POV JACKSON
I am here in her room, and everything is clean here.
Ayuko na umuwi dahil komportable na ako sa bahay nila.
Nasa baba ng bahay ang lola at tita Saira niya, with her mom.
Ares is in the bathroom to take a bath and i am planning to take a nap not until I recognize a familiar picture on the wall.
Tumayo ako mula sa kama at nilapitan ang picture frame na nakadikit sa pader. Larawan iyon ni Ares at ng mama niya.
Napakunot na lang ang noo ko dahil pamilyar sa akin ang batang Ares na nasa larawan. Sa kuha ng litrato ay nasa edad 13 o 14 palang siya at suot niya ang junior high school uniform ng school namin, katabi niya ang mama niya na nakayakap sa kanya.
Kita rin sa larawan na mas mataba siya doon at tambok ang pisngi niya. Tila batang napag-iwanan sa kusina.
Pero ang mas ikinagulat ko ay nang maalala ko kung sino siya.
"W-wait, she's the girl." bulong ko sa sarili ko.
I can't handle but to be surprised nang marealize ko na siya nga ang batang babae noong nag transfer ako.
______
FLASHBACK
5 YEARS AGO….
Mom told me to behave myself because she will abandon me in this freaking school if I scare anyone or if i try to tantrums here.
I really don't care about that because I know to myself that I am healed and healthier than before. She just says to warn me, which is happens every time.
And as a grade 7 student I should not attract attention to anyone so I can live a normal life here in the Philippines. But how can I do that if the kids here are looking at me like i am a statue in the streets.
I already wore big glasses and made myself look like a nerd for me not to get attention like I always did in other schools in Australia, but here is different. They are still looking at me no matter how i look.
Creepy.
As i am sitting in the first row next to the front door of the open room i notice a fat girl enter into our room.
"Ha?"
She stands in front of the door after she enters and looks confused.
Wala akong balak na pansinin siya dahil malay ko ba kung kaklase ko siya o hindi. Kasisimula palang ng klase kahapon at hindi ko pa kilala ang mga kaklase ko.
Isa pa nagkakagulo at may mga sariling mundo ang mga kaklase ko sa likod dahil wala pa ang classroom adviser.
"Hoy anong section 'to?"
Nahinto ako sa plano kong pagyuko sa desk ng tanungin niya ako.
Bigla akong nairita dahil ayuko nga siyang kausapin.
"Mahogany." I said irritated.
"Nge, sa kabila ang section ko."
Ngumiwi siya saka ko pa lang napansin ang itsura niya.
Mataba siyang babae and i think no one can bully her because of how scary her size was. Mataba ang pisngi niya at morena ang kutis, tipikal na mataba at maitim na babaeng Filipina.
Lumabas na siya sa pinto at nagtatakbo papunta sa kabilang room, umiling na lang ako saka ako sumubsob sa desk.
THE NEXT day is still the same. I always arrived early dahil kasabay ko si mommy pumasok sa school.
BINABASA MO ANG
IF WE'RE ONLY SCHOOLMATES
RomansaAres Abel struggled with insecurity during her high school days. The expectations and beauty standard of society made it difficult for her to fully express her talent and unique personality. But she found solace in the presence of Jackson Jacinto, t...
