Chapter Text
FROM THE moment Maloi began her education, she had always occupied the role of the second-best.
The backup option whenever the actual best was unavailable.
The exceptional individual who, while undoubtedly gifted, was never quite brilliant enough to claim the top spot.
These notions had been etched into her mind as she grew up, a truth she had reluctantly accepted, even if it was against her will.
Despite her efforts to work harder than anyone else, she knew she would never experience the view from the top.
Simply because the massive wall before her was impenetrable—a barrier that was utterly impossible to surmount.
Thus, she was left with no choice but to concede to herself that she, Mary Loi Yves Ricalde, would never be the best.
"You ready for the quiz bee later, Maloi?" Her best friend, Stacey, asked as she flipped through the pages of the book she was currently reading.
They were settled in one of the gazebos scattered throughout the school grounds, passing the time leisurely before their next class.
"Parang tinatamad na nga ako." She rolled her eyes, releasing a soft sigh as she rested her chin upon her right palm, her gaze drifting absentmindedly as she contemplated her best friend’s question. ". . .alam mo namang kasali rin siya, 'di ba?"
"Malamang." Stacey shrugged. "She is our school's prized possession, after all. The ace."
"You don't have to remind me. Alam na alam ko at sobrang nakayayamot siya dahil do'n. Ni hindi nga siya nag-aaral pero somehow, she still excels at everything. May kung ano sa babaeng 'yon, sinasabi ko sa iyo," she spat out with palpable disdain, her voice dripping with contempt.
"Bakit ba galit na galit ka sa kanya?" Stacey cast her a curious glance, her eyebrows slightly raised in intrigue. "E wala namang ginagawa sa iyo 'yung tao."
"I just do. Hindi naman kailangan ng rason. Basta ayaw ko sa kanya."
That was a lie.
She would never confess this to anyone else, but it was entirely because of that girl that she realized she was merely ordinary; that she was nothing special; that she existed only to play the role of being beneath her; that despite her countless efforts, they would ultimately amount to nothing.
The actual best, the one who consistently occupied the top—Ma. Nicolette Vergara—the person who was unjustly favored by the universe.
People might deem her petty for harboring resentment toward someone for reasons beyond their control, but she couldn't care less. Maloi loathed the girl with every fiber of her being, and that sentiment would endure, even if the world itself were to crumble around her.
"Balita ko pupunta rin si Mikha." At the mention of the name, her face brightened, a warm glow of excitement illuminating her features. "Support kay Colet siguro."
Oh, right.
They were twins, though she often forgot this fact, as the two were strikingly different from one another.
Mikha was a sweetheart, always eager to lend a helping hand to those in need of academic advice, effortlessly earning the admiration of the entire student body in the process.
Her dedication and sense of righteousness stood out, radiating a warmth that naturally attracted others.
Maloi was not oblivious to the girl's reputation; in fact, she had harbored a crush on her for as long as she could remember.
Colet, in stark contrast, was the complete opposite.
She was the very spawn of the devil.
Cunning and manipulative, she would stop at nothing to achieve what she wanted , often trampling on the feelings of others without a second thought.
Her philosophy was: the end always justifies the means.
"Kung pupunta nga siya, then forget what I said earlier. I am so looking forward to it now." Her grin was broad, and her eyes sparkled with eagerness.
Forget Colet; the love of her life would be watching, and that alone was enough to put her in high spirits.
Stacey could only shake her head at her remark. "Malala ka na, ante ko."
Maloi made a face, scrunching her features in a playful display of mock disapproval.
"Whatever."
The time for the quiz bee arrived sooner than she had anticipated, much to her delight.
She was excused for the remainder of the day, and with Stacey still obligated to attend her classes, Maloi found herself heading to the auditorium alone. It wasn't that she was complaining; rather, having a familiar face in the crowd always provided her with a sense of comfort. Now, she would have to do this alone.
She pursed her lips as she scanned the crowd for a particular red-haired girl, her heart skipping a beat when she finally spotted her in the far corner, engrossed in something on her phone.
In all the years that Maloi had participated in quiz bees, this was the first time Mikha had come to watch her from the crowd.
This was her chance to impress her.
Nevermind that she was there to give support to her sister.
There were five contestants in total, including Maloi.
Each participant was a familiar face, as they were the same individuals who regularly faced off in these competitions. Their shared history of competition created an unspoken bond, evident in the subtle nods and knowing glances exchanged among them as they prepared to compete once more.
The consistent ace, on the other hand, sat directly in front of her, appearing utterly bored and unimpressed, as if she were not about to participate in a regional competition at all.
"Napakayabang talaga," Maloi murmured quietly under her breath.
The quiz concluded in the blink of an eye.
It felt surprisingly easy, with most of the questions revolving around topics she had diligently prepared for. However, as if the universe were conspiring against her, she stumbled on the last question, its complexity catching her off guard, resulting in another second-place finish.
A familiar disappointment weighed heavily on her shoulders once again.
"Congratulations Miss Vergara for acing the Math Quiz Bee for three consecutive years!" The president of their university proclaimed with enthusiasm, presenting Colet with her gold trophy. She received it with an air of casual indifference, stifling a yawn that revealed her lack of interest in the honor. "You are really the pride of our university."
Maloi was no longer in the mood.
Of all the times she could have messed up, it just had to be when Mikha was watching, making her frustration and humiliation even worse.
Impress her, huh?
There was no way she could achieve that as long as Colet was also competing.
Once again, she was painfully reminded that she would forever occupy the role of second-best.
A bitter smile curled upon her lips as she threw a seething glare in the girl’s direction, wishing for enough intensity in her gaze to disintegrate her, anything to make her vanish from her sight.
But that was impossible, was it?
As Maloi accepted her silver trophy and wrapped up the ceremony, she began to gather her things in preparation to leave. Suddenly, a familiar voice resonated through the air, calling out to her, drawing her attention and stopping her departure.
"Maloi!"
As she turned around, the face of the object of her affection came into view, a small smile gracing her lips as she walked toward Maloi.
In that instant, Maloi felt herself freeze, as if she had been transformed into an ice sculpture, acutely aware of what was unfolding before her.
"Hi, Mikha—" Her words were abruptly interrupted as someone stood before her, entirely obstructing her line of sight. "What the hell, Colet?"
Even though she couldn’t see her face, Maloi instinctively recognized her. Colet’s unmistakable scent, her commanding presence, and the familiar aura that surrounded her were all telltale signs.
"Congratulations, Yves," said Colet, prompting Maloi to tilt her head back and gaze up at her, where she was met with a gentle smile. "You did very well."
"I don't need your praise," Maloi shot her a sharp glare, crossing her arms defiantly over her chest. "If only you weren't here, I would be placed first. Wala ka talagang dulot."
Colet seemed unfazed by her insult, casually shrugging her shoulders in a dismissive manner, as if the words held no weight.
“Hindi ko naman kasalanan na matalino ako,” she retorted, a smug expression dancing across her face, which only served to infuriate Maloi further.
"I hate you so much," she spat, running a hand aggressively over her face. "Sana mawala ka na lang at huwag nang bumalik."
A triumphant smile spread across Maloi's face as Colet suddenly adopted a serious expression.
Ha!
Getting any reaction from Colet other than her usual arrogance gave Maloi a satisfying sense of achievement.
"Bakit ba galit na galit ka sa akin?"
"Hindi pa ba halata?"
"Ano, gusto mo bang ipatalo ko lahat ng competitions na sasalihan nating pareho?"
Maloi shot her an incredulous glance. "Tanga ka ba? Sa tingin mo that would make me feel better, ha?"
"Then what do you want me to do, Yves?" Colet arched an eyebrow, attempting to maintain a facade of indifference, though desperation flickered behind her calm facade. "Tell me and I will do it in a heartbeat."
"Nakakairita ka." An exasperated sigh slipped from Maloi's lips. "Why do you even care? Why does it even matter to you?"
Her frustration grew with each passing moment.
She couldn’t comprehend why Colet was behaving this way when they were not even friends
Their interactions had been limited to Maloi's curses directed at her for consistently defeating her.
"Because I am in love with you."
The unexpected confession left Maloi rooted to her spot, her expression shifting from disbelief to sheer disgust.
Had she truly heard those words?
Or were her ears deceiving her?
"Seryoso ka ba?" Maloi let out an amused laugh, finding it ridiculous that Colet, who seemed indifferent to everyone, was in love with her. "No, imposibleng seryoso ka, at kahit pa nga na gano'n, that only means you are freaking boring. Ayaw na ayaw ko sa taong may gusto sa akin kasi walang challenge kapag gano'n. Walang chase. Walang thrill."
When Colet merely stared at her with a blank expression, as though attempting to read her thoughts, Maloi took it as a sign to leave.
She figured she would just be wasting her time dealing with Colet further, but before she could take a step, Colet grasped her hand.
"Bitiwan mo nga ako!" she demanded.
"Mark my words, Ricalde," she whispered in Maloi's ears, her grip tightening, though, still with a hint of gentleness. "You'll come crawling back to me one day. I promise."