Dancing on Thin Ice

Chapter 3

[Ash Gomez's POV]

I don't have anything against Math but I think this subject inherently hates me. I've been staring at this equation my teacher wrote on the blackboard for quite some time now and all my mind is completely blank. I looked sideways at my classmates and saw them scribbling on their papers, trying to solve the equation in front. Hiniwalay ko ang aking paningin mula sa kanila saka ako bumaling sa aking papel. Empty.

"God, please help me. I don't know how to solve this," I mumbled to myself as I scratched the back of my head.

"Psst," I heard someone calling me but at I just brushed it off because I believed it was all just in my head, or so I thought.

I suddenly flinched when someone from my side nudged my elbow with a pen.

Tinignan ko kung sino iyon at ipinakita niya sa akin ang papel niyang may sagot na sa equation as harap. I mouthed her a quick 'thank you' and immediately copied her answers while still being vigilant since out teacher was roving around the whole classroom.

I know God is watching me right now pero wala along magawa kundi humingi ng pasensya internally since wala along magawa kundi kumapit sa patalim or else I would end up getting zero in this quiz and the whole class would either laugh or gossip about me. That's the least I would want to happen.

Malapit ko na sanang matapos ang aking pagsusulat ng mga sagot nang biglang nagsalita ang aming guro.

"Eyes on your own papers. Kapag may nahuli akong nangongopya, you will immediately be given a score of zero pati na rin ang nagpakopya," she warned.

That was the signal na huminto ako sa pagtingin sa kanyang papel at nagpasalamat na lang at may naisagot ako kahit hindi naman galing sa akin.

Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto, natigil na kami sa pagsusulat saka nag-check ng aming mga papel. Luckily, I was able to garner 8 points of of 10, all thanks to Precious who was the one who gave me answers. Before leaving the room after we have been dismissed, I promised to myself that I would really study math at home because I cannot afford having nothing to answer on a quiz and I can't just rely on my seatmate's answers all the time.

It was our last period of the day and I cannot wait to go home. Fortunately, wala kaming assignments for this day so I can just spend my time just playing anything I can think of in my room.

After coming back here in the Philippines, my Mom told me would be staying for a couple of years so I had to resume my studies here in this country. Wala naman akong problema doon since I have already finished my junior highschool years sa labas at ito naman ay ipapatuloy ko ang aking senior high school.

I did not hesitate in enroling under the Arts and Design Track because I feel like this would be an advantage as I am pursuing figure skating in the future. My parents questioned me at first why I did not choose the Sports Track instead since figure skating is a sport itself, but for me, it is an art itself. Other than that, I've taken a liking on the world of arts and I want to grow more in this field. Akala ko nga ay matatakasan ko na ang Math dahil dito but life maybe really wants me to solve mathematical problems and I am totally not up for it.

"Do you think digital art is better than traditional art? Kasi kung iisipin mo, mas madali mag redo ng mistakes sa tablet like isang pindot lang kaysa sa sketch pad na gagamit ka pa ng eraser and it'll be a waste of time," said Archie while we were walking down the hallway.

Nagsilabasan ang mga estudyante nang tumunog ang bell ng school kani-kanina lang. Most of them are eager to go home as well at ang iba naman ay siguro gagala pa bago umuwi sa kanila. This is the part when they go in groups while hapilly striding toward the outside of the school gates.

As for me, though. I do not have a circle of friends. Few friends, acquaintances, but no circle.

I understand that though since I've heard gossips about me circulating around the room such as why I keep on talking in English even though nasa Pilipinas naman daw ako and not everyone in the room can speak English fluently. They basically think I am boasting myself na mas marunong ako magsalit ng Ingles kaysa kanila just because galing ako sa labas nag-aral. They have also probably talked about my family, considering how they knew about our business and family background.

First of all, it has been years since last I went back to the Philippines and I stayed at Canada for a long time as well. Sa paaralan naman doon ay wala akong ibang kausap kundi mg Ingles kaya I had to fit in and learn the language as well para makahalubilo sila.

Now that I'm back here, kakabalik lang namin and I am still trying to adjust my Filipino-speaking skills because re-learning it can not be done in just one night and so I am literally trying my best to converse with them in Filipino, but all I get are weird stares as if I'm a creature from a different planet. Secondly, I am not obliged to hear their thoughts about my parents are our family as a whole because I am sure that all those gossips are either lacking or exaggerated.

I sighed internally habang iniisip ang mga ito. Some people really are something, you know. They will always have something to say kahit ano pang mabuti ang gawin mo sa buhay. Palagi silang may mapupuna even though you did not do anything toward them and that's the reality of life. I guess I'll just let them be.

"I guess it's really up to the artist to decide whichever is better between the two. For example, ako. I spent most of my time doing sketches in sketch pads compared to when I shifted to digital art. So if I were to choose, I can say I prefer traditional art," sagot ko naman sa kanya habang nakalabas na kami ng gate ng school.

"Sabagay. I prefer digital art, thought, kasi mas madali siya in all aspects literally. Hindi ka na mapapagod because everything is just one click away," sabi niya while acting as if sketching in midair.

I laughed at his gesture. "Art takes time, Archie. Hindi 'yan minamadali," I told him.

"Not when it's a fan art commission," he replied as he winked.

I then stopped in my tracks when I remembered something.

"Hmm. Point taken," ang tanging sagot ko sa kanya.

I nearly forgot that he takes art commissions from people as a source of income. He has this personal blog or site wherein his portfolio containing different fan arts from previous commissions as a basis for future transactions with customers. Naikwento ni Archie how he started dati from scratch with only a sketch of his favorite anime character na tanging naroon sa kanyang porfolio. With patience and perseverance, his reputation grew and now more and more people are requesting art commissions from him. I now understand why he prefers digital art than traditional art, and that's because the faster he gets to finish one commission, the earlier he gets to another one, and the more income he garners from one to another.

Pumara na kami ng tricycle on our way home while talking about another topic other than kanina.

I savored the afternoon breeze as the air hit my face. I then felt a hint of nostalgia as I remembered the days when I was still studying here in the Philippines during my elementary days. Kahit na ilang taon na ang lumipas ay hindi ko maipagkaila na ibang-iba ang pag-aaral ko noon dito kumpara sa noong nasa Canada ako. During my first week of class doon, I was literally ostracized by my classmates because they refuse to befriend those who are from overseas. It took months before we all got along well and hopefully ganoon rin ang mangyayarin between sa 'kin and my classmates ngayon.

Dumating ako sa aming bahay saka ako pumasok sa loob only to see Dad sprawled along the sofa, mouth open, necktie loosened around his neck, arms draping along the headrest, and one of his left hanging down on the floor.

On instinct, I looked at the kitchen to look for Mom and there she was preparing for our dinner. I then moved closer to her.

"What's up with Dad? Is he okay?" I whispered to her ear.

"He must've had a long day at work, but I'm sure he's fine," sabi niya sa akin.

I nodded in response saka ko tinignan ulit si Dad sa living room. He looks extremely exhausted.

"You go upstairs and I'll call for you once dinner is ready," Mom said with her back facing at me. Busy siya sa paghihiwa ng mga spices kaya naman nauna na akong umakyat sa itaas patungo sa aking kwarto.

It was a Friday night and I literally don't have anything to do kasi walang iniwan sa main na mga assignments. I have this application on my phone na isang roleta. Basically, kapag hindi ko alam ano ang gagawin ko for the rest of the night ay nililista ko sa roleta ang mga pwede kong gawin and I let it decide for me.

"Watch a movie, sketch, read a book, watch clips on youtube, play games," I mumbled while inputting these down on the roulette.

Nang matapos ako ay pinaikot ko na ang roleta. I really don't mind kung saan mag-land ang arrow sa mga ito because I would rather do something rather than sleep this early right after eating dinner.

Unti-unting huminto ang rolenta saka tumapat ang arrow nito sa 'play games'.

"Hmm. Play games it is then," sabi ko sa sarili ko while scrolling for games on my phone.

Nalaro ako ng Mobile Legends for an hour or two before my Mom's head popped into my room beside the door.

"Kain na tayo, Ash. Just be quiet since your Dad is still asleep," sabi niya sa akin before going back downstairs.

I stopped playing for a while saka dumiretso na sa baba para kumain. Habang kumakain ay bigla kong naalala na Friday nga pala ngayon at bukas ay Saturday which means I get to spend the whole day at the skating dome since wala naman akong group tasks over the weekend. I excitedly ate my food while hearing my Dad's snores from the living room saka naghugas ng pinggan after. I decided not to play games anymore and proceed to sleep early para maaga rin ako magising bukas.

God, I love weekends.