(Year 9)
CAMBIAMENTO DI FEDE
"CHENILYN! Oh my goodness! You're alive?" My mother emitted a short, mournful squall in the Administration Office, as soon as I set foot in the room. My home-room teacher and Principal shared an encouraging look, tacitly urging me to speak. "I'm alright." I rejoined impudently, a slow simper augmenting my mouth. "Morning, Principal and Miss Indira," I said and tarried to a stand-still, expecting a word from the Seniors.
"Take a seat, Chenilyn." Enjoined the Principal, deeming my disheveled state. I took this as my queue to sit down, at last. "Thank you," I said.
"Are you alright, Dear?" Miss Indira spoke gently. "You seem in a frenzy. I can understand this must have been a petrifying experience for you, as it was for us."
"Of course, she's alive. What can be wrong with her?" My mother replied, fretfully.
Something about Mrs. Lee's inquisitive tone on her daughter's well-being made Chenilyn despise her mother's intentions. Did she hope to never see her again?
"She's in good hands, Mrs. Indira and Mrs. Lee. No need to worry." Disclosed a man sitting nearby. I turned my head and stared scornfully at the Faculty member looking definitively at me; I looked away almost immediately and scoffed in disbelief. He brushed off the dust from his bagging uniform, insolently.
Who in the world is he?
Wasn't he the Faculty member scampering away like a frightened moss; when I chased after him as soon as the assailant withdrew? Wasn't he preoccupied with saving himself? That man had no esteem and consideration for any individual but himself, yet he propagated in the Principal's office as an intrepid and courageous Staff member. Who was he? Or more appropriately- Who did he think he was? I exhaled disgruntledly. I'm tired and frustrated. From all the anger and ferociousness I leashed and restrained myself from; one thing I didn't handle well was unkempt anger from a person's hubristic belief in his or her self-proclaimed genius. But, in the end, I don't need to be so discourteous... He was frightened. Just like I was. I might've done something similar, or at least been accused of something.
"Thank you, sweet darling!" My mother exclaimed and leaped across the Office to envelop the Faculty member in a tight hug. He seemed flabbergasted, and staggered to his feet, swaying a little. "No need... It was, um, my duty. If you don't mind, I can't breathe!"
"My goodness! I'm sorry! I just got too excited to see my daughter alive."
Jeering in disbelief, I turned my attention elsewhere. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, someone pinned one's hope to my demise. My eyes landed upon a man dressed in a genteel attire, appearing dispassionate and impassive by dint of overripe melodrama bequeathing in front of him. He laughed and conscientiously pulled out a pen and gesticulated a swift side-to-side movement; deliberately dropping it on the ground, as his eyes swiveled and latched on me immediately.
I hitched up my skirt and ran towards the glass panel casement; "Look!" I yelled. "Mom! It's him!" I yammered once more; however, she didn't say anything. She had espied me rounding the corner, and thwarted the Faculty member to tailor me, instead.
"Who are you referring to?" A voice suddenly queried.
We all turned our attention towards the person nearing the casement; looking bemused. I was about to speak when my mother halted me at once. "Nothing! It's just a tree." She said nonchalantly, gripping the sturdy holder of the casement, fearfully. I didn't presume with any justification and faced the casement alongside the person, who peered outside fretfully.
"I don't see anyone. Who did you see?" The Principal inquired, returning to the table, and entreating back with her gold-rimmed spectacles.
"The man who saved my life-" My voice was cut off promptly, and a frosty shudder ambled through my spine. I gawked at my mother setting down her hand on my shoulder. She grazed the loosened fringes of my overcoat and spoke in a satirical tone. "Since, no one is fond of hearkening my sentiment... Chenilyn, did you see a man outside?" Her voice was disconcerted with a saccharine smile.
"I- No. I was mistaken." I answered instinctively.
How could I respond when her 'sentimentality' was being pried upon?
"It- It really must've been a-"
But... How incarnation could I disrepute a person who saved me? Why did it have to be the Faculty member to attain all embraces and acknowledgment from my mother and not the person who deserved recognition?
I could've been killed, kidnapped, taken advantage of...? Did it matter anymore... If I lived or perished like carded wool? No matter what I felt at that moment; I didn't know what to retort to. I, like all the time in my mother's presence, felt discomfort.
"I think, I- think... Mom. It was another apparition of a flying horse."
My mother clutched my hand, instantaneously; her eyes piercing mine furiously. I fumbled with my name tag feeling petrified. But, before, she could utter a single disregard or a tale of depravity about me, the Principal rejoindered with the atypical Protection anthem:
"Well... Chenilyn, bear in mind the Safety Protocols and Stay safe. Thank God, you're alright."