Crossing

Chapter Four

The schoolyard buzzed with energy the next morning, not because of classes but because of gossip. News in Camalig traveled faster than the wind, and Penelope had made sure of it. By homeroom, everyone knew Abbie and Pia had skipped the sports meet to climb mango trees.

“Arcilla’s kid didn’t even show up!” one boy whispered near the flagpole.“Not Roxanne, the other one,” his friend corrected.

Abbie walked past them, chin high, pretending she didn’t hear. The words still lodged in her chest. The other one. Always.

By the time she dropped into her seat, Joey had already vandalized her notebook. Across the front cover, in fat pencil strokes, he had written: Mango Bandit.

“Really mature,” Abbie said flatly.“Thank you,” Joey replied with a mock bow. “I aim for excellence.”Pia leaned over, giggling. “It actually suits you.”Abbie narrowed her eyes. “Keep laughing, both of you. Just wait until I crown you my royal subjects.”

The three of them dissolved into laughter loud enough to draw stares, which only fueled them more. By lunch, the nickname had spread beyond their classroom. Students passed her in the hall whispering “Mango Bandit,” some with smirks, others with admiration. Abbie half wanted to scream, half wanted to own it.

After classes ended, the trio wandered toward the town plaza. Vendors lined the square with stalls of fruit, fish, and woven baskets. Mothers haggled in loud voices, kids chased each other around the church steps, and above it all loomed campaign posters of her father, smiling, promising, always watching.

“Your dad’s face is literally everywhere,” Joey muttered, pointing to another banner on the lamppost. “Doesn’t it creep you out?”“I see his face at breakfast, lunch, and dinner,” Abbie replied. “At this point, it’s just wallpaper.”

They stopped by a stall selling turon, pooling their coins for three rolls. Pia broke hers in half, steam curling into the air.“So, Mango Bandit,” she said with a grin, “what’s the plan? What’s next for your reign?”“First decree,” Abbie said through a mouthful of fried banana, “no sports meets. Ever.”“Second decree,” Joey chimed in, “mandatory mangoes for all.”

They laughed, though Abbie’s eyes strayed to another poster on the plaza wall: her father beside Roxanne, taken at some charity event in Manila. Roxanne’s polished smile glowed even in faded print. The caption beneath read: Future Leaders.

Pia followed her gaze. “She looks so grown up,” she said softly. “Like she belongs in Manila already.”Joey sighed, dreamy as always. “She belongs everywhere.”Abbie grimaced. “She belongs to another universe.”

“Maybe you’ll be next,” Pia said. “Your parents may want you in Manila too. They like sending the Arcillas where the spotlight is.”

Abbie snorted. “Yeah, right. They’ll only ship me there to keep me out of trouble. Mango Bandit in the big city sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.”

Joey snorted. “Manila won’t stand a chance with you.”

Yeah, Manila wouldn’t stand a chance with her, and she’d make sure of it, if it ever happened. She thought of Manila. Roxanne’s world. A place that wasn’t Bicol, wasn’t the river, wasn’t Pia and Joey and mango trees.

For the first time, Abbie wondered if the current of her life was already shifting, pulling her somewhere she hadn’t chosen.