Lighthouse Rocks

CHAPTER 3

Waiki’s POV

            The weather forecaster wasn’t lying when she reported that there will be an eighty-three chance of rainfall by today. To inform you Rocholigh is divided into two parts: west Rocholigh and east Rocholigh. Managed by only one government, same establishments, infrastructures, environment, and people. There’s no difference except that the eastern part is more populated and western’s way more peaceful yet we don’t completely share the same culture. So you see, east is where the government’s office is and stronger the signal but here in west, we were like specializing more into building buildings and stuffs.

            I was expecting for this day to be boring as the usual but nature has failed me, I guess. I love rainy days and gusty winds. Without haste, I immediately wore my sweater, bonnet, jacket, and loosed pants before going downstairs for breakfast with my family composed of seven members (three weren’t physically here though). My father works for the government while my mother’s currently the secretary of Crozier’s. I am the youngest among my other four siblings, three has graduated, and the one chose to work here and stay with us. I am currently in suffer under my elders’ wicked and inhumane activities, they literally are meant to be suited as best examples for the witch of the west. Luckily, my brother is on a vacation satisfying himself due to the achievements he has done to our previous school.

            The moment I saw our dining room, I see none but untidy plates and utensils on the table and disarranged chairs by the floor. Probably they’re already done, too excited to go to work and school that they couldn’t afford a bit of time to wait for me. Crap! Now I see why they left me, I fell asleep the whole thirty-five minutes on my first subject.

            Just chill Waiki, it is just first subject. You can come for the next class and besides, they won’t be able to notice you.

            I was right. They won’t notice me, they are currently grouped in pair like doing some tiresome activity for Mrs. Blaustein’s subject. I carefully sat on my designated seat but damn I have to get a partner so old and terrible Mrs. Blaustein will not—

“Tipu you’re late get outta here and proceed to the—”

            “I am n-not ma’am!” my sudden high pitch tone made everyone stop whatever tasks they are doing and stare at me like I am born having the spotlight.

            Mrs. Blaustein stared deeply into my eyes, scrutinizing my every move, but I hope she’s going to believe me. I can’t be caught off-guard or anxious or… lying. I guess I have to brace myself for whatever bullshit questions she’ll be throwing me.

            Mrs. Blaustein quirked her mouth sideward, “okay then go find yourself a partner.” Turning her back at me I went on.

Thanks God!

            Finding a pair for some boring activity is hard to the highest level. I ask someone I didn’t know what on earth are we going to do yet the moron ignored me like I'm a trash, the hell?! I asked everyone around the classroom, one that I thought of having no pair but in the end they wouldn’t pair up with me. I don’t have friends, I am all alone. If only… if only they knew what it felt like nobody was there, disappearance, and that I could fall and no one would hear. Am I their problem?

            Mrs. Blaustein’s given time to prepare ended. How the hell am I going to make this through? Unfortunately, no one wants to pair up with me plus I don’t have a single clue on what we are going to do for Christ’s sake. I sat on my chair disappointed while everyone returned back to their respective seats. She stood up in front delivering some words of wisdom in hope of giving us some strength, she then explained the criteria, the do’s and don’ts.

            “Each person will be given six minutes to deliver their speech of the chosen topic. A monologue is speech you make to yourself, it is usually long but since we’re only left with forty-five minutes and a class of twenty-two. Today I will have seven or eight presenters and next meeting will be the remainders,” she added. “Anyone who would like to volunteer?” the class went dead silent. Mrs. Blaustein eyes scanned the room, her eyes full of hope yet it— we failed her.

            Everyone held their breath altogether. I just knew because nobody wants to see and hear their last names being called randomly. No one wants that to happen right? Mrs. Blaustein sight moved unto her class record while searching for any name that God knows will pique her interest. I calmly looked around outside the window trying hard to remember when was the last time I was numb. The moderate rain droplets still continued to pour outside as if it is vivid from my position, sliding windows were shut emitting the dark surrounding, and as if on cue, only one fluorescent bulb is only lit inside the frigid classroom with twenty-three human beings.

Slowly, her mouth open.

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            “Chivas. Octxie Chivas,” Mrs. Blaustein finally announced as my stupid classmates letting out the air they’ve been holding for some time. Octxie? Oh crap, lately I’ve been humiliating myself in front of her. I hope she forgot my horrible face or else… “Partner?”

            I swiftly turned my head at her. Heavens! We are friggin seat mates?! When? How? I can see her eyes twitching into different directions, Octxie did not respond. Her silence made the whole class chant her nickname they literally gave her. Our old teacher is having a hard time diminishing the roars of wild animals escaped from the jungle, so sad she is not enough for them to go back to their cages.

“Assie!”

“Assie the wimpy! Assie the wimpy!”

“Assie!”

            Why does this kind of people exist? This girl don't deserve this kind of treatment.

            The embarrassed girl seating beside me sat back down in silence with her head bent down. It’s cool not being the target but…

            “Stop!” I screamed at the top of my lungs and stood up to— at least defend h-her. I have been in that situation and I know how awful it felt, like you’re broken a-and trying to speak, but nobody can hear. Everyone stopped teasing her and looked at me in disgust.

            “Have you ever felt like nobody was there, l-like you could just disappear, that you could fall and no o-one would hear? Letting that feeling wash away is not a reason to believe that you’ll gonna be okay because w-when you don’t feel strong enough to stand you can’t have… someone to reach out for your hand,” I spoke. I cleared my throat as I grasped the edge of my jacket. I am not used with this but damn. “Hoping someone will coming running and and then… they’ll t-take you home,” I slowly blinked for multiple times, maybe this could wash away the tension inside me. I wet my lips then breathe and breathe.

Octxie’s POV

            “I-I simply want to tell you guys who’s under the situation I was previously into before that— even when the dark comes crashing through, when you need a friend to carry you and if you’re broken on the ground… you will be found,” tila’y nakuha niya ang aking atensyon sapagkat dahan-dahang napaangat ang tingin ko sa katabi kong matangkad na lalaking nakatayo. “Let the sun come streaming in ‘cuz you’ll reach up and you’ll rise again. Lift your head and look around— you will be found. You will be found,” dagdag pa niya habang sinasabayan ng iilang pagtango.

            “Annie has previously stated that when you're stuck with a day that’s grey and lonely, just stick up your chin and grin. As usual the sun will come out tomorrow, clears away the cob webs and your sorrow ‘til there’s… none,” nakatingin siya sa kawalan. Hindi mabasa-basa ang nasa isipan niya ngayon, kakaiba napatahimik niya ang buong klase na kanina lang ay tinutukso ako. “You’re always a day away. In case you folks are wondering where I got those? Annie the orphan and Evan Hansen taught me that personal experiences makes us braver.” A small smile appeared on his lips before he sat down.

Wow.

            Pumalakpak si Mrs. Blaustein at wala nang nagawa ang iba ko pang kaklaseng namangha sa lalaking katabi ko kundi ang pumalakpak nalang din. He shamefully buried his head on his arms that were resting on his arm chair, sure thing that this guy isn’t used in gaining the crowd’s attention. Annie and Evan Hansen were fictional characters from broadway shows, in case you don't know.

“Splendid! Partner?”

“Octxie,” tipid niyang sagot.

What the hell?

Ɣ Ɣ Ɣ

            We were instructed to go home after four subjects due to the worsening weather complications. Our town mayor announced the suspension two hours after my seatmate’s showdown, he instantly became the talk of the class afterwards and even reached the news to other sections. Gusto ko siyang pasalamatan dahil— ewan? Pakiramdam ko obliged ko talagang pasalamatan si… sino nga ba iyon? Monologue boy?

Tadhana nga naman!

            Nakita ko siyang mag-isang naglalakad sa dinanaan ko kahapon. Hinabol ko siya sakay ang bisekleta ko buti nga lang dahil sa ngayon ay tumila ang ulan pero may ambon pa. Makulimlim ang langit na parang ilang minuto lang ay muling bubuhos na naman ang ulan, walang bakas ng anumang sinag ng araw, kung hindi ko lang suot-suot ang pinagpatong-patong na sweater, t-shirt, at coat ay siguradong manginginig ako sa matinding lamig. Konting buga lang ng hangin ay makikita mo pa iyong parang usok tsaka ang mga dahon at sanga ng mga matitibay na puno ay kumakaway sa amin sa pag daan.

            Nag overtake ako sa lalaking katabi ko ng upuan para mapatigil siya samantalang gulat naman ang naipinta sa kanyang mukha. Inangat ko muli ang tingin sa kanya at ganoon din naman siya sa akin na nakatingin paibaba para magkatinginan kami, pasensya na ho kung maliit akong tao.

            “Thank you monologue boy!” masigla kong sabi. Nagkadigkit ang kanyang kilay. “For saving my a*s back—”

            “Oh that? Uhm okay,” nabakas sa kanyang mukha na nagsisi siya sa kanyang nagawa kanina. What he did was actually cool, I swear. Umiwas siya ng tingin sa akin at umiba ng daan dahil nakaharang nga pala kami nang lumang bisekleta ko.

Inayos ko ang pagkapwesto ko tsaka sumabay sa lalaki, siya ata yung nagsisigaw ng pangalan ko kahapon tsaka iyong nakita ko kagabi sa public library. I think we live on the same street ata?

            “So… how were you able to do it? The ‘thing’ you did earlier,” I started. Dahan-dahan ang pagpepedal ko dahil parang ang pangit naman tingnan kung sumabay ako tapos iiwan lang din naman pala siya. Binuksan ng lalaki ang kanyang bibig upang magsalita, “I mean how many broadways have you watched?” dugtong ko pa,

Is it just me? I saw his eyes sparked with enthusiasm, “Can’t remember… I’ve never been elsewhere you know. I have to go east to watch thru online.”

            I nod my head. Sabagay medyo may kalakasan nga naman ang signal sa east kaso malayo, kailangan pang bumiyahe ng dalawang oras kapag kotse ang sakay. “May I ask what’s your fave?” napaisip naman itong kasabay ko.

            He shrugged his shoulders, “Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Prince of Egypt— err I d-don’t really have one. Every storyline, actors, actresses, and song are unique so I just can’t.” bahagya siyang ngumiti. “You i-interest in broadways?”

            “Course I am, who isn’t?” masigla kong tugon na dahilan ng pagkamot niya sa kanyang batok.

            We happened to pass by a lake. Natatanaw ko na rin ang clock tower senyales na malapit na kami sa munting lugar namin at nakagugulat na hanggang ngayon ay gumagana pa rin ito kahit haka-haka ng iba na halos magkasabay lang raw ang pagkakalikha niyan sa Rocholigh lighthouse. Kilala ito bilang OB, at first, I’ve understood it as OB-gyn but later on I learnt on articles at the public library that it is ‘Old but Bold’. Hmm… makes sense. Unfortunately, the lake itself never got its name.

            “Octxie is your real name right?” tanong ng lalaki. Hindi na ako nag-abala pang magsalita kaya tumango nalang ako bilang sagot. “I a-am—"

            I completely understand if he didn’t know my name dahil nga’y kilala ako bilang Assie o kaya Assie the wimpy sa eskwelahan. Besides, it wasn’t an offensive question though. Maayos at seryoso naman akong tinanong nang tao he’s unlike those same dumbass students around our school.

            Pinutol ko ang sasabihin niya, “You’re Ohw, aren’t you?” nakadisplay na sa kanyang mukha ang pagkadiri. Mali ba ako? Pero kamukha naman siya ni Ohw ah.

            Mas nauna na pala ako kesa sa kanya kaya huminto muna ako upang magkasabay kami. Yes, we’re not close not even a single inch as acquaintances but I just felt like I have to go-with-the-flow… something like I used to know him.

            “Who’s that bastard?” napalakas ang kanyang boses habang mabagal siyang naglakad papalapit sa akin. Humangin nang malakas kaya napaangat ang tingin ko sa ulap, unti-unting nagsisibalikan ang mala-abong kulay nito na katulad lang kanina nang paulan na.

            “He looked like you a lot, you had the same physique, voice, and basically everything. I attended your 21st birthday that’s why I recognize your features but I wasn’t a good talker so I just decided to ignore you.”

            Nasa tabi ko na si Ohw na hinihingal na naman. Kawawang lalaki, mahina ang baga. Inabutan ko siya ng water bottle ko gaya nang nangyari noong nakaraang araw ata yun? Tinanggihan niya lang naman ang offer ko tsaka ako tiningnan ng masama. Ngayon ko lang siya nakilala tapos binigyan ko pa siya ng di mabuting impresyon.

            “I am still eighteen for God’s sake. You are referring to my douchebag brother,” he rolled his eyes annoyingly. “And never ever tell me again that he and I are look alike. He’s like— worse than combining my other three older siblings. I know I’m better than him and you should know that!”

            “I am Waiki by the way.”

            Nabigla ako sa mahabang tugon na hindi sa biglaang niyang pagsigaw na parang baliw. Base on my observation he really loathes his brother. If I am not mistaken, this guy’s family are rich and is in-line of one of the founding fathers of Rocholigh. Yung ama niya ata ang spokesperson ng something like defense defense thingy? That department resources protecting or town against potential enemies, protecting us from any harm. They justify some act or belief responsible for safeguarding national security. It includes a combat support agency responsible for developing and operating and supporting information systems to serve the needs of the President and the Secretary and the Joint Chiefs. An intelligence agency responsible for providing intelligence in support of military planning, operations, and weapons acquisition. Ganoon ka bongga ginagawa nila sa east part ng Rocholigh.

            “Why do I have to know about that?” Patay malisya kong sagot. Nakatitig ako sa kanya na masama pa rin ang tingin sa akin.

            I heard him cursed when droplets fell on our forehead. This time, I knew we have to hurry. Tumindig siya ng maayos at mabilis na tumakbo palayo.

Okay, Waiki then.