The Unfortunate

Thea can hear her heavy breathing as she run towards her hall room for her first class of the day. Along the way she can see students whether sitting on the bench,playing something around the campus grounds and even teachers that are scolding those young couples. College years are the most busy time of Thea's life so far. Apart from being a scholar student,she still need to have at-least two part time jobs to provide for her financial needs and to pay the debt her parents left to her.

There still five minutes before the classes starts when Thea finally reached her hall room. Before she could enter,she swiftly fixed herself; finger combing her messy hair,fixing her shirt and getting her book and laptop in advance for the class.

"Ami!"a loudly and bubbly voice was heard calling Thea's name making her tour her eyes around the hall room.

It was Sara,who happily waved her hand at Thea the moment she saw her. Sara has been her friend since her senior years in high school,together with her chubby appearance,Sara has a bubbly personality which is a complete opposite to Thea's. The sound of Sara calling her made all the attention of the rest of the students waiting for the class shift to her. A sudden rush of awkwardness came upon her being as she felt the gazes of the other students making lower her head and hurriedly walked towards Sara.

"Here,sit here Ami,I reserved a seat for you."Sara whispered happily while pulling Thea towards the reserved seat.

"Thanks Sara."Thea whispered to Sara and gave the girl a slight smile.

"Im sorry about minutes ago,seems like my voice just made you uncomfortable."Sara laughed shyly and scanned Thea."You look a bit pale,are you okay?"

Thea was a bit surprised by Sara's sudden question and looked away.

"No,Im okay just a little tired since I cant really sleep at night.'' Thea answered with a nervous laugh.

With that response,Thea didn't hear a word from Sara which made her look at her friend's direction,only to see Sara intently staring at her with a serious face and suspicion is visible in her eyes. The stare itself immediately made Thea uncomfortable and took gulp on her water she just got from her bag.

"He-hey Sara,stop staring its creepy."she nervously asked Sara.

"I dont think you just lack of sleep."Sara straightly blurted out and placed her chin in her palm while leaning to the side.

"W-what?"

Instead of giving Thea another words,Sara turned towards her bag and grabbed something. Thea almost jumped when Sara suddenly lend her two pieces of bread pack in the parchment paper.

"Eat this."Sara smiled. But the hesitation on Thea's face is oblivious making

Sara grab Thea's hands and placed it in her palm.

"Those pale lips,dark eye bags,and sleepy eyes?!You probably didn't eat right! You rascal!"Sara blurted out as she is pissed by Thea.

"B-But classes are about to start,we might be scolded for eating while having classes."Thea whispered.

"Just eat it okay!,you always make me worried,its like everyday you're getting thinner!Are you planing to die?!"Sara said wiping her eyes as it is welled up with tears.

"Okay,okay I eating it,but later okay?After the class,just calm down."

After the class,Sara and Thea ate the bread on one of the bench in the University of the Philippines Diliman school grounds while studying.

"Im sorry for dragging you here,library is a better place to study unlike here,its too noisy."Thea said and continued to read her study module.

"Nah,its ok. By the way I heard you were fired in your job.''

"Huh?Where did you heard it?"Thea looked surprised and took a gaze at Sara.

''One of our classmates Medical Ethics class talked about it,remember Juancho?That guy who is so into you?"Sara laughed while looking at the other students lurking around the campus.

The thought of Juancho also made Thea laugh."Seems like he saw being scolded by the manager that night at the restaurant huh?"

"Tsk!Its not like he coincidentally saw you, remember,Juancho is so into you that he always follows you."Sara laughed hysterically.

"Damn,he is so annoying."Thea can only shake her head in displeasure at the thought of Juancho's too much perseverance.

"That is the real problem when you are attractive. Like hell! Im so lucky Im not attractive enough,there will be no guys who will annoy me!"Sara shouted that took everyone's attention to her.

Thea immediately covered Sara's mouth when she aw everyone looking at them.

"SHHH!!Sara keep your voice down!There are still classes that are on going and its so embarrassing that everyone is looking at us!"

*This really is the big problem when you got a bubbly friend.*

"Oh,okay,okay sorry Ami!"Sara gave Thea a wide smile making Thea flash a slight smile.

But the idea of her loosing a job made her take a deep sigh as she remembered that it was another problem,on how to find another job since it will take a lot of time and effort. Unfortunately,it is her exams next week and she still needs to study.

"So Ami,did you find a new job?"

"Unfortunately I haven't, I still need to study though,I cant fail,I dont want to loose my scholarship."Thea answered with a heavy heart making her lower her head in stress.

Sara moved closer to her and crouched a little to see Thea's displease face.

"Why dont you take a break from working?Like,one job maybe is enough for your expenses right? You know you're so drained from all those side jobs."Sara suggested with worry in her voice.

Thea bit her lip and looked at Sara."I cant Sara."

She answered and lean against the bench taking a deep sigh."I need to pay my rent,its been three months. Aling Sinang is already pissed with all my excuses."

"Hmp!That old hag?!Cant she be a little considerate?!"

"Well,sadly she wont.''

"Ami,why dont you ask your relatives?"Sara hesitantly asked.

Sara stopped when she saw Thea laughing hysterically,the chubby cant laugh with but she's scared while looking at Thea. Sara stared at Thea's eyes looking fiercely on the ground and the laugh that doesn't seem to be funny at all.

"Since the time my parents died with that freaking car accident they always pass me from other relative to another. I dared to stay at my uncle's house,but he harassed me and almost got killed from the beatings. Since high school I left home and sleeping on the locker room or hiding at the library to sleep."Thea said while laughing hysterically.

"Ami."Sara could only whisper her friend's name after she heard all of Thea's story.

"After I left home,I never heard of them finding me,or even asking a teacher where I am staying. They seem to want me all gone,I just granted their wish that is. Now tell me Sara. With that,will they even help me if I asked?"Thea sarcastically asked Sara with grim look on her face.

Sara didn't say a word and lowered her head. Thea looked at Sara and stared at her."I've through even worst problems that this and even one of them didn't help me."

Thea stood and grab her bag."Thank you for the suggestions Sara."