My both leg numbs as I wait for a jeepney to ride and go to school on time. I think it will take centuries for a jeepney to take me to school! It's been an hour and still there's no jeepney! Ugh!! I'll be late again and again! For sure! Sir Gavin will exhort me again! "Jeepp!! Where are you!" I said in the lowest tone of my voice. I'm so exhausted waiting for a ride, it's already 6:45 AM and I'm still here! "Loorrrdd!! Give me a ride, pleaasee" I said with the tone of entreaty. I waited again and not so long of waiting I heard a sound of Tricycle. I know who's trycycle is this, I think it's Tony's. The Tricycle slowed down and stopped in front of me.
"Tony, Are you looking for a passenger?" I said and he took his glasses off and stared at me
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'll just go to the market because Grandma told me to buy this" he put his hand in his pocket to get the list of groceries and gave it to me
"Okay, Thanks then" I smiled and raise my both eyebrows "I'm late already... And I need to take a ride"
"Suuree!!" Tony said "Come in"
"Are you serious?" ugh!! Finally! I can go to school already
"Yeah, Don't you want a free ride?" he jives and we chuckles
"I-I would love to" I sat on the seat of the Tricycle. Tony starts to drive and finally! I can surely go to school now!
TONY, I grew up with him. He became one of my protector whenever I got bullied. He wants to study but his parents died 2 years ago when he's only 18 because of car accident. He have two younger siblings, the second one is Tyrone,13 years old and the youngest Tyra 11 years old. He stands as the father and mother to his younger siblings. At the very young age he started to work as a tricycle driver to feed and support the studies of his 2 younger siblings. And I was still so lucky, We are a Broken Family but still, Dad gives my allowance for me to study and finish my studies so that I can find a good and stable job.
Tony stopped on the front of school gate. I look at my watch "Shiitt! It's already 7:10! Ohh Noo!!" I quickly get off from the tricycle "Thank you for the free ride Tony! I'm just so late"
"Welcome" he barely smiled and left. I ran to the building of my room. It's so quiet already and I went to the 2nd floor. There's no students in the hallway, Shiitt it means, the class is already started!!. I face-palmed because I'm late again. Sir Gavin would kill me, he gave me a warning last time. Shit! What am I gonna do now!
I slowly went to the 2nd door at the back of our classroom. I opened it slowly and making sure that I will not make any sound. I successfully opened it, I crawl at the back and I heard the soft laughs of my classmates
"Ms. Kristine Devanadera you forgot to close the door" I was extremely shocked when I heard the deep voice of Sir Gavin. I stood up and looked at Sir, he is in front of our classroom sitting on a desk table "I gave you a warning last time right?" he said in a cold voice. I nodded while some pieces of my hair covered my face
"I'm sorry Sir, I just can't find a ride that's why I'm always late, I hope you understand" I can't look at Sir Gavin's eyes that's why my head remain down while my hands holding some of my books
"Congrats Ms. Kristine Devanadera" Sir Gavin said
Automatically, my head turned up and my forehead creased on what Sir said
"F-For w-what?"
"For being late for the 7 straight time!" everyone laughed and I got pissed "You're so intelligent Ms. Devanadera but being late to my class...." he raised his both eyebrows and suddenly stopped in his speaking "That's so disrespectful"
"I'm sorry, Sir" even if I'm so pissed,I need to control it or else ughh!! nevermind
"Let me tell you this class" he stand and start to speak "I wake up 4:00 AM in the morning, my wife is still not awake that's why I do what she needs to do as wife. I'm the one who cook rice and viand for my wife. I treat her not just a princess but a queen. And still I came school on time, 1 hour before the schooltime
Being early can do so many things, not just you can do what you didn't do on your home but the opportunities. The earlier you are the more opportunities you can get. So you Ms. Devanadera always be on time, traffic or waiting too much time for a ride isn't an excuse. You will make your own way not the time" All of the words thrown from his mouth sunk in my mind but still Lecture is Lecture but embarrassing me in front of them? Huh! Get ready Sir you roasted me, I will roast you too "Have a se–"
"There are so many opportunities, you will not miss it. Let's think of it. Yes you're so early for the opportunity but what if that opportunity don't suit you. You're a writer but the given opportunity is for those who can dance. Can you write a dance? HELL NO! Being late is better than never" The arms of Sir Gavin crossed and sat again on the table desk
"Is that how you justify and defend your side?" he said and chuckles
"Yeah" I crossed my arms too and raise the my right eyebrow
"What a stupid statement" Sir Gavin said and laughed so hard "You should go to your seat Ms. Devanadera" he pointed his hand to my seat "GRADE-11 MACKINTOSH, Open your module on page 35"
"Psst! Kristine why are you late again? Huh!?" Tiffany whispered so that she will not be notice by Sir Gavin
"Don't you heard what I said earlier? I can't find a ride, that's why I'm late!" I said while I'm putting my books in the compartment of my desk
"How the hell did you got here!" Sofia said "Don't tell me, Tony gave you a free ride again huh!?" she inclined her arms to her chair and took a bite of her morning snack
"Yeah" I chuckles
"You're so unfair! I want a ride too, I wanna ride Tony!" My eyes widened like I saw a ghost on what she said. I cover my lips and laughed "I mean, I want a ride, I want to be a passenger of Tony but....."
"But what?" Tiffany said
"I want that ride on your mind...." she suddenly stopped "Riding Tony" she lick and bit her lip and we chuckles. I slightly hit her head
"Girls at the back" deep manly voice of Sir Gavin shocked us "Explain page 35"
"OH my God! I left my module!" Tyra scratched her head
"You can't forget the numbers you sex with but you forgot the module!?" We laughed "Don't worry I have an extra" I gave her the extra module
I opened my module on page 35, PHILIPPINE CLEAN AIR ACT OF 1999, I already know about this; it's just a piece of cake.
"OH shit I don't know what it is" Sofia's eyes widened when she saw the Law that we needed to explain
"You're 16 years in this world and still, you don't know about this?" I said
"We're not genius as you, Kristine" Tiffany rolled her eyes and came back on reading the module
"Don't worry, I got your back" I wink my left eye on them and they looklike a child in happiness
"Thank you" they said
I raised my hand to explain this is my time to revenge after he embarrassed me in front of my classmates, Huh! GET READY Sir Gavin
"The Philippine Government made that law to secure the whole Filipinos can breathe clean and safe air. Pollution around the world is one of the undying topic for centuries. And that pollution can have a micro and macro effect to the community. Let's start with the micro effects: Plants, trees, Animals and especially humans are affected. And if the pollution become severe the temperature of Earth will increase where:
Plants scorches and will not grow due to the high temperature of Earth
Animals can't get food because the only food supply of the animals are only nature
Humans will die because of hunger because we have nothing to eat. Plants and trees are died, animals are extinct and waters are dried.
And if that all happens the upper atmosphere will also be affected. It will be thinner if we comtinue the wrong doings. And if the ozone layer pierces a hole. UV rays from the sun will enter and the temperature increases.
Humans are the cause and also humans will suffer. And that's because of the ignorance of us. And we dont need to wait for that to happen. It's early yet! We have so much to do. Segregation of wastes, enough knowledge about the community can save us from pollution. WE WILL BECAUSE WE CAN!" their mouth encircled and gave me a round of applause.
"Well, your answer is right" he coldly said
"You don't have problems in acads but in time? You have to learn it. Be early. Goodbye Class" Sir Gavin left the classroom and the class starts to talk and talk and talk
"Kristine, You're so intelligent! How to be you!" Sofia said and we laugh
"You know it's an easy topic" I said
The whole day passed and it's already afternoon. It's time to went back home. I brought my things and left the school with Tiffany and Sofia
"Heeyyy!!! Let's buy 'kwek-kwek' and 'palamig'!!" Sofia said
"No, I dont have enough money" I refuse
"My treat" Sofia and I smiled when Tiffany said that
"Let's go!!" I said
As we buy kwek-kwek and palamig at the store, A tricycle stop behind us three. Sofia drin her palamig and turned her head. The she covered her mouth
"Oh My God!! T-Tony!" Sofia said
"W-what! A-Am I ugly!?" she comb her head and her cheeks blushes
"Want some ride girls?" a deep manly voice of Tony tickles the ears of Tiffany. She blushed again
"Y-Yeah S-Sure! How much?" Tiffany said
"No, it's free" Tony said
"Really! Thank you!!" Sofia said and went inside the sidecar while Tiffany sat beside Tony. I sat beside Sofia and Tony start to drive and bring us to our home
Tony stopped in the front of our house. I get off to the tricycle "Thank you for the free ride Tony" I barely smiled
"You're welcome" he also smiled and left
I looked at our house and my smile turned into sadness "Before, this house is so happy!, a complete happy family living together in one roof. Sorry for now our house, you'll be happy again not now but I hope soon" I opened the gate and walt to our wooden door. As expected, Mom is drunk again. My eyez are irritated on what I see. Dress, Tshirt, shorts bottles of alcohol are all on the ground. It's so messy! Mom is lying down to our sofa bed while her right hand holding a bottle of beer.
"Ughh!! Im so tired in school! And now I will clean this up" I said and I think Mom heard that. She sat and take the last drink of her beer
"You better clean our house, I'll just sleep" Mom said
"7 years have passed and still you can't forget Dad, he's happy with his new family!" Mom stopped frok walking and stared at me
"What?" her forehead creased
"Go, find anaother man of your life! You don't need alcohol in your life! You need a man ij your heart!" I said and laughed
"That's a great idea but I love beer" she said and walked to her room
"Ughh!! I'm tired of cleaning this fuckin' house" I picked the clothes and put it in laundry and I put the bottles in a sack. I broom the floor and wiped the window.
7PM. I finished cleaning the whole house! Im hungry! My stomach ztarts growling. I went to to kitchen to look for some foods. I opened the pot of rice and get some of it and I opened the refrigerator to look for eggs and tomatoes. I chopped the tomatoes and scrambled the egg. I put some salt and pepper. I put it in my plate and start to eat.
Im so tired in this whole day. It's so boring! Is there something new for me? I want something new! I think I already tried everything! Ughhh!! I hate this fuckin' life