One Day After School

01: Chasing cars

One day, after school
_Pretty_poisonous_
© Copyright 2021

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Chapter 01: Chasing cars

Tiningnan ko ang adviser namin na si Mrs. Cruz habang naglalakad at nagre-retrive ng mga answer sheets namin sa exam. The sound of her disappointed sigh echoed thru the whole room. Umiiling na nagpunta siya sa harapan. Tinitigan niya kami isa-isa. Her eyes showed disappointment, anger and concern.

"Is it true?"

Napayuko at naiiyak na ang iba habang ang ilan naman ay hindi na makatingin sa harapan.

"Bakit nasa inyo ang answer key ng exams? Tell me, did you do it?" Kunot-noong tanong niya.

Silence reigned and envelope us. Nagsimula ng humagulgol ang ilan at nagsisisihan.

"Yes po," A student with wavy brown hair and soft features answered. Napiyok pa siya habang nagsasalita.

"Why?"

That question triggered majority of us. Panay na paghingi ng 'sorry' ang namayani sa loob. Pinapatahan ng isa't-isa ang kanilang mga sarili. No one answered her question, because no one is brave enough to take the responsibility of what they did.

"Answer me, why did you cheat?"

Pagalit na ibinagsak ni Mrs. Cruz ang mga test paper sa lamesa. But no one still answered.

"Bakit niyo 'yun ginawa? Diba first section kayo? The talented and smartest of all students in your grade level. Sino 'bang nag umpisa, sinong nagpasimuno? Answer me, grade 10- Zeus!"

Natapos ang klase pero wala pa 'ring nagsasalita. Walang nakakaalam ng totoong dahilan. No one.

I am not affected nor concerned about that matter. Wala naman kase akong kinalaman, bakit ako kakabahan?

"Yehey! Uwian na!"

"Time na ma'am!"

"Oh my God, finally uwian na."

"Ay cleaners pala ako? Malas naman eh!"

Lumabas na ang lahat at ako na lang mag isa ang natira. Students are hurrying to and fro. Laughters and chitchats echoes and filled the whole campus. Isinaksak ko ang earphones sa isang tenga bago tumingin sa bintanang katabi.

The sun is slowly setting down, illuminating the whole campus. Everything seems normal, but not our section.

I received a text from our personal driver exactly on timing when the door opened. Isinukbit ko na ang bag sa balikat bago naglakad.

Nagulat ang janitor ng makita ako bago nagtanong. "Oh, ma'am, Solana, maaga po ata kayo?" He smiled before starting to clean the floor.

"Ah, opo. My Dad arrived earlier today," I politely answered.

"Ahh. Ganoon ba?" Tanong niyang muli. Tumango ako bilang sagot. "Oh hala, sige na, baka matagalan ka pa."

"Sige po, mauuna na po ako,"

I walked out of the room and the familiar feeling of craving something rushed in my veins. Kaya ayaw na ayaw 'kong umuwi ng maaga. Everything I see makes me jealous. I wanna be like them too. Living their lives at the moment with freedom.

Umiling ako bago sinaksak ang isa pang earphone na nakasabit sa aking balikat.

Narating ko ang labas ng gate at nakita agad ang sundong sasakyan ko. Pumasok na ako.

"Nasa bahay na po ang Daddy niyo," Our driver announced.

Tumango naman ako bago sinabing bumyahe na agad.