My Only Sunshine

chapter 8 : A Brothers' Concern

//Gregorio Del Pilars' POV

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They've been gone for quite some time, now.

I could smell nothing but fire and smoke now. The calming scent of Nanay's sampaguita is nothing but a distant memory at this point.

Pip and I were sitting and huddled in a corner. He was shaking terribly, and I didn't know what else to do but hug him tighter. I was already scared, and the fact that he was trembling so much didn't exactly help at all. Yet being the big brother, I tried my best to remain calm and not cry. No, not in front of Pip...

Suddenly, I see two figures limping towards us from the smoke. I instinctively hold onto Pip a little tighter, ready to protect him from whoever or whatever was coming at our direction.

But as they moved closer, I realized that it was just Nanay and Tatay. I was about to get up and run into their arms with Pip in my grasp, but I saw Tatay holding Nanay up. She was limping and looking down.

"My... sampaguitas..." Nanay whispered. I noticed tear drops falling from her face.

She slowly looked up. When she saw me and Pip, she quickly shook them away, and smiled as bright as she could.

"'Di na bali. Ang importante ngayon, wala na yung apoy, at ligtas kayo."
("It doesn't matter. What's important is that the fire's gone, and you're all are safe.")

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'SMACK!'

I jolted up at the sound of something smacked on my desk. Then I looked to see my teacher, ruler in hand, arms crossed, and glaring itaks at me.

With her eyes still glued on me, she pointed to the board. "Because you just seem so eager to learn, please do us the honor of solving for x and y on the board for us."

I took a peek at the problem she pointed at on the board, and I sweatdropped. It turns out that that was todays' new lesson, and I've been sleeping in this class the whole time.

I smiled and chuckled nervously. Scratching the back of my head, I asked, "Uh, ma'am, how do you do that, po?"

Her eyes went narrower. "See me after class, Mr. Del Pilar."

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RIIIIIIIINGG!

Third block done, students quickly grab their things and rush out the classroom and into their dorms.

But I wasn't quick enough.

I was just under the door frame when she called my name.

"Mr. Del Pilar, didn't I say I'd like too see you after class?"

I froze there for a few seconds, before slowly turning around.

I scratched the back of my head. "Oo nga, no?"

She just sighed angrily and started rambling about my behavior.