Down For You

Chapter 1 Bonds of Friendship

"Bzzz Bzzz," my cellphone alarm blared.

"Oh my god! I'm gonna be late," I exclaimed when I saw the time on my phone.

I hurried up as it was already 6:20 in the morning, and our ROTC day was set to start at 7, so I needed to rush. Luckily, my school was nearby, so I opted to take a tricycle ride from the arko of the school to my actual school, Westmead. I moved as quickly as possible because I didn't want to face any punishment for being late. Even as a medic, we were required to face consequences for tardiness. By 6:55, I had reached the school. I didn't see my friends there as they were at the field at that time. After collecting my index card, I headed to the area where the medics were stationed.

Following the morning colors ceremony, my buddy, or partner, and I went to the back of the Alpha cadets to stand there and assist anyone in need. My partner's name was Jolibeth, from BSCA, a classmate I only interacted with during ROTC days.

The day was uneventful as Rhamil and I fulfilled our roles as medics, while Kayla and Alyssa were in the field, and Allen, an irregular student, was absent due to completing NSTP requirements.

"Ellaine, let's have a drink, I'm thirsty," Jolibeth suggested.

"Yeah, me too. Let's go to the medics' station," I replied.

After hydrating, we lingered for a few minutes before returning to our designated area.

After dismissal, Rhamil and I grabbed a meal at the mini cafeteria outside the school. However, my other friends opted to stay in their respective rooms as we had a major subject class next, which I dreaded.

"Hey, what are you getting?" Rhamil asked me while selecting his meal.

"Maybe some rice, adobo, and fried chicken, I guess," I replied.

"Okay," he simply said as he chose his food.

After collecting our food, Rhamil found us a seat and then went to get soup for both of us.

After eating, we sat in silence for a while before heading back to class. When we returned, our friends teased us about eating lunch together, which annoyed me.

"Hey, you two, how's your date?" Kayla asked teasingly.

"Aw, you two make a cute couple," Allen chimed in.

"We're just friends, guys," I replied, trying to brush off their comments.

"Kayla, you're just jealous," Rhamil teased.

"Haha, don't be jealous, Kayla, Rhamil is all yours," I added, joining in on the teasing.

"Is this a love triangle in the making?" Alyssa joked, making Allen and her laugh.

"I'm not interested in any relationships, and we're just friends," I reiterated, sitting next to Alyssa while Rhamil sat with Allen and Kayla.

Our professor arrived, and as he called out names for attendance, Rhamil playfully covered Kayla's mouth to prevent her from responding. This led to more teasing from our classmates, including the professor, despite Kayla and Rhamil insisting they were just friends.

The day continued on with classes and activities, and as the afternoon sun started to dip lower in the sky, the school buzzed with students preparing to head home. After packing up our things, my friends and I gathered outside the classroom, exchanging stories and making plans for the evening.

"Hey, what are you guys up to after this?" Kayla asked, looking around at the group.

"I think I'm just going to head home and chill," Alyssa replied, stretching her arms above her head.

"I have some homework to catch up on," Allen added with a sigh.

Rhamil shrugged, "I might hang out with some other friends later."

As for me, I hadn't made any plans yet. "I don't know yet, maybe I'll just relax at home or go out for a bit."

Kayla perked up, "How about we grab some snacks at Cinco Maria's? It's been a while since we hung out there."

The suggestion was met with agreement from the group, and soon we were walking towards the familiar food cart. The scent of sizzling meat and spices filled the air as we approached, and the sight of the colorful array of street food made our mouths water.

We each ordered our favorite snacks - skewers siomai, crispy fish balls, and steaming cups of palamig - and found a spot to sit together. The chatter and laughter of our group mixed with the sounds of the bustling street as we enjoyed our food and shared stories from the day.

"Remember that time during ROTC training when we got caught in the rain?" Kayla reminisced, a smile playing on his lips.

"Oh, that was a disaster!" Alyssa laughed, shaking her head. "But we made it through, thanks to Ellaine patching us up."

I blushed at the praise, grateful for the opportunity to help my friends during those challenging moments. Our conversation drifted from one memory to the next, filling the evening with warmth and camaraderie.

As the sky darkened and the streetlights flickered to life, we reluctantly gathered our things and said our goodbyes. Walking home under the glow of the city lights, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the friendships that had blossomed during our time together. The day may have started with a rushed morning and teasing from friends, but it ended with shared laughter, delicious food, and cherished moments with those who had become like family to me.