Roxanne entered a stall in an isolated restroom, and the lights started blinking on and off. A pen fell from the other stall and Roxy came out of hers. Someone came out of the other stall, startling Roxy. Roxy screamed. It was none other than Cassie. Roxy pulled her outside, and Cassie told her that she had wanted to be alone since no one used the restroom because it was dark there.
“Why?” Roxy asked. “You got the highest score on the exam. Cassie… if you have a problem, you can tell me. We’re pretty close, right?”
Cassie sighed. “I heard our classmates’ conversation earlier. They said me going to an integrated school is unfair since I’m rich. I just want to graduate from Maxwell. That was the dream my dad and I shared. And I want to fulfill that. I want to do that without stepping on anyone’s toes.”
“You shouldn’t listen to them. Maybe they’re not used to having a classmate who’s smarter than them. Don’t take it personally. Maybe they might like you soon.”
“Thanks, Roxanne.”
“You’ve been super kind to me, so I hope we become close friends. Like sisters.”
“Yeah, of course we can.”
“Perfect. You can’t take that back. We’re friends now.”
A staff of SikaTuna commended Romina on her impressive solutions skills. Bibeth started trash-talking, accusing Mina of taking all the glory for herself. All of Romina’s efforts to convince her that she wasn’t competing with anyone fell on deaf ears. Carlos told his brother about how Marga was now talking back to him, and the fact that Daniela always let her get away with things anytime he tried to reprimand her.
“You need to talk to her directly,” Gino said. “She may be a brat, but she’s still got ears. Why don’t you pick and drop her off to school? That way, you two can spend time together and bond. Let Mikoy ride with you too so he can save up money.”
The basketball coach gave Kristoff his support since he was being considered for the captain position of the varsity team. Kristoff promised to do his best once he got chosen. The coach asked Kristoff whether he would be committed to training once he was elected as captain.
He gave him some time to think it over. The Mean Squad stood by, listening excitedly as the other basketball players hailed Kristoff as captain and suggested that they hang out tomorrow.
Kristoff agreed. The Mean Squad told Marga about the possibility of Kristoff being elected as captain of the varsity team. Mini-Daniela got upset when Maureen mentioned that Cassie and Kristoff made a perfect couple. Carlos arrived to pick her up, and he offered Mikoy a ride as he came over.
“I have to be somewhere, boss Carlos,” Mikoy said. “Maybe next time.”
Mini-Daniela looked on. Neil wondered why Daniela had bought all those fish at the market, and Romina told him that she had probably done so so she wouldn’t get any, even though she had no use for them. “If I were there, I’d have pushed her into a bucket of fish.”
“I gave her a piece of my mind. But knowing her, she’ll keep trying to bring me down.”
“No wonder you had a long day, but wasn’t Cassie supposed to come home with you?”
“Huh? Isn’t she home yet? She didn’t tell me anything. Where did she go?”
Daniela kept rambling on about how she was still on top and way ahead of Romina. “Cash makes the world go round, and I have money. Plus, I’ve already won that game with her.”
“But you didn’t get to buy the fish you wanted,” Savvy pointed out.
“Shut up. Everything has a price, including her friends. I just need to offer the right amount.” Daniela then had a phone call from Hector.
“You’ll keep your word, right, Daniela? Let’s go out tonight.”
“Just tell me where. I’ll be there.”
“Relax. Don’t get too excited.”
“Oh, just stop.”
After the call, Savannah cautioned Daniela to be careful of Hector since he could be planning something else besides a date. Daniela told her that she could handle Hector because he was weak against her. Cassie went to the storage house to pay for the jars she had broken the day before.
She offered Leon some money and promised to pay the rest later. Leon told her to keep her money for school, and Cassie said she had already set aside some money for school expenses, adding that her mother had taught her to always take responsibility for any mistakes she made.
“Please let me repay you,” Cassie urged. “I’ll find a job so I can settle the rest.”
“You’re a persistent one, kid. Alright, I’ll hold you to it.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“It’s Leon. Don’t call me sir. It’s way too formal for a guy like me.”
Romina came over and took hold of her daughter, eyeing Leon warily. “You again. I knew it. You’re a stalker. You followed me all the way here.”
Leon was incredulous. “Stalker? You’re the one who came to my place.” Leon’s guys came over.
“Do you know each other, mamma?” Cassie cut in.
“Is he the one that you said you needed to pay back?”
“Yes, mamma.”
The guys started messing around with Romina, and Leon ordered them back inside. Romina then dumped some money on the table.
“What’s that for?” Leon asked.
“For the jars my daughter broke,” Mina replied. “Thanks for helping her, but please, stay away from her. Let’s go, Cassie.”
Cassie seemed reluctant. “Ma…”
“Cassie, we don’t know him. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Come on, let’s go home.” Mina started pulling her daughter along.
“Wait.” Leon came over and offered Romina back her money. “I don’t need this.”
“Take it.”
Leon pressed the money into her hand anyway. “I’m not a bad person. You can go now.”
Daniela met up with Hector at a restaurant. Hector offered her some flowers but Danny girl told him to keep it, claiming that she was allergic. She then began shoving off all of his attempts at being a gentleman. Daniela gave her order, and Hector asked for the same. She then made the waiter get rid of the flowers.
“Pretty hungry, huh?” Hector commented. “And allergic to flowers.”
“No, not the flowers. It’s you. Really, Hector? You think you can win me over with this? I’m not as shallow as you think I am.”
“Daniela, I just wanted to prove I’m better than your husband. Why, has he done this before?”
“Yes. Hector, please, quit trying. You’ll never be better than him, no matter what you do.”
Danny girl then went to use the restroom. Mikoy arrived home with some clothes he had picked up from a tailor’s shop. He asked Myrna if he could join her in selling her rags on weekends since he was saving up for his allowance.
“Of course you can,” Mryna said. “And you can keep anything you earn.”
“Thank you, miss Myrna.”
“Don’t hesitate to tell me if there’s anything you need.”
“I got a part-time job now,” Gino added. “So just let me know if you need anything too.”
“Miss Myrna, Gino, thank you, but you really don’t have to.”
“Mikoy, we want to,” Mryna insisted. “You’re not like other kids out there. If your parents were still alive, I’m sure they’d be proud to see how dedicated you are.”
“Thank you, miss Myrna and Gino.”
Hector was wondering why Daniela was taking so long. “What if she’s left me here?”
Daniela had a phone call as soon as she came out of the restroom. Hector sneaked around and listened in. “Have you talked to my father-in-law?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ve asked him everything.”
“What did he say? Is he still suspicious of Hector and Alvin?”
“Yes, ma’am. He wants me to investigate them. What do you want me to do?”
“Talk to him again. Tell him you’ve already investigated. Clear Hector and Alvin’s names. Lead the investigation away from them.”
Hector was all smiles. He slipped away silently without being noticed. Carlos arrived home with his daughter and and asked whether something had happened between her and Mikoy since he had seemed off earlier and had been in a hurry to leave. Marga played dumb, claiming that she had no idea.
“That kid’s pretty amazing,” Carlos said. “He really wants to finish his studies, even though he’s struggling. Am really glad you two are friends.”
Mini-Daniela looked on guiltily. “If there’s anything you can do, don’t hesitate to help him out,” Carlos went on. “People like him should be given all the help they can get.”
“Sure, dad.” Marga then had a call from miss China, telling her about a new endorsement. Mini-Daniela was excited, but Carlos insisted that she focus on her studies first. Carlos also had a call from miss China after Marga went to her room, asking to have an appointment with him tomorrow.
