What Comes After The Rain

WCATR 16: Eerie Silence

**Soundtrack: Peterpan Was Right by Anson Seabra

CHAPTER 16 - EERIE SILENCE

When I was a child, I expected that when I got older, I'd be able to do the things that I wanted. I remember Inay used to tell me not to rush getting older. But at the age of 14, when her plane crashed, I needed to grow up fast in order to survive.

Doon ko napagtanto na hindi pala lahat ng bagay ay magagawa mo na kapag dumating ka na sa tinatawag nilang 'adulthood.' Sobrang daming bagay ang kailangang i-consider at pabigat din ng pabigat ang bawat responsibilidad. Habang patuloy akong naeexpose sa napakalaking mundo, lumiit naman ang tingin ko sa sarili ko.

As days goes by, it becomes too hard to navigate yourself to what you want because you have to conform to society's practicality—until the time comes, you've forgotten what you really want.

"Anong gusto mong mangyari, Ms. Carreon?"

Nagtagal ang tingin ko kay Mrs. Mababangloob. This person in front of me doesn't care about the memo that the admin sent out. She'll do what she wants to.

I was in the middle of covering the amazing race kanina when I read Jenna's text about Mrs. Mababangloob's remedial 50 minutes ago. I was out of breath when I got to the hallway. Even so, I kept running until I got to Mrs. Mababang-loob's lecture room. Naabutan ko ang mga kaklase kong nagpapasa na ng kanilang quiz papers.

"Please let me take the remedial quiz. I'm really sorry. I thought the class was suspended!"

Instead of looking at me, binuksan niya ang pamaypay niya saka ibinalik ang tingin sa mga iilang students na nagtetake pa ng quiz.

"Uhm..." I was about to let her hear another excuse I prepared while running when she looked at me—no—at my press ID with her disgust. I paled, biting my cheeks on the inside.

"Anong year mo na Ms. Carreon?"

"3rd year, Ma'am," I answered as my palm began to sweat.

"Oh... I see. You can have all the summer to retake my subject," she said in a low voice but an irritated tone while fanning herself.

My eyes widened. "But Ma'am... I need this subject as a prerequisite to one of major. Please, let me take the remedial quiz. I can't... I can't afford to lose my scholarship..." My voice almost cracked as I pleaded.

I heave a deep breath as the last student passed her paper to Mrs. Mababangloob. Nang makaalis ito ay inayos na niya ang mga gamit at nag simula na siyang maglakad.

"Mrs. Mababangloob..." I called, swallowing all the pride I have. "Ako lang po ang nagpapaaral sa sarili ko. My father was bedridden. Kailangan ko pong sustentohan ang mga gamot niya, ang mga bayarin sa bahay, pagkain at ang pag-aaral ko. Studying is my only hope para iahon ang sarili ko—ang pamilya namin sa hukay. I'm sorry po for being irresponsible pero kung hindi po ako magtatrabaho, hindi ko kayang buhayin ang sarili ko. Please, Ma'am... hindi po ako p'wedeng bumagsak."

Huminto siya saka ako nilingon. "If studying is your priority..." she once again looked at my press ID, "you should focus. Don't let those stupid orgs distract you!"

Naiwan akong nakatulala sa gitna ng hallway. I blinked twice as I looked at the disappearing figure of Mrs. Mababangloob... contemplating what just happened.

I'm about to lose my scholarship... my position at TVOA... and the justice that Jace deserves.

I pursed my lips together as my tears began to pool. Tinapik ko nang bahagya ang aking dibdib. Ang hirap huminga, sobra.

I know that the world is a cruel place, but today, I was reminded that humans are the cruelest. It felt like I was robbed of my own air and drained to catch up with the world that was too cruel for me.