A calm and pleasant morning ensued. I woke up to the sound of chirping birds and vendors shouting 'taho' on the streets.
Just before the sun rose, I went downstairs to find one of the taho vendors. A man holding two enclosed metal buckets then walked towards me and promptly opened them.
A cup of freshly cooked taho costs around P 10. The vendors scoop some soft tofu and then topped it off with spoonfuls of sago and melted brown sugar.
"Sweet," I gleefully reacted to the taste of the taho. "I should try these some other time."
Back inside the room, Charissa had just served some waffles and hash browns for breakfast. The pearly white smile on her face suggested that better days lie ahead.
Sure enough, I did not waste time preparing myself for school. With some freshly bought clothes at my disposal my eagerness to start afresh showed.
Except that there was one problem.
"Christine, you forgot your breakfast," Charissa called me back.
"Can you just pack my breakfast?" I suggested to Charissa. "Michelle could come in anytime soon."
"If you say so," Charissa answered eagerly.
After Charissa packed some waffles and hash browns inside a bag, I hurriedly went down the driveway. Just then, Michelle's Vios had arrived and I boarded in.
While on the way to school, Michelle sampled some of Charissa's waffles and hash browns.
"These are delicious," Michelle remarked thoughtfully on the food. "Perhaps I should inform Karina about this."
Having left home early, traffic was never an issue for both of us. It was a pleasant 30-minute ride from our respective homes all the way to school.
Along the way, Michelle pumped herself up with a popular 90s hit single by Chumbawamba. And she sang the memorable chorus with unbridled passion.
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down
"Was that 'Tubthumping'?" I naturally wondered to Michelle.
"Yes it was," Michelle responded positively. "Remember when this song was played during our graduation dance in sixth grade?"
"Oh I remembered it now," my face joyfully reacting to the song.
At the parking lot, Michelle and I went our separate ways, but not before we shared a hug. Upon walking to school that morning, a familiar face bumped into me.
"Francesca?" I exclaimed. "Is that you?"
"Christine?" Francesca pointed her finger towards me. "Oh it's undoubtedly you. Long time no see."
Francesca and I hugged at the entrance and then walked to the bench for a little talk.
"So you seem to be good spirits now," I said humbly to Francesca. "How are you doing?"
"Well, to tell you the truth it's only my initial day back here since that infamous incident at the parking lot," Francesca revealed. "I haven't been able to catch up on school because of my confinement."
"What about Corinna?" I asked a question. "Have you promptly reported this unfortunate incident to the school management?"
"I have yet to visit the discipline office," Francesca answered, her gaze fixed at the clear skies. "But I plan to report this incident right now. You can come with me if your mind wishes to."
So I accompanied Francesca to the discipline office in order to file an official complaint against Corinna. As the office staff looked closely at her face, they saw a few noticeable bruises.
"No wonder," the staff member commented on Francesca. "You got beat up pretty bad."
The staff told us that the decision will be announced within a few working days. For now, Corinna would still be allowed to attend school, but her days inside this campus were being numbered.
Meantime, Francesca and I visited an adjacent cafeteria where she ate some sausage and omelet for breakfast. Just then, a stranger sporting medium-long hair, a short-sleeved shirt, denim shorts and high heels instantly made her way to the table.
"You look familiar with the short hair and glasses," the stranger intently gazed at me. "You must be attending philosophy class, right?"
"I do attend philosophy," my prompt response to the stranger. "So who are you then?"
"My name is Claire," the stranger instantly revealed. "And I happen to be schoolmates with Francesca and Corinna since high school."
"Claire, this lovely lady's name is Christine," Francesca intervened while showing her rosy palm towards me. "She spared my life from that bastard Corinna."
"Nice to meet you Claire," I said gently upon shaking her hand.
Turning serious, Claire started talking about Corinna's devious actions a few weeks ago.
"So about that scoundrel Corinna," Claire furiously reacted. "I should've known. She was pretending to be a good girl in class only to show her actual colors outside. The terrible truth is, I also witnessed how Francesca's face got beaten to a pulp by Corinna."
"Shame on her," Francesca answered back. "She was so jealous, period. But don't worry. Sooner or later the law will lay down, and Corinna will be kicked out of this institution."
"I sure hope they make the right decision," Claire uttered with a serious look on her face.
After Claire and I shook hands, she sat down with me and Francesca for some breakfast. Having missed the previous class, I borrowed Claire's notebook and copied the prior week's lecture.
"You sure missed a lot of lessons," Claire commented on my intentions.
"Sorry Claire," I informed her. "Corinna and I had to blow off some steam hence my absence in the last class."
"Well, would you like to be my seatmate moving forward?" Claire proposed.
After deeply thinking about Claire's suggestion, I agreed to join her in class. But upon glancing anxiously at my watch, it was already 9:30 in the morning.
"We're late," I overreacted.
"Christine, we can still make it," Claire responded eagerly. "Let's go."
"What about me?" Francesca questioned.
"Don't worry," I informed Francesca. "We can discuss some other time. Claire and I have to attend class now."
"Ok then," Francesca gently waved her hand goodbye. "I'll see you later."
Leaving Francesca behind, Claire and I hurriedly made our way to philosophy class. As we sat down, some overwhelming anxiety loomed with Corinna's fate hanging in the balance.