When Heaven Smiled

01

Chapter 01
Jerk

Psalm 37:4
Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

I twisted my lips when a smile formed. This seems like the message I needed to hear today. If you put Him first, everything shall be in order.

I closed my journal after having a short prayer.

It has been my routine. Bawat umaga na magigising ako, nagdadasal ako. Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos na binigyan niya ako ng pagkakataon na magising at imulat ang mga mata ko.

Pinapahalagahan ko ang bawat segundo ng buhay ko. Because I feel like every time my mind stays idle and my body does not move, I will stumble and become a failure.

Hindi naman kami pinalaki na sobrang relihiyoso ng mga magulang namin. Gaya ng ibang magulang, gusto lang din nila na magkaroon kami ng takot sa Diyos. That explains why they bring us to church every Sunday.

"Bye Ma! I'm going." I gave Mama a kiss on the cheek. She intentionally ignored me because she's busy talking to someone on her phone.

But that's okay. I'll get her attention once I get my card at school. Kapag nasa top five ako, nabibigyan kami ng pagkakataon mag-usap.

Tinulak ko ang double doors ng aming mansyon. I greeted everyone in the house before leaving. Kahit si Kuya Rene na mukhang badtrip ngayong araw ay binati ko rin. I assume that Papa scolded him. Si Manang Diding din ay mukhang hindi maganda ang timpla ngayong araw. Kaya naman pinuri ko nang pinuri ang mga luto niya.

Optimism is my strongest suit.

"Be a good boy, Kristoff." I kissed the top of his head. I unbuckled my seatbelt. They dropped me off at school.

Ngumuso siya at humalukipkip. "I don't want to study."

"Well, you should." I pinched his nose. Hindi pa rin maipinta ang kanyang mukha. Bumaling ako kay Yaya Karen na busy sa sa kanyang keypad phone. "Yaya, ikaw na po ang bahala ah." I reminded her.

Sometimes because of familiarity, the people around us tend to forget their responsibility. Don't get me wrong, I love our helpers and I treat them like family. Napapansin ko lang na minsan kung hindi pa sila sisitahin ni Manang Diding, hindi sila kikilos.

Ngumiwi siya sabay tango sa akin. It seems like she doesn't want to be disturbed.

Hinanap agad ng mga mata ko ang aking mga kaibigan. I looked at my watch, it's six thirty in the morning. May oras pa kaming pumila sa flag ceremony.

Lumingon ako at napangisi. I saw Genesis walking towards Lhaine's direction. Kaya imbis na pumila para mag-tap ng I.D, tumakbo ako patungo sa kanila.

"Good morning!" I greeted both of them. Biglaan ang pag-akbay ko. Tumingkayad ako ng bahagya para maabot sila. Genesis almost flinched in shock. Si Lhaine naman ay natawa agad dahil nakilala ako.

"Oh, parang ang saya mo ngayon Alice ah. May love life ka na 'no?" Lhaine nudged my elbow. Mukhang sinadya niyang kulotin ang dulo ng buhok dahil first day. She had a plain white hairband on, plakado din ang kanyang kilay. Her lips look juicy because of the tinted lip gloss she was wearing.