Five Minutes
Light slowly descended from the sky before touching on the roof. The sun was ascending towards the sky as the sun rays stretch further to cover half of the world with light while the moon carries the stars with the night on its back and move further away from the sun.
Light filtered through her curtains.
Brown chocolate eyes was staring back at her as she stood infront of the full-length mirror. It was far different from what she used to.
Beautiful locks of chestnut hair frame her small heart-shaped face that brush past her waist. It was messy. Sinuklay niya ang kanyang buhok gamit lamang ang kanyang mga daliri. Her long fingers softly brush through every strand before it was trap from the snarls of her hair.
She let out a sigh. Gising na siya bago pa sumikat ang araw. Hindi niya magawang matulog ng maayos kagabi. She just couldn't sleep. The nightmares were more horror and dark during the night. It was also the reason why she lack a good sleep.
There were dark bags under her eyes. It stood out like a sore thumb from her pale white skin.
With another soft brush of her hair, she let out a soft hum. It was time to start the day. Bago siya umalis sa harapan ng salamin, tinignan niya muna ang kanyang sarili. Nakasuot lamang siya nang isang kulay puti na nightgown na hanggang tuhod niya.
Hindi na siya magtaka kung nagmukha siyang sadako sa get-up niya. She look utterly ridiculous.
She shook her head. Whatever.
Kumuha siya nang tuwalya sa gilid ng kanyang kama. Kung saan sinabit niya sa busol ng kanyang aparador.
She slung the towel on her shoulder with a toothbrush on her left hand and a toothpaste on the other hand. She turn the doorknob at pumasok sa loob ng banyo. The door closed behind her with a click.
ꕹ
Wala sa sarili siyang napatitig sa kawalan habang patuloy gumagalaw ang kanyang kamay na may hawak na isang suklay. She was trap inside her head habang nakatayo sa harapan ng salamin. Her hair was dripping wet from the shower while she was unconsciously brushing her hair.
She was already wearing her school uniform with a school ID hanging on her neck.
Napaigik siya sa kanyang kinatatayuan nang may naramdaman siyang makapal na balahibo na bahagyang dumaplis sa kanyang paa na hindi pa nasusuotan ng medyas at sapatos. She was barefoot while standing on the wooden floor.
She looked down to her feet only to see a flurry animal gently asking for her attention. Parang lumambot ang kanyang bato na puso. Her empty and blank expression turn soft.
She bend her knees to match the cat's height who were gazing at her with blue and green curious eyes. There was a glint of intelligence behind those heterochromia eyes.
"Cephius..." her voice was soft as she raised her hand to pat her cat's head.
It's beautiful black fur was soft against her touch. Cephius, the cat, let out a purr. Asking for another pat.
"Pag-uli ko na lang. I'm gonna be late." her eyes immediately went towards her clock on her wall. It was ticking as the arrow move with each second passed.
Tumayo siya mula sa pagkaluhod at pinagpag ang dumi sa kanyang palda kahit wala naman talaga. She fix herself once more as she wears her socks and shoes. She pulled down her bangs to cover her eyes. She check herself and let out a hum when she feels contented before she grab her bag on the floor at sinablay sa kanyang balikat.
Lumabas siya mula sa kanyang kwarto. Cephius following behind her steps. She went down from the staircase and reach for the cupboard looking for a catfood for Cephius.
She poured a few bits of catfood on the cat's bowl. From her calculation, it would last him for a day. She let out a soft hum as she skipped her way towards the door.
Kumaway siya kay Cephius na nakatingin sa kanya mula sa kusina bago sinarado niya ang pinto ng kanyang bahay. She didn't forget to lock the door and patted the key on her school uniform's pocket.
Tinignan niya ang kanyang wristwatch.
6:25 am
Masyado pang maaga but it was enough for her to reach her school.
Nilakbay niya ang daan patungo sa labas ng kakahoyan. She pulled the bag's strap to her shoulders and gently let out a whistle. The forest was peaceful with no one around other than her. To other people, living in the forest with no knowledge what's lurking in the woods is a dangerous place to live in but to her, the forest was her solitude.
She didn't like being around with many people. Especially in a very loud environment with busybody that couldn't help themselves but stuck their noses on other people's business.
She loves her privacy as much as she loves her solitude.
The trees were huge and big. Makapal ang mga dahon kaya kahit ang sikat ng araw ay hindi masyadong makapasok sa loob ng kagubatan. That's why a lot of townsfolk dub it as the dark forest with many dangerous creatures lurking in the dark.
She wouldn't lie if she said that the forest isn't your typical forest with normal trees and wild animals. She had lived in the woods kaya hindi din niya maiiwasan na makakita ng hindi dapat makikita ng kahit sino.
The forest has many secrets as much as she had her own. Creatures that shouldn't exist were real and the mayor or even the townsfolk wasn't even aware of their existence. She wasn't planning on telling them though.
Baka isipin ng mga yun na tuluyan na siyang naging baliw at muni-muni niya lang ang lahat. Besides, the forest was a good place for her. The forest was considered a place like home for freaks like her.
Naramdaman niya ang daplis ng malamig na hangin sa kanyang balat nang tuluyan na siyang makalabas sa kagubatan. Napapikit siya sa kanyang mga mata habang tinaas ng konti ang isa niyang kamay upang takpan ang sikat ng araw.
The light blinded her for a moment before she adjusted herself from the light. Tinahak niya ang daan patungo sa kanyang paaralan.
She could hear the birds tweeting from the sky as it flaps its wings to fly higher while soaring through the clouds. Patuloy niyang hinakbang ang kanyang mga paa. Cars from different shapes and sizes drove passed her as she continues to walk on the side of the road.
Minsan tumigil siya sa paglalakad upang panoorin ang alon ng dagat. She could hear the waves splashing against the rock.
Draziw City was built by the founders near the sea at the edge of the cliff. Her city was known for it's terrific view as much as it was known for a good place to do suicide. Many suicidal people would jump off from the cliff and everyday the news would broadcast another suicidal case.
To be honest, she got tired hearing how people waste their life like paper. They just simply throw it away like it was nothing but trash.
But how could she judge them from their decision?
It would be hypocrite of her part if she would said that she wasn't thinking of doing the same thing. When in truth, she is as suicidal as the rest of the people in the city.
She shook her head from the thought. She wouldn't die...not today.
Pumasok siya sa paaralan pagkatapos binigay niya ang kanyang school ID sa guwardiya ng kanilang paaralan. Narinig niya ang kanyang sariling yapag habang tinatahak niya ang daan patungo sa kanyang silid-aral.
Muli niya binigyan ng tingin ang kanyang relo at hindi na magtaka na marami nang estudyante ang sunod-sunod na dumadating.
The chair made a sound as it scrape on the tiled floor habang umupo siya sa kanyang upuan. Pinapanood niya ang kanyang mga kaklase na pumapasok sa classroom. They were greeting 'good morning' with radiant smile on their lips.
Mapait siya napangiti pero kahit ni isa man lang sa kanila ay walang bumabati sa kanya. Nalimutan niya pala, she was a freak with her freak bangs and freak energy.
Judgemental people.
She let out a tired sigh bago bumagsak ang kanyang ulo sa lamesa. Naramdaman niya ang pagod na dumaloy sa kanyang sistema. Nagsimula na din bumibigat ang kanyang talukap.
Hindi naman guro siya mapagalitan if she could sleep for 5 minutes right?
A yawn escape from her lips. Forget it. Fuck the teachers. She closed her eyes.
It's just five minutes.
ꕹ
"That's all for today, class dismissed."
On cue, they could hear the school bell ringing from the hallway.
Mabilis pa sa kidlat na tumawid siya ng upo. She looked around confused. Nagising lamang siya dahil sa tunog ng school bell.
W-What happen?
Makita ang pagkalito sa kanyang mga mata habang pinapanood niya ang kanyang mga kaklase na tumayo mula sa kanilang upuan at lumabas sa classroom.
W-Where are they going?
Tinignan niya ang orasan na nasa kanilang silid aralan. Dahan-dahan lumaki ang kanyang mga mata. Imagine her horror when it was already five o'clock in the afternoon.
She slept all the way until class was over. Her five minutes nap became 8 hours.
She internally groaned. Cursing herself for being carried away with sleep. Napabuga na lamang siya ng hangin.
No choice.
She stood from her chair at sinukbit ang kanyang bag sa kanyang balikat. Inabot niya ang kanyang smart phone mula sa bulsa ng kanyang uniporme habang lumalabas siya mula sa kanilang silid aralan.
Hindi na siya nagulat nang makitang may marami siyang missed calls and unread messages na natanggap. Mukhang mapasubo na naman siya ng sermon.
Agad niyang narating ang rooftop na walang sagabal. Tinulak niya ang pinto at pumasok. Bumungad agad sa kanya ang matinis na sigaw ng kanyang kaibigan habang tinatawag ang kanyang pangalan.
"DEONE!"