MISERABLE AT BEST

slept very well since the

baffled as he turned to his silver watch. He ran from the field whic

ent of fields and grass when he positioned himself below the air conditioner. His wet look made him

g, Zeekie. I

e his pointed nose, and a de

ame is Zee Katie Liu Zamora. Stop mixing Zee and

imitated my voice before laughing his ass out. He's my best

bag in the seat beside me.

n I not

ked my voice. He loved to do that e

o start your tra

d to go to the hospital fo

xcited to see you in

I stuck my

ck after a year and what happened," he said seriously. "Yo

y heart ached knowing I would live each day without my brother tellin

ered. "Wait, did you alre

my Aunt's house," I said. "It's

Is it

to do chores and

on't need to travel

gre

lassmates now. There's a lot of memories I couldn't let go of in this town, es

et. They just can't bear the pain of still living in our old house filled with happy memories

n't want to transfer to another school. I was surviving until my math teacher made me realize she will drop me from the sub

. He opened his backpack and handed me the paper

ine activities. Help me with that, please?" I pou

eplied. It's a lie. I have been finding the word

nswer and not my

knocked on my head. I was about to hit

rk!" I

in Japanese. We both liked watching a

m with numbers!" Zack sho

yself. "You won't be our

the copies." He waved mid-air before running outs

now why. I always sensed he wanted to say something to me, yet couldn't find th

They raised their eyebrows while checking their watch.

He's also a childhood friend of mine, s

recitation in Math!

till have to take all the quizzes!" I re

the bell. She dropped her bag to get her comb. Gab's long silky coal-blac

Charish uttered and the re

ntion on the activity sheets. Why is the

arted copying it. My classmates also started gathering in

pon looking at his activity sh

the last number?" Charish

s brain," Gab a

me listening to lessons. I thought I was going to get bor

he whole hour to compete for math problems? Of course, we were all happy be

could actually compete with him. Honestly, nothing could beat him in numbers since se

me. "Aae was also good in Math. Fina

me her notebook which includes tallied scores of Zac

of you!" I whispered to myself as I lo

asked as he s

't amazed, but my

n though I haven't eaten yet. After the twelve o' clock prayer, we queued for the line. I had a hard time choosing my lunch bec

sat on our usual table. "Coach Chris told me to visit th

and placed his

ou doing he

curry. "I promise to eat with you during Tues

ry again, and widely opened his mouth t

onna miss you?" I

sses Zee," Gab added w

g about how perfect Zack and I are together. She always teased us. She kept on i

Zack is one of the few people I don't want to lose, so I'm okay

mouth. His white teeth were covered with green curry paste when he grinned at me.

ed. "No one's

when I'm gone," he che

rolled my ey

rced through hi

at me, yet it's a lullaby t

o us. She placed her elbow on the table and laid her

Gab giggled an evil laugh. She completel

of coffee. It wasn't a pleasant idea to dri

find your earph

abbed the can from me. I took a de

sip. "But, Aae lent me his earph

her eyeglass and tried to find Aae in the crowd before turning t

to keep it," I almost shouted when Zack grabbed t

e." He handed m

?" I asked in annoyance. "You

ay you like her, huh?" Ga

wer it thoughtfully. I knocked him in his head before running out of the cafeteria

Aae sitting on the bench. Coach Chris asked

ft-hand was tossing the hardball in mid-air. He quickly sip

ransferee. I wondered how amazing he is in playing baseball because the team made an exception. Varsity players were chosen from seventh grade to eighth g

to go there?" he asked whe

nage a reserved person. I sucked at starting

when I walk, and just one song if I'm r

silence as his almond

I mean fifteen to eighteen minutes if we walk, and

lso count through songs."

't picture his face right, but I remembered his long hair. I asked him how long it would take me to reach the school, and he replied using songs.

al across his forehead due to the warm rays of the sun. His white complexi

e brought out his phone, inserted the earph

sity hospital, but it's past one in the afternoon. I could already feel

it will take five to six songs." He flashed a smile. "Care to lead th

tal, Aae checked his phon

urse, why doubt? I've been doi

oor, so we parted on the third floor. I saw

he goin

hool doctor but chose not to. I don't w

separate ways. There was no point in talking to someone who's not inte

ate me when he likes

stayed at the pool

fic. I only have to think about how to survive because I know nothing about cooking. I thought of

ng his jersey. He greeted me with a smile that never actually left his face. He'

I'm sharing this with you because," He pointed his index fing

ck his tongue out. "I ca

food, you can say it

d. I roll

roll your eyes." He winked at me.

ked as we shared the food. "Wow,

d food establishments around the country. They're rich though he never brag

teammates for being late," h

tened to me. I am always grateful for his presence. H

banana cupcakes. Please, bring me some," I requested. Their banana cupcakes were the best in

e pointed up at the sky. I stood in awe as t

" I s

rushed my hair and a sudde

ruining my ha

urbed the calmne

o look for a Victorian style house. It was easy finding it across th

of contrary to our high ceiling at home. The walls made of bricks were painted blue. There

house in horror movies. But I was

t me ou

in my head. What will I do? Why is it

anesthesiologist across town. She spent days at home and worked a

d me, and I was surprised to know I will be living with a guy. It's awkward, but my mother as

oorbell twic

e house. There were lamps symmetrically arranged on the sides of the

ondon, though

ctures, finally ditching the idea of gh

he chocolate scent to my sen

upon seeing hi

a