When his parents call for photo taking, Dr. Derrick’s family is all smiles and laughing like we’re witnessing some Disney fairy-tale wedding.
My wrist has marks from how hard I’m gripping my hair tie, but none of it calms me down. I can’t—I can’t do this. I can’t sit around here and pretend like I’m okay with Ma settling for this. That this is the life she wanted, that this is the guy she’s using to replace Pa?
Before they call Ma’s family for pictures, I get up from my seat and bolt straight to my room. I don’t care how many bo le sos get thrown my way again.
Like what Auntie Baby said, Dr. Derrick will never compare to my dad.
2
I don’t know how the world expects me to go through Ma’s ting hun and then sit through chemistry class on a Wednesday morning.
After graduating summa cum laude from Ateneo, Achi was offered jobs at all the top companies in the country. What did my sister decide? She chose to go back to high school and be the senior high guidance counselor. It’s not enough that she monitors my every move at home—with her job, she can spy on me during school too! She gave me an emergency key to her office during the times she’d have to stay late after dismissal so I can still be productive and catch up on homework.
I’d argue that this alternative to chem class also counts as being productive.
“This movie always makes me cry.” Kayla hugs the couch cushion tighter while the couple on-screen starts having a dramatic conversation in the rain.
“Ky, every movie makes you cry.”
You know what I love most about Kayla? She always supports me 100 percent. Whenever I declare someone my new nemesis, I don’t even have to explain myself, they automatically become Kayla’s nemesis too. She even did something that’s totally out of character and agreed to skip class with me, and it only tookslightpersuasion. I mean, we’re nearly halfway through senior year and it’s just a few weeks until Christmas break. Realistically, are we even capable of retaining information at this point?
What sold Kayla on my brilliant idea is my suggestion thatwe could use the projector in Achi’s office. Kayla is obsessed with movies. Her lifelong goal is to watch every movie that’s ever been made. She fell in love watching the actress Kathryn Bernardo when we were kids and has watched every movie of hers since. Kathryn and her on-screen partner, Daniel Padilla, broke up years ago, but Kayla still hasn’t moved on.
“And what makes that sorry different from all your other sorrys before?” Kayla chokes up when she recites Kathryn’s line along with her.
While Kayla and Kathryn Bernardo are having a moment, I focus back on my achi’s evaluation reports. When I was setting up the projector, the midyear student evaluations for Ms. Jacqueline Ilagan were on her desk, ready for anyone to take them!
Every time I see a student score my sister with less than a five, I cross it out and circle the higher score she deserves.
Ms. Ilagan can be pretty intense.
Can’t believe Dani Bautista had the nerve to write this and rate Achi a two in classroom engagement. Maybe my sister would be moreengagedif Dani wasn’t bothering her so much about whatever’s going on with student council.
I mimic Dani’s handwriting and improve on her comment.
Ms. Ilagan can be pretty intensely helpful!
“Nooooo!”
I look up to see a black screen and a code that it’s having trouble playing the current title. Kayla tries reloading the movie, but it keeps on flashing the same error message.
“Ugh.” Kayla slumps on the couch. “And they were on their way to getting back together.”
“They should’ve stayed broken up.”
Kayla gawks at me like I just slapped her in the face.
“Kathryn wasted so much time on the guy! She could’vebeen a doctor already without her boyfriend getting in the way. It’s just like how Dr. Derrick keeps getting in the way of Ma’s life.”
“Auntie Beth wanted to be a doctor?”
“No… But she could’ve! Maybe she would’ve discovered more options without Dr. freaking Derrick.”
“True,” Kayla says, grumbling along with me. “Dr. freaking Derrick.”
Love it. One hundred percent support.
“What’re you busy with?” Kayla looks over at Achi’s desk and I cover the folder with my arm. Skipping class was already a stretch for Kayla’s conscience. She might spiral into an existential crisis if she becomes a witness to me forging evaluation forms (albeit, forging them for the better).
