The Land of the Morning Star

CHAPTER THREE

ROYCE JORDAN LANCAMON

Malipayon. There lived the merriest people you have ever seen. The villagers in Malipayon always smile, laugh, and gets along very well at each other. They all live with smiles and laughs except for the one blank girl.

Napahinto ako sa pagbabasa at napakunot ang noo ko. What the hell is this? Is it a fairytale?

Binali-baliktad ko ang libro, nagbabasakaling may makita akong kakaiba pero wala.
What kind of rubbish is this? Is this some kind of a bedtime story?

"Hoy!" Mark slammed my armchair that startled me.

"Jesus Christ, Mark! Get a life man!" I said and composed myself.

He just chuckled and sat beside me. "Nakakabookworm ba ang paglilinis sa library?" Pang-aasar n'ya.

I smirked and looked at him while I put the book inside my bag, "At least hindi ako sa CR naglilinis." Then I grinned. He just gave me his sweet middle finger.

Napatingin ako sa seat ni Trixie at sa wrist watch ko. Mag-s-start na ang klase pero wala pa rin s'ya.

Kinalabit ko si Mark, "Have you heard about Trix today?" I asked.

He quirked his eyebrows while busying himself browsing his binder, "Dinaan ko s'ya sa bahay nila kanina. Tulog pa ang tanga sabi ni tita. Nauna nalang ako kasi lumakas na 'yong ulan." Aniya kaya napatango-tango nalang ako.

"Shit." He suddenly cursed while looking at his binder.

Napalingon ako sa kan'ya, "Why?"

Nangangamba n'ya akong tinignan, "May assignment ka sa Oral Com?!" Natataranta n'yang ani.

"May assignment?!" Natataranta ko ring ani.

Shit. Hindi na ako nakakafocus sa pag-aaral ko dahil sa mga weird shit na nangyayari sa 'kin.

"Good morning, class. Please pass your assignments." Biglang pasok ni Ma'am Gina sa room.

Napaface-palm nalang ako sa inis.

Nagpass na ang mga kaklase ko ng mga assignments nila except sa 'min ni Mark. Damn this dude, lutang din palagi. Kalokohan lang alam sa buhay.

"Is this all? I'm not going to accept late papers." Aniya pero wala nang umimik.

"Ma'am! Ma'am! Teka lang po---"

Napalingon si Ma'am Gina sa kaklase naming si Dia na kakapasok palang, halatang nagmamadali para makahabol sa first period namin. She was soaking wet because of the heavy rain outside.

"Ms. Pablo, where are your manners?!" Ma'am Gina angrily yelled at her that made her halt.

She lowered her head in embarrassment, "I-I'm sorry, ma'am." She softly uttered.

"You didn't even greet me good morning and you have the guts to barge in to interrupt this class?" Ma'am Gina yelled again, embarrassing her more in front of the class.

"Get out! And if you wish to join us, enter this class in a proper manner!" Utos n'ya kaya agad namang lumabas si Dia pero nadulas s'ya sa sahig.

Napatawa 'yong iba naming mga kaklase pero nilingon sila ni Ma'am Gina kaya napayuko nalang sila.

I saw Mark holding his laugh kaya siniko ko s'ya sa t'yan. "Idiot." Saway ko sa kan'ya pero sinamaan n'ya lang ako ng tingin.

Dia got up and walked herself outside slowly. Maya-maya, magalang n'yang kinatok ang pinto ng room namin, "Good morning, Ma'am Gina. Good morning, classmates. I apologize for attending this class late. Please consider me joining you." Nahihiya n'yang ani.