Not Into Her

III - The Start of All

After hours of sleeping, five hours I guess, I woke up from my sleep and looked around. Then I noticed that I was on a plane heading Philippines, my home country. I haven't seen or heard the country for twenty-three years max. I haven't seen or heard nor read some news about Philippines nowadays and I'm excited to go home. This is my first time in going home to Philippines after twenty-three years and I'm going home with my daughter, and my band too. I wonder what happened to all my relatives, my cousins in either sides, and my neighbors in my street.

I was jumping from States to Europe, from Australia to Middle East, for a long time. I haven't remember or have a mind in going back to Philippines since I was busy in making and composing music, and managing the band. I was the composer, the manager and the leader of the band for almost eighteen years and my band's albums has been sold out for a day. Now is the time to go back home and get settle on a new location. Now is the time to make history that has been created in my country.

I wanted to go home after this long  time. But whenever I remember the things I love in Philippines, I also remembered the reason why I didn't want to. I've got reasons why I didn't go home after a long time in hiding. I didn't say that I hid myself from everyone just to escape myself from the discrimination, but to escape the unhappy events that I had when I'm still in my teenager years.

It started when I was in third year in high school from Davao City. I was born and raised in the Philippines for nearly seventeen years when I started to feel the happening. It was a good Monday morning, June 8th, and the sun was very hot that time. I looked at my Seiko watch and noticed it's almost seven-thirty. So I took my subject schedule from my backpack and noticed I belonged to St. Therese of the Child Jesus.

By the way, my secondary school, or high school, is Holy Cross Academy of Sasa, Incorporated. It was a private school run by nuns and priests. The rules and regulations are strictly followed and any violations are subjected to either suspension or expulsion. So every student who enrolled on that school should follow all school rules so they mustn't be in trouble.

So I walked to the second floor where the room of St. Therese of the Child Jesus name imprinted on a green wood. When I reach the corridor, I heard the loudest shouts and the rumors of the students from the other rooms. I can also hear the sound of the rumors and shouts from my classmates for the whole school year.

I was so nervous of what will be their reaction when another nerd came in that room. I also get nervous to meet other people because I'm not a people person. But I have to get serious and be confident. I took my eyeglasses, wiped the glasses with a part of my white uniform and wore the glasses back. I took a deep breath and walked to the door of the room.

I presented myself at the door and my new classmates looked at me. Then they looked at each and looked at me. Karl Crisostomo, Kris Amit, James Calvo and Daniel Osmeña walked to me and greeted me. They've been my friends since first year and we've been friends since then.

"So we're classmates, again." Karl said at me, tapping my left shoulder.

I looked at Karl and noticed he have that same smile on his cheek and the same kind of face I saw from last year. His face is still like the funniest thing I just saw last year and he was like a clown to all. That is why he always gets busted to all girls who he adores so much. Me and the rest of the guys helped him in any ways but he always get busted by girls due to his funny and clown-like face.

"Yeah." I said to Karl. "Say, there's a humor that you'll leave Philippines and settle in Canada, right. Why?"

Karl smiled instead of frowning about his leave. "Sorry. I didn't tell you last year." he apologized. "Yes, I and my family will leave Philippines after this school year. My father has been promoted. From an ordinary company driver to a train supervisor, that's what this is all about."

Daniel walked to Karl and gave him a nice pun.

"That's okay, Karl." he said to Karl, giving the clown a huge pun. "We'll never forget you when you fly."

Kris walked to Karl and smiled.

"I guess I have only one year to laugh and tell jokes to you." he chuckled.

We all laughed and we immediately walked inside our room. Kris sat on his chair at the farthest, Daniel sat beside Kris and Karl, in between. I walked to them and found an available seat for me. This was located near the three, put my bacpack on the chair and sat on the chair. We waited for our adviser to come in and check us for the attendance.

The room is very noisy. My classmates are having fun in having some chatter around, some are having fun in teasing and bullying with other classmates. I and the boys looked at the door and wished our adviser will come in. Every person we see on that very same door, we didn't recognize who our adviser will be.

After a few minutes, a young man about my age walked at the door. He looked around and noticed his classmates are very noisy. He wore the same white uniform as we all did, have the same khaki pants, as we did, and wore the same black leather shoes. He looked around once again and noticed me at the corner, looking at the door.

"Alex!" he greeted. "Is that you?"

I didn't know where did he get my name. I knew that I'm Alex de Castro and I didn't know him, from my background or something. But I remembered something from the past. Something peculiar that I already knew him. It was in the sixth grade and I was one of the singers of the group. That was the biggest break he and I had. Yeah! That day.

And I knew who he was. He's Von Nalangan. I didn't know where he lives or where he know how to play the flute. He must've mastered the instrument and how long for him to master the piece we had. It was a nice show we did that time and we won third place. After the event, I and my mom took our share and immediately head home though it's almost nine.

I stood up, leaving my bag on the chair, and walked to Von. Then I smiled at Von and gave him a pun.

"Well, look who's here." I said to the boy. "I see you've found your way here."

"Yeah." Von said at me. "I and my family just moved here and I have to study here while we're here."

"Where do you live actually?"

"Near yours."

"So we're neighbors, then."

"Cousin Ken is also with us. And he's also studying here, in school."

"Oh, really. What section is he?"

"I don't know. He's been hiding his sheet after he enrolled. I wonder why."

"Oh, yeah." I chuckled.

After a few minutes, our adviser came and I and Von immediately walked inside and we sat back to my chair. I looked at Karl, Kris and Daniel and introduced Von to them. And vice versa. After a few minutes, while our adviser introduced herself to the class, Von, Karl, Kris and Daniel immediately mingled with each other.