Fire Exit (Completed)

Chapter 1: The Village

I woke up too early and I don't know why, palagi nalang ako ganito. I slept at 3am and I woke up at 6am? Kumusta naman 'yon? Hindi masaya, mabigat sa pakiramdam. I have no choice but to get up, knowing myself, I hate getting up early and that's exactly what's happening these past few weeks. I mumbled a few songs before heading to the bathroom. Why am I even here? My classes starts at 10AM and I'm already taking a bath? What the hell.

But I quickly brushed the thought as I stare at my reflection, "Loot at you, ang laki ng ipinayat mo." I whispered to myself. Sinimulan ko na alisin ang bawat suot ko, at nang matapos ay tinitigan ko muli ang sarili ko sa salamin.

I smiled.

"Buti nalang may laman pa ang mga binti ko kahit papaano."

__

Time check: 7:46am.

Ugh. I really, really hate waking up early. I should still be sleeping by now! And now I'm literally doing nothing. NOTHING.

*phone rings* incoming call from Eve...

"Hello."

("Ari! Did I wake you up?")

"Errr, no. Kanina pa ako nagising."

("Good, kasi I have no kasama papunta sa school eh, Ima pick you up at 9, how's that?")

I smiled. She's such a sweet girl talaga. "Sure, I'll see ya."

__

Everything in school is bullshit. Stupid bullies, entitled people, bunch of hypocrites and bitches, unfair teachers. Ito pa, ang daming nagrereklamo at gusto ng malinis na eskuwelahan and yet hindi sila disiplinado! Nakakainis!

"Ari, nakasimangot ka na naman ha, ano na naman naiisip mo?"

Napatingin ako kay Eve na nasa tabi ko, "Nothing," I replied, "Just appreciating the beauty of our school."

She threw me a hilarious look, "The fuck? Kailan ka pa naging fan ng school? As far as I remember, kulang nalang mag-transfer ka sa iba para lang makaalis sa magulong lugar na 'to."

We laughed. She's right, I've been wanting to get out of here but my aunt won't let me, besides, ayaw kong iwan si Eve dito. Siya lang ang kaibigan ko.

Yep that's right, I suck at making friends or ayaw ko lang talaga sa mga tao, as much as possible, I keep my distance from them. Ewan ko ba. Back to when I was still in elementary, si Eve ang unang kumausap sa akin. Takot kasi ang mga kaklase ko sa'kin noon, kesyo ako daw itong babaeng hindi marunong makipag-usap at palaging nasa gilid, in short, a weirdo.

But Eve was a transferee back then, ako yung pinakauna niyang kinausap since she was designated to be my seat mate. And I guess that's how our friendship started. Eve is your typical friendly person. Kung ako, siya lang ang kaibigan, siya naman, napakarami.

Oo nga pala, first day ngayong second sem. Sembreak has ended at bago ang section namin, it means bago rin ang mga classmates. This is what hate the most. The 'introduce yourself' part because, first, I hate attention. Second, I hate speaking in the front and lastly, I HATE saying my whole name. Yikes.

"Ari! Tara na sa classroom natin, ano nga ulit yung room number?" Tanong ni Eve habang tumatayo.

"Room 401," sabi ko, "Eve, nahihiya ako baka madaming tao."