CHAPTER 1

"Mom, shhhhhh. It's embarrassing for the neighbors," I stopped her from cursing at me and my father because I noticed my crush from afar. "Why? You should be ashamed of what you're doing! You're still young but you've done nothing to help me with the household chores, Jamie! You are always reading those damn pocketbooks! Why don't you tell me where you got the money to buy those useless books, Jamie?" My mother was furious when she caught me reading romance novels. She claimed it was a useless book and I should be reading my books from school. "From my savings," I told her but she just snorted at my honest response. "From your savings? Who gives you the money? It's from my pocket, brat! If you only know how hard it is to earn money these days, you wouldn't waste it on useless things! Now tell me what have you learned from reading those pocketbooks?" As she continued to stare daggers at me, I decided to escape. My mother could become ruthless especially when she was holding a broom. She could throw it to me, or she might use her slippers! "Did you hear Daddy's voice? He's calling for me," I reasoned out, and it was my exit plan. I hurried to leave her side, but she didn't stop with her rants. She kept on shouting for my name, and I was worried. I approached my father who was busy feeding the dogs. "I am leaving for school, Dad." "I don't understand but you don't get along with your mother, Jamie. Anyway, don't forget what I always told you. No boyfriends allowed while you are still studying, okay?" "What about Kevin?" I asked while referring to our handsome neighbor. "Especially with Kevin," he replied. "Well, you have nothing to worry about Kevin, Dad. He is just my crush, and that's all. Besides, I want to become a rich housewife and it won't happen with Kevin. I don't like to be poor, forever!" It may sound rude but I was only telling the truth. I dreamed to become rich and marrying someone wealthy could make it possible. "Oh God, Jamie! What are you saying, lass? Don't judge him yet because we have no idea what's in store for him. Who knows about the future?" "Shhhh, we will talk about it later, Daddy. He's coming," I told him then I recalled that my mother didn't give me my allowance for school. "Hmmm, Dad?" "How much?" "It's up to you, Dad," I told him because I knew he didn't have much in his wallet. "Buy something for Kevin on your break time," he instructed, and I was proud of his kind heart. We may not have enough but it didn't stop him from being generous to others who were in need. "I always buy something for him, Dad. Don't worry. Anyway, he's here. Hello, Kevin! Good morning," I greeted him when he stopped near us. As usual, he didn't respond. He just shrugged his shoulders and gestured for me to follow him. "You walk so fast this morning, is someone chasing you?" I teased him. "Yes. You." He replied coldly and I rolled my eyes at his back. "That's a terrible thing to say to your pretty neighbor and classmate, Kevin," I complained with a smile but deep inside, I was hurting. I didn't expect his cold treatment because we were fine last Friday. What happened during the weekend? "Jamie, aren't you tired of what you're doing?" Kevin asked and his question caused to me snapped my brows together. "What do you mean, Kevin?" I politely answered him with a question. "Every day, you wait for me, and then, we go to school together. Our classmates assumed you are my girlfriend!" His voice was slightly tinged with anger, so I was alarmed as to what the man was talking about. "So what? Let them assume whatever they wanted to assume about us," I told him but secretly, I was happy with the information that our classmates assumes I was his girlfriend. "Because of their misconception, Michelle didn't pay attention to me anymore. She didn't even reply to my messages anymore!" So, the reason for his indifference was Michelle! I poked his shoulder to force him into looking at me. The man was smart in our class but he's too naïve! I had no idea he could be stupid because of Michelle! "She's only toying with your emotions, Kevin. Do you really believe she likes you? Wake up, dude!" "Are you saying that Michelle was only nice to me because of you, Jamie? That she was just jealous of you? You are the one who needs to wake up, Jamie. Do you have something that Michelle has to be jealous of? If you're smart, she's also smart. If you're beautiful, she's way more beautiful than you. In fact, Michelle is even better because her parents are rich," Kevin said. "Now, you are categorizing people according to their value. Whoa, this is unbelievable of you, Kevin!" Out of anger, I pushed him aside and quickly walked away. However, even when I was already in our classroom, I was still fuming with anger. I was furious at the way he said it, but he was not wrong. Michelle's parents were better well-off compared to my parents, but I wouldn't trade my parents for anything else. I loved them despite their imperfections! "Where are you going, Jamie? Our teacher is already coming," one of my classmates, whose name was Pearl, tried to stop me from going out of the classroom. "I need to buy something at the cafeteria," I replied and before she could say anything, I was already in the doorway. The school's corridor was already empty since most of the advisers were already in their classrooms. I had no idea why our adviser was late, but I didn't mind at all. "Ice cream please," I informed the attendant at the cafeteria and she was shocked when I told her I would buy ice cream. "Are you mad, Jamie? It's still seven in the morning," she complained. "I don't know but I feel like eating ice cream right now," I replied and she had no choice. I finished the cornetto as fast as I could, then I hurried back to our classroom. Then, my mood was ruined some more when I saw Kevin and Michelle outside the room. They looked serious in their conversation and Michelle raised an eyebrow when I passed by. I just ignored them and went straight to my seat. However, before our first subject started, Michelle stood in front and announced something. "Guys, listen. I just want everyone to know that Kevin and I are officially dating," she informed the entire class and some of my classmates' eyes were on me after the announcement.