako na lang, mga girlie!” Juliet said, flashing her money to show off.

“Wow! Ang yaman mo pala, BFF~” Mary exclaimed, placing a hand on Juliet’s shoulder. “Napakaswerte namin na napili ka naming maging kaibigan,” she added, giving her a fake, insincere smile.

“Hahaha! Tara na, girls! Let’s have lunch,” Divine said as they headed towards the canteen.

They went to the canteen, ordered plenty of chips and soft drinks, and then headed to a table beside the window. But before Juliet could even sit down, a boy approached them.

“Hi~ Ikaw ba si Juliet? Ako si Nicolas, kaklase mo. Nice to meet you,” Nicolas said, reaching his hand out for a handshake.

“Ah?… Hi? Yes, I’m Juliet. Nice to meet you, Nicolas… tama ba?” Juliet replied politely before sitting down beside Divine.

“Sige, kailangan ko nang bumili ng lunch ko. Nice to meet you ulit… magandang dilag! Joke lang!” Nicolas said with a mischievous grin before heading to the counter to buy his snacks.

“Ohh~ ang gwapo niya! Hoy, BFF, kung ako sa’yo, sasagutin ko na siya pagkatapos ng pangatlong araw. Ako nga oh, sinagot ko kaagad ‘yung boyfriend ko noong pangalawang araw pa lang eh. Kasi kawawa naman kung paghihintayin mo pa,” Mary said, holding Juliet’s hand. “Kung ako sa’yo, hindi ko na ‘yan bibitawan. Sasagutin ko na agad, ‘di ba, girls?” she added with a smirk, looking at her friends.

“Yep, girlie~ sagutin mo na siya kapag nangligaw sa’yo ‘yang Nicolas na ‘yan,” Gabrielle agreed.

“Ga-ganon ba? Mukha namang mabait siya…” Juliet said with a smile, opening her bag of chips and starting to eat.

“Kung ako sa inyo, pag-aaral muna ang aatupagin ko kaysa diyan sa jowa-jowa. At least, walang sagabal sa pag-aaral, ‘di ba?” Divine said as she took a sip of her soft drink.

“Naku-naku, Divine! Ikaw kasi, single ka~ At least kaming dalawa ni Gabrielle may love-life na kami, eh ikaw?” Mary teased.

“Hmp!… Para sa akin, ang maiaadvice ko lang sa’yo, Juliet, hintayin mo nang dalawang taon bago mo sagutin ‘yang lalaki,” Divine said calmly and respectfully.

“Hmp! Ganyan ka talaga, ‘no Divine!” Gabrielle said as she slammed her hands on the table. “Para ka na ring fake friend!”

“Hay nako! Umayos ka nga, Gab! Para kang ewan,” Mary scolded, then turned her gaze back to Juliet. “Basta gawin mo lang ‘yung in-advise namin para sa’yo, girlie!” she said with a smirk.

“Of course, my friends! Basta suportahan niyo lang ako, ah!” Juliet said, followed by a giggle.

They continued eating and chatting happily.

Back at the Jasmine house…

“Finally, nakabihis na rin ako pampaaral,” Abigail said as she walked into the kitchen to prepare a meal for her family.

She glanced at the clock; it was already 9:54 AM. Malapit nang makauwi si Ate Ju, she thought to herself with a smile as she continued cooking Menudo.

While she was cooking, her father called her phone.

“Uh?… Si Papa?” Abigail picked up her phone and answered. “Papa, ano po ‘yon?” she said respectfully.

“Anak, pag-uwi pala ng ate mo, pakisabi na pumunta siya sa office ko at gawin niya muna ang mga papeles ko. Salamat,” Micheal said before ending the call.

“Okay?… Grabe naman, hindi man lang ako kinamusta,” Abigail murmured sadly. She put her phone back on the table and continued cooking.

Two hours later, the doorbell rang. When Abigail opened the door, she saw Juliet.

“Ate, hi?…” Abigail said awkwardly. “Pinapasabi pala ni Papa na pumunta ka sa office niya at—” Before she could finish, Juliet cut her off.

“I know na! Augh! ‘Naku ba ‘yan, pumasok ka na sa school mo baka ma-late ka pa! Ako na ang bahala sa bahay,” Juliet said as she went inside and lay down on the sofa.

“Okay, Ate, aalis na ako,” Abigail said. She grabbed her bag from the chair, walked straight out, and closed the door.

“Ingat ka, Abby…” Juliet said in a low voice.

After closing the door, Abigail took a deep breath and walked quickly towards the tricycle terminal. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. Even though she was worried about her sister and the situation at home, she was determined to do well in school. This was her fresh start.

When she arrived at Camachiles National High School, the campus was already buzzing with noise and energy. Students were everywhere—some were laughing with their friends, others were looking for their names on the class lists posted on the walls, and teachers were busy guiding everyone to their rooms.

Abigail walked slowly, clutching her ID lace. She found the board for Grade 10 and scanned the list until she found her name: Abigail S. Jasmine – Grade 10 - Rizal.

Taking a deep breath, she found the room and peeked inside. It was already half-full. She found an empty seat near the back, by the window, and quietly sat down. She placed her bag on her lap and looked around, hoping to see a familiar face, but everyone seemed to be with their own groups of friends.

Grabe... ang daming tao, she thought to herself, feeling a little shy. Sana mabait ang mga kaklase ko at ang teacher namin.

A few minutes later, the noise died down as a woman in her mid-30s walked in, carrying a stack of papers. She had a warm smile that immediately made the students feel at ease.

“Good morning, everyone! I am Ma’am Elena Cruz, and I will be your adviser and your teacher in Mathematics for this school year,” she said cheerfully as she placed her things on the teacher’s table. “Welcome to Grade 10! This is a very important year for all of you, as this will be your preparation for Senior High School.”

Abigail listened intently, her eyes focused on the teacher. Unlike at home where she often felt ignored or blamed, here in school, she felt like she could be herself. She loved learning, and she was ready to prove that she was capable, just like her sisters.

“Now, before we start with the class rules, I want you all to introduce yourselves one by one,” Ma’am Elena announced, clapping her hands lightly. “Tell us your name, your nickname, and what you want to achieve this school year. Let’s start from the first row.”

One by one, the students stood up and introduced themselves. Some were funny, making the whole class laugh; some were shy, speaking in soft voices. Finally, it was Abigail’s turn.

She stood up slowly, feeling all eyes on her. She took a deep breath and forced a small smile.

“Uhm... good morning po. I’m Abigail S. Jasmine. You can call me Abby,” she said softly. “And... what I want to achieve this school year is... to get high grades and make my family proud. Thank you po.”

She sat down quickly, feeling her cheeks heat up. Ma’am Elena smiled at her encouragingly.

“Very good, Abigail. I’m sure you will achieve your goals if you work hard for it,” the teacher said kindly.

Abigail felt a little better. Maybe, just maybe, this school year would be different. Maybe here, away from the drama at home and the shadow of her sister, she could finally shine on her own.

After Abigail left and the sound of her footsteps faded away, silence filled the living room. Juliet was still lying on the sofa, staring up at the ceiling. For a moment, she felt a strange pang in her chest—something she hadn't felt in a long time. But she quickly shook it off, crossing her arms over her chest.

Wala ‘yon. Siguro pagod lang ako, she told herself, trying to ignore the guilt that was trying to creep in.

She stood up and looked around the house. Since she told Abigail she would take care of things, she knew she had to do the chores, but the thought of actually working made her groan. She walked over to the kitchen and saw the food Abigail had prepared earlier—the Menudo was already cooked and kept warm.

Hmph, buti naman at nakapagluto na ‘yun, she thought, opening the container and taking a spoonful. At least hindi ko na kailangang mag-effort.

She ate quickly, her mind drifting back to what happened at school earlier that morning. She thought about Mary, Gabrielle, and Divine. She thought about how they treated her like a queen, and how Mary kept telling her how lucky she was to have them. And then, her mind went to Nicolas.

Si Nicolas... gwapo nga siya at mukhang mabait, she thought, a small smile forming on her lips. Sabi nila sagutin ko na daw siya kapag nangligaw. Pero sabi ni Divine, mag-aral muna daw... pero sabi nila Mary, sayang naman daw kung hihintayin ko pa.

She was feeling so conflicted. Part of her wanted to follow Mary’s advice because she wanted to feel loved and accepted, but deep down, a tiny voice—maybe the old Juliet from years ago—was telling her to be careful.

After eating, she washed the dishes reluctantly, complaining under her breath the whole time. When she finished, she checked the time. It was already past noon. She remembered her father’s instruction: Pumunta ka sa office ko at gawin mo ang mga papeles ko.

“Hay nako, si Papa talaga, puro trabaho ang inaatupag,” she muttered, but she knew she had to obey. Her father always praised her when she did what he asked, and she loved that feeling of being the “good daughter” in his eyes.

She fixed herself up, making sure she looked presentable, and then headed out to go to her father’s office. As she walked, she pulled out her phone and opened a chat group named “Girlies Only Squad 💅✨”.

Juliet: Girlies, anong ganap? Nakakapagod maging masipag sa bahay haha!

Mary: Huy BFF! Kaya nga ikaw ang best eh! 😘 Pahinga ka pag-uwi mo!

Gabrielle: Tara kain tayo ulit mamaya kung libre ka ulit haha joke! 😂

Divine: Ingat ka sa pagpunta mo sa office ni Tito Michael.

Juliet rolled her eyes at Gabrielle’s message but smiled at Mary’s. She didn't notice that Divine’s message was the only one that actually showed concern. She felt on top of the world again, forgetting the moment of softness she had with Abigail earlier. She truly believed that these people were her real friends, and that nothing could go wrong.

But little did she know, Nicolas was also at his home, looking at her picture on his phone, a dark, scheming smile on his face.

“Magandang dilag... huh? Joke lang,” Nicolas whispered to himself, repeating what he said earlier. “Wait lang kaunti, Juliet. Malapit na nang mangyari ang plano ko. At kapag nangyari ‘yon, hindi na ikaw ang bida sa school na ‘yon.”

Back at Camachiles National High School, the morning sun was shining brightly through the windows of the Grade 10-Rizal classroom. It was already 11:30 AM, and the students were listening attentively to their first subject for the day—English.

Abigail was sitting near the window, her eyes focused on the teacher, Mr. Santos. She had her notebook open and was scribbling down notes quickly and neatly. Even though she felt a little shy earlier during the introduction, she felt more comfortable now that the lesson had started. For her, school was a place where she didn't have to worry about being blamed or compared to her sisters. Here, her hard work spoke for itself.

“...and so, for Grade 10, we will be studying famous literary pieces like Romeo and Juliet and Noli Me Tangere,” Mr. Santos explained enthusiastically, pacing in front of the blackboard. “Literature is not just about reading; it is about understanding the feelings and struggles of the characters.”

Abigail nodded slowly. She really liked English class. Reading stories made her feel like she could escape to different worlds, even just for a while. It reminded her a little of Diane, who also loved reading, though they went to different schools.

When the bell rang for the morning break, the atmosphere in the room instantly changed. The quiet classroom became noisy and lively as students stood up, stretched, and pulled out their snacks or prepared to go to the canteen.

Abigail opened her bag and took out the small container of food she had prepared before leaving the house. She didn't have much allowance, so she always made sure to bring her own baon. She stood up and was about to look for a quiet place to eat when someone tapped her shoulder.

“Uhm... excuse me? Ikaw ba si Abigail?”

Abigail turned around and saw a girl with short curly hair and a friendly smile. She looked a little older than the others, and she was holding her own lunchbox.

“O-oo po. Ako nga,” Abigail answered softly, clutching her container tightly. “Bakit po?”

“Ah, wala lang,” the girl said, pulling the empty chair next to Abigail’s desk. “Narinig ko kasi ‘yung introduction mo kanina. Sabi mo gusto mong makakuha ng mataas na grades para sa pamilya mo. Ako rin kasi, ganyan din ang goal ko.”

She extended her hand. “Ako pala si Liza. Liza Marie Torres. Grade 10 na rin dito. Nakatira lang ako malapit dito sa Camachiles.”

Abigail looked at Liza’s hand, surprised. She wasn't expecting anyone to approach her so quickly. Slowly, she reached out and shook it. “Ako nga po pala si Abigail. Pero pwede mo akong tawaging Abby.”

“Nice to meet you, Abby!” Liza beamed. “Gusto mo bang sabay na tayong kumain dito? Ayoko kasing pumunta sa canteen, ang ingay doon eh at siksikan pa.”

Relief washed over Abigail. “Sige po, Liza. Salamat ha.”

They sat down together and opened their food. Liza had fried fish and rice, while Abigail had the leftover Menudo she had cooked earlier, which she had packed for herself.

“Wow, ang sarap naman niyan, Abby! Ikaw ba nagluto niyan?” Liza asked, looking at the Menudo with interest.

Abigail blushed a little and nodded. “Opo. Madalas po kasi ako ang nagluluto sa bahay namin.”

“Ang swerte mo naman! Ako kasi, hindi marunong magluto eh. Puro utos lang ako sa bahay,” Liza laughed, shaking her head. “Pero mukhang masipag ka talaga, ah. Bilib ako sa’yo.”

For the first time that day, Abigail smiled a genuine, relaxed smile. It felt so nice to talk to someone who didn't judge her, someone who didn't know about the problems at home or the lie that Juliet told years ago. Here, with Liza, she was just Abby—a student, a friend, and her own person.

As they ate and chatted, Abigail felt her nervousness fade away. Maybe Grade 10 wouldn't be so hard after all. She had found a friend, and she was doing well in class. For now, that was enough to make her happy.