SHARING MY INFINITE STARS WITH YOURS...

CHAPTER 1-SISTER

In the middle of our class, while Mrs. Sardoma was teaching, Dianne let out a loud, exaggerated yawn. It echoed across the room, causing Mrs. Sardoma to pause mid-sentence and turn around from writing on the board.

“Who did that?! How disrespectful! Such behavior is absolutely unacceptable! Who was it?!”

I immediately felt a tight knot in my chest as I glanced at my sister, who sat there with complete indifference—like she wasn’t involved at all. But I knew she did it on purpose. Despite every bone in my body screaming not to, I slowly raised my hand and stood up with my head lowered.

“It was me, ma’am,” I said softly, owning the disruption.

Mrs. Sardoma’s gaze locked with mine, and her harsh expression softened with a sigh. “You're lying to cover for Dianne again, aren't you?”

I bit my lip, avoiding her eyes. “N-no ma’am. It was really me… I stayed up late last night, and I couldn’t help but yawn,” I defended myself. But the words that came from Dianne's mouth shattered me.

“Ugh. There she goes again. Always playing the hero.”

I didn’t say anything back. I just stood there, waiting for the punishment. Mrs. Sardoma wasn’t just any teacher—she was the head of our department. She had full authority to make an example out of any student.

“You don’t always have to defend your sister, Jane. She’s old enough to be accountable for her actions.” I clasped my hands together nervously, desperately thinking of a way to ease the tension. "I-It was really me, ma'am. R-right, guys?" I looked around the room, silently begging for someone—anyone—to back me up.

But no one said a word. They just averted their eyes.

“Enough, Jane. I get it. Sit down. We’ll talk later,” she said with a small, tired smile, turning back to the board to resume her lesson on mathematical formulas.

After her class, she reminded me to visit her office during lunch. And so I did. With shaky hands and a racing heart, I entered the Department Head's Office. There she was, seated across the table with her son—Markian. The child star since he was little.

I softly cleared my throat, managing to get their attention. “G-Good morning, Ma’am…”

My eyes remained glued to my shoes, more nervous now because Markian was here. He once confessed to liking me—and still hasn’t given up. But I’ve been doing my best to avoid any involvement. He’s a celebrity. I’d only be a distraction.

“Take a seat first, Jane. We’re still finishing lunch. Have you eaten yet?”

I shook my head and quietly sat on a monoblock chair, far from their table. I pulled out my phone, pretending to scroll just to avoid looking out of place or awkward.

Once they were done, Markian gave me a lingering glance before leaving. I stayed still, avoiding eye contact until Mrs. Sardoma gestured for me to take the visitor's seat in front of her desk.

“So... Queenie Jane Salazar. How are you?”

“P-po?” I blinked. “I mean, I’m f-fine, ma’am. I’m sorry again for earlier—”

“Shhh.” She raised a hand to stop me. “That’s not why I called you here. And besides, I already knew it was her. I saw it—her reflection in the window beside me. And your classmates didn’t respond when you asked for their confirmation. I’ve known you for a long time, Jane.”

“I’m sorry… I’ll take full responsibility, ma’am. You can assign me detention for a week, or I’ll clean the whole school if you want. Just… please don’t tell my parents. They’re already under a lot of pressure. I don’t want to add to their burden.” She gave me a warm smile and gently held my hands.

“You know, I truly admire how you see the world, Jane…” Her words touched me, but deep down, I knew that praises like this don’t last forever. One day, the same people who admire me now might be the ones disappointed in me when I fail to meet their expectations.

“U-uhm, Ma’am... You said this isn’t about what happened earlier. Then what is it about?”

She looked at me, her expression suddenly serious. “It’s about your sister.”

“M-May I ask... did she do something wrong?” I asked, trying to suppress the fear growing in my chest. Her eyes, once gentle, now looked heavy with concern.

“Her grades, ija... they’re falling. The faculty is no longer pleased with her performance since last year. During our last meeting, the board warned me that if she continues this trend, she might be dropped.”

“But why only my sister? There are other students with even lower grades… If I talk to her about this, she might only feel more pressure.” And that was true. Dianne had always struggled academically, even when we were young. She was bullied, ridiculed, constantly compared to me. I never liked the comparisons—but she resented me for them.

“Because of you, Jane,” she said. “You’re the top student. A potential valedictorian. Your family contributes significantly to the school. That’s why I—and everyone else—are hoping to see you two walk the stage together. It’s only the first quarter, Jane. I just want you to help her grow. Because right now, she’s straying down the wrong path…”

She sighed deeply. “This isn’t just for her sake or because of your family’s influence. It’s for you. I don’t want Dianne’s envy to fester into something irreversible. I’m saying this because I care for you. You mean a lot to me.”

In that moment, I didn’t know how to feel. All my life, I tried to be accepted by Dianne. I gave up everything just to make her happy. And yet, not once did she thank me. Instead, she blamed me—for being too good, for being unkind… though I never understood why.

“Hey, b***h! Spacing out again?” Dianne snapped that night, slapping my notebook out of my hands. “I said, give me your notes and just make another copy. You’re so annoying.”

She didn’t wait for a response. She marched over to my bag, grabbed my notebook, and walked away.

I wanted to protest. I really did. But I couldn’t.

I remembered what Mrs. Sardoma said,“I’m looking forward to seeing you both on stage. It’s only the first quarter. Help her mature...”

I smiled faintly. Yes... maybe this is the first step—letting her get ahead, even if it’s in a dishonest way. Tomorrow is the submission deadline for our lecture notes, and just like always, she’ll rip the front page with my name and replace it with hers. It’s the least I can do to help her pass—no matter how small it may seems for her.