Connection

Chapter 6

/THIRD PERSON/

Lord’s Angels University’s yearly family day usually lasts for three days. Each day has a designated grade level: day one is for Grades seven and eight; day 2 is for the ninth and tenth grades; and the last day is for the senior high school. Today is the last day, hence, the whole gymnasium is filled with senior high students together with their respective families.

The event is now down to the games and activities portion wherein families will have to compete with each other in order to win. Disclaimer: friendly competition. Laughs, chants, and cheers echo in the place. It’s obvious that everyone is having a good time.

While all of that was happening, Hael sat alone in the uppermost bleacher of the gymnasium. It was chaotic downstairs— chaotically fun. She could not help but to giggle at the sight of her classmates and friends scratching their heads every time their parents would do something silly. For instance, her classmate Joseph almost walked out of the scene when his parents volunteered to join the talent portion and started dancing on the stage. It was a harmless and actually very sporty thing to do, but to teens like them, it’s embarrassing.

She thanked God she didn’t have to go through such a thing. She guessed it’s somehow an advantage that she’s one of the people in-charge for the event and she didn’t have to take part in it.

Was it?

“Hey,” someone poked her shoulder that made her go back to her senses. She looked at her right side and saw Ivan who’s wearing a blue shirt. “Why are you alone here? Where’s Ivy and the others?”

“I actually don’t know. The last time I checked they were wandering around because they needed to take photographs,” she answered. “You, why are you here? Why aren’t you downstairs with your fam? I saw Kishi earlier, by the way, and said hi to me. Ang adorable talaga ng kapatid mo.”

“She mentioned it to me nga. Palagi namang ikaw ang hinahanap nun kapag nakapupunta rito sa school.” Ivan casually replied as if Hael is the extension of their family. And in some way, she is. His parents know Hael and his six-year-old sister is fond of her. “We just took a break since she got tired from playing. Sobrang hyper din kasi.”

Hael smiled and looked at him when she realized they hadn’t had a chance to talk after the fire incident in their room. With all the drama of her life in the past couple of weeks, it didn’t get through her priority list.

“I’m sorry if it took me quite some time but I just want to thank you for braving that fire with me. It could have gotten worse if you didn’t take action.”

Ivan sighed and looked at her, meeting her gaze, “I should be the one apologizing to you. Hinila na dapat kita palabas ng classroom kasi lumalaki na ‘yung apoy. I knew it was dangerous for your health but I still let you do what you wanted.”

“I wanted to go with you there so I have no regrets. I take full responsibility for myself in that situation.”

“I’m glad you’re fine despite your stubbornness. Miss Salonga is right, we shouldn’t do that again,” he said and smiled at her. Hael had already looked away, so did he, returning their gazes back to the program. “I’m sure, you’ve participated on family days even for once right?”

“I did. The first time was in first grade and the last time was in the third… basically, twice.”

Of course, her mother was never part of those two occasions. It was only Aga and Nanay Cristy who’d come and be there for her. But that didn’t last long either because after third grade, Aga started becoming busier and busier with work that he started missing some of his daughter’s school endeavors. Since then, Hael stopped asking her father to attend family days for her because she knew he’s too busy to do so.