Celestial Academy

prologue

"Seriously, Eli? Anak ng principal yung sinampal mo!" I could hear the disappointment and frustration in my dad's voice.

Kasalanan ko bang bida-bida yung sipsip na yun?

"Dad, sinapak, not sinampal. Understatement eh." Dapat pala hindi ko na lang kinorrect.

"At proud ka pa?" I could see the disbelief on his face.

"Yes, Dad. Accomplishment ko yun kasi nakaganti ako sa pagiging story maker at bida-bida niya," I rolled my eyes and continued playing on my iPad.

"Bellatrix Eliana Saenz!" he yelled.

"Yes, Papa Dy," I replied sweetly, kahit alam ko na ang kahihinatnan ko.

Bye Earth, hi Mars.

"Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko sa'yo! Hindi naman ako ganyan nung kabataan ko."

Baka si Mom-

"Especially not your mom. Hindi naman makabasag-pinggan yun."

Wow, may telepathy si Dad? And wow ha, it's giving very demure, very mindful vibes pala si Mama.

I laughed at my own joke, pero sinamaan lang ako ng tingin ni Papa.

"You know what? Ipadala na lang kaya kita sa lola mo sa Samar. Maybe dun ka pa tumino." I raised my precious eyebrows at his words.

"No way! Nag-plan na kami ng friends ko na sa Maldives mag-vacation!" Ano yun, magiging drawing yung 1-month plan namin? No freaking way.

"Then cancel it. Nakausap ko na ang lola mo at buong sem break ay doon ka." I can't live without a freaking WiFi!

"But Papa-"

"No buts, Eli. My decision is final. Don't worry, kasama mo naman si Jacques."

Mas lalong ayaw kong makasama yung abnormal na yun!

Sure, Jacques is my best friend, pero I admit na ang tanga niya sometimes.

---

"NAKAIMPAKE ka na, BFF?" tanong ng abnormal.

Jacques was sitting beside my white luggage, munching on some snacks na kinuha niya sa pantry.

Kapal ng mukha.

I ignored him and continued packing my essentials.

"Tanga ka kasi, eh. Sinapak mo," he laughed, so I hit him on the head.

"Mabilaukan ka sana!" I threw a pillow at him before going back to my packing.

"Hindi mo pa kasi ako pinatapos, eh! What I mean is, bakit sinapak mo lang? Dapat pinatay mo na para hindi na nakapagsumbong." See? Look at him.

Hindi mo aakalaing STEM student siya sa katangahan.

"Idiot! Edi nakulong ako."

"Eli, hindi ka makukulong kung walang ebidensya. Mindset ba." He said that...while eating cookies.

May point naman siya.

"So anong plano mo pag andun ka na sa bahay ni Mamita?" Kain, ligo, tulog.

"Siguro mag-go ghost hunting, ano? Sama ka?" I said, sarcastically. Tch, alam naman niyang hindi ako interesado, nagtanong pa.

"Sounds fun! I'm in!" Damn, boy. Wala na akong masabi. 13 years na kami magkaibigan, at hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin gets kung bakit.

---

BUKAS na ang flight ko papuntang Samar, at honestly, wala akong idea kung anong gagawin ko dun.

The whole sembreak, kain, ligo, tulog lang ako habang ang ibang friends ko, out of town or out of the country.