Happiness

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

Luan is inside their classroom talking with her so-called ‘friends’ at her school. Their second semester is almost up, that's why they have free time to chat. She always had the image of being friendly and kind. 

Teachers would use her as a role model to everyone and she appreciated it. Other kids were really nice and others were filled with envy. There are those who really like her and those who get close to her for the sake of fame. 

“Luan! Miss Ramos is looking for you” said her classmate who was by the door, carrying the recycle bin. 

“Alright. Thanks, Cath” she smiled and excused herself from the group. 

She wonders what the teachers want from her again. She was always on an errand since she’s the head of the student council. Everyone expects something from her and there are times that it's too exhausting. 

She breathed in and out to prepare herself with a heavy workload before knocking on the teacher’s office. “Good morning” she politely greeted all the people inside and they greeted back. 

“Our student president is here” Sir Recto happily exclaimed “How are you, Luan?” 

Luan smiled brightly “I am fine, Sir. Thank you” 

Then she heard Miss Ramos “Is Luan here already?” 

She turned her head to Miss Ramos' table “Yes, ma’am” she answered and walked to her teacher. And as expected she was given workloads again. 

After giving her the task she was excused. She blew a loud breath when she went out. Her mind was already thinking of ways on how to conduct the seminar for the students in her strand. 

While walking down the hallway she saw a student in her class out the window with someone.  

“Is that Carl?” she mumbled and walked his way to take a closer look. 

It is him!

Luan looked at the person Carl was shooing away, it was a woman with ragged clothes. 

“Ma, I’m okay. You should go.” He was obviously irritated just from the sound of his voice

“Are you really? Then what’s that bruise on your face?” The woman was concerned about her son, and Luan knew that it was because she’s a true mother worrying over her child. 

She understood well why she felt envious of Carl at that moment. 

“Ma, please. Just go. You’re embarrassing me.” 

When Luan heard those words she turned her steps towards the two and smiled at the woman. “Hello, ma’am. Are you visiting your son?” 

The woman smiled back at her and held her hand “Hi, are you a friend of my boy? Isn’t he a nice kid? Is he doing well in school?” She was asked many questions but her eyes were staring at the woman’s warm hand holding hers tightly. 

It felt nice and warm and she didn’t want to let go. Is this how it feels to have a mother concerned about her child? 

“Dear?” 

She was brought back to reality when the woman called out to her. “Ah yes, ma’am. Carl is my classmate and he's been doing well. Did you come to pay for his graduation fees?” 

The woman delightfully nodded, “Yes, since your adviser called me that my boy is going to graduate with high honor, I felt proud.” 

Wow, I feel like crying. She never felt this kind of love from a mother. 

Luan blinked, pushing back her tears “That’s good, ma’am! Congratulations” 

“Ma, you should go home. My little sister is waiting” Carl then said again. 

“I'll take you to the gates” Luan proposed and the woman agreed. When Carl’s mother was out of sight he spoke to her. 

“Maybe this is why you’re called the sunshine of our school” he said as he pushed back his glasses from falling. “Sorry you had to see that” 

“What’s there to be sorry about? Isn't it nice to have a caring mother?” It was too late to heave back the envy in her tone. She cleared her throat and looked at him 

“You’re the kid Alex and his friends have been doting on, aren't you?” 

He averted his gaze elsewhere “What’s that got to do with you?” 

She didn’t answer and pulled him by the wrist. Carl was struggling in her grip, of course he would. Luan is a black belter in taekwondo at a young age because her parents enrolled her in those classes forcibly. 

Luan dragged Carl in front of the boys who were bullying him. It was their so-called territory. He automatically lowered his head and she noticed it. 

“Hi Alex!” she cheerfully waved at the guy sitting on a bench, surrounded by his gang. 

Alex waved back in confusion “Luan? What are you doing here..” he looked at Carl “..and you’re with our toy” 

She smiled “Carl is not your toy, Alex. He’s my classmate. And oh how is Auntie Anne? Is she doing well?” 

Alex frowned at her “What do you want Luan, why are you upset?” Alex is someone Luan knows because they go to the same music and taekwondo class. They were both forced to take lessons back in the States but she didn’t expect him to be a rebel like this. 

“I want you to leave Carl alone” she saw Alex was about to talk but she didn’t let him “That’s what I wanted to say. We’ll get going then” 

Luan dragged Carl along with her again and before completely leaving she turned her head back and yelled “Say hi to Auntie Anne to me, I miss her cookies!” 

Alex was left dumbfounded and even if he didn't want to it was Luan who asked him about it directly. He has to obey. 

Carl was still confused while being dragged by the smiling girl. They stopped at the soccer field and Luan sat on the grass. 

“Why did you help me?” 

Luan answered without looking at him “Because your mother doesn’t deserve it” 

“Deserve what?” 

“Your treatment” she closed her eyes and felt the wind “Because you have a caring mother” 

Carl sat beside her “And you dont?”

She chuckled, “I like how warm your mother's hands were. It felt nice” 

Her words sounded sad to Carl. All of the people around her thought that she’s living the life of a princess, having parents that were rising in the economy and being a perfect daughter. But that perfection comes with heavy shackles, around her neck, on her wrist and ankles. It was suffocating. 

“You can come to our home anytime.” He said that took her by surprise “Although, it’s not as nice as yours, it’s enough to call it home. Mama cooks warm meals for us and works hard everyday to send us to school.” 

He sighed “I know I treated her wrong a while ago. I’m sorry” 

“You should tell her that not to me. You should go hug her and tell her that you love her” Oh, how Luan wished she could do this things to her mother “Respond to her nicely when she’s asking if you’re okay cause not every mother could be that concerned to their child” 

“You’ll be okay” 

She turned her head to him “What?” 

“I said that you’ll be okay” he repeated 

“But I am” Luan insisted 

“You’re not. Don’t lie. That sadness in your eyes can never match those bright smiles. Judging from your tone you don’t have a family everyone imagines you to have. A happy and successful family they say? I don’t think that’s it.” She was left speechless. He was straight on the goal. 

They both heard the bell rang, it was time for lunch break. Carl stood up and cleared the dirt on his pants. He extended a hand to help her get up and she accepted it. 

She fixed herself before walking side by side with Carl. No one spoke a word until they got in the cafeteria and separated ways. 

She wasn’t expecting for someone to see through her that well. 

Luan lined up to the stall where her favorite food is being served when her phone in her pockets rang, it was a notification. A message from her father’s secretary asking her to go to his office after school.