I rummaged through the heaps of school notes and research papers on my bed, trying to find the paper where I have written a note about child labor. I had already finished my paper for my investigative journalism but when I read through it, I realized that it was missing something. And unfortunately, I couldn't find my note and I couldn't remember if I had thrown it away.

I heard my phone pinged and I couldn't find where it was either. I knew it was somewhere on my bed. I lifted all the papers and some pillows and found my phone under my pink, furry pillow.

Are you busy? Jeff sent me the list of his suggested caterers.

Kinda. I'll get back to you as soon as I finish my school project.

Ok. But I'll send you the names and addresses anyway. Maybe we can check it out this weekend if you're free.

We were a couple of months into preparing for our high school reunion, but as of the moment, it wasn't my top priority, so I put down my phone and went back to searching for my lost note. My head was beginning to spin with all the papers around me when all of a sudden, my door opened.

Hadley's bright smile disappeared as soon as she noticed the mess in my bedroom.

"Uh-oh," she muttered.

"What?" I asked, grunting.

"I'll just come back later when you're in a better mood."

I sighed before asking in a much friendlier manner, "What?"

"I need your help. But looking at your room right now, it seems to me that you're the one who needs help."

I rolled my eyes at her and went back to digging through my pile of papers.

"You know you're scary when you're stressed out about school."

I shrugged.

"What are you looking for?"

"A piece of paper with notes about child labor. It's written on black ink and the header is highlighted in neon blue."

She nodded and started to browse through the papers on my desk.

"Oh, and I also used a blue mild-liner to underline some keywords," I added.

"That's a very specific description," she chuckled. "I thought you've finished your paper about child labor."

"I did, but I realized that I missed something and I can't submit my paper tomorrow unless it's complete and flawless. I can't find my notes. It's hopeless."

"You mean, this?" Hadley asked, holding up a piece of paper with the words 'child labor' written in block, capital letters.

I sighed in relief and immediately stood up to reach for it. I pulled a paper clip from the glass jar on my desk and clipped my notes and my article together.

"Now that I saved your day, can I ask for your help?"

It turned out that Hadley needed help in preparing our dinner. Mommy and Alex were out doing errands and Hadley had promised to prepare pasta for us.

"I just need a hand," she said as she placed some linguine into a boiling pot of water.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked after washing my hands.

"You can slice the mushroom."

I reached for the bowl of button mushrooms and pulled the chopping board from the drawer.

"But be careful with the knife. You and I both know you're not so reliable in the kitchen."

I looked pointedly at her. "Do you want my help or not?"

"I'm just stating some facts," she replied, stifling her laughter. "You're accident-prone in the kitchen. I don't want you cutting your finger again as you did in your freshman year."

My eyes bulged out and I asked her, "How do you know that?"

"I remember you came home with a bandage wrapped around your finger."

"How can you remember that? You were only like 8 at that time."

"Because I've never seen you use a knife after that... bread knives excluded," she laughed.

"And now you're asking my help in slicing some mushrooms."

"I just want to see if you've improved your slicing skills."

***

9 years ago

It was time for our TLE subject and we had a practical activity for our cookery. We had needed to make meals that were not just delicious, but also nutritious. I had been grouped with Noah, Claire, Jeff, and Vino. We had decided to prepare a mushroom patty burger, potato slices, and cucumber mango salad.

I was honestly not good at cooking and I wasn't used to doing it. I could be called useless in the kitchen, even at home. When I entered the room, I glanced around and noticed each group had their working table and portable gas stove. The other groups were busy sorting their ingredients and some were already chopping stuff. I looked at my group mates and they were already preparing our ingredients. We could easily pretend we were in a cooking show or some sort of cooking competition on TV.

I was wearing a black apron—one which I had personally sewn for our practical activity before. I had my hair net on, which felt uncomfortable around my head. I would gladly refuse to wear it if it weren't for hygienic purposes.

"What's in your hand?" Jeff asked, pointing the paper in my hand.

I held the paper up before responding, "Vino's algebra reviewer."

Jeff furrowed his eyebrows at me. "Why are you reviewing right now? Algebra is our last period for today."

"Didn't you review last night?" Vino asked. "I gave that copy yesterday."

"I did. I just wanted to review again to make sure I'll get a higher grade on today's quiz. Getting ten mistakes in algebra isn't ideal."

He shook his head. "Hey, I promised you I'll help you in algebra. I'll review you later. But right now, it would be nice if you can give us a hand."

Feeling embarrassed, I folded the reviewer and kept it in my skirt's pocket. I noticed that most girls had rolled up their sleeves so I unbuttoned the cuff and rolled my sleeves up to my elbows.

I looked like I was ready for the activity, but I felt useless standing there watching everyone do their part.

I volunteered to take care of the potato slices since they seemed to be the easiest to make. After washing the potatoes, Claire and I returned to our working table. I grabbed a knife, ready to slice.

"Are you sure you don't want any help?" Jeff asked, furrowing his thick eyebrows at me.

"Yup," I answered rather proudly.

"I'll show you how you should slice it," Vino suggested as he grabbed a potato and a knife.

I watched him closely and noticed his hair and how a pompadour haircut looked so good on him. His hair looked so soft too. There were times I wished to have his natural chestnut brown hair, instead of my jet-black hair.

"...got it?" Vino asked, and I was snapped back into reality.

"What?"

"I said just call me if you need help, alright?"

"Sure. Thanks, Vino."

I grabbed the last potato from the basket and I was halfway through slicing it when it suddenly rolled off from my hand and I accidentally cut my finger.

"Shit," I muttered before I could even stop myself.

"Oh my God, Kane," Claire gasped beside me.

I stared at my hand as a crimson line began forming on my index finger. I stumbled back as the noise around me began to distort and so was my vision.

"Kane... Kane..." I heard Vino's faint voice as he approached me.

I was walking and someone was assisting me but everything around me was spinning. Then I felt the cold water running from the faucet as it hit my hands.

"We should wash it with soap," someone suggested.

"What happened to Kane?" I heard someone else ask.

"Here," I heard Jeff say.

"Thanks," Vino replied. "We need to clean your wound, Kane."

I slowly regained my vision and watched Vino as he cleaned my wound with soap and water. Ms. Lacson, our TLE teacher, approached us.

"What's happening here?" she asked.

Vino and I exchanged glances but my voice got caught in my throat. I chewed on my lower lip, and Vino answered for me.

"Kane accidentally cut her finger," he mumbled.

Most of our classmates were closing in on us, trying to see what was happening with my hand.

"There's nothing to see here," Ms. Lacson muttered. "Get back to your tables. And kids, please be careful with the knife."

Jeff handed Vino a towel as soon as the latter finished washing my wound.

"I'll take you to the infirmary," Vino offered. "We need to cover your wound."

I nodded.

Vino asked Ms. Lacson's permission, and we both walked out of the room as everyone went back to working on their tables.

"If I had known you would cut yourself, I wouldn't let you hold a knife," he whispered, chuckling.