Abi's Point of View
"I am your math and homeroom teacher, Kristine Escarcha. I hope to experience some good memories with you all," she said, her smile brightening the room like a light bulb flicking on.
Silence enveloped us. It was as if someone had flipped a switch, turning our lively classroom into a frozen tableau of wide eyes and hushed whispers.
"What's with the faces? Come now, I don't bite," she encouraged, but we remained quiet, like a bunch of kids who forgot how to speak. Who would dare break the silence? She looked strict, and I wasn't about to be the brave one.
"Okay, class," she continued, "if I call your names, please stand up and say 'present.' No need for introductions." With that, she took her seat behind the teacher's desk and began calling names.
"Emily B. Abubakar..."
"Present!"
"Samantha S. Andrada..."
"Present!"
She moved through the list, calling the girls' names alphabetically. Mine, starting with a 'Z', would undoubtedly be one of the last.
As she called out names, I took the opportunity to scan the classroom more closely. The walls were painted a sickly shade of whitish-yellow, reminiscent of an overripe banana, while the floor gleamed with white marble tiles. Four ceiling fans spun lazily in the corners, creating a gentle breeze that offered a small reprieve from the early warmth of the day.
My gaze drifted to my brother, who was paying attention to the roll call with an intensity that seemed unusual for him. The left side of the room had windows, but they were barred, presumably to prevent any unfortunate accidents.
Next to me, an empty seat remained unclaimed. Of course, no one dared to sit beside us. My brother's icy demeanor likely intimidated them; girls would have jumped at the chance to sit with us, but the boy-girl seating arrangement complicated things. Even if it weren't an issue, my brother would firmly deny any girl the privilege. "It's such a bother," he'd say, and I couldn't help but wonder how many would resist the allure of sitting next to him.
"Abril Zulmanēnga..."
"Present."
"Now it's time for the boys..."
A brief silence lingered before she began calling out names.
"Lucas Almodiente."
"Present."
"Luke Almodiente."
"Present."
Twins! I perked up, excited at the prospect of talking to them later. I had never met twins before, and the thought thrilled me.
"Ezekiel Ashton..." The teacher's voice cut through the air, but there was no response.
"Ezekiel Ashton?" she tried again, her brow furrowing in disappointment when silence greeted her.
I turned my attention back to the window, watching as the sun settled comfortably in its daytime perch. A flock of birds flew overhead, forming a V-formation against the bright blue sky.
As I contemplated the beautiful day, the girls behind us started whispering.
"I heard he's the transfer student from Shimakaze Academy in America."
"Ezekiel?"
"Yes! And some say he's quite a looker!" The girl squealed softly, careful not to attract the teacher's attention. I felt a twinge of concern for them; my brother despised noisy girls—except for me, of course.
If Ezekiel really was attending class today, it was bound to cause quite a stir. I couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't shown up on the first day. Was he sick? Or worse, a delinquent skipping class?
"Okay, class!" Ms. Escarcha clapped her hands, the sound cutting through the whispers. "Let us now start our lesson!"
---
???'s Point of View
Crap. It happened again. I got lost... again!
It was my first day of school, and I had transferred here from America, only to find myself wandering aimlessly. I thought I was headed to Shimakaze Academy, but somehow, I ended up near a highway.
I kept guessing which way to go and ran into multiple dead ends. When I tried asking for directions, many people around here didn't speak English fluently, and my attempts to learn Filipino were still in the early stages.
I approached a street vendor selling little orange balls. I heard the name "Kwek Kwek" being tossed around, so I figured it was worth a shot. After waiting for the customers to finish, I summoned my courage.
"Excuse me..."
"Ay hala gwapo!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide. I didn't catch everything he said, but I sensed he was surprised by my appearance.
"Um, excuse me..."
"Ano po yun?" he responded, sounding a bit confused.
"Do you know where Shimakaze Academy is?"
He seemed to panic. "Patay englishero!" (Oh no, an English speaker!)
I noticed him start to sweat, and I felt a bit guilty for causing a scene.
"Um, can you speak Tagalog?" I asked, hoping to simplify things.
He shook his head, and I sighed, giving up. "Never mind. Have a good day." I walked away, disheartened.
I should have asked my butler for a map. My family car had broken down, forcing me to walk, which wasn't a huge deal since I had decent stamina, but my sense of direction was atrocious. To top it off, I had no communication devices because my little sister had drained the battery the night before. What a fantastic start to my first day!
But I refused to give up. Finding Shimakaze Academy would be a victory in itself.
---
Hours Later...
I was done. I slumped onto a bench in a park I didn't even know the name of.
I tried my best but failed. At this rate, I might end up sleeping here tonight...
I took a moment to stretch, groaning in frustration. My throat was parched, and I unscrewed my water bottle, gulping down the last few drops.
Hope was dwindling, but I remembered my grandfather's words: "Never give up as long as you can still fight." I inhaled deeply, trying to calm myself as I gazed around the park. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in vibrant oranges and purples. Children ran past me, heading home, and I felt a pang of longing for my mother.
To distract myself, I looked at the sturdy tree behind me. It was large and healthy, a testament to the care of the park's workers. It reminded me of home.
Suddenly, a rustling noise caught my attention. I looked up and was startled to see a girl sitting on a branch above me, grinning mischievously. She waved at me, her dimples making her smile even more disarming.
"What are you doing there?" she called down, laughter dancing in her voice.
I blinked, utterly taken aback. She was... intriguing, but also a little intimidating.
Was this my day turning around, or was I just in for more trouble?