Prologue.

NOONG MGA BATA PA TAYO, parang ang tingkad palagi ng kulay ng mga bagay-bagay sa paligid, na para bang may suot tayong rainbow-colored eyeglasses, na para bang ang saya-saya ng buhay. At habang lumalaki tayo, unti-unting nababawasan ang tingkad ng kulay, at unti-unti rin tayong nawawalan ng gana sa buhay dahil halos puro na lang problema ang kaharap natin.

“Sari, kailangan mong magsikap sa pag-aaral. Kailangan nating yumaman para may maisampal tayong pera't diploma sa mga laitera nating kapitbahay at kamag-anak.”

Iyon ang mga salita na lumabas sa bibig ni Mama isang gabi habang kumakain kami. Grade one pa ako no'n. Umuwi siyang kalat ang mascara sa mukha, at kahit nakapusod ang buhok, halata pa ring magulo na para bang sinabunutan siya pero tinali niya na lang.

We were so poor, that my mother decided to sell her body just to send me to school, and in order for me to be able to eat three meals per day everyday. Wala kasi siyang ibang alam na trabaho na malaki ang sweldo dahil hindi naman siya nakatapos ng elementary. Mahirap din kasi ang mga magulang na nagpalaki sa kaniya. Ang mga kapatid niya naman na maaayos na ang mga buhay dahil either nakapag-asawa ng foreigner o sinwerte sa buhay at yumaman, ayaw naman kaming abutan ng kaunting tulong. Mas minamaliit pa nga at inaapakan kaysa tulungang iangat.

I have always been bullied because of my mother's chosen job. Na baka hindi rin ako gumraduate at baka mabuntis nang maaga dahil mana sa ina.

And since I was raised by a strong and brave woman, of course, I fought back. Both physically, and through another way.

“Wow! Si Sarisa na naman ang ating top 1 for this quarter!” anunsyo ng aming adviser. “Consistent top student since first grade! Keep it up, Sarisa! Mukhang ikaw na rin ang magiging class valedictorian natin! Bigyan natin siya ng limang bagsak, mga anak!”

Then, they started clapping while counting one to five. I, on the other hand, remained staring at the certificate that our adviser was holding.

Ever since I was first given this piece of paper that told me I was the top of my class back in first grade, I've always been thirsty of it. And since then, mmy life depended on it. That piece of paper served as my shield from my bullies, my net that stops me from jumping off the bridge and ending my life. Kaya kahit anong mangyari, kailangan kong makuha itong pirasong papel na ito dahil kung wala ito, wala na ring saysay ang buhay ko.

Gumraduate nga akong valedictorian at top 1 sa buong school noong elementary.  Masyado akong kampante na kakayanin ko pa ring makuha ang top kapag nasa highschool na ako, dahil ang mga dati kong kaklase ay magiging kaklase ko pa rin naman sa highschool.

Until he came...

We were in the middle of introducing ourselves, dahil first day bilang grade seven, at hindi pamilyar sa amin ang bagong adviser namin. And, since he was sitting at the very first chair on the first row, he went first.

He stood up confidently, with a small smile on his lips that weirdly made me feel annoyed. Back then, I didn't know why.

“Good morning, everyone,” he greeted. “I am Marx Gian Hernandez. Despite me being the son of our school's principal, please treat me like the others. I hope we all get along. Thank you.”

Tiningnan niya isa-isa ang mga kaklase namin habang nagsasalita siya. Nagsimula namang magbulungan ang iba noong marinig na anak pala siya ng principal.

“So, Marx, pwede mo bang i-share sa amin ang mga likes or dislike mo, interests, o kahit ano?” dagdag na tanong ni Ma'am Arrevalo, ang adviser namin.

“I like painting, cats, the smell of coffee in the morning, sunrise, and books. I dislike freeloaders, sweets, people who disturb me while I'm reading...” While he was talking, his eyes suddenly landed on me “... and people who steal what's meant to be mine.”

Napaangat ako ng isang kilay dahil sa sinabi niya. Pakiramdam ko kasi para sa akin lang mismo 'yong sinabi niya. Pero binalewala ko na lang din, dahil baka assuming lang ako masyado.

But boy, he was serious. Because since that day, I wasn't able to sleep in peace. Since that day, I realized that he declared a war against me. And since I am a child born and raised to be a fighter, I accepted it. I'll make sure to win this war, even if I have to go extreme lengths. I have to win.