chapter one: Cookies For Trade

Today is June 8 and it is a cold rainy day. It was my type of day because it makes me want to sleep more and dream more about fairytales. What fairytale? The one who has a princess named Mindy. Who’s that and what’s the story about? Well that’s going to be me. And my tale is about a princess searching for her prince.

“Mindy?” Mom yelled from the kitchen downstairs. “It’s 6 in the morning already. Are you planning to be late on the first day of your school? Oh and yeah, I baked you cookies.”

“I’m already up! I’m just stretching a bit.” I lied effortlessly. “Oh and thanks for the cookies!” But that was true enough. My mom bakes very well she should have herself a pastry shop.

“Fine. I’m off to work now, bye love!” Mom yelled again as the wooden Japanese style door bangs. She should at least close it properly. We always get a carpenter just to repair it because she always bangs it!

After stretching, I took a fast hot bath because somehow, I was excited to be in school again. I took my bag and inserted a pen and a small notebook just in case there would be an early homework. Oh and my comb and snacks too, I shouldn’t forget them. I went downstairs as quickly as I can then ran to the kitchen and took bite of the cookies that mom baked. Ah, my favorite. Dark Chocolate Flavored Cookies. Mom always bakes these cookies occasionally only and these would be why I like first day of classes. I was busy munching my treats when the doorbell rang.

“Mindy, were going to be late if you don’t come out now. And if you won’t, I’m going to leave you and oh, I’m serious!” Katie assured me.

Katie is a very responsible and beautiful student that every boy in our school admires. She’s probably a total opposite of me, but who cares. That what makes friendship interesting, differences. And she is my best and sweetest friend I ever had. I found myself getting the bucket of cookies as I rushed out. I know Katie’s stern of what she said since it’s the first day of classes. She wouldn’t want to make early bad impressions to our teachers-to-be.

“Katie! You sure are on fire today. Here grab some cookies. This would make you feel relaxed.”

“I won’t be relaxed until I find myself in school before the clock strikes 7:30.” Katie refused.

“Right, I don’t mind eating all this dark chocolate flavored cookies mom baked. And you know that I can.”

“O Mindy! You have great talent tempting people. Give me that.” I passed her a
cookie that she shyly bites. “Oh, your mom really bakes the best cookies. I can really hardly resist this!” Katie took another cookie as she finishes the first.

“See, you’ve calm yourself already.” I boasted. Then we found ourselves on the school grounds at 7:00. “Hey Katie, what’s the fuss those men are doing?” i asked like i didn't know.

“O God. That was what I was avoiding, really!” Katie then hid at my back and tried very well to keep herself unseen. But Katie just got an aura that those men sense, like a magnet. No wonder her very great hide-and-seek game was quickly over.

“Good morning Miss Katie!” said Chad, the leader of Katie’s fans club.

“Good morning Miss Katie!” echoed the others.

“Good morning to you too!” beamed Katie. “Apparently, I have things to do.”

“Oh, don’t worry Miss Katie. It is just the first day so you can actually pass whatever work is that tomorrow, as what the school rules say. So can we have a little chit-chat? Of course, that’s for the club.”

“That I’m aware. But I want my works submitted as early as I can. I really am–”

“Busy.” I interrupted then argued. “And so what if it is about her fans club? She’s not a founder or a member of that club. Don’t you ever get it, Katie is bothered by you because you’re messing up her schedule!”

“We should be going Mindy, really.” Katie poked me. “Chad, next time. Okay?”

“Or never.” I whispered in the air then I received another poke from Katie.
She pulled me forward going to our classroom. Oh yes, once again, we’re classmates. They say we stay classmates because Katie influences me so well. But I know the truth. Katie, being a favorite of all the teachers, she gets the chance to choose what class she’d belong. And of course, she always chooses the same class I am in.

“Oh God Mindy, you are–”

“Defiant? Come on Katie, you actually owe me for that!” I defended myself.

“Well I was going to say ‘brilliant’ have you not interrupted.” Katie answered back.

“Oh. Never thought you’d say that. I mean you’re so kind.”

“But if it’s about them, I’m very thankful Mindy. Very much I could burst out into tears.” Katie began being sarcastic.

“Ha ha. Very funny.” I grinned at her.

When we reached our classroom, we went to our own signature seats. I went to the top left corner while Katie sat beside me as always. I love how the fresh air hits my face gently. I don’t care that much unlike the other girls. My hair’s just a little longer and thicker than the guy’s hair. Sometimes I wish Katie wasn’t my seatmate or classmate. Just to be different, you know?

We had a short orientation with Mrs. Floria, our new class adviser. I find her cute and interesting with all the penguin stuffs. I mean, what’s with penguins that she have them in her ring, hanky, etc. The bell then rang as if I was fascinated with the idea that it’s break time already.

“Let’s go Minds, my treat to Rowena’s.” Katie winked at me.

“Can it wait? I just want to ask something to Mrs. Floria.” I answered not looking to her.
I went to Ms. Floria not even looking to her but at her penguin items, “Mrs. Floria?”

“Yes, Ms. Brook. What can I do for you?” Mrs. Floria held my chin then quickly removed it as soon as my gaze fell on her.

“I was just wondering. Why do you have a lot of those stuffs? I got myself surprisingly fancied on them.”
“Penguins, they are the sweetest creature I know. They love only once.”

“What do you mean Mrs. Floria?” I questioned. I was eager to make it clearer to me.

“Once a penguin found his mate, he never sets out for a journey to find another. He will only love one mate. And that would be the original.”

“Aw, that’s so cute! But how did you know that Mrs. Floria?” I asked knowing Mrs. Floria was a mathematics teacher not any related science teacher.

“Well, my grandmother was a biologist and specialized penguins. She always tells stories about them when I was a kid. I was also wowed when I heard that then I told myself, I will meet my penguin too. Since then, every time I see a penguin collectible, I get inspired and buy it. It soon became my collection. I still buy though even I’m already married.”

“Aw, was he your only love?” I smiled at her.

Katie then slapped me gently on the butt then whispered, “I’m going to kill you if we weren’t able to eat.”

“It’s the last Katie!” I whispered back.

“Yes he was. But what’s important, he is the last man I am with and that’s all that matters to me.” She flashed a smile like a teenager’s.

“That’s… sweet.” I lost words because I never knew someone’s actually fell in love in one person only. Katie then tapped my shoulder with more force. “Nice chatting with you Mrs. Floria, but we got to go.” Katie then went out first. I followed her.

“Ms. Brook? For just a short moment please.” Mrs. Floria asked for me to return to her table.

“Yes Ma’am?” I asked shortly knowing that Katie is now in rage.

“You know you were my first student to actually ask me about these penguins. And so, I wanted to give you this.” Mrs. Floria handed me two necklaces. The design was a penguin holding a broken heart and the other was also a penguin holding the other piece of heart. “Give that to your love, and he’ll be the one.”

“Thanks Ma’am, I’ll treasure this. Here’s some baked cookies as a trade” I lastly said and left. Katie gave me an angry look that was telling me how hungry she was already. I need to explain again to her, big time.
As soon as we reached the cafeteria then lined to order at Rowena’s Burger House, Katie then interrogated me, “What were you talking about?”

“Penguins. Did you know that once they find their mate, they never find another and they stay together forever? Isn’t that sweet?” I gleamed at Katie.
“I think so. You know Mindy; I’m not a fan of animals so… I’m not that impressed.” Katie said next in line to order.

“Oh right, why you need that when there are members of the Katie Fans Club who are dying to be your boyfriend.” I teased not waiting for her reaction.

“One cheese burger and a soda please” Katie ordered. “Ha ha, you don’t need to be envious.”

“Make them two each please.” I told the lady just to be quicker in time. “Come on Katie, me? Envy? No way. I wouldn’t want to hide behind my best friend every time Chad and the rest are there.”

As soon as we got a table, Katie began again. “I do not. I just happen to walk behind you.”

“Right, that’s why you got here first.” I mocked then took a big bite of my burger.

“That’s because I got so hungry because of your chitchat wit Mrs. Floria!” Katie started pointing again me as the fault then took even a bigger bite and large sip from her soda.

“Whatever. It’s not my problem if you’re not interested to those kinds of things because I do.” I finished the fight as I was done too with my burger.

“God, you’re a fast eater that’s why you don’t need a longer time than I do.” Katie reacted as I was just sipping my soda.

“No! You’re just slow.” I retorted even knowing the truth that I was just really fast. “And if I was fast, who cares?”

“Hey, look there Mindy” Katie changed the subject maybe because she knew she lost the battle of words.

“Why? What should I see the…” as I looked at the place Katie was pointing, I saw him. “Kent.”

“Yes, with his other friends. Mindy, you still have an eye on him?”

“I do! He’s tall, white, and very, very handsome.” I answered still looking at Kent with twinkling eyes.

“And he’s also the heartthrob of the campus. Come on Mindy, your enemies are scattered everywhere.”

“I don’t care. He’s still available so that’s it.”

“If that’s’ what you say so. Support you!” Katie encouraged me.

Kent’s circle of friends then was walking towards our direction. I saw him smiled at me that made me blush scarlet. He stopped then at our table, I got so excited. I even saw Katie looking at Kent then to me then back and forth.

Kent bent down, picked something then stood up again, “Hey Miss. Your hanky fell.” He said with that charming smile to me handing the hanky over.

“Thanks, Kent.” I answered still looking up at his blue eyes.

“Welcome. Bye.” Ken said not even looking at me then left with his pack.
I saw his other friend, darker than him and the tallest among their group staring at me like I was disgusting, then he came nearer.

“Can you… give these to Kent? And please say that these came from me.” I muttered but tried to be brave.

“Ok.” He said to me with a not s deep voice. Now his look changed into a normal one.

“Wow, that’s great. Thank you!” I was excited. I’m getting nearer to Kent. I’m sure once he gets a taste of those cookies, he would want for more. And that means, more time with me.

“Give me your number.” The man interrupted my fantasy.

“Excuse me. What?” I repeated as I believed I did not heard right.

“Trade me your number and I’ll give these to him, don’t like?” The man threatened me, I was so sure.

“Fine. Your phone?” he handed me over his phone and I input my number. “There.”

“You kidding me? There’s no ringing I hear.” The man gave an odd look. “Don’t mess with me.”

“Well I’m sorry if I don’t bring my phone at school. But that’s the truth!” I retorted.

“Then I’m sorry.” Then he left probably felt like a fool. Oh no, maybe he’d say to Kent not t entertain me because I was mean to him. Oh damn it. What a way to start getting close to Kent.