I'm Away

Chapter 1

Here it goes, my new school, my new life.

I step on the path by the front gate, careful to not get lost. I have a map here on my pocket, but still, I wanna make sure. Students are looking at me. Students with dark black hair and brown or black eyes. They all look so cool, I guess that's how Filipinos are.

By the bench sat three male students playfully pushing around. And there, by the picnic table sat a girl and a guy speaking and laughing with each other much like me and Dav before. Oh, and yeah if you're wondering what happened, I didn't confess to him. I was too scared and afraid. No more Dav now.

*************

"DAV! Oh my God, what happened???" I ask.

He looks at his bleeding knees, and as he bows his head, I feel a little something about his soft brown hair. He looks at me, and his smile fits his face perfectly. "I'm fine. I just tripped over this stupid rock. It's nothing serious, really."

"Well, you made me worried. Don't ever trip again."

"Never again."

*************

I shook my head at the flashback and found myself already at the front of the classroom door.

The lady greeted me as I open the door. "Are you Yllone?"asked the woman. I nod. "Please introduce yourself. Don't be shy, this will be your new school."

She gives the floor to me and I smile. "I'm Yllone and I came from California. I like watching animes and cartoons. In my free time, I work as a waitress in my dad's restaurant. I'll be studying here. That's all."

The lady smiles. "Sit there," and she points a seat on the second row.

The students scream, "Yieee!" harmonicaly. Some laugh. Some shouts words I'm not familiar with, like, "May katabing maganda si Lhoy, Oh!" and "Kinikilig siya!"

The lady quiets the class with a hand sign. "Do you speak Tagalog, Yllone?"

"Well, I had to study it before I go here, eh?"

She smiles.

"But you know I was not really paying attention, he he."

"You HAVE to study Filipino if you want to stay here. Sure, we're hospitable, happy and welcoming, but soon you'll feel out of place if you don't know our language, got that? Lhoy will be your translator until you learn Filipino. He's your seatmate. Hoy, Lhoy umayos ka. Foreigner yang katabi mo." The class laughs and looks at my seatmate at her ending sentence. I wonder what it means.

To describe my seatmate, he's got spiky, black hair reaching down his neck, light brown eyes that seem golden when sun shines over, and genuine, friendly smile.

"Okay, class. Basahin niyo yung nasa pahina 197 ng workbook sa Filipino. Babalik ako after 15 minutes, dapat tapos niyo na yan."

I stare at my seatmate as "Uy Lhoy! Ano na? Nagaantay o!" Shouts become more often. I wait until he sighs.

"So... Workbook.... Go to 197... and yeah,... Read for... 15 minutes...yeah..." He says. I do so.

Picking up the workbook, I giggle a little over the awkward moment that just took place. I place the book on my desk and smile.

*****
RIIIINGGG

The bell rang and students raced to the door. I think its the morning break that caused this. But hey, if this is a recess, why shouldn't I race with them?

Before I could stand, Lhoy looks at me like he's about to say something.

"Hey, don't mind Ms. Jen. She's our Filipino teacher. She was just scaring you to study the language." He laughs, "But you know, you really need to learn Tagalog if you wanna understand the subject."