You've Been Hijacked (REVISED)

Hijack's History

Hi! This is not an update, sorry. This is just something I wrote for the real-life Hijack Family. Sadly, school year 2016-2017 will be over, and we have to bid good byes to each other. Kaya eto, I wrote this for them, and also, for you readers. You may or may not read this part. Your choice. And to those who will, enjoy reading!

Note: This is written in English.

-R

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Certainly, most of our best memories, even the worst ones, are made in our high school years. High school is like an enormous door where life begins. It is where we have shared most of our laughter, tears and moments with the ones who we now call our "family". It is where we experienced a lot of "firsts" and things we never knew we could do or feel. Most of all, we met a lot of amazing people along the way. People who had different personalities- funny, moody, pessimistic, optimistic, stubborn and so on, but though we were different from each other, we had learned to love each other's differences. High school is where we had built our new home.

At the beginning of high school, it was 7th grade to be exact, the Mahogany Family were surely troubled of how we should adjust to all the new things high school has introduced to us. We were still kids trying to explore and trying to alter with the changes, and clearly, it was not easy. It was not easy handling all the waves life continuously brought, that every time we try our best to stand still, it always pushes us down to the bottom.

Of course, we had our childish fights back then where pride have gotten in our way making it difficult for us to make things well again. We have experienced rough times, not only because of our school works, but also because of the friendships that was so close to being broken.

One of the most unforgettable things that happened during the first stage of high school, our grade 7 years, is when our classmates tried to play tricks with one of our classmates. They hid his shoes and wallet and when he knew of this, he got really mad- he was furious to be exact. Everyone got out of the classroom when he started grabbing chairs and threw it towards us, even the subject teacher got petrified. But after a few minutes, even he was shocked at himself and started to laugh, which of course made us all chuckle as well.

There was also this time in our first year in high school when our section in Chinese was practicing for the upcoming story telling contest (for the Chinese week). A group of students were joking around when they told one of them to push the fire alarm. They joked that they'd give him money if he does it. He intentionally presses the fire alarm but it didn't work the first time, so he pressed it again. Everyone went out of their classrooms when they heard the fire alarm but those who knew it was just a prank just stood there and watched them ran downstairs. You can really see the word "panic" written all over other students and teachers' faces as they rushed into the school's quadrangle. Of course, the guy who pushed the fire alarm got into a big trouble after that incident.

And then, there's 8th grade. Since 7th grade was the starting line, 8th grade was the year where we had already learned to adjust to a life of a high school student (okay, maybe a little bit). There were still childlike fights but 8th grade is a little much better than our first year in high school. Students from other section transferred to Mahogany and at first, they had a little trouble adjusting to a new environment, but after a few months, they finally got along with the Mahogany family- and became one of us in the long run.

We also had this teacher that every time he was our subject teacher, students would just do all the things they want. No, it wasn't free time, he was actually lecturing with his lessons yet he did not mind those students that stood up and roamed around the classroom, some even roamed around outside- in the hallways. Only four or five students, I think, were listening to him and it was okay with him. The others were sleeping, running around; talking and some even played cards. Then, one time, during his class, students tried to fool him by telling him that the switch of the classroom was broken. They actually told him at first that it was brownout and since our classroom was at the centennial building, light from the sun wasn't able to lighten up the whole room. To our surprise, he actually believed us and let us stay at the classroom next door. Everyone was laughing when our plan worked.

During 8th grade, an earthquake happened and then the next day, when the boys were playing around, the tiles on our classroom suddenly cracked. They even teased some of our boys that it was their fault because they were jumping. Our classroom's tiles had to be fixed so the Mahogany had to transfer to a new classroom in the centennial building.

In our new classroom, there was one memory that surely Mahogany will never forget, that was when the DLSU lady spikers went to Iloilo City. They stayed in a room in the Amigo Terrace Hotel just in front of our classroom so we had put some banners on our windows to show support to them. We, especially the girls who made effort making those banners, will never forget how some players waved at us. They even took a picture of us and our banners and posted it in social media.

And alas! The school year had to end and by the next school year, we would all be in 9th grade, so some of the Mahogany planned a farewell party with our dearest adviser from 7th grade to 8th grade. She was like a mother to us and the love she had given us will definitely be embedded in our hearts forever.

It was also during our farewell party when "Hijack" was built. We never knew it would be the start of making our family stronger and more united.

Another year has brought new beginning and new challenges. It was 9th grade and we had a new student that came all the way from Dingle. She was optimistic, happy-go-lucky and talented yet we never knew about her condition. When she first fainted, everyone was in panic. You can literally see how worried everyone was. That was when I saw sincerity in their hearts that was reflected by their eyes, they were truly concerned about one another.

During 9th grade, there were also a lot of firsts that we all experienced. One unforgettable experience was our first promenade. Another one was when we had our first fieldtrip ever which was only made possible by Hijack's beloved mayores.

In 10th grade, our last year in high school, we all made sure that we make a lot of memories in the remaining ten months. Boys had their hair cut and were called the hijack kalboys, we won first place in the cleaning contest (for the first time ever), we had won 7th place in the bulletin board contest during our program about United Nations and the boys had fun doing what they-so-called the taichi.

There was also a time when all of us in hijack thought of a surprise for our adviser's birthday. Everyone was busy helping. Some bought the cake, some decorated the balloons and some organized the letters that were to be given to our dearest adviser. In that simple act, I saw thoughtfulness and unity- values of which hijack is not hijack without it.

Then during our Christmas party, one of us thought of a "better" idea of giving his gift to his secret pal. He had this huge box and wrapped it with a Christmas wrapper, but as soon as his secret pal opened the gift, it was full of one peso coins which had a total of 300php. After that, we went to an arcade in Tom's world, and played. We all collected many tickets and have it exchanged for a stuff toy. That stuff toy was then named Jack, hijack's little baby.

It was also in 10th grade when we had our last promenade. We made sure our last prom will be more memorable and indeed it was. We all hijacked the stage and danced 'till it was midnight. Definitely, we all had fun!

A lot of memories had been made over the past four years that I have been with the Mahogany Family. There were a lot of little moments and little joys that created big impacts on our lives. Over the past four years, I have witnessed growth not only in our personalities but also the growth of friendship that was strongly built by unity and love. We have been through many difficult challenges, even until the end of 10th grade. We have experienced so many ups and downs, trials and triumphs, failures and successes, but even though we barely made it through it all, we are still here all together. And forever, even if years pass us by, Hijack will remain etched not only in our minds but also in our hearts. One team, one family, a love that will surely last. This is not yet farewell, Hijack.