Over the Mountain

CHAPTER 5: CELESTINE

CHAPTER 5: CELESTINE

I don’t know how the time passes by but all I know is that I’m loving my new life here in the province. I’m starting to love the green view, the mountain.

I stretch my arms as I sit down on my bed. The morning sun is so warm that I couldn’t help but to widely welcome it. I then come closer to my window, wipe openly the curtain, and view the perfect view of all. It has been my daily routine since the moment I fell in love with the mountain. I couldn’t even believe that I did appreciate this kind of view. All along, what I want was girly stuff with an expensive smell.

I shook my head and mentally patter myself. For the past two months, I think grandma was right. I’m starting to grow up. But they still look at me as a kid. A girl with a ribbon on the head.

“Someone is excited for her first day of school,” Mom teases me the moment I reached the dining area.

“I’m not,” I deny.

“Aist. Okay, okay. If you say so,” she said and laughs later. “Eat.” She orders that I obliged.

As I eat, grandma and grandpa enter the dining and join me. Mom said that Dad left early to fix something. If I’m not mistaken, it’s about the work he is applying for. Since we are going to live here for good, Dad decided to find a job here.

Back in the city, Mom and Dad used to work together in the same company where Mom was one of the front desk clerks and Dad was one of the heads in one specific department. Every day, I have to wake up as early as they wake up because they will just drop me at my school on their way to their work. That’s why I turn out to be the number one most punctual student in our class.

As always, grandma and grandpa tease me again as they join me at the dining table. I tease back and we just found ourselves laughing. When I finish my food, I excuse myself and quickly take a bath, change, and prepare my things. Since it’s just the first day, we are allowed to wear civilian clothes.

I choose a simple but comfy cream puff dress that is knee-length. I paired it with cream ballet shoes too and a white headband with pears as its design. I turn around and smiled widely as my overall look reflects on my mirror.

“Be good. Okay?” Mom said.

“Yes Mom,” I politely answered.

Mom kissed my forehead then I wave at my grannies. “Take care you two,” Mom said and smiles.

“We’ll go ahead, Auntie,” Leo said and we both wave at Mom.

Yes, Leo fetched me. For the past two months, I was able to get close to him. Just like what he said, he trained for me to be able to climb the mountain and finally see where he lives. But two months isn’t enough. I’ve been dying to climb the mountain and have a look at where he lives but he said that I still need more train. He also said that two months is not yet enough because my stamina is still weak. And climbing the mountain needs strong stamina. Which I still don’t have.

I am close to giving up just being stubborn to illegally climb the mountain, but I want Leo to see how I really want to climb the mountain not because I want to see where he lives. But because it feels like the mountain is calling me. So instead of giving up, I just listen to him.

He also points out my physical body. He told me that I’m thin and look incapable to climb the mountain. He said that my legs look weak. So, two months of training is not yet enough to fully prepare my ‘young body’. His words, not mine. I didn’t argue anymore. I just listen to him. I want to climb the mountain. And if following him means I can climb the mountain safe and sound, then so it be.

“Are we going to ride this?” I curiously ask the moment I saw the bicycle.

He smirks at me like he usually does. “No. I ride this. You walk.” He then rides the bicycle.

My mouth hangs open. I look at him with disbelief. I was rooted in my place, still surprised that…I’ll walk!? No way!

Before I could even speak, his thunderous laughter already filled my ears. I almost hissed out like a snake because of how annoying he is! At first, he looks and acts so manly but when I get to know him slowly, I found out that he is sometimes acting childish! And he blames me for that. I shook my head and hit him hard on his arms that making him laugh harder. I pouted and watched him laughing until he stops. He clears his throat and goes back to being serious again. I smirk at him and raise my left brow.

“You better get going now or I will really let you walk,” he demanded.

I wince at him and roll my eyes before seating at the back. I embrace him from the back and give him the go signal. He then clears his throat again before finally moving to pedal the bicycle.

I have been to the outside of the village and had the look at the overall view of the town, but I still feel new to it. Well, it’s still new because now, I am back riding on the bicycle as I view the town.

I don’t know the people in the close neighboring village but as we pass them, I wave at them and smile widely, and they return the same. It’s a great feeling. It’s a great vibe. Because this thing is impossible in the city life. It’s because big cars are too dominant to those small vehicles like the one I’m currently riding.

“You don’t look excited,” he concluded as we stop in front of my classroom.

I pouted. “I’m more than excited,” I mock.

“This is your classroom,”

“Where’s yours?”

“There,” he then pointed to the classroom on the opposite side of my classroom.

“Great location,” I commented that making him snort.

“You better get inside,”

“Who gets dismissed first, us or your class?”

“Yours,” he answered.

“So, I will be waiting for you then,”

“Yes. But you wait here in your room. I will fetch you once we get dismissed.”

“How about at breaktimes and lunchtime?”

“Still the same, Sierra.”

I roll my eyes. I knew exactly his mood now that he calls me by my name. So, I show that I’m zipping my mouth. Then I turn to face the door of our classroom and enter it as I wave at him. Leo nod at me with his eyes smiling.

I choose the vacant seat near the window on the hallway side. I was sitting alone there and just watching my new classmates. Well, they all seem good people. Minutes later, a girl with braided hair was seated next to me. She’s as tall as me and a pretty one too. I find her bunny ponytail to be cute and accurate to her hairstyle. Hmm, one of these days, I will ask Mom to braid my hair too.

“You’re new,” she suddenly said that brought me back on my senses.

“Yes,” I politely answered.

“I’m Celestine. And you are?”

“Sierra,”

“Wow. Your name is pretty,”

“Every name is pretty,”

“But mine is too common while yours is unique,”

I laugh. Well, she’s somehow right. My name is not that common. Even my nickname. However, I still believe that every name is pretty and unique.

My city personality comes back the moment Celestine, Tin for short suddenly clicks together. She is also a talkative one. She loves girly stuff too and loves to dress herself. We talk until more of our classmates arrive. Tin being the familiar one among them introduces me. Just like that, I instantly become comfortable with my new atmosphere and new classmate.

Well, moving here isn’t bad at all.

Moments later, our teacher arrives, and I could say that she’s pretty young too. She doesn’t look expensive like the ones I had back in the city life but this teacher in front of me is simply graceful. She greeted us with her very pretty smile and then I just found myself, admiring her. Unlike my previous teacher, this one is more approachable and very friendly. Things that my previous teachers lack off.

Since I’m a transferee, the tradition of every transferee student was ordered for me to do. I get up to my feet and walk in front, joining m pretty teacher in front.

“Hello everyone, it’s pleasure to meet you all. Please call me Sierra,” I shortly said.

“Where are you from, Sierra?” Teacher Mira asks.

“I’m from Manila, Teacher,”

“Manila girl,” she commented and smiles widely. “Welcome to Davao then,”

My classmates clap their hands as loud as I could hear which made me laugh. Even Teacher Mira was laughing because of how loud the applause was. She then asks the class to stop the applause and be seated for we will going to start our class.

I didn’t know that my first day will turn out like this. What I imagined is that I’ll be having a hard time adjusting to my new school and new classmate, but it turns out the opposite. My teacher as well as my classmates are so nice that I instantly become comfortable with them.

I never had this enjoyable class. Not until now.

“By the way, where is your place?” Tin asks as we copy the writings on the board.

“In Mt. Apo village,”

“Oh, it’s not that far on my place,”

“Really? Is it a walking distance?”

“Yes. It can be the walking distance if you just want to.”

“Hmm, then come visit my place,”

Tin snorted. “I thought you’ll offer to visit my place.”

“I’m sorry but I’m too lazy to walk in the neighboring village,”

“Then ride a bicycle!” she almost screams. “Or you don’t know how to ride a bicycle?”

I mock her, tongue out. “I know how to ride a bicycle. I’m just too lazy to do so.”

Tin and I continued talking while still copying the writings on the board. When Teacher Mira was done, she sits down on her own chair and waited for us to finish. When half of the class was done, she gets up, went back in front, and started to explain what’s on the board.

Minutes later, the bell rang, calling everyone’s attention and a reminder that’s already lunch break. Then without minutes of waiting, Leo shows up in our classroom.