To My Youth

12: MIA

In the Third person's POV

Monday came, and Jelly went to school early. Kailangan niya kasing i-add ang finishing touches sa project due today, kailangan niya rin tignan muli ang presentation nila para sa reporting nila sa isa nilang subject. She is walking alone in their school's campus. This is the rare times she is in school hours before their actual call time for class. Somehow, medyo creepy dahil nga mga empleyado at faculty members pa lang ang andito sa ganitong oras but, on the contrary, this is also relaxing dahil tahimik ang lugar unlike sa usual set up nito na magulo at puno ng mga estudyanteng nagmamadaling pumunta sa canteen o pumasok sa klase o di kaya sa guidance.

She went to their classroom and started to unpack her belongings. She has a love for art kaya naman extra parati ang effort niya every activity na requirement ang pagiging creative. She started adding finishing touches to her project when the door burst open revealing Hazel na ngayon niya lang ulit nakita. "Ang aga mo ha." The latter said as a greeting.

"Medyo mabilis ang biyahe ngayon kaya maaga ako nakarating." Sagot ni Jelly sa kaibigan. "You need help?" Tanong nito sa kanya.

"Hindi na, finishing touch na lang naman 'to." Sagot niya. "Ikaw ba? Natapos mo na ba 'tong sketch project natin?" Tanong niya sa kaibigan. "Oo nung Friday pa." Hazel said, rummaging her bag to show her masterpiece.

Taliwas sa iniisip ng lahat, Hazel is more than just a pretty face. She is also multitalented, especially in the arts. "Wow! Iba talaga ang galing mo, madam." Sagot ni Jelly, amazed by her friend's landscape sketch.

"Madam wag ka, kabog rin naman yung sayo. Ang ganda rin ng gawa mo." Hazel replied, peeking through Jelly's portrait. "Talaga ba? Parang may kulang nga e." She replied, looking concerned.

"Hindi ha, it is perfect." Hazel assured. "Tingin ko nga no need for touch up na. Teka... nasaan ba ang pinaggayahan mo?" Tanong nito sa kanya. Lahat ng kanilang drawings sa klaseng ito ay may pinaggyahan at kelangan ipresent sa klase mamaya.

"Ito." Jelly replied, showing her friend an old photo of her mother.  "Woooow! Kuhang kuha mo ang mukha ni tita dito." She commented, comparing the photo with her friend's drawing.

"Grabe no? Ang ganda ganda naman talaga ni tita lalo nung bata siya parang ikaw." Hazel commented. "Yeah..." Jelly said in almost a whisper, staring at the portrait her mom had made. For her, perfect is an understatement to describe her mother.

Matalino, maganda at talented ang mommy niya at puno ito ng pangarap at ambisyon, she work tirelessly para magsucceed. Her hard work paid off, though. She rose through ranks which led the company to assign her to lead their operations in Australia at siyempre, their dad followed suit.

From an outside perspective, their mom is an inspiration as she is independent and successful, and their dad is not falling behind her; she just wishes her parents could be more present in their lives. She wishes for her mom to let go of her frustration and have peace in her heart.

Tinabi na ni Jelly ang kanyang gawa at sinimulan tignan ang kanilang presentation para mamayang reporting, Hazel helped her dahil magkagrupo ang dalawa. Habang inaayos ang kanilang presentation napansin ni Hazel ang pinsan ni Jelly na naglalakad sa baba.

"Ang aga ni Robin ngayon ha. Bakit di siya sumabay sayo kung papasok rin pala siya ng gantong oras?" Tanong ni Hazel. Jelly knew why exactly at dahil magulo kapag nalaman ng kaibigan kung bakit, mas minabuti niyang magsinungaling.

"Sasabay sana siya sakin, nalimutan ko lang siyang gisingin ng maaga." She said, focusing on her laptop para hindi mahalatang gawa gawa niya lang ang sinabi niya.