Lost in Paradise

Chapter 13

“Ivana Academy”

Nadia uttered as she saw the arch stone built at the entrance of the place where Maliya brought her.

“What are we doing here Maliya? Are you schooling here?” Nadia asked curiously while circling her sight on the place.

“Nay Nita asked me to give this to Mang Castor... that’s why we’re here” Maliya answered as she showed Nadia the paper bag she was holding.

“What’s in there“ Nadia asked.

“I’m not sure... but it seems fermented fish” Maliya answered unsurely.

“And who’s Mang Castor? A teacher here?” Nadia inquired.

“No, he’s not. Mang Castor and Nay Soledad, they are the school caretakers. They’re also living her” Maliya explained.

Nadia’s stay in Ivana made her notice that all locals call their elders with Nay for females and Mang for males. She also noticed that almost all locals know each other.

“Do Ivana people really know each other?” Nadia asked promptly

“Ivana is a small town, we have a small number of population, we grow up with each other, that’s why people here know almost everybody” Maliya explained politely

“Is that so...” Nadia responded

The two headed inside the school. As she walks, Nadia kept on sightseeing and she couldn’t help but be amazed by the establishments she was seeing. Maliya said that they are now on a summer vacation that’s why there are no students here. Ivana Academy is huge but the oldness of the buildings is evident. Just near the entrance, you’ll immediately see its large school field but what really caught her attention was its refreshing ambiance because at every corner she could see plants and trees in different kinds, forms and designs. The school was like an establishment inside a big garden.

Nadia just kept on following Maliya who seems no idea where she should go.

“Wait... He’s not here” said Maliya while glimpsing at a nipa hut inside the academy.

“That’s his house? A nipa hut inside the school.. interesting” Nadia said in awe.

“Yeah... but it seems empty. Where did Mang Castor go?” Maliya cried

“Let’s check the classrooms Ms. Nadia” she added.

Nadia just followed Maliya who is now going to the classrooms. As they arrived on the building, they scanned each classroom while walking on the corridor. The classrooms were not air-conditioned so the windows were big designed for natural ventilation. The windows were embellished with pastel-colored curtains which is being blown by fresh air from the outside enough to make them see what’s inside the classroom. Maliya and Nadia looked at the ground floor but haven’t seen Mang Castor yet. Later on, Maliya asked Nadia that she will look on the other floor alone, Nadia let her to make the search faster.

While she’s alone, Nadia decided to go inside the classroom just to check it as it gives her some nostalgia when she was in grade school. Unfortunately, the classrooms are locked. She moves around just in case there’s an open room until one room caught her eyes.

“Art Room”

The placard on the door reads.

She tried to open the door and got surprised as it opened. Luckily, the door wasn’t locked, unlike the others. She went in and couldn’t help but be amazed at what she was seeing. The room is full of art materials and artworks. She immediately distinguished the art materials used for painting, sketching, sculpture, ceramic, photography and other stuff related to art. But she could notice that the materials were already dusty. There are also some sample artworks that she thought were made by students because some of them looks funny and amateur. Art plays an important role in Nadia’s life so being in the room gives her so much joy. While she’s busy inspecting the displayed paintings, suddenly...

“Excuse me... what are you doing here hija?” said an old man who just went into the room.

Nadia got surprised as she heard the voice from her back. She quickly turned and saw the old man seems as old as Nay Nita.

“Aaah... eh... G-good morning. I’m Nadia” Nadia responded politely.

“Nadia?... I don’t think I know you. What are you doing here inside the art room?” the old man interrogated.

“Ummm... I’m with Maliya, she’s a student here” Nadia replied nervously.

She needs to think of something so the old man won’t assume anything bad. She suddenly remembered Maliya’s words...

“Nay Nita asked me to give this to Mang Castor.. that’s why we’re here."

“Wait a minute, are you Mang Castor?” Nadia politely asked as she remembered what Maliya said.

“I am...” the old man replied.

“I and Maliya have been looking for you, Nay Nita asked as to deliver you something” Nadia reasoned out.

“Is that so... Just a second, Are you Anita’s granddaughter? It’s my first time seeing you” he asked.

“No that’s not it. I just moved here in Ivana, I temporarily live in the house near Nay Nita’s”

“You said you’re with Maliya, where is she?”

“Maliya left me so she can look for you faster... I saw this room and I got curious, it’s not locked so I went in... I’m sorry”

“No problem hija. The school is open to anyone. I just got intrigued when I saw you here... ‘cause you’re not familiar and no one had an interest on going here, only a few people in Ivana have interest in art”

“Are these paintings made by students?” asked Nadia pointing out some paintings on the wall.

“They are”

“These are actually not bad. The colors were well blended which made the texture pump out. I think they just need some more practice and guidance”

“You’re a painter, aren’t you? Mang Castor frankly asked after hearing Nadia’s assessment of the paintings.

Nadia didn’t answer right away. She thinks the old man noticed the way she gave her professional assessment of the paintings.

“How did you kno–“

“So you are... You judged the paintings in a very detailed way hija. Only those who know about painting can give such comments.

“You’re a painter too Mang Castor?”

“Formerly yes, but just a hobby. My shaking hands can’t do it now” he said jokingly.

“Anyway hija, you said that Maliya is looking for me right?” he added.

“Yeah! Omg she’s been looking everywhere”

“Let’s go. I think I know where she is?”

They immediately went out of the art room. Nadia is just following Mang Castor. Soon, they saw Maliya running towards them. Maliya then gave him the paper bag she brought. Mang Castor invited them for lunch but the two refused. After their business, Nadia and Maliya straightly head back home.