Allison Corazon is a 23 year-old film student trying to find out her final short film project. Her assignment? To show what it means to be extraordinary. She didn't know what that meant, until she thought about her parents.
Allison was not one to be late for class. In fact, she's the one who's always at least fifteen minutes early. She learned that from her dad. He always told her "the good parts are given to those who are punctual." Ever since then she was always on time or early. Always.
Except for right now.
She woke up late and made it to campus on time. But, once again her luck did not come into play. Her car was parked on the other side of her class.
"Ano ba yan, bakit ngayon." She told herself and sighed grabbing her bag and skateboard from the passenger side. "Bakit today with the hardest class of my last year bakit today." Slamming her car door hard she locked the car and tried to get the other side of campus.
Making it to her room ten minutes after the bell. Ten minutes.
"Miss Corazon." Her professor said her name for attendance.
"Present." She said in between heavy breaths and sat down next to her friends.
"Why are you late bes?"
"Stayed up to late with mommy I was helping her with the business."
"For the third day in a row?"
"Alam mo sya, doesn't want to ask dad for help. Can't even speak to him without yelling at his face."
Allison took out her laptop ready to begin the lecture. Her friends took this as the signal that she doesn't want to talk about it any longer.
"Ok class, we have just have under four months before your final short film projects at the festival. Check in tayo muna sa isat isa. Your topic with the storyboard needs to be approved by the end of this week!" The professor looked too enthusiastic for Allison's morning.
Truthfully, she hasn't thought about it. Her mom has been her top priority lately after the past few weeks. She hasn't been the same and it's probably because after years of being separated. Years of living on opposite ends of their house. Trying their best to avoid each other but not to make it awkward for their two children, her dad moved out. It hasn't been easy since the separation. For her mom, for her older brother and for Allison. Nothing seemed to be going right for them. She wasn't even paying attention but scrolling through her phone seeing a text from her brother.
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Before she could reply her friends started talking to her again.
"O Ali ano ba ang topic ng short film mo?"
"Di ko alam. Busy parin ako, di ako pansin nan."
"Ano? Ali this is the make it or break it for our degree! The Bachelor of Fine Arts Film Production festival is big. You need a topic."
"Alam nyo na yung pamilya ko first priority ko." Both of her friends saw Allison's eyes glaze over with tears and her voice cracked. "Ang hirap ngayon. Pero wala to, iisip ko parin yung topic ko." She smiled.
