Arresaine's Point of View

I don't know why, pero gumising ako na good mood. This is not often to happened, but it somehow felt good. Tila ba'y may magandang mangyayari ngayong araw. Napatingin ako sa napakalaking glass window nang papanaog ako ng hagdan.

Bahagya pa akong napapikit nang tumama sa mata ko ang sinag ng araw.

Inayos ko muna ang backpack ko na papabagsak sa kaliwang balikat ko. Nakabukas pa ang aking isang butones ng aking puting polo shirt. I immediately raised my hand when I felt my phone's vibration in my hand. Tiningnan ko kung sino ang nag-text.

A smile impetuously plastered upon my lips. Mayumi and Dionysus texted me simultaneously that they already arrived. I didn't bother to reply. Pinatay ko ang aking cellphone at inilagay ito sa bulsa.

"Good morning, 'ma," bati ko sa aking ina. Mukhang katatapos lang din niya sa paghahanda ng agahan namin. Nasa isang tabi naman ang isa sa kasambahay namin. "Si Ate Katya nalang unta ang imuhang gipaluto ana, 'ma. Kay kahibaw kong mo adto paka sa trabaho," (Si Ate Katya dapat pinagluto mo nito, 'ma. Kasi alam kong pupunta ka pa sa trabaho,) komento ko pa.

Tumingin siya sa akin. Inilagay niya muna ang isang mangkok na may lamang ginisang kanin. Naglakad siya papalapit sa akin at ngumiti.

"Aresa . . ." she called me by my nickname. Pagkatapos ay sinarado niya ang naka-unbutton kong polo shirt. Thereafter, she pulled the chair for me. "Am I not allowed to at least cook for my daughter?" she asked.

She gestured to let me sit. I didn't responded. Sa halip ay nanatili lamang akong nanahimik. Out of the corner of my eyes, nakita ko siyang kumunot ang kaniyang noo. Muli siyang tumingin sa akin, pero sa pagkakataong 'to ay nakatingin na siya sa akin nang nagtataka.

"Nganong hilom man kaayo ka karun?" (Bakit ang tahimik mo ngayon?) she sweetly ask. "Is there anything wrong?" pahabol niyang tanong.

I give her a smile. "Isn't that what you want?" And seated on the chair she just pulled.

Kinuha ko ang mangkok na may lamang ginisang kanin. Nagsandok ako roon. I heard her heaved a sigh. My mom is a police in our municipality. She's not just a police, but a chief. She always finds me so loud, extremely reckless, overconfident, and violent.

That is why she sent me to a catholic private school.

Plus, she always compared me to my father. Sinabi niya pa, kaya nga hate na hate si Papa sa mga kapatid niya ay dahil sa personality nito. I internally snorted. A father I didn't even meet. In my mom's point of view, my father had a violent black eyes, same as mine.

He had a semi-bald hairstyle, and its color is gray. Had a pointed nose, light tanned skin, muscular body, a sword scar in his left eye so as across in his nose. Sabi niya, nakilala niya raw ito sa Philippine Military Academy.

Expert daw ito patungol sa warfare. Beyond imagination naman daw ang prowess battle nito. I can't relate to him when she told me about him honestly. Because I've never meet him, and even see his face at least.

But when I asked my mom about him, she always averted the topic. Therefore, I stopped asking, and dreamed of knowing him. When she's the one who opened up about him, but also refuses to let me see him at least.

It's pointless.

"That is not true, Arresaine." I silently scoffed. There you go, she said my name. That only means one thing, I am in trouble. She's mad. "I just want you to have a better future. I don't want you running wild, causing troubles."

"Is it really? Or you just don't want your reputation to be tainted?" I sarcastically confronted her.

Nagpakawala siya ng marahas na buntonghininga. "You are just like your father," she whispered. Pero rinig na rinig ko naman. "Hardheaded, and extremely reckless," she commented.

Natapos ang aming agahan nang hindi nag-imikan dahil sa sagutang nangyari. She shouldn't blame me for causing troubles. Because those shrimps are the one who started it all. All I did was to defend anyone who oppressed by the bullies, so as defending myself.

In the end, ako pa ang villain sa mukha ng lahat. Even to her.

Mom dropped me in front of the school's gate. She gave me a goodbye kiss on my cheeks, and said, "don't cause troubles," she said. Then averted her eyes, "and be careful." Dahil doon ay napakunot ang aking noo.

Napailing na lamang ako.

Sa hindi kalayuan, nakita ko naman sina Mayumi at Dionysus nang makapasok na ako ng gate. Both of them greeted me with their smiles. As usual, Mayumi still had her cold face. Kaya nga sa lahat ng hindi nakakakilala sa kaniya ay takot na lumapit.

She had a black eyes, black eyebrows, pointed nose, and heart-shaped lips. Her hair is black, but I know those aren't the real color. She just dyed it due to the school's strict rules. Her hair is tied in a ponytail with a golden ribbon.

Dionysus, on the other hand, had a very black hair, to the point it looks purple. A pointed nose as well, and a black eyes. Others mistook him for being gay just because he is a feminine guy. Napagulong pa nga ako ng mata sa kaloob-looban ko.

People being people.

"Good morning, Arresaine," a student greeted me, "Mayumi―" Tila natakot pa ito nang banggitin niya ang pangalan ni Mayumi, "and Dionysus."

Dionysus give her his best smile. "Good morning, love," he replied.

Tumili pa ito nang mahina sa sinabi ni Dionysus. Tumakbo ito papalayo sa amin, habang takip na takip ang kaniyang bibig. Tila ba'y nahihiya't kinikilig. Habang ako naman ay umiling na lamang sa tinuran niya.

I don't want to brag, but we are the renowned trio. We've accomplished things that brings the school to fame. Dionysus is a chess player. Naipanalo niya ito noong nakaraang taon sa nationals. Si Mayumi naman sa taekwondo, at ako naman ay sa volleyball.

Nagpakawala ako ng marahas na buntonghininga nang dumaan bigla sa isip ko ang nangyari kanina sa bahay.

"What's with that sigh, Arresaine?" tanong sa akin ni Dionysus.

I looked at him for a second, and my eyes went straight to the floor. "I had a little argument with my mom―" I paused, "again."

"Really?" tanong niya sa akin nang hindi makapaniwala. "That's been going on like forever," he commented.

That's right. It's been a while we were like this. Palipat-lipat ako ng eskwelahan. Itong St. Francis Academy lang ata ang mas nagtagal sa akin.

And my mom wasn't wrong, because I am always involved in trouble. I did explained why I was involved. Pero ang masakit lang ay tila hindi siya naniniwala sa sarili niyang anak. I am not the one who started everything. I am just teaching those shrimps a lesson on how to be a human.

Tila mas takot pa siya na mabahiran ang reputasyon niya.

"Monsters."

Sasagot na sana ako sa sinabi ni Dionysus nang marinig ko ang ibinulong ni Mayumi. My forehead furrowed. Sinundan ko ng tingin ang tinitignan niya. To my surprise, she was staring at the group of basketball players. Nakatitig din ang mga ito sa grupo namin.

"Mayumi." Pagtawag ko sa kaniya. She looked at me emotionless. "What did you just say?" ang tanong ko sa kaniya.

I caught her off guard. Bumagsak ang mata niya sa sahig. I could notice a sweat coming down from her forehead. Her jaw moved as if she was caught of cheating in an exam.

"You said monsters while staring at the group of guys," I said. Napatingin din sa kaniya si Dionysus. Katulad ko, naghihintay ng isasagot niya. Nanatili siyang tahimik. Therefore, I heaved a sigh and let it slide. "Whatever, I am probably hearing it wrong." Ang pagsuko ko.

I know Mayumi. She won't tell me. That's who she is. She rarely shows her emotion. Pero, 'yon lang ang alam ko sa pagkatao niya. Sinabi niya naman sa amin na ampon lang siya sa mga kinikilala niyang mga magulang ngayon.

Beyond that, none. And we respected her decision. Above all, she's been true friend. Whoever one of us needs help, she's there. If any of us in trouble, she's also there. Kaya nga siya ang isa sa dahilan kung bakit nagtatagal ako sa St. Francis Academy.

Nang dumating na ang sasakyan naming bus ay mabilis kaming naglakad papalapit doon. Whole senior high ata ang sasama sa field trip na 'to. Rinig namin na dadaan muna kami sa Bangbang, Nangka for mangrove planting.

And after that ay di-diretso na kami sa mga historical places na aming bibisitahin.

"The letter of consent." A soft spoken girl greeted us in front of the bus's door.

Tumingin pa siya sa aming tatlo. At ngumiti pagkatapos. She had a chubby checks, and a blue eyes. Sa kilos niya pa lang, masasabi mo ng mahiyain. Subalit mabilis ding napakunot ang aking noo. I never seen her in campus. A new face, I could tell.

At mukha rin siyang hindi nalalayo ang edad namin.

"Are you new here?" tanong ko sa kaniya. Habang hindi pa rin nawawala ang pagkunot ng aking noo. "Are you a new teacher or something?"

She smiled awkwardly, at inilagay ang nalaglag niyang buhok sa likuran ng kaniyang tenga.

"I am a facilitator," she replied frugally. "My name's Blei."