Good Day
“Psst…”
“Psst… Teejhay.”
“You fool, wake up!”
Oh Anne, she’s my best friend. Well actually, she’s one of my best friends.
She always keeps me awake because she wants me to pay attention to Mrs. Nyeves.
“Dude, what is your problem?” I annoyingly asked.
“You’re sleeping again, during class!” she madly replied.
“Yah, so?”
“So? Don’t you realize that you could get suspended because of your laziness?”
“Well, I don’t really care. I sleep when the discussion is boring. End of discussion.”
“But- beeps.”
“What if you- beep.”
I’d ignore her for the rest of the class hours.
“Cling, cling, and cling.” At last, recess.
During recess, I get to see my crush, Angela. Oh she’s the cutest. But sadly, she already has a boyfriend.
Luckily, I have Lawrence, Czarney and Anne to be with during recess time.
Lawrence is the so called “playboy” at school. Looks like his mom, only taller and skinny.
He’s the one I always hang with whenever Anne and Czarney do their girl thing.
Here is Czarney. She’s the Captain of our school pep squad. She and the rest of the squad already won tons of awards from different competitions. She’s the toughest of all the girls I guess. She can to a one man and a high chair all by herself.
We’ve been friends since grade five. But in these recent months, she wasn’t that much open to me or to Anne and Lawrence.
I can’t help but notice that students keeps on staring at the four of us every time we enter the cafeteria.
It’s like we’re some kind of visitors that has a disease or something.
Well it’s just me.
But when we reach out seats, the fun starts.
We are known for being the loudest group in the cafeteria.
We would burst out in happiness and laugh at the top of our lungs.
It was a fiesta every recess time. But it’s not regularly.
Sometimes we’d have to eat without Czarney, or without Anne.
But it’s alright because they always manage to fill up the time that they were absent by treating us with a drink or a snack.
That was our routine, our cycle. We we’re happy about everything we have for each other. But life wouldn’t be exiting without a dash of trials.
Well, we’ll see about that.
“Anne, read this letter I made for you after two days I give this, Ok?”
Anne nodded.
I was wondering what was inside.
I went home with a smile on my face for today went exactly as I hoped it would be.
“Mom, Dad? I’m home you guys!”
“We’re in the kitchen!” – Mom shouted.
My mom is a super housewife. She can clean every inch of our house in a short period of time.
Dad is a pastor in our church. So were my grandfather and my great grandfather and my great, great grandfather.
You see, being a pastor is the legacy my family has left in this place.
“Son are you hungry?” mom asked.
“No mom.”
“Thanks, I’ll be in my room.”
“You won’t be eating with us?” dad interruptedly asked.
“Nope, I’ll be fine.”
My bed, my old, small bed.
I love my old, small bed. It’s too old that I was my dad’s first bed since he was my age. How awesome is that?
As usual, Lawrence would call me at around 7:30 PM and we would talk about his boring fantasies about his crushes.
Crushes as in “crushes.”
“Teejhay, can you wait for me at the lemon square around 6:45 AM?”
I was wondering, why would he ask me to wait for him.
He usually comes to school at least, 10 to 20 minutes late.
Why the sudden change?
“Well, I guess I could wait for you, but let’s invite Anne and Czarney too. Deal?”
“Deal, alright thanks man!”
“Bye”
Well that was a little odd. It’s like he was catching his breath.
I woke up, dizzy, still caught up in my twisted dream.
The weather was a bit dark.
“Late”
I’m late! It’s 6:00!
I’m so late.
I was walking in that long narrow street across my house.
I looked beyond the road to see if someone’s already at the lemon square.
Czarney, she’s early.
So I ran up to her.
“Czarney! Czarney!” I shouted.
She smiled at me. That’s a sign that she’s in the right mood.
We chatted while waiting for Anne and Lawrence.
I noticed that Czarney was very gentle and sweet today.
“Wow Cza, you’re odd today, why the sudden girl attitude?” I teasingly asked.
“Nothing, I’m just feeling good today. Just remember me like this OK?” she answered with a—what?
“What did you say?” I asked. She’s very weird today.
“Nothing.”
Al last, they’re here!
“What took you so long? We we’re seven minutes earlier that you.”
“Sorry guys.” They both replied.
“I was caught in traffic.” Czarney reasoned.
“Mom forgot to iron my uniform.” Lawrence reasoned too.
“That age, your mom still does all the work in your clothes?” I asked.
“Dude, rich kid, rich kid.” Anne whispered.” “Oh, now I understand.”
Well, we laughed while walking.
“I believe that this will be a good day.” Anne stated.
“Me too.” I replied and so did Czarney.
But after this day, they would lose many friends, one will disappear and one will lose a home.
But how will they know all of this?
After all, it is suppose to be a good day.
As we entered the school premises, we headed out in different directions. I went to the library to do my research in economics, Czarney went to the gym to meet with her squad, and Anne went to our room to wait for our teacher in Filipino.
But Lawrence didn’t tell us where he was going. I didn’t feel anything unusual so I just let it go.
I accidentally bumped on to Miss Santos, our Filipino teacher.
“Andaya, why aren’t you in your room? My class is about to start…” and blah, blah, blah… all I can hear are a bunch of noise.
She’s this oh so weird teacher who wears retro clothes and smells like antibiotics.
“Yes ma’am. I’ll just finish my research in the library and I’ll be right up ma’am.”
Well of course I have to fake it with her.
Everything’s set.
The books, pencils, and notebook and…
“Oh no! Bond Papers.”
“Oh I need to buy some right now!!!”
So I rushed in the cafeteria then I noticed Lawrence sitting in a corner alone.
“Lawrence.” I whispered.
“Psst, what are you doing there?”
Guess he didn’t hear me. But he looked so serene, so lonely.
It looks like he’s got a lot of things in his mind.
So I guess I’ll just leave him alone.
When I left the canteen, I noticed some dark clouds headed this way.
I was a bit scared.
I went back up at the library.
Then I noticed someone sitting beside my chair, a girl I think.
It’s Charlyn, my old classmate.
She seems sad.
Why are there so many people who are sad today? It’s not fair. This is supposed to be my happy day.
“Uhm, Charlyn, why the lonely face?”
“Teejhay, he-, my-,”
Her voice was almost fading away, her eyes were gloomy.
Then suddenly, “Teejhay!”
She hugged me, tightly. Then she began to cry.
I didn’t realize why but when I hugged her back, I didn’t notice that Lawrence saw me.
He thought that we we’re, you know, doing something.
I saw him but just a glimpse.
I can see his eyes were mad at me. I can feel his anger.
But I don’t really know why.
“Why? What’s wrong?” I confronted the question.
“He’s a Cheater! He cheated on me!” she screamed repeatedly.
“Cheater, Cheater, Cheater!!! She screamed.
“Who Charlyn? Who cheated on you?”
“Lawrence! That bastard! I hate him”
She screamed his name repeatedly as her tears fall.
I suddenly felt aloof and dismayed.
I came to a decision.
It’s not my problem but I’ll help make it better.
“Charlyn, you wait here.” Her hands felt cold and she was shaking.
Her eyes looked swollen and her cheeks turned red.
She whispered, “Don’t leave me, please.”
I couldn’t say no. she was so pitiful.
I held and squeezed her hand to make her feel that she’s not alone in this.
Whatever this is, she is not alone.
I forgot all about my research.
I texted Anne. I told her to get here as fast as she could.
Lawrence was furious.
He couldn’t find a way to release the anger within him.
“Ahh!!!” I hear a scream.
Then Lawrence bumped into Anne while she was on her way here.
“Hey!” Anne called him.
No reply. Guess he was too angry with me to talk and to communicate with other people.
“What’s the matter with this guy?” Anne worriedly wondered.
Anne was shocked to see Charlyn cry. It’s like she saw a poor little kitten wondering alone.
“There, there…” Anne immediately comforted her.
Now that Anne’s here, I’ll have the chance to go to Lawrence and clear things out. It’s the least I could do to settle these confusions.
“You stay here with Anne ok?” “What? Why? Where are you going?”
“I’m just going to settle things out” it hopefully replied.
When I was looking for Lawrence, I noticed Czarney at the gymnasium.
She was crying, crying with her squad.
I was anxious.
“Kevin! What’s going on in there?”
Kevin, the most talkative guy in school, brilliant but flirty, so flirty.
“Well, I don’t actually know. There’s a rumor that says that Czarney is about to Leave CMIC.”
I paused a bit back there. Czarney, leaving CMIC, without even telling us? That’s odd.
“Leaving? Are you sure Kev?” “I’m sure I’m sure” Kevin irritatingly answered.
I didn’t have much time to meddle with this situation; I’ve got a lot on my back this time.
There I continued to look for Lawrence. I can’t help it, but whenever I walk in populated places, like in the popular field where famous and rich students’ hangout, I always make a big entrance, like I’m so thirsty for attention.
Then I saw Lawrence from a distance, in the school garden.
“Lawrence!” I called him.
Then I ran. He didn’t even move a muscle. He was just standing.
“Lawrence, it’s not what you think it is, it’s not.”
“It’s not?!” Lawrence strongly asked.
“It’s not!” I answered back.
Then the long fight began.
He reasoned out with his understanding. I didn’t even have the chance to speak up.
“But- no buts man!” “You cheated on me! You betrayed me.”
“I cheated you? You cheated on Charlyn! Don’t put this on me. It just so happened that she was looking for a shoulder to cry on and she found me.”
“I don’t believe you! You, you know what? You’re on your own man! You’re on your own.”
“What? Lawrence, don’t do this.” I tried to save our friendship, but I guess that he was too strong.
Then suddenly, Anne noticed on the window that the dark clouds have already reached the school premises.
Thunder, wind. The sun disappeared.
Then the emergency alarm rang.
“What’s happening?” Charlyn asked.
“I don’t know.”
Mr. Boyle shouted, “Everybody get inside!”
Soon, everybody started to panic.
Student screaming, running, trying to find a safe place.
Fear started to consume the school.
I began to ask the elders, “what’s going on?!”
“There’s a tornado headed this way in Valenzuela!”
“A tornado? That’s, that’s impossible!” I answered with fear.
I quickly ran inside the school, looking for Anne and Charlyn.
Everyone was terrified. The school was filled with scream.
Then finally, “Anne! Charlyn!”
“Teejhay, there you are.”
“We need to go underground!” I suggested.
“But there is no such underground in this school.”
“Yes there is!” someone shouted.
Who could she be?
“Who’s the super girl?” Charlyn asked me.
“My name is Nikki, Nina Kim Fernandez, but you can call me Nikki.”
She’s new here, I guess.
We ran and ran the four of us.
“Oh my gosh! Czarney, where’s Czarney?!”
“Who?” strange Nikki asked.
“Czarney is our friend. Have you seen her? The Girl with huge dimples.”
“Oh yeah! I’ve seen her; she left the building before this catastrophe occurred.” Nikki positively answered.
I didn’t know why, but I’m glad that Czarney’s safe. But what about Lawrence? Where could he be?
Then finally, we made it in the basement of the school.
“We should be safe here.” Nikki comfortingly stated.
“Thanks Nikki.” I replied with a smile, a smile that should cover my fear.
“You’re welcome.” Nikki smiled.
The swirling wind started to crush the building.
I sure do hope that my parents are alright.
Together, we prayed for those who are in danger right now, like us.
It was almost 9:00 when all of the menace ended.
Yes, it has ended alright. Many lives have ended as well.
Many died.
Many were injured.
We are lucky not be one of them.
“I’m going home; I’m going to check out my mom.” Charlyn worriedly said goodbye then.
“I think I’ll head home too.” Anne included.
“Well Nikki, I’ll be heading home too. Thanks again for the help.” I thanked Nikki.
“No biggie Teejhay.” Then she smiled again.
Anne got home safe with her family.
“Oh, Oh thank God you’re alright!” Anne sighed.
“My daughter!” Mrs. Cunanan happily embraced Anne.
It was a hopeful sight. They were all so lucky.
But not everyone is lucky…
Some students
“Nooo!!! Dad!!!” Lawrence screamed.
Yes, his father died in the great tragedy.
His mother burst in tears as they mourn in his father’s grave.
He was so sad.
A mixed emotion.
Anger and sadness, grief and tears.
Lawrence was devastated.
His house was so wrecked. They weren’t able to save any of their things, nor food, nor clothes.
Fate was harsh on Lawrence that night.
I was running again, hoping that my family is safe.
Fear is shaking my head.
I began to realize, what if they were dead.
“What would happen to me?”
Tears fell off my cheeks as I ran.
I was now catching my breath.
Minutes turned in motion.
Then I reached my house; it was destroyed and wrecked.
I began to worry.
“Mom, Dad? Matthew, John, Mika?!” my eyes began to blur again. Tears are still falling.
As I call on their names, my voice started to fade.
“Mom, please, where are you guys?”
Then out of the blue, I saw something moving in that wrecked house!
They were there, hiding!
“Mom, Dad!” I yelled.
“Teejhay! My son! Oh thank you Lord!” mom hugged me tightly.
I had my early thanksgiving.
Its’ like there was this thorn in my throat that disappeared.
Now everything is all better, except for one minor problem…
