Chapter One
I blankly stared at the dark sky.
Looks like it's going to rain hard in any minute so I held tightly on my duffel bag then rushed to the waiting SUV nearby.
As Manong Fred revved the engine, I saw two men in white polo shirt got on the other SUV beside mine.
I rolled my eyes.
"Mom, is everything alright?" I typed on my phone as the car leaves the studio parking.
Wala pang isang minuto nang isend ko ang message ay tumunog na ang cellphone ko.
"Hello, My..." I answered.
"Sky... it's for your own safety. Just listen to me, okay?" She said and alam ko na agad na wala na akong magagawa kundi sundin ang gusto nila.
It will last for a month maybe? Depends on the gravity of the situation. Sana ay hindi ganoon kasama ang nangyari. Kung nagkataon ay baka buong taon nila akong papasundan.
My question was answered later that night.
"A kid was killed, honey! How can you expect me to be calm?!"
I can hear Mommy's voice inside the study room from where I am. Pupunta sana ako doon para magpaalam pero dahil sa narinig ko ay napaatras ako.
"Okay... okay... Sky is a smart girl anyway. I know she will understand."
Daddy eventually agreed to what she said that I didn't got the chance to hear.
If only I was here earlier.
With that, I turned back and returned to my room.
My classmates would surely understand why I would not make it tomorrow to do our project. I will just send them my work instead.
The next day, I messaged our group leader that I cannot go to our meet up and that she can just tell me the part of the topic that I need to do.
She's not my friend on Facebook so I waited for a few minutes for her to read my message.
It's taking her longer than I expected for her to read my message so I decided to get up and eat my breakfast first.
Maybe she's still asleep.
I was scrolling through my newsfeed while waiting for Yaya Jing to finish setting up my food when my messenger started to beep rigorously.
"Uy, andami namang message 'non!" Yaya Jing teased with a slight poke on my side and a peek at my iPad.
I chuckled.
"Asa pa ko, Ya... yung leader namin 'to sa Social Science."
With that, hinayaan na niya akong kumain at naupo nalang siya sa tabi ko.
I closed the iPad on my side and started eating.
Nakailang subo palang ako ay sunod-sunod na tumunog na naman ang messenger ko.
Binitiwan ko ang kubyertos at saka hinarap ang iPad sa gilid ko.
"Holy..."
"Huy, marinig ka ng Mommy mo."
Yaya whispered to interrupt me when I couldn't help myself but be excited when I saw my crush's name on my notification list.
He's in our group?!
I can't believe I am missing the time of my life!
Our leader made a group chat kasi so all the members can see any updates that she wants to tell us.
