A Drop in the Ocean [Knox Isaiah & Lilith Mae]

Simula

Lilith Mae Marasigan

    A drop in the ocean.

    That was how I was feeling every time I walked through the busy hallway of Lily of the Valley Academy. It was another school year, and here I was again, just one small wave in an endless ocean of students. ‘Yong mga estudyanteng malayo ang estado sa buhay ko, ako na naiiba sa kanilang lahat at natatanging mahirap dito, pero ako rin na sobra-sobrang nagpapasalamat na nakapasok sa pribado at prestihiyosong paaralang ito dito sa Baler.

    I took a deep breath as I held on tightly at my worn-out backpack. The laughter and chatter of my classmates and schoolmates filled the corridor, a familiar noise that had become the soundtrack of my life. Each moved with purpose, like currents flowing in a single direction, while I drifted along, unnoticed and unremarkable. Pero naniniwala ako na kahit isang patak lang ako, maliit at tila walang halaga kumpara sa tulad nilang isang dagat na kay lalim at lapad, kapag bumagsak ako nang tama sa tubig, bahagi pa rin ako ng alon na maaabot ‘yong pinakamalayong pampang. And maybe this time, I would be that drop.

    I was lost in the depths of my thoughts when a voice reached out, pulling me back to the present.

    “Lilith liit!”

    Napaungol ako at halos mapasabunot sa buhok ko. Oo, bagaman maliit ang tingin ko sa sarili at pakiramdam ko ay naiiba ako sa marami ay masaya pa rin ako sa paaralang ito, pero may isang tao talaga ‘yong parating dahilan kung bakit minsan ay parang ayaw ko nang pumasok dito.

    Had you ever met someone who just got under your skin like a relentless itch you could not scratch?

    Ako?

    Oo.

    May kilala ako.

    Ang pangalan ay Knox Isaiah Mallari.

    I could not stand him. Every time he would show up, my blood would immediately start to boil. It was like he had a special talent for grating at my nerves. Sa katunayan, kahit ‘yon lamang paghinga niya ay kinababanasan ko na. Anino pa lamang niya ‘yong nakikita ko ay sira na agad ‘yong araw ko. And his voice. God, that voice. It was this grating, condescending tone that dripped with utter arrogance that made me sick in the stomach. Even his laughters annoyed the hell out of me. It was this loud, insufferable cackle that made me want to rip my hair out in so much frustration.

    “Lilith liit!”

    Muling napaungol ako, nagpanting ang mga tainga sa narinig, higit sa lahat doon sa may-ari ng tinig. At hindi pa nakuntento ang gago sa unang pagtawag sa akin, inulit pa talaga, at mas nilakasan pa.