Cliche (Love Series # 1)

s i x

Father

(noun)

fa·ther\ˈfä-thər\

: a male parent
:

a man who is thought of as being like a father
: a person who was in someone's family in past times

°°°
Tuesday flew by in a minute and before I knew it, I was already re-reading my reviewer. Several of my classmates were doing their own thing, half of the students are reviewing on their own or with a group and the other was just playing around with their phones on hand and chatting with one another.

I'm not on the latter part and continued to memorize math formulas and highlighter terms from the previous lessons, I wanted to make sure that I remember if not everything maybe just mostly all of it.

"Stop reviewing! You've been reading that for the past couple of hours! Let's go outside or go to the canteen! Anywhere!" Bool whined on my desk as I pushed his grimacing face away from my now crumpled paper.

"Scram"

He immediately pulled my hand repeatedly and I kicked him in his shin. He didn't let go and even called Hanie to take my other hand before I was dragged by these two demons away.

Since it's just a matter of two days- well minus for today so one day- our teachers have left us in our own devices. They explained to us that they were busy since there's a meeting for today and the test papers are about to finished printing.

Besides, the school hosts the intrams for this week and the game still continues. The rematch from the basketball game yesterday would be scheduled this afternoon. The players that couldn't attend the test will be given a separate day.

Of course, some of us were filled with happiness since that means we can do whatever we want inside the classroom without any fear of scolding from our teachers or worse be sent to the guidance office. But it also means bad news to those who wanted a quiet place to review and that includes me.

"Hey, buy me some turon" Nicole said, one of my best friends since the second year but too bad we aren't classmates this year.

I handed my palm to her to be handed the money to me for buying turon. She scrunched her face while I show my tongue playfully at her.

"Jamie! You're here!" Sarra, a cute girl with a face that resembles a kitten said, her tone filled with happiness as she sauntered her way over our direction.

She hugged me while I smiled at her adorable self. She absolutely loves anime and enjoys cosplaying. She's really cute and her voice is as lovely as she looks like.

Since I met Sarra and Nicole, might as well have a conversation with them, it has been too long since we've met and I haven't talked to them after all prelims is about to start. We soon decided to go to the gymnasium and watched the game along with Tintin, Evan, Hanie, and Bool.

My throat got so sore from cheering but it was worth it since we won, thankfully Sarah and Nicole lead the conversation. The game almost tied again but our players didn't waste any more time and performed a dunk after the game finished which was obviously a trigger for every student to yell at the top of their lungs including me.

The game was too enjoyable for me that I forgot about the matter of reviewing my notes.

Well, I'll just leave it to batman.

...

I got back home a little early since I need to prepare for the upcoming test tomorrow, thankfully I managed to escape from the claws of those two devils named Hanie and Bool.

As soon as I step inside our house I immediately notice the Balikbayan boxes in the living room.

There are three in total, I put down my bag before touching one of the boxes. Then I heard my mother coming in along with my older brother. He was holding a knife before slicing the packages with the one his holding.

Inside one of the large boxes was filled with clothes of different types ranging from the size of Joshua and my mother. Canned foods along with the infamous spam and Vienna saisages. Sweets in some well-known brands that could probably last for a week with mom's supervision to Joshua. Some hygiene products varying from shampoos, towels, soap, and body lotions. The more we look, I can see some large cottony sheets along with some shoes and school-related products and my favorite highlighters.

"Joshua! Jerimie!" My brother, Muriel, shouted and it seems like it reached my sibling's ears.

It didn't take long for my younger siblings to come down and delve into the box with some sweets on their hands mostly from my brother's fist.

"I want this!" He took the barbie towel inside the bag and sling it into the air.

"Joshua! Stop that!" My mother hissed before taking it off Joshua's hands and placing it on the other towels.

It seems like I can already see my brother's future, I think it won't take long for him to notice.

My mother was busy arranging the items and placing them on the side or under the floor before telling us to video call our father and left.

My mother and father aren't close with each other anymore but they still talk to each other like two civilized people.

Our relationship with our father is lukewarm but we're still close but not just the type of close compared to our mother. I could still remember that day where my father would come home after work and give us little treats.

It was comparable to today but I would rather have the one in the past, at least we were complete at that time.

"Papa! Thank you for the Balikbayan boxes!" Joshua shouted as my older brother shushed him down since it's the middle of the night.

He whispered a sorry before chatting animatedly at our father. Jerimie thanked him with a shy smile before going upstairs. I had a small conversation with my father before going upstairs and gave the phone to my mom.

Night dawned and my phone lit up while I was reviewing my notes. It was from Tintin and she asked me if I could keep our conversation yesterday a secret. I typed a positive reply, I'm not the type of person with a blabber mouth. Then I shut my phone down and slept.

Just sleep, everything's gonna be fine tomorrow.

Notes:

• In high school, being sent to the guidance office means that you're in big trouble and that you have to send your parents to the school.
• Turon, a Filipino snack/dessert, a deep-fried banana covered in wrapper and sugar. It's my absolute favorite.
• Leave it to batman or bahala na si Batman, A Filipino slang that means everything is in the hands of batman.
• Balikbayan boxes are a box of items sent by the balikbayan to their family in the Philippines. In case you don't know, we Filipinos loveeeee the Balikbayan boxes!

***
Hello people! How are you today?!!!

It's my birthday today! Yehey!!! I'm already 20, ugh, and we still have an online class hahahaha. But anyway, I hope you have a great day today!

Stay safe and healthy as always okay?!

Please do VOTE. COMMENT. SHARE.

Thank you!