Four More Minutes of Air

Chapter 11

The sun is still upright but there were clouds blocking the ray of it. Deux and I are still staring at the old building. I know we can't go inside wearing this uniform and we are not allowed to say our names because  that's what I observed from Ate Gwyneth's action when we first met here.

"Are we allowed to visit inside or not?" he asked.

"We need to be more careful since we don't know much about this school," I stated, "I saw Ate Gwyneth here a few weeks ago. She has bruises and some wounds."

"Let's just explore this soon. We will be back."

Now, we're walking back to our school. I decided to attend the third subject so that they won't notice that I didn't attend the class earlier but before entering the room, I faced him.

"Bakit late kayo kanina at magkasama kayong tatlo nila Kendrick at Dominic?" tanong ko.

"Dominic said something useless earlier. I did not agree with what he wanted and I will never agree to that," refused Deux as he turned and walked haughtily away from me.

"Why is he mad at me?" I confusedly questioned myself.

Nang buksan na niya ang pinto, diretso siyang pumasok kaya sumunod na rin ako.  Luckily, there is no teacher in the room yet.

"Cutting classes? Why didn't you invite us?" bungad sa akin ni Dominic nang makaupo na ako sa tabi niya.

Tamad na tinignan ko lang siya at umayos na ng upo nang makarating na ang guro namin.

Ang tagal lagi ng oras bago matapos ang klase namin. Humilata agad ako sa kama ko nang makapasok na ako sa kwarto.

"Saan kayo galing ni Deux kanina?" rinig kong tanong niya pero wala akong balak sumagot dahil hindi niya rin naman sinasagot ang mga tanong ko.

Pagtapos kong magpahinga, hinanap ko ang silid aklatan para magbasa pero nang makatapak na ako roon, napansin ko na kaunti lang ang mga libro na nakalagay doon at ang iba ay luma na. Napansin ko rin na madumi ang estante at mukhang hindi na iyon nalilinisan ng ilang buwan. Hindi ko alam kung bakit walang estudyante at nagbabatay dito ngayon. Mukhang hindi na iyon silid aklatan.

"September 14, 2018?" sabi ko nang mabasa ko ang nakasulat sa libro. Iyon ata ang pinakabago nilang libro rito. As far as I know, we are in the year 2035. These books are not updated that is why they're not reading it but how will they learn if there are no books?

I ended up bringing the two latest books to read later. Bumalik na ako sa kwarto para roo ko na lang iyon basahin dahil wala rin naman nagbabasa sa silid aklatan.

"What is that?" Kendrick asked while doing his assignments. Mukhang may binigay sila kanina ng kwaderno para pagsulatan namin.

"None of your business," masungit na sabi ko sa kaniya.

"Why is that a big deal to you?" aniya at padabog a tumayo, "Can't you just understand? That I am doing this for your own sake!"

"Okay! fine. Don't raise your voice," I complained, "I'm still not in a mood to talk to you."

That is the last thing I said before silence roamed around the room. The ray of the sun coming from the window is slowly going down. I already finished the first book and I learned nothing because my mind is preoccupied. The bell suddenly rang means it is already dinner time so we went to the main building. I don't know why there's no canteen in the second building. It's so hassle going there.

Nang makuha ko na ang pagkain ko, huminto ako sandali dahil nagdadalawang isip ako kung tatabi ba ako sa kaniya.

"Eat beside me," aniya nang mapansin na napahinto ako.

Wala akong pagpipilian kundi ang tumabi sa kaniya dahil wala pa rin ako kilala. Oo, kilala ko sila Deux at Dominic pero hindi naman kami malapit sa isa't isa.

Nauna siyang natapos kumain kaya umalis na siya at hindi man lang ako hinintay. Ewan ko ba kung bakit ganiyan siya umasta. Kanina, inimbita niya akong kumain sa tabi niya pero ngayon, iniwan niya naman ako. Medyo magulo rin 'to kausap.

After eating, I went back to our room so that I could finish the second book I borrowed. I know that I can keep it since there is no librarian.

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I remember that it will be my 204th months old (17 years old) on the next day. I don't know if I will be excited or not because I don't want to be old yet and I still don't want to reach 216 months old (18 years old) yet.

"Good morning!" I greeted him as he woke up.

"Morning," he replied.

It seems like our closeness is slowly fading as days go by. As far as I know, I am the one who hates him but it looks like I'm the one who did something wrong. When did the tables turn?

"Good morning class! So for today, we are going to distribute these gadgets. We will be using this so that we will no longer use a book. This is handy and good for learning because you can do research here," our teacher explained.

"Oh that's why they're not updating the books in the library," I said to myself.

After the class, I went outside to watch the sunset. Matagal ko nang hindi nakikita ang paglubog ng araw dahil madaming pinapagawa sa akin. Napipilitan akong gawin iyon dahil iba ang sistema ng edukasyon dito kumpara sa dati.

I'm walking alone because they are all busy on their assignments. I don't know why it takes time to finish their work.

I don't know if I am going to Ate Gwyneth's school or not. I know it will be dangerous because I may end up being beaten like her. Ate Gwyneth didn't want me to come there too for my safety but I don't want to sit back and relax while someone is suffering.

While walking, I noticed someone running behind the woods. I don't know if it is just my imagination but it looks like he or she is in trouble. Without hesitation, I ran to that person. It seems like she's a girl because her long black hair is flowing down her back.

"SKYE!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Ate Gwyneth?"

Hinihingal siyang lumapit sa akin at lumilingon bawat segundo na parang may humahabol sa kaniya. Huminto muna siya at hinabol niya ang kaniyang paghinga.

"Listen... You have to leave this city and hide from them," she said in between her breath.

She has more fresh wounds and bruises on her face. I want to help her now but I don't know what to do.

"I don't want to leave without all of you. I want to do something about that but I don't know how," I pointed out.

"I want you to leave, Skye. Please listen to me right now," huling sinabi niya bago siya lumisan at nag-iba ng direksyon.

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Gwyneth's Point of view

Sa simula pa lang, alam ko na ang mangyayari sa istorya ng bawat isa. Madami akong alam tulad ni Kendrick pero magkaiba pa rin kami ng kapalaran dahil mas pinili niyang maging makasarili kaysa sa tumulong sa amin.

"Kendrick, stop this. You are not helping," sabi ko sa kaniya. Aalis na ako bukas kaya hindi ko na masusubaybayan ang paglaki nila. Wala akong pagpipilian kundi ang umalis dahil baka mahalata o malaman nila na alam ko rin ang sikreto nila.

Sinalubong ako ng malakas na ulan nang ako ay magising. Mukhang ayaw ata akong paalisin dito. Sinimulan ko nang magtupi at magligpit ng gamit na dadalhin ko sa bagong tutuluyan ko.

"Gwyneth, gisingin mo na si Skye. Mukhang puyat at napahaba ata ang kaniya tulog ngayon," ani Tita Meng.

"Skye! Gumising ka na raw. Malapit na magbreakfast oh," sigaw ko sa kaniya. Inaayos ko na ang kama ko dahil alam kong may bagong papalit sa akin.

I noticed that she is still sleepy because she's staring at me lazily, "Are you leaving, today?" I heard she asked me.

Kahit na lagi ko siyang sinusungitan, hindi ko maitatanggi sa sarili ko na nalulungkot ako ngayon dahil tinuring ko na rin siyang kapatid.

"Skye," natapos na akong mag-impake at magligpit. Pumunta ako sa kaniya dahil may gusto akong ipaliwanag.

"Hm?"

"I want you to do your best. Can you do that for me, please?"

I know that you can do it, Skye. You are stronger and braver than me. Even though you are still young, you can already make a change.

"You're the reason why I love to watch the sunset or sunrise," she said.

Enjoy watching the sunrise because it is the only thing that is pure and natural. I know that everything will be artificial and everything will be all man-made. They will ruin the beauty of nature.

Alam ko naman na tinatamad kang makinig sa mga sinasabi ng guro natin dahil halos lahat ng sinasabi nila ay puro kasinungalingan lang. Alam ko rin na magugustuhan mo ang pagbabasa ng libro dahil nakalagay doon ang lahat ng katotohanan.

Iyan ang gusto kong sabihin sa iyo pero hindi ko alam kung sasabihin ko ba iyon sa iyo o hindi. Sa huli, napagdesisyonan ko na lang na hindi ko iyon sa iyo sasabihin dahil mas mabuting wala ka munang alam sa ngayon.

"You did not answer my question. You're going to do your best to get high grades, right?" I quizzed her.

"O-of course, Ate Gwyneth," she said so I gave her a sweet smile as I walked away going downstairs, "I hope so..."

She really is so scared to show her feelings and emotions. Ayaw niyang sabihin ang kaniyang nararamdaman pero halata iyon sa pinapakita niya.

Narinig ko ang yapak niya na pababa rin. Tumulong siya mag-ayos at maghanda ng pagkain. Sa bawat galaw niya, parang nakikita ko na ang kaniyang kapalaran. She is so smart but she is just lazy to learn new things. Napapansin niya na walang kwenta ang tinuturo sa amin kaya sinasayang niya na lang ang oras niya sa panonood ng paglibog ng araw.

After we ate, we went to our room to say a sweet goodbye to me. They were all here watching me to prepare things.

"Is it final? You're going to leave na ba talaga? Malakas pa yung ulan oh," skye said.

"Yes, I have to. I am already 215 months old and bukas ay magiging 216 months old na ako. Of course I have to study in a real school," sabi ko habang sinusuklay ang aking mahabang buhok. 

Pagtapos kong magsuklay ng buhok, binigay ko iyon sa kaniya dahil alam kong kakailanganin niya iyon kapag lumaki na siya, "I don't know why I want to give it to you. I feel like you need it."

Madami siyang pagdadaanan kaysa sa akin dahil alam kong hindi agad siya susuko sa mga problema sa kaniya buhay. Siya ang magbabago ng ikot ng mundo.

"I need it? Does my hair look messy?" tanong niya.

"You'll need it soon," sabi ko sa kaniya. Kinuha ko na ang aking bagahe at bumaba na para salabungin si Tita Meng na naghihintay sa akin.

Napag-aralan ko ang tungkol sa bagong paaralan na papasukan ko ngayon. Nabasa ko iyon dati sa isang libro na sinulat ni Diana Fernsby. Hindi talaga iyon paaralan, iyon ay isang gusali kung saan pinapatapon ang mga batang may edad na 216 months old o 18 years old.

"Good morning! Welcome to your new school. You will have your new room," she stated. 

Nagsimula na siyang maglakad kaya sinundan ko nalang siya. Ang daming mga pinto ang nalagpasan namin. Parang gusto kong alamin kung ano ang nasa loob ng bawat pinto na iyon.

"This is your room. Feel free to roam around. Your guardian will meet you soon. Have a great day ahead!" she said then she gave me a smile.

She looks like she is not normal. She looks like a built human robot because of her monotone voice and the way she walks away has a pattern. Now, I know what my plan is. I am going to study and observe them. Hindi nila dapat malaman na madami akong alam tungkol sa nangyayari ngayon dahil sa oras na madiskubre nila iyon, babantayan nila ako at hindi na ako makakaalis sa impernong 'to.

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