Dying Embers

Chapter Two

Chapter Two: Crush

An alarm blasted waking me up from my deep slumber. I groaned and pull the pillow beside me and immediately covered my ears with the pillow. Then minutes later, it blasted again. Reluctantly, I pulled myself up, yawning and stretching before finally getting out of bed.

I was still groggy but knew I had to get up or risk being late again. It had been a week straight of missing my first class. Thankfully, my adviser was lenient and never scolded me, just gave me gentle reminders.

Living in my own apartment has made me a bit slower in the mornings, but I manage. The reason I moved here was that our house is an hour and a half away from school, so my parents thought it would be easier if I lived closer. Commuting that far every day was too much of a hassle. Luckily, they agreed, hoping this would help me become more independent. They're strict, but only because they want me to learn. I only go home on Friday afternoons after class and return on Sundays. It's exhausting, but I manage.

Ako rin naman ang may gusto na umuwi kapag biyernes ng hapon kasi bukod sa nami-miss ko ang bahay ay gusto ko rin ng magkaroon ng family time kasama ang mga magulang ko.

We usually just do simple things like watch movies — fantasy, action, and horror films, since I'm not into love stories. Actually, I tried watching one in 8th grade and nearly cringed the whole way through. Never again.

Then there's cooking. My mom and I enjoy experimenting new recipes, and my dad always serves as our judge. Other than that, we also bake cakes and stuff, though to be honest, I'm not much of a cook. I just helped mom preparing ingredients, that's all.

At ngayon, ako ang medyo nahihirapan dahil responsibilidad ko lahat ng trabaho rito at sabayan pa ng mga schoolwork at homework ko. Sa totoo lang kulang pa ako sa tulog dahil ala-una na ako nakatulog kagabi dahil tinapos ko pa ang projects ko sa dalawang subject. See? One week pa lang 'yong klase pero tambak na kaagad ako sa mga projects. I had no idea that Senior year would be this overwhelming — or maybe it's just the adjustment of being away from home.

Cup noodles lang ang agahan ko dahil tinatamad na akong magluto ng agahan. Ganito ako palagi, paminsan-minsan ay hindi na rin ako kumakain kapag umaga kaya unti-unti nasasanay na rin ako. Pagkatapos kong ubusin ang cup noodles ay tumungo kaagad ako sa cr at naligo tsaka nag-toothbrush.

Nang matapos kong maligo ay sinuot ko ang uniform ko at tinuyo ang buhok ko. Nag-aayos pa ako ng biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko. Mabilis kong kinuha 'yon at tiningnan ang mensahe.

A text from Jilliana.

Jilliana:

Saan ka na? I'm already at school. Don't forget your PE uniform.

'Yon ang laman ng mensaheng ipinadala ni Jilliana. She's someone I know in school. Naging close ko ito simula nong kinausap niya ako, two days after the opening. We talked then we became friends, just like that. Siya na rin ang kasa-kasama ko simula non kaya hindi na awkward sa akin ang makipag-usap sa kaniya. I'm friendly but not quite. I will not do the talking if you don't talk to me first. Well, that's just how I am.

It's Tuesday and we have a PE class during second period kaya nagpapasalamat ako kay Jilliana dahil ipinaalala niya 'yon sa akin. Reason is that, I easily forget things. Kinuha ko ang PE uniform ko sa closet at inayos ko 'yon ng tupi bago ko inilagay sa bag ko. Magaan lang ang bag ko dahil projects lang ang laman niyon at 'yong PE ko, including my math notebook, of course. Hindi naman ako masyadong nagdadala ng mga notebooks dahil hindi naman ako mahilig magsulat ng mga notes. 'Yong math lang talaga 'yong isinusulat ko dahil mahina ako don.