Where The Stars Shine

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Ang kalangitan ay nagsisimula na namang magpakita ng liwanag. Panibagong araw para sa mga nag-aabang ng simbolo ng pag-asa. Alas sais pa lamang ng umaga kaya naman naisipan ko munang maupo sa labas ng cabin. May swing na nakakabit sa isang puno ng bakhaw na nasa gilid lamang ng bahay at nakatapat sa kulay berdeng tubig . Doon ako nakaupo upang magpalipas ng oras bago pumasok sa eskwela mamaya.
Arch is still sound asleep on the couch while snoring when I left.

I stared at the green water. The mystery it gives off. Seas, oceans and rivers had always been a wonder to humans— the calmness it shows at the first glance; plain yet inviting people to discover the marvel deep within. I wonder why it is not like that with people. Mas mahalaga ngayon ang panlabas na anyo kesa sa ugali. Mas nagtitiwala kapag may naipapamalas na pagmumukha sa ibang tao.

After heaving a deep breath, I stood up to go back to the cabin. Arch was sitting on the sofa when I went inside squeezing his eyes using his thumb and index finger probably just waking up. His hair still in a mess.

I went straight to the kitchen to fetch myself some water to drink.

"Anong oras na bro?" he asked.

" Six in the morning. Dalian mo, magagalit na naman si Samuel kapag malate tayo," I said.

Pupungas siyang tumayo para magtungo sa traveling bag niyang may lamang damit niya. I proceeded upstairs to take a bath.

It's Monday today kaya hindi kami pwedeng malate. Last week , Arch was five minutes late for the mass kaya naman ay pinag rosary siya ni sister sa lobby. Wala pa doon ang galit ni Samuel kasi siya ang Chief Justice ng local chapter student council at laging bantay sa gate. Arch was only pretending to pray while holding a rosary, magdadasal kapag dadaan ang mga madre o di kaya ay ang mga teachers pero titigil para kumindat sa mga estudyanteng babae kapag may nadadaan sa banda niya.

After taking a bath, I dressed myself with the uniform for the college department. Since the school consists of both high school and college, uniforms are very specific. Ang sa lalaki ay badge lang naman ang naiba.

When I went downstairs, I saw Arch eating his breakfast in his uniform habang hawak ang cellphone. I just ignored him, ganyan siya palagi. Kelan kaya uuwi 'to?

"Bilisan mo, 20 minutes before the bell. Baka dalawa na tayong lumuhod sa lobby mamaya," I said.

My phone rang and a message notification from him showed on the screen. Seryoso, andito lang ako! Napakagago talaga.

Arch: These are her accounts. Huwag kang mapagpanggap di bagay.

It read. Followed by usernames for different social media accounts.

"W-what..."

"Halata ka brader, wala kang matatago samin. Akala mo di ko napapansin ang pagngisi ni Samuel sayo? Bulok ka!"

"Gago!" I spat.

Fifteen minutes before the mass, tumulak na kami gamit ang sasakyan ko. We went through a bag inspection before proceeding inside the campus. Samuel was not in the gate ushering high school students to line up which is unusual.

Pumila agad kami dahil nandoon na ang mga madre sa harapan. Even Card, Allen and Alas were already lined up. Dumiretso ako sa linya ng Education para pumila. Ako lang ang Education ang kursong kinuha sa amin. Si Arch Chemical Engineering, Card and Alas are both in Business Administration, Samuel is in Political Science and Allen is lined in Accountancy. Limited lang ang courses sa Saint Joseph Academy pero may mga magagandang pagpipilian  parin.