There, Somewhere

Chapter I

"Can't you do more than this? Really Ica?"

She said multiple times.

I sighed and resumed what I was doing. I looked up to see the clock as I buttoned my uniform one by one.

"You cannot really do anything to beat that Gavi?" I heard her say again from the opposite side of my room. She was busy with her phone looking at my class record.

But like what I did, I refused to talk back. Binilisan ko nalang gumalaw at nagbihis.

"Mas nauunahan ka pa ni Whymsica! What is happening to you, Ferica Lavish?!" She almost screamed. It made me flinch a bit but I continued what I was doing like I hear totally nothing.

She just saw the result of STEM's top students and got angry when she learned I didn't make it to top 1.

But I am not bothered. It's not even new so it's not surprising at all.

Palagi naman siyang ganito.

The distribution of class record including the announcement of the ranking is supposedly still on next week. It was actually scheduled on friday. And I didn't know how she knew of it.

But again it wasn't a surprise anymore. She can do it in any possible ways.

At wala akong pakialam.

Nang matapos ako ay kaagad kong pinulot ang bag ko mula sa kama. Kinuha ko rin ang libro ko at mabilis na lumabas ng kwarto paalis.

But before I could even step out of my room, she grabbed my hand and strongly turned me back to face her.

"I'm talking to you!" She angrily spat. Her anger was very evident.

"Mommy, I'm getting late" I calmly told her.

I tried to stepped away again but she pulled me back, now more aggressively.

"I don't care! You are being disrespectful!" She said, raising her voice. Namumula na rin siya sa galit. Her eyes were sharp and I saw her veins on her neck protruding.

I sighed.

"Mom, please.." I simply pleaded. I am too exhausted to even tell more than what has been stated. Palagi nalang ganito, nakakapagod na.

She looked at me but didn't talk. I saw how she is trying to calm herself down.

I remained standing in front of her, waiting for her signal so I can finally go to school.

Then minutes passed when she finally spoke.

"Get out!" I nodded.

"Thank you" I cannot help but say before getting out of the house.

"You seem tired" Adhara pointed out as she extended her arm to get her things on the table  behind me.

"I am always tired" I dryly replied.

We are currently at the cafeteria having our break time eating and unwinding ourselves. Our schedule is getting more hectic especially now that we're in our second semester.