Carnage of Vicinity (At a Not-So-Ordinary Senior High)

CHAPTER 01: The Declaration

Several months ago...

VICINITY

"I am Vicinity John Maglaque, 16 years old, from Adamson Village, Sto. Rosario City." A small smile formed on my lips "... You can call me Vi."

"So you are Vi..." our teacher quoted. There was a slight glint of curiosity in the way she looked at me. "It is a pleasure to meet you." She blew the mug of coffee on her hand then she looked at me again. "So, what's your talent? Do you also paint like your classmates?"

My heart skipped a beat. Hindi pala ako makakaiwas sa tanong na 'yon.

It was the first day of school, and I was in the front of the class, giving off details about myself as per the introductory part of the school year. As usual, we give off our name, age, and address. And, for someone under the program we're in, there was this inescapable question:

What's your art?

I gulped. "I...I don't do any form of art po. I'm not an artist." I tried to smile, absolutely tried, pero napitlag ako sa namayaning bulungan sa buong classroom.

We were just less than 30 in the room, including our teacher, but the whispers were evident and could be heard. It must have surprised them that there was a student who joined this class without having any artistic gift at hand.

I couldn't blame them- it was the Arts and Design class.

"Kung hindi ka gumagawa ng kahit anong klase ng art, then why did you choose to pursue this track?" the teacher inquired. She then chuckled, making her long curly hair bounce. "Oh, I know. May crush ka dito na sinusundan mo, 'no?"

The class' cheering and being loud followed it. Some of them were even pointing fingers as if one of those may be the love interest of the non-artist. It almost made me roll my eyes.

"Gusto ko lang po ng something new," I said then I unconsciously looked to the left. "... A new environment, create new a new set of habits, and...mapalibutan po ng mga bagong tao." I looked back at the teacher and smiled widely, giving my best to look authentic as possible. "... 'Yon po ang dahilan kung bakit po ako nag-Arts and Design..."

"Well, may mga gan'yan naman talagang case taon-taon," she said then she wrote something on the paper on her desk. "But mind you, I'm surprised that you're here- I guess everyone is." She looked at me. "And, I guess it's safe to assume that nobody would expect that someone like you, a very smart kid, is in this class in flesh. Kung sa iba kang strand nagpunta, surely hindi 'yon magiging issue- though sa'kin hindi, ha?" she said with a short laugh, as if she was trying to crack a joke.

She then continued, pero ngayon, there's this sympathy on her voice.

"Being an achiever and having everyone's eyes...it must be tough, isn't it?"

I shook my head. It's not, ma'am. The word tough is not enough.

"Anyways, let's now proceed to the next one. Thank you, Mr. Maglaque."

My breathing was still unstable nang makabalik na ako sa upuan ko. I sat uncomfortably on my seat, letting air go in and out of my lungs with effort. It was the teacher's fault. That "introduce yourself" felt like torture.

See, I was a Grade 12 student at that time, in the Arts and Design class. It is a track exclusive for mastery of artistry- may it be in music, painting, dancing, acting, or in other fields of art.

And, seeing someone like me in there was like a bizarre moment for them, like how my teacher tried to say it. I was a misfit. I shouldn't be there.

Being an achiever... It must be tough, isn't it?