A while later...I am now waiting for a jeepney at my usual pick-up point.

Thanks to my little brother, I got a good sermon and my precious tablet got confiscated. Not to mention I have another part 2 scene for that waiting for me when I get back! It's my own fault really...I knew I should've locked the door. Why didn't I do that?

I was still wallowing in my own misery when suddenly someone clapped me hard on the shoulder.

"Good morning, Ricky-boy!"

I rubbed my aching shoulder and turned behind me, glaring at the grinning guy wearing the same school uniform as me. This is Kevin Lustre. He's my best friend since grade 3. And who also has an unfortunate knack for giving me a bruise. He does that as a joke, of course but it still hurts!

"Kevin, seriously that hurts!"

"C'mon! It wasn't that hard!"

I glared at him. I was so no in the mood for his shenanigans at today.

"Don't give me that, man! Lighten up!"

As usual, he wasn't wearing his uniform properly. His school necktie was loosely hung around his neck, a portion of his polo wasn't tucked in, his I.D. was facing backwards and he was wearing a wrist band with the logo of his favourite basketball team, the LA Lakers, on it. He always has this big goofy grin that exudes an aura of cheerfulness that makes it hard for anyone (even me, for that matter) to stay mad at him.

"I'm not in the mood, Kevin..." I grumbled.

"Well, somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed today! What happened? Don't tell me you're bummed out that you couldn't answer the assignment?"

"No, it's not that and I did finish his assignment!"

"Oh, thank God! Because I was counting on you so I can copy your answers!"

I nearly fell over, "No way! Do your own assignments!"

"C'mon! I'm going to fail here!"

"That's not my fault, isn't it? You should be doing your own assignments!"

"C'mon, please, Bro?! Just do this one time? For me, please?" Kevin actually got to his knees, "I promise to my own homework from now on!"

"I said no! And you said that the last time!"

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"I said, no! Ah, the jeep's here!"

I hailed a jeep for us to ride but Kevin continued begging during the whole trip. The route going to our school, St. Francis Xavier University Senior High, was only a fifteen minute ride. But with Kevin pleading for my assignment answers nonstop it felt like an hour. He's a good kid really and when properly motivated, he does his better than any of us. One example of this is his shown in his extracurricular activities. Kevin is a member of the school basketball team and its best player. Sadly, academics aren't his strengths so when it comes to assignments and projects he's completely lazy and slow as a turtle.

As soon as we arrived at school, a familiar scene greets me. My fellow students were already lining up in a queue right at the entrance. As usual security procedure, their bags and I.D.'s were being inspected by the guard.

"C'mon! Please!" Kevin begged me again for the umpteenth time.

I finally relented, "Alright! Alright! Just this once..."

"Hooray! I knew I could count on you!" Kevin punched me in the arm...again.

Did I mention that it hurt?

We made our way to our classroom with fifteen minutes to spare. As promised, I lent Kevin my assignment and he hurriedly copied the answers. While I just leaned back and took a moment to have a breather. As usual, there's that loud hubbub all over the school. The mornings before class starts are one of the liveliest times in schools. Usually, its friends catching up on friends about how their weekend went or people from other classes coming over to our room for a chat. Others, like Kevin where busy trying to catch up on their assignments.

From the corner of the room sat the ever-so group of rich and popular kids called "The Sosies." Comprise of four girls: Miranda, Lucy, Karen and Bianca. They are the top tier in student hierarchy with each of their members being the kids of politicians and businessmen.

Miranda Tolentino, a daughter of one of the City Councillors, was bouncing in excitement. "Hey, did you hear what the teachers said in the lounge? We're having a new student!"

"What? Really?" asks Lucy Chua, daughter of a rich Chinese businessman.

"A new student? At this time of the year?" says Karen, who is the daughter of one of the school's directors. She is also Bianca's right hand girl.

"Really, Miray? Karen? You just heard? I sooooo knew that a long time ago!" Bianca laughs in her snooty voice.

Their ringleader, A.K.A the most popular girl in school, Bianca Esperanza, was the center of attention in that group. As the only daughter of the famous Senator Lorenzo Esperanza and a lead European model stylist, she's not only rich but influential as well. She doesn't even try to hide that fact either, what with her dyed-blonde hair and nail-polished fingernails while tapping away on her super-expensive touch screen phone. Probably to post her latest update on Facebook or Instagram on how fabulous she is.

If you ask me, she looks like a T.V. starlet with a role as a spoiled, snooty, rich antagonist...which she is by the way. She's keeps saying her "daddy" will get her this and that. She's the typical popular kid who laughs at you who doesn't even have their own credit card...only a hundred times worse! But that doesn't stop her from being admired by just about every other kid in school with the exception of yours truly. I never found her attractive either in looks or in attitude.

"You do?" Miranda looked a little deflated that her big news wasn't so big after all.

"As expected of you, Bia!" says Karen.

You said it Karen. This is another reason why I don't like Bianca. Even amongst her so-called "friends" she can be mean. But either those girls are too starry-eyed to see through her posh facade or they're just plain stupid. Either way I pity them.

"Daddy told me that after he talked with the principal a few months ago!"

"Oh...But I heard it was some kind foreign student!" says Miranda regaining some of her excitement.

"OMG, I hope it's an American! I would love to have a foreign boyfriend!" Lucy swoons.

"Why do you need another boyfriend?" asks Karen.

"You're out of luck, Lucy..." Bianca rolls her eyes, "Daddy says it's a girl and she's a half-Japanese not American."

"Oh...Wait?! Half-Japanese?" asks Lucy.

"I don't know! Like I care that some Japanese-Filipino girl is a new classmate? She's just another girl in class!" Bianca snaps with an impatient wave of her hand.

"Yeah, you're right!"

"Anyway...Do you girls want to see the new Prada purse Mommy sent over from Milan?"

That's typical Bianca. She's stirring the first actual intelligent conversation they have into the subject about a purse. Which her clique had immediately began fawning over.

But their little gossip did intrigue me. Hey, you think I was listening? Well, it was difficult not to overhear with them talking loudly. Personally, I think they deliberately talked that loudly so they can be the ones to start the rumour train. All at once, I can hear people suddenly talking about the new kid.

I turned to my own personal source of non- academic info, "Hey Kevin?"

"Not now, Ricky-Boy! I'm busy here!"

"And whose assignment you're copying off now?" I frowned at him, "Well, never mind that. Have you heard about this new student?"

Kevin looks up with sudden interest, "Oh, that? Yeah, I heard about it! It's been going around lately. There this girl from Japan with a Filipina mom and Japanese dad who's going to be our new classmate! Lucky you, huh?"

"Why would you say that?"

"Cause of your love for anime and manga!"

"Just because she's half-Japanese doesn't mean she's interested in Anime."

Kevin gave me that smile that says "I know something that you don't."

"Oh, but you'll be singing a different tune when I say this. From what I heard, they say her dad owns several businesses and one of them is a publishing company."

"Okay...so what about it?"

"Don't you get it, Ricky-boy? They say he publishes manga and comics. He has people to scout and search for people who are a Manga or something."

That doesn't sound right. I think Kevin's info started to get garbled at this point.

"I know Manga is supposed to be comics but calling a person a manga? What are they a fruit?"

"I think it is pronounced mangaka. That's a Japanese manga artist."

"Oh, so that's what it is? Wouldn't it be easier if they just call them manga artists?"

"They're Japanese so that's their term. So her dad's a businessman with a lot of trades. What about her mom?"

"Oh, well, I think her Mom met her dad some way. She must've been a domestic worker, or something, and they hooked up. And since they're coming here, her parents must've broke up."

That was pretty harsh of him I want to point out. However I did hear from talk shows and drama anthology series about Japanese-Filipino couples. Some were good and they lived happily ever after and some...had a not so happy ending.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Hey, I got my info from rumours and assumptions. So I'm not saying I know all the details."

"What about this new classmate herself? What is she like from the rumours?"

Kevin thought hard, which is something he does when he's particularly interested about a subject. And we happen to be in one of his to favourite subjects: sports and like all boys our age...girls.

"Her name is Amy... I don't know her last name or whether she kept her mom's name or her dad's. But she went to some private middle schools all across the globe."

"Wait, schools? Plural?" I repeated.

"Yeah, apparently she didn't stay in one place for long."

"I'm guessing it's because of dad's work."

"Either way, I hear she's a cutie!" Kevin says, clearly he's excited about this.

"You seem rather fixated about that..."

"It's my job as class MVP to know all about the students in my respective class!" he says proudly.

I think you may have an ulterior motive in mind.

"That's the job of the Class President."

"You think she'd give a damn?" Kevin nodded towards Bianca and the rest of the Sosies.

"You have a point..."

"Actually most of the class already know about it. Those Sosies are just stirring things up, as usual."

"Yeah...wait... Most of the class knows? How come I never heard about this?"

Kevin smiled slyly at me.

"That's because you're more interested in your books and online anime streaming more than actual people..."

Well, yeah, it's sort of true. I, Richard Castillo, am the quiet guy with glasses in class with good grades and like to watch anime & read books: the typical class geek.

While that's true doesn't mean I don't interact with other people. Though, I'm not part of a barkada or a clique but I do have friends...well, okay, the proper term is 'acquaintances.' I'm part of the Computer Club in school and we hang out from time to time for club related activities. I don't stay longer than necessary because of other things. In class, I do know the names of my classmates but apart from Kevin, they mostly communicate to me by calling me my last name. Which is pretty harsh but at least they don't call me 'geek'...well, not all the time. I only participate in class activities and provide assistance when necessary.

I guess I'm not the type to stand out much and isn't sociable. I like it better that way. I'm not a bother to anyone and they're not to me.

DING! DONG! DING! DONG!

Ah, it's the school bell! It's time for morning assembly...

"Crud!" curses Kevin. "Look what you made me do! I still have six more questions to go!"

"You can finish that after the assembly. Besides, Sir Albert's class is after recess anyway!"

Morning assembly went by as usual.

Principal Abuan, our kindly school principal, greeted us with his usual morning cheer and speech. Announcements were made about the usual cleanliness of the school grounds and the students' tendency to leave plates and dishes from the cafeteria on the benches. We were also having our yearly school festival this month as well as our school medical check-up. After which we had to sing the national anthem and school song.

After all that, we made it back to homeroom, where our homeroom teacher, Ma'am Luz was in front of the class with some announcements of her own.

"As you probably heard by now, we are having a new student!"

There was an excited murmur around the class. Kevin who was seated right in front of me caught my eye and grinned.

"She's a student from Japan who is continuing her senior high here in the Philippines! I hope you can show our Filipino hospitality by welcoming her and becoming friends. Now, I would like you all to give a hand and a warm welcome to our new classmate, Amy Kawaii." She motioned at the doorway.

The people at the front row leaned forward so they can see. Since, I was seated at the back I couldn't get a clear view at all so I waited for her to enter. She was taking rather long though...

"Amy-dear, don't be shy! Come on in!"

The door opened and there walked a young girl. She stood beside the teacher's table.

My first impression was "What was I thinking?"

To be honest, I sort of painted an image in my mind that she would like some Japanese Idol, with highlights in her hair and wearing some rather eye-catching clothes with frills or perhaps a maid outfit.

How wrong I was... And for that matter was I turning a pervert for thinking that way?

For one thing, Amy Kawaii was already wearing the prescribed school uniform for girls. She had a shoulder bag that seemed to be made of recycled cloth. As for her features, she had a smooth and delicate-looking face with a pair of brown eyes that were like chocolates and on her small nose she wore large, round glasses. She had long black hair that had a silky sheen to it. She also wore a headband with a pink ribbon on it.

Hm. Kevin was right, she was indeed cute!

"Alright Amy, please introduce yourself to the class!" says Ms. Luz.

Amy struggled as though trying to find the right words to say. It's expected from anyone that they would get stage fright when speaking in front of the class. But something was off...was it just me or Amy looked a little more scared than usual stage fright. It was like she was about to be eaten alive in den of lions.

Sensing her fear, Ma'am Luz encouraged her with a smile, "It's alright, just say a few words about yourself."

Amy took a deep breath as though to gather her courage.

"Good morning..." she says a soft voice that was barely inaudible, "My name is Amy Kawaii. My family just recently moved here for business so I am attending school here. I hope we can get along."

She didn't say anything else after that.

"Um, okay! Let's give Amy a round of applause."

Everyone began clapping in a rather subdued way. I guess everyone had a different impression of Amy Kawaii and were a little thrown off by her demeanour. Nevertheless everyone greeted her. Some of our classmates smiled. Some had confused looks. The Sosies were busy whispering about the new girl. Only Bianca just simply shrugged and continued on typing on her phone.

"Okay! That's enough! Now Amy, let's have you seated..." Ma'am Luz scanned the class seat register, "Ah, there's a vacant seat right beside, Mr. Castillo!"

I looked up. Did she just say my name?

"Are you alright being seated at the back, Ms. Kawaii?"

"I don't mind..." Amy nodded.

She walked silently across the room and seated herself in the vacant seat beside me. She placed her bag on her lap and quickly rummaged in it.

"Okay!" Ma'am Luz clapped her hands to call our attention. "Now that that's settled let's turn out attention to School Festival!"

All at once the class became lively. Excited cheers and suggestions kept popping up for our class presentation. I'm pretty sure Mario Vega just suggested we have a fire dancing show. Which I'm isn't allowed in school or any institution for that matter.

I sat listening to their excited babble, I wasn't that interested in the school festival. I did, however, kept glancing at my new seatmate. Is it just me, or did she look sad or something?

"Um, hello...I'm Ricky Castillo, nice to meet you!" I say in attempt to be friendly to her.

I'm not sure if she heard me.

Hey, at least I tried, didn't I?