Chesah is a young girl, a dreamer with her head in the clouds but her feet firmly planted on the ground. With her dark hair and piercing brown eyes, she has a whole vibe and inner strength that truly set her apart.
Chesah sat at the breakfast table, slowly stirring her coffee while her mom and dad talked about their plans for the day. She wasn't listening though, her mind was racing with thoughts and worries about the future. She was an over thinker, always stuck in her head.
"Chesah, are you okay ?", her mom asked, noticing Emilia's distant look
Emilia shook her head, realizing that she had been so lost in thought that she had barely heard her parents' conversation. "Yeah, sorry. Just thinking."
Her mother smiled sympathetically. "About what?"
Emilia hesitated, unsure of how to put into words the jumble of thoughts and worries that had been strangling her mind. "Just...everything, I guess. High school, the future, what I want to do with my life."
Her father chuckled, "Ah, the age-old question."
From a young age, Chesah had always been an over thinker. She over thinks everything- her future and past. She would get caught up in her thoughts, analyzing and dissecting every situation, every conversation, and every decision she made. Her mind was a labyrinth of ideas and questions, and she spent countless hours lost in thought, pondering the mysteries of the world around her. It was a habit that had served her well in some ways, allowing her to be careful and thoughtful in her actions. But it could also be paralyzing, causing her to second-guess herself and miss out on opportunities.
6:02 a.m
Speaking of opportunities, she is now entering her new journey as a high school student in a catholic institution as a grade 7 student.
Now, as she is preparing to start high school, Chesah felt her thoughts taking over once again. What if she didn't make any friends? What if she couldn't keep up with the coursework? What if she embarrassed herself in front of everyone? These worries swirled around in her head, like a storm cloud that wouldn't dissipate.
Chesah tried to put aside her thoughts and concentrate on the excitement of beginning what was to come in her life. She was always an excellent student, and she was certain that she was ready for the challenging academics of the high school. But the anxiety remained, annoying her like an undesirable ache.
Her school starts at 7:30 am.
As she walks out of her house, she felt a sense of excitement, mixed with uncertainty. But she knew that this was what she needed - to take a risk, to step outside of her comfort zone, and to embrace the unknown.
While she was wandering, a girl interrupted her with a neck-back grab. It was her cousin, Zia. They were friends when they were still kids. Zia is one of her friends whom she trusts and cares about. For almost 8 years, they were inseparable.
"Hi, Behh! How's it going? You seem like you're in a better mood today"
Chesah smiled, grateful for Zia's support and encouragement, and said, "Yeah, I'm feeling good, thanks."
"Okay, let's walk together", Zia exclaimed with excitement.
While they were walking, they start talking about their dreams and goals. After the 15-minute walk, they arrived at Saint Louis High School of Bantoc, Inc. They gazed in awe as they saw the church, its exterior, with intricate stained glass windows casting a rainbow of colors across the wooden pews. The walls were adorned with beautiful murals of Biblical scenes, and the flickering candles added a warm glow to the space. Every Catholic institution in the Philippines has a church and sometimes always beside the school. As they walked down the winding path, they saw the sprawling grounds filled with tropical trees and colorful flowers. The sound of the students' laughter and chatter filled their ears, mixing with the hum of the nearby jeepneys and tricycles.
"This is it, bhieeh...this is the start of our journey, I'm feeling goosebumps all over my body", Zia said with joy.
"Yeah, me too", Chesah sighed with relief.
The bell rang, signaling the start of the anticipated school day. "Good morning students, please gather and arrange yourselves accordingly within your grade levels, thank you", Mr. Odamac, the principal, said using a microphone.
Chesah stood up in a line with students that aren't familiar, feeling excited and nervous. When suddenly someone tapped on her shoulder. Chesah was a little shocked and turned to her saying, "Yes, is there a problem?".
"Oh, there's no problem, do you not remember me, I'm Abel, we've been classmates for years."
" Abel? Abel!, yes, I remembered, I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you, by the way, how are you?".
"I'm better than ever, it is such a coincidence that we enrolled in the same school", Abel said.