~Chapter 1~
Panzer High School
These were the first words one first sees upon entering the prestigious Philippine Army 1st Cavalry Brigade High School also known as Panzer High School. And I am privileged to be a student here. I had to leave Rizal Knights Academy-Valenzuela Campus for this unique chance.
~Room 207, Senior High School Building, 1st CBHS Campus, Clark Field, Pampanga.-07:45 AM, June 4, 2014~
It's my first day here as a transferee. And for the first time since I was in Grade 1, I felt lost in track. I was alone in the room, waiting for the classes to promptly begin. I amused myself by hearing music from my phone through earphones. Soon, students in green duty uniforms began arriving. There were two or three students wearing different uniforms from the rest. Mga transferees din siguro. I am out-of-place with my striking blue officer's uniform from RKA. Suddenly, a boy approached me.
"Well hello there transferee!" he said, wari bang tinutuya ako. "Bakit hindi ka naka-uniform?"
"It's still in the packages." I smiled. Hindi ako natatakot sa iyo. Kayang-kaya kita.
"Aba! Ang tikas mo aa!" sabi niya. Mukhang naintimidate yata siya. "Classmates. I'd like to introduce you to our new classmate," pointing to me, "name and rank."
I stood up with confidence and said, "Cadet Captain Jeremy Andrew Iijima." Nanahimik sila. I'm sure nagulat sila. I am wearing RKA's official dress uniform known around the country for its elegance. Nakasukbit din sa akin ang aking officer's saber that is included in our uniform. "Uhmm....ah...Cadet...Captain?" sabi niya, kinakabahan. I nodded in reply, smiling. "I'm very sorry, sir." he bowed. The bell then rang. We waited for our teacher to come in. I could feel the eyes of my new classmates on me. Feeling ko nga matutumaw na ako e. Our adviser then came in.
"Good morning class." she said, happily. "I'm Miss Erza Jane Reyes, your new adviser." Miss Reyes is somewhat beautiful to be a teacher. Unang tingin pa lang, alam ko nang bago pa lang si ma'am sa pagtuturo. "Marahil siguro ay nagtataka kayo kung paano ako nakapasok sa school na 'to and for those who are asking, I'm a reservist in the Army attached to the 1st Cav." Shocks!! Sundalo pala si Miss Beautiful. "Alright, Class Senior 1-A. I want you to come here in front and introduce yourselves including your rank."
We then started to introduce ourselves. Then my turn came. I walked to the front and began, "Jeremy Andrew Iijima, Cadet Captain. Transferee from RKA-Valenzuela. Nice to meet you all." I bowed. Yun ang custom sa RKA.
"Jeremy...Iijima?" tanong ni ma'am. "The Azure Lightning of Manila?"
"Yes ma'am." I replied. That was one of my nicknames when I was in RKA. They started calling me that after the famed Battle of Manila Central in which the RKA Alliance and the CAMANAVA Citizen Army District defeated Manila Messiah High School and the Chinese Schools Confederation in a one-week non-stop ground engagement and a two-hour firefight in and around Saint Stephen's High School in which I-yup, me!-led a daring platoon-sized bayonet charge against a fortified command post being used as an artillery fire control center and a drone control post.
After our introductions, the class went on. Our adviser is also our General Psychology teacher. The next class would be Modern College Algebra. God! I freakin' hate the subject.
~Senior High Mess Hall, Senior High Building-10:00AM~
I went to the Mess Hall(Canteen/Cafeteria) to buy some snacks alone. I could see my new classmates eyeballing me. I always had a grip on my saber, the most important thing for a student in RKA.
"Ate." I said, talking to the beautiful girl behind the counter. "Pagbilhan mo nga ako niyang Cream-O. Yung chocolate." I smiled as I gave the payment. Ang ganda talaga niya, Shems!!
