Chapter 2 Jasmine 'Perfect' Go

Jasmine Go has a perfect life. Still in Grade 8 but she has so many achievements in her life. She is reigning Volleyball Captain, reigning Miss Academy of our school, reigning Secretary of the Student Council and incoming President of the Student Council next year.

And the cherry on top of all of this is she is born freaking rich. Their company is where my parents are working. And also Jasmine's parents give me a scholarship. Very rich with a golden heart. Jasmine also offers a friendship to me even though I am not rich and my parents are only employees in their company. Even though I am just a scholar of her parents. Jasmine is a kind, intelligent, beautiful and talented person that I've met. Everyone feels jealous of her. But for me I feel annoyed. And I want her to die.

I don't feel jealous. I feel angry. Feeling so angry towards her that I want her to be death. I feel like she's strangling me and I can't breath whenever she's around. Not in a physical way but symbolically. Where is my anger rooted? I can't remember. I just woke up in the morning and I felt so annoyed with her. Very annoyed that I want her to die.

"Mandy!"

Here comes again. Jasmine walking towards me with a smile in her lips. You are so bothersome Jasmine Go. When will you go away?

"Mandy, I am calling you many times already. Your stare at nothingness," she said with a smile in her small lips.

"Huh? What's that?" I ask like I didn't hear her.

I want to stare at nothing other than talk to you face to face like this.

"I said let's go to the canteen. Derek, Desiree and Third is already there. They are waiting for us," she said with a cheerfully tone.

"It's okay just go already. I am not hungry," I excuse myself.

"It's a free food, Mandy. Don't be spikey. Let's go," she say and pull me out of my chair.

We exit the classroom and walk in the pathway. And all eyes are on Jasmine. But she doesn't care. She just wears her full smile and pulls me hard.

"Hello Jasmine," one of the grade 9 female student greeted her.

I know she is a grade 9 student because of the color blue in her ribbon while the boys are neckties. As for us, grade 8 students, we wear yellow. Grade 7 wears green. And for grade 10 they wear the color red. That's how to distinguish the differences of grade levels.

"Hello girls! Eat your snacks don't let yourself get hungry. We will go to canteen to eat too. Bye," She happily said to them.

Miss Congeniality is Jasmine. That's one of her good traits. Everyone loves her because of that. But not for me, I hate her more because of that.

As we enter the canteen I see Derek, Desiree and Third are sitting in the middle of the crowd. There is no other table around their chair. Because of that they look special and they are like VIPs. What kind sh*t if this? Are you saying that all of you are the lead of a story? What main character syndrome affects your brain that can't be used logically. If you just pick out the table then not all of that student in the Academy can't sit in the canteen to eat. Yeah they are fish brains.

Jasmine dragged me towards the center of the table. And all of the students in the canteen at that moment are looking at us. I am not comfortable. Jasmine sat on a vacant seat next to her boyfriend, Third. And her right seat is occupied by her best friend, Derek. Left side of Third is where Desiree, twin of Derek, is sitting. And the only vacant left is between Derek and Desiree. This circle of friends where Jasmine is the core. She found it and made sure to handle it well.

Their are foods already on the table. 3 pizza, spaghetti and individual shake. And the flavor of the shake is avocado. The top list of my hate fruits. Who the h*ll buy this crap?

"Enjoy everything. I bought all of this foods. I hope you love it," Jasmine happily announce.

Well Jasmine, I am not counting your mistakes to me but my anger towards you has increased again.

"Thanks Jasmine, I need this it's so healthy," Desiree say.

Healthy? Where is the healthy? Shake? Pizza? Spaghetti?

"Let's eat guys, I'm starving. My snake in stomach is growling," Derek said and start eating.

They did not pray, they just eat. Whatever, I just pick one slice of pizza. It looks delicious because of its thin crust. But when I taste it my expectation is crushed. What kind of pizza is this? It's so salty. Crunchy and cheesy. But I only taste salt. No other flavor. Like tomato sauce and pepper. Are they sure it's legit? I look at my companions and they look like they are enjoying this piece of salt.

I just eat my one pizza and scoop some spaghetti. I already miss spaghetti because the last time I ate spaghetti was three months ago on my little brother's birthday, Antonio. I am looking forward to tasting this. As I take my first bite. My face turned sour. Why is this spaghetti sour? They did not use banana ketchup. Only tomato sauce, are they out of the budget? If I am cooking spaghetti I am using tomato sauce and banana ketchup, for Filipino taste. And I see them, as always my companions have no violent reaction.

I just finished my spaghetti and I am not scooping anymore. Even though I don't like avocado I still drink the shake. And it's yucky. The taste of the avocado is lasting in my taste buds. And I don't like it. Also I can't taste sweets. This shake has no sugar.

Why does all of the food taste like crap? And my companion seems to be enjoying it. But not for me. I feel like I want to cry. This is the one reason why I don't want to be with them. Rich food doesn't feel good in my taste buds. After we ate, they did not care about leftover food. They just put it in the trash can. And that's also the reason I hate them. They are wasting foods as if the money that they expending is theirs. That's an allowance given from their parents. Talk big to me if they got that money from their blood and sweat. If they know how to work hard. And not whining to their parents when their allowance has been cut off by 10,000. But now they are just bunch of spoiled br*ts to me.

"Did you enjoy guys?" Third ask.

Why is he asking a question? Jasmine is the one who pay not Third. Are he the spokesperson of Jasmine now?

"Yes, I really like the pizza." Desiree says.

Yes, I really like the pizza that tastes like salt.

"I love the way they cook the pasta well," Derek says.

Oh! Pasta, I thought, ko spaghetti. I love the way they cook pasta. It tastes like green tomatoes.

"Yes babe, I enjoy the shake so much," Jasmine said.

Why are you answering? You are supposed to be the one who asks the question. Well, yes, I enjoy the shake that tastes like avocado. It's not yummy.

I just nodded with a smile like saying that this food is so tasty and I want more. When they look at me and waiting for my plastic reaction. After that big joke of eating crap. Me and the two girls went in comfort room. They want to re-touch their make up. While me I just want to pee.

"Did my eyebrow mess?"

I heard Desiree say while I am in the cubicle sitting on the throne. Maybe Desiree is talking to Jasmine.

"Nope, it's beautiful."

I hear Jasmine say. I am right they are talking to each other. And praising each other like h*ck. After I finished peeing. I flush the toilet and fix my skirt and open the cubicle. I see them busy in their faces. I just went in the sink and wash my hands.

"You need to powder your face Mandy," Jasmine said.

I just look at her with a bored face.

"I don't have a powder," I reason out.

"Don't worry you can use mine," Jasmine offer her make-up.

"No, it's so embarassing," still refusing her help.

"No need to be shy. Here."

She put a sponge in my face and started dabbing it gently. She is so serious about putting powder in my face. I look at her face. I can't deny that Jasmine is so beautiful. She doesn't have pores and she has pure white skin. She also has natural pouty lips. And she has thick eyebrows and eyelashes. And her best asset is her big light brown eyes. She also has long and straight hair lying down in her waist. She also has curves and she is tall. My height is 5 'flat and I am the same size as her. Jasmine 'Perfect' Go indeed a perfect. Irritating.

After she finishes what she's doing in my face. She turned my head towards the mirror. She smiled while looking at our reflection.

"Done! Look, your so pretty," she says.

She's right, I am more pretty right now. She just put simple powder but the effects on my face are so obvious. Maybe because the powder has high value ingredients. That makes my face vibrant. Or Jasmine is good at make-up. Na-uh the high price powder is the true answer of that question.

"Yeah we are pretty," Desiree says while making herself in between me and Jasmine.

What the h*ck is she doing? I just make myself out of the frame. I don't want to look so desperate like Desiree's doing. After that we decided to go back to our classroom. As we walking the Miss Congeniality, Jasmine, get greetings again.

As we enter our classroom. Third and Derek I saw them sitting at the back. And feels they own the back row. We are in alphabetical order but the br*ts at the back feeling VIP's as always. Desiree and Jasmine walk towards the boys. And I sit in my designated chair. At first Jasmine insisted that I will sit in the back. But I say I can't see the board. And that's the time Jasmine let me go.

Class hours are the best hours in school. No annoying Jasmine and her friends. Then our teacher in this subject entered our classroom.

"Class I will return your quiz paper last time. And congratulations to Jasmine Go who perfect the quiz. Let's give her a round of applause," our teacher said.

Our classmates clapped and were happy for Jasmine. The Jasmine 'Perfect' Go is still annoying sh*t out of me. I just clap while smiling too. But in my mind and heart I hate it.

When I received my quiz paper I got 5 points wrong only. I am proud of my self. After that our teacher discuss her subject matters. Studying times runs so fast. And the last subject lasts. I put my books and notebook back from my bag. And ready to go out in our classroom.

"Let's go in my house. Derek have good movies. Let's watch it together," Jasmine says as she approach me and stop what I am planning to do.

"No, it's okay. Just enjoy the show without me," I reject her offer.

"Nope, I don't accept 'no' as an answer. Let's go!"

She just pulled me hard out of my chair. Third, Desiree and Derek are waiting outside the classroom. We walk together as she pulls me happily. She never gives up on my rejections. And she didn't understand that I don't like to join them, particularly her. She is the main reason why I hate joining them.

Me, Third and Jasmine are in Jasmine's car. While the twins are in their own car. They has a driver that's a good thing. And whole ride is like h*ll. Jasmine is talking and talking while me and Third is just listening. I salute Third for being good listener toward his girlfriend. Maybe Third is also annoyed inside just like me. He's just smiling like me but he's hiding his strong disagreement for Jasmine. Maybe or maybe not. I really don't know what going on someones mind.

When we arrived at our destination, I was still captivated by Jasmine's house. How this place looks and big as a real palace. And how this looks like a spaceship in NASA on how amazing that technology is. How many times have I been here? Can't count anymore but still I am captivating in this house.

We took the elevator and went to the cinema hall. This house has its own cinema that looks like a whole cinema hall in Malls. And yeah they have elevator because they are lazy to walk. I just want to roll my eyes. But I stop myself. Even they are not looking at me I know if I roll my eyes my perfect goody to shoes image will suffer. So I just breath in and out to release my frustration.

Jasmine's maid operates the movie. And we just sat their and watch movies. What a great life. Being a Jasmine is so easy having money and everything. You can have the world and change it on what you want to do. Many people want to be her except me.

"Dunno if my brother and sister will go but I invited them already," Jasmine says.

I never met Jasmine's brother. But I know he has own separate castle. He is senior high but don't want to go to class. He shut himself in his castle. And the castle is not far away from Jasmine's house, they are same compound. And still receiving allowance from his parents. I've met Jasmine's little sister, Precious. Once and we didn't talk. Maybe she didn't remember me at all.

The movie starts and I sit in front of the cinema. And no one dares to sit next to me and I am glad for it. Because it's hard to watch movies in front. You can't see the whole picture. It's okay, the movie is not good. A typical love story about a poor girl that falls in love with a rich boy. So I don't bother myself to understand the movie. I just focus myself on eating. Because Jasmine is rich and they own a popcorn machine and soda machine. I enjoy these unlimited snacks. And I am happy that my poor taste buds like popcorn and soft drinks. Before the movie finished I almost fell asleeps. Thank goodness no ones next to me so no one see me in my sleepy state. And I am glad the boring movie finish. I stand up and stretch my body because I feel stiff. I am about to say goodbye but Jasmine and always Jasmine interfere with me.

"Did you finish the project already, Mandy?" she ask me.

"Yes."

Not actually knowing what project she is talking about. Because we have 6 projects and I only finished one. Still currently making the other 5.

"Can you stay? Cause I need your help," she plead to me.

What the h*ck Jasmine? Your so self-centered b*tch. I know your genius and I know you can make your own project. You just want me to be your servant and make your whole projects. You're lazy.

"Sorry I had lot things to do in our home," I said to her.

I want to go home already. I don't want to stay in the same place with her. I feel suffocated whenever she's around.

"Please pretty please?"

She's not cute in what she's doing. More like desperate. And while I am making more excuses in my mind. Someone texted me. I opened my phone then an idea hit me hard.

"I am sorry Jasmine. I really want to help you but my Mama text me already. And she wants me to go home now," I say.

Then I ran towards this big palace. I ran and did not wait for what Jasmine would say. Because the truth is my Mama is not the one who texts me. An unknown scam message. I just got that opportunity to escape from Jasmine. And I succeeded. When I got home my siblings, Ante Lume and her son welcomed me. Ante Lume is the one who babysit our baby Armina. As I go to school and my parents are at work, we need Ante Lume. I iron my uniform and my brother's uniform for tomorrow. And I cook our dinner. My excuses about many house chores are true. I am an older sister and I am responsible for household chores and my siblings. My parents arrived late and because of that I slept late too.

Tomorrow is another day. I wake up early, not bothered by my baggy eyes. I cook our breakfast. And we eat together. Breakfast is important meal of the day. And also very special to us. Because this is the time we eat together. I arrived at school and was confused why Jasmine has not yet arrived. I know Jasmine is always arriving first. But now she's late. Many minutes later Derek and Desiree arrive at the same time. Because they are in the same house. And before the bells rang Third arrived. But no Jasmine. Our advisory teacher arrived with a sad expression on her face.

"Class, I have a very sad announcement. Jasmine Go committed suicide last night. We will take a minute of silence to pray for her soul."

My teacher said that clear but it doesn't sink in my brain. I feel like it's just a prank or something. Still did not recover from what I heard. But someone sobs loudly and reality spank me. Jasmine 'Perfect' Go is dead. My wish has been answered. And I am so happy right now. But I feel sad at the same time. What a roller coaster of emotion I am experiencing.