Chapter Text
BLAG!
A loud crashing sound echoed as a bag flew through the air. A man tumbled to the ground, clutching a worn-out wallet in his hand.
Rapid footsteps approached, and a woman stepped firmly on his back before swiftly snatching the wallet from his grip.
She opened it—not to search for money, knowing full well there was none—but to find a picture of a child standing beside his father.
Letting out a sigh, she tucked the wallet into her backpack and lifted her foot off the man.
"Sa susunod kuya, pumili ka naman ng tamang biktima. Magnanakaw ka na lang, sa estudyante pa na walang pera." she scoffed, shaking her head before walking away.
Her name is Kora. There’s nothing particularly remarkable about her—just an average girl trying to make ends meet. She juggles multiple jobs to support herself, refusing to rely on anyone else.
She lives with her aunt Cindy, though unlike the usual horror stories of mistreated nieces, Kora is well-loved. Still, she insists on working hard, determined to save up for her education.
Kora is an orphan. Her mother died giving birth to her, and her father, who was once a seaman, went missing when his ship sank. She was only four years old when it happened, and after ten years with no news, she accepted that he was gone.
Growing up, Kora was no stranger to hardship. She learned early on to rely only on herself.
After her father’s disappearance, she was taken in by her aunt—his younger sister. But with her aunt constantly occupied with work, Kora became used to attending school events alone, the only child without a guardian by her side.
Things only got worse in high school. She was often bullied, taunted for being an orphan.
But Kora never let their words get to her. As much as possible, she avoided trouble. She was determined to study hard and graduate, no matter what.
Even when her classmates shoved her, poured juice on her in the cafeteria, or whispered cruel things behind her back, she never fought back.
She simply walked away, retreating to the restroom, where she would eat her lunch in the solitude of a locked cubicle.
The door to their apartment creaked open as Kora stepped inside, leaving her shoes neatly by the door. She let out a tired sigh.
“Nakauwi na po ako,” she called out as she entered.
"Kora? Nandito ako sa kusina!" her aunt’s voice rang from the kitchen.
Kora made her way there and reached for her aunt’s hand to mano, but her aunt quickly pulled away.
“Ay! Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sa’yo, ‘wag mo ‘kong ginaganyan! Nakakatanda ‘yan,” her aunt huffed in mock annoyance.
Kora let out a small, sheepish smile. “Pasensya na po, nakalimutan ko.”
Her aunt shook her head with a chuckle. “Oh siya, magbihis ka na. Malapit na ‘tong maluto.”
“Opo,” Kora nodded before heading to her room.
Kora’s room wasn’t spacious—just enough to fit a bed, a small study table, and a bookshelf. She opened her bag and took out the books she had borrowed, their subjects covering various fields of study.
Carefully, she arranged them on the shelf before changing into more comfortable clothes.
When she stepped out, she found her aunt setting the table for dinner.
“Nagluto ako ng sinigang! Mukhang masarap naman,” her aunt announced with a smile. “Lagyan mo na lang ng patis kung natabangan ka.”
Kora simply nodded and took her seat. Together, they made the sign of the cross before starting their meal.
She took a sip of the sinigang’s broth, while her aunt watched her reaction from the corner of her eye. But to her dismay, Kora didn’t show anything—not a nod of approval, not even a small smile. She simply continued eating in silence.
She didn’t add any dipping sauce or patis to her soup. She just ate steadily, finishing her meal bit by bit. Wasting food was never in her nature, nor was she picky about what was served.
She and her aunt had gone through days before where they barely had anything to eat.
Because of that, Kora learned to eat whatever was in front of her—not for the taste, but to survive.
“Bukas na ba ‘yung entrance exam mo doon sa school na balak mong mag transfer?”
Kora froze at her aunt’s question.
“I saw your application form, Ko. Wala ka ba talagang balak sabihin sa’kin?”
Slowly, Kora put her utensils down. “Hindi po sa ganun.”
“Then why? Why can’t you let me help you?”
Kora took a deep breath. “Sagot n’yo na po lahat ng gastusin dito sa bahay. Ayoko pong pati pag-aaral ko, problemahin n’yo pa.”
Her aunt’s gaze softened. “But Kora… I’m your guardian.”
“Kaya ko naman po. May naipon naman po ako,” Kora responded firmly.
Her aunt, Cindy, sighed. She wanted to argue, but she knew better. Forcing something on Kora would only push her further away.
“Tapos na po ako,” Kora said quietly before standing up. She took her plate to the sink and immediately washed it.
She had grown used to being alone. To her, forming attachments only led to complications, so she kept her distance—even from her own aunt.
As Kora stepped back into her room, her eyes landed on the application form resting on her study table.
She was about to enter her second year of high school. During her first year, the bullying hadn’t stopped. It followed her, no matter where she went.
But she chose not to let it bother her. She had bigger things to worry about—until an unexpected opportunity came knocking.
Tonight, she would study. She had to.
During one of her side jobs, she met a woman who unexpectedly offered her a scholarship. Without hesitation, Kora accepted.
If she was going to deal with bullying anyway, she might as well do it in a school with high standards—one that could truly open doors for her future.
If this meant better opportunities, if this meant a stronger chance at getting into a top university for college, then she was willing to endure it all.
Kora already saw it—how she didn’t fit in at all. Not in this school, not in the world she was about to step into.
Her eyes fell on the name printed on the application form: Del Fierro Heights Academy.
Just from the name alone, it sounded like a school for the rich.
She kept walking, taking in the sight of students in their crisp, complete uniforms. The girls wore white short-sleeved blouses paired with buttoned-up blue vests, black ties, and neatly pressed blue skirts.
They looked polished—flawless even.
Kora glanced down at herself. Jeans, a plain white top, a checkered button-up shirt, and worn-out sneakers. Compared to them, she looked out of place.
But that wasn’t new. She had never belonged anywhere before.
And yet, here she was, about to walk into a world she never thought she’d be part of.
Students stole glances at Kora from time to time. She noticed but didn’t pay it any mind. Instead, she adjusted her backpack and kept walking.
Suddenly, a sleek black car pulled up near the entrance stairs. The low hum of the engine and the sudden shift in the students’ energy made Kora pause.
She stopped beside a tree, her gaze drifting toward the car.
Whispers and hushed excitement filled the air. All attention was now on the vehicle, as if everyone was waiting for someone important to step out.
Then, the door swung open.
A woman emerged, effortlessly elegant. Even from a distance, Kora could tell—this was the person everyone was gushing over.
The woman was tall, with flawless skin that almost seemed to glow under the sunlight.
Her long hair cascaded in soft curls at the ends, framing her sharp yet elegant features.
Everything about her screamed wealth—from the designer handbag slung over her arm to the effortless grace in her movements as she closed the car door.
She ascended the stairs slowly, exuding an air of confidence that had the students buzzing. Some waved excitedly, while others discreetly took videos, their eyes filled with admiration.
But despite all the attention, the woman didn’t acknowledge anyone. She didn’t spare a single glance at the eager faces around her.
No one—except Kora.
For a brief moment, the woman turned in her direction.
Ten seconds.
Kora counted. Because that’s how long it felt like she had forgotten to breathe.
The woman’s gaze pierced through her. Kora didn’t understand why, didn’t even know if she was imagining things.
Then, just as quickly as it happened, it was over.
The woman turned away and continued walking as if nothing had transpired.
Kora blinked. Maybe she was imagining it. Shaking her head, she brushed the thought aside.
Kora made her way toward the admissions office, her eyes scanning her surroundings. The school was too big for her.
The halls stretched endlessly. She tried asking a few students for directions, but none of them even spared her a glance. Some walked past her as if she were invisible.
Kora looked around for a signboard, anything that could point her in the right direction. She turned down a corridor, only to realize she was completely lost.
Then suddenly a firm voice called out.
"Sino ka? Ba't ka nandito?"
Kora blinked and turned to the source of the voice.
A woman stood before her, eyeing Kora from head to toe. "Estudyante ka ba rito?"
She looked like a teacher—mid-thirties, hair neatly tied back, glasses resting on her nose, and dressed professionally.
Realizing she needed to explain herself, Kora quickly pulled out her application form.
"I'm here for the scholarship exam po today."
The woman’s gaze flickered to the form in Kora’s hands before shifting back to her.
"Nasa maling building ka," the woman explained. "Dumiretso ka lang doon hanggang sa pinakadulong building. Doon gaganapin ang exam."
Kora blinked once more before giving a small bow. "Salamat po, Ma'am."
With that, she turned around and made her way toward the building, carefully following the directions given to her.
“Thank you girls,” the teacher said.
All four of them smiled politely at him. Kora couldn’t help but feel that these women were the IT girls of the school—the kind of students everyone knew and paid attention to.
“Before you leave, why don’t you introduce yourselves first?” the teacher suggested.
The girls exchanged glances before one of them stepped forward. She had curly hair, a ribbon around her tie, and a few clips neatly arranged in her hair.
“Hi, everyone! I’m Mia, a third-year student here at DFHA,” she introduced herself with a bright smile.
The students around her gushed over Mia, their eyes practically sparkling with admiration. Kora sighed, briefly glancing at the four girls before looking away.
She wasn’t really into this kind of thing.
The introductions continued.
“Hello! I’m Skylar, everyone. I’m a second-year student,” the next girl said with a cheerful tone.
Once again, the students reacted enthusiastically.
“Hi, guys! I’m Ava. I’m in my third year, just like Mia,” another girl introduced herself.
A chorus of “Awwweee!” erupted from the students.
Kora barely paid attention. Resting her chin on her palm, she checked her phone instead, scanning her messages for details about her shift for the night.
Kora waited for the last girl's introduction, but a few seconds passed, and she heard nothing.
Then, the sound of footsteps approaching caught her attention.
Glancing to her side, she found the last girl standing before her, an unreadable expression on her face—a smile... no, a smirk playing on her lips as she gazed at Kora intently.
“Hi, I’m Jenna. I’m a second-year student. Nice to meet you,” the girl spoke, extending a hand toward Kora.
Kora blinked, momentarily caught off guard. She glanced around and quickly realized that all eyes were on them—on her and this Jenna.
Feeling the weight of the stares, she quietly slid her phone out of sight before hesitantly looking at the girl’s outstretched hand.
Slowly, she reached out and shook it.
But Kora didn’t say her name.
Her mind completely froze from the unnecessary attention she was getting.
The weight of everyone's stares made her brain malfunction, leaving her momentarily speechless.
Sensing this, the girl in front of her spoke again, her smirk deepening.
“May I know your name? Or should I just call you beautiful?” Jenna teased, throwing in a wink for good measure.
Kora blinked—again.
Her brain barely processed what had just happened, but somehow, she managed to gather herself enough to respond.
With as much composure as she could muster, she spoke.
“I’m Kora.”
Kora let out a deep, steady breath as she descended the staircase—the same one she had walked up earlier when she first saw Jenna, the girl who had caused a scene in the testing room.
All she wanted was to take her exam quietly, without drawing any attention. In fact, she preferred to go unnoticed. But thanks to Jenna, that plan had completely fallen apart.
Ever since the introductions, she had caught lingering glances from other students. Some even went as far as asking if she was close to Jenna. Kora simply shook her head, refusing to entertain their questions.
She had no interest in getting involved. Truthfully, she couldn’t care less about that girl.
Kora had no intention of making connections or even forming friendships in this school. Her only goal was to finish her education at a prestigious institution and secure better opportunities for the future. That was all that mattered.
She gave herself a small nod, as if reaffirming her resolve, as she finally reached the bottom of the stairs.
Glancing at her watch, she noted the time—4 p.m. She still had enough time to catch a ride and head to her job at 7/11 before her shift started.
However, just as she lifted her gaze, she spotted a familiar car pulling up in front of her. The same one she had seen earlier.
Jenna’s car.
Her window rolled down, revealing her grinning face.
“Hi there.”
Kora stared at her for a second before letting out a sigh and resumed walking.
“Wait!” Jenna called out, making Kora stop on her tracks.
A moment later, Jenna stepped out of the car and approached her. “Come ride with me. I’ll take you home.”
Kora’s brows furrowed as she glanced at the other girl, suspicion creeping into her expression.
"Hindi na, salamat na lang." Kora shook her head, eyeing Jenna like she was acting strangely.
"Kora, I insist," Jenna pressed.
Kora paused again, sighing once more. "Kaya kong umuwi mag-isa. Hindi ko kailangan ng maghahatid sa'kin."
"Come on, Kora. I'm just being nice to you."
Kora stopped once more, slowly glancing over her shoulder to look at Jenna. "Hindi ko naman sinabing maging nice ka sa'kin. In fact, you don’t have to be nice to me at all."
"Hey! You don’t have to be a bitch, y’know," Sky chimed in, walking down the stairs and inserting herself into the conversation.
"Sky," Jenna called her name sternly. "Don't."
Sky only rolled her eyes.
And when Jenna turned back to Kora, she was already walking away.
Jenna watched her retreating figure, a small smirk tugging at her lips.
"350 pesos po lahat," Kora said. Then she took the payment from the customer. She sealed the paper bag before placing the money in the drawer.
"Eto po sukli niyo. Salamat po," she added with a polite smile.
Kora worked part-time at a 7/11, thanks to her Tita Cindy’s friend, who managed the store. She had practically begged for the opportunity, willing to do anything just to earn a little money. Fortunately, the manager agreed.
Her usual shift ended at nine, but tonight, Giselle, one of her co-workers, had an emergency and asked her to stay a bit longer.
Kora watched as the customer stepped out, the door closing behind them. She tilted her head to the side, stretching her neck to relieve the tension. With her shift nearly over at 10 p.m., the fatigue from standing was finally catching up to her.
She was used to this, but that didn’t make it any less exhausting. Glancing at the clock again, she saw there were only five minutes left until 10. The thought of lying in bed was the only thing keeping her going—her body felt like it could collapse at any moment. She hadn’t even managed to grab dinner before heading to work, leaving her both tired and starving.
A few more minutes passed when a voice called from the door.
"Gandang gabi, Ko!"
Kora looked up and saw Giselle stepping inside.
"10 na ba?" she asked with a smile, glancing at her watch.
"9:57 pa. Maaga ako ng tatlong minuto," Giselle replied with a grin.
She headed to the back to change, and just as she stepped out in her uniform, the clock struck 10—perfect timing.
Kora let Giselle take over and went to the back to change into her casual clothes and gather her things. As she stepped out again, a loud grumble from her stomach reminded her just how hungry she was.
She checked her wallet—₱100 left. Deciding to grab a quick meal before heading home, she picked up a cup of noodles and a bottle of water.
As she paid at the counter, Giselle raised an eyebrow at her.
“Ngayon ka pa ba kakain?”
Kora glanced at her and shook her head. “Hindi, nag-dinner na ako kanina. Nagutom lang ulit... kaya ayan.”
Giselle eyed her for a second before finally accepting the payment and handing back her change.
Taking her food, Kora poured hot water into her noodles before making her way to an empty table.
Kora stared at the change in her hand—the last of her money. She let out a sigh. Looks like she’d be walking home tonight. Still, that was better than collapsing from hunger on the way. She checked her noodles, picked up her chopsticks, and started eating. A deep sigh escaped her lips as the warm broth filled her stomach, offering much-needed comfort after a long, exhausting day.
While Kora was busy eating her noodles, she didn’t notice someone entering the store. A few minutes later, she heard footsteps approaching from behind. She assumed the customer would take a seat at the table behind her, but to her surprise, a pack of food was placed in front of her.
She looked up just as someone emerged, holding another bottle of water.
"Hi," Jenna said with a smile, casually taking a seat across from her.
Kora was momentarily stunned as she stared at Jenna sitting in front of her.
"You're eating pala," Jenna said, pushing the takeout box slightly forward. "I just came from a restaurant—may takeout ako, baka gusto mo."
Kora didn’t respond and simply went back to her noodles, focusing on finishing her meal.
"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" she finally asked between bites.
Jenna smiled and lifted the unopened bottle of water. "I just wanted to drink some water."
Kora glanced at the bottle, then at Jenna, before silently continuing her meal. However, she soon paused and let out a sigh.
"Can you stop staring?" she muttered, shooting a glance at Jenna, who was still grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh, sorry. Don’t mind me—just keep eating," Jenna replied casually, shifting her gaze toward the window.
Kora gave her an incredulous look. She really couldn't figure this woman out.
"You told me to stop staring, pero ikaw naman ngayon ang tumitingin sa'kin. That’s unfair, y'know," Jenna teased, her tone playful.
Kora scoffed, her brows knitting together as she pointedly looked away. But Jenna, stealing another glance at her, smirked in amusement as Kora resumed eating.
Kora ate every last bit before taking a long sip of her own water. Without another word, she stood up, picked up her empty cup, and walked over to the trash bin to throw it away.
"Uwi na 'ko Ate Giselle," Kora said, grabbing her bag.
Giselle glanced at her and smiled. "Ingat pauwi, Ko!" she called out, waving.
Just as Kora stepped out, Giselle caught sight of Jenna moving quickly to follow her. A knowing smile tugged at her lips as she watched the scene unfold.
Jenna followed Kora outside.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
Kora stopped briefly and glanced at her. "Uuwi na 'ko," she replied before continuing on her way.
"Ihatid na kita!" Jenna offered, but Kora didn’t even look back.
She just kept walking.
Once again, Jenna was rejected. But instead of feeling annoyed at the checkered-clad woman walking away, a soft smile formed on her lips.
Her eyes held nothing but fondness as she watched Kora disappear into the night.