NEW MOON

As the days and months pass... friendship and enemies form in the school with different reasons and causes.

Students have different upbringings and values. Gangs are formed by others, and bullying is sometimes happening.

Some guys drunk after school, their pent up feelings that they can't express if sober, burst when drunk and they get aggressive and violent at times.

Folk dance was formed by a teacher in Pilipino Subject to be performed during a school program. Jacky volunteered, and the teacher assigned the others, Juan was selected to partner with Jacky. They practiced "Pandanggo sa ilaw" a folk dance with oil lamps in the head and two hands while dancing. It was tiresome, but Jacky enjoyed it to learn a Pilipino dance that she can proudly tell her parents in Japan.

Melchor who has a crush with Jacky was jealous of why Juan became her partner instead of him but he can't say this because Juan is his friend. Then after class, Melchor with some of the guys drink "Tuba", a wine from coconut juice, outside of the school. Then when already drunk he is already noisy.

After the dance practice, Juan and other dancers had some soft drinks and talked about the clothes for the dance. They agreed to have the measurements with the tailor tomorrow. Then they adjourned.

Going home, Melchor drunk tried to stop Juan and challenge him for a fight. Juan was surprised and said you are drunk, go home. Let's talk tomorrow. But Melchor continued to challenge him. Juan ignored him and turned his back to go the other way around. Melchor was insulted and angry that his challenge was not accepted, shouted, "You're a coward!" The other students went shouting when they saw Melchor get a "Balisong" a folding knife and try to stab Juan in the back. Then, a kick and a punch made Melchor went down asleep. Juan was so surprised, and all the students present. Jacky is a trained martial artist from Japan. Juan carried Melchor and bring him to the clinic for some dressing and the nurse made a report of the incident.

Juan thanked Jacky for saving him. He could have been killed. Jacky was surprised why Juan still carried and bring Melchor to the clinic in spite of what he did. She asked him, why you still bring him to the clinic when he wants to hurt you? Well, he is drunk, that's what my mother taught me to be good even to enemies.

Jacky smiled and can't believe what happened and she was surprised why her instant response to that situation is spontaneous. Does he care for Juan or that is just instinct?

That incident became trending, and a new image for Jacky formed as the heroine of the day. Melchor was so ashamed to Jacky and to Juan, apologize and accepted the suspension by the principal.

The officers training for the CAT, Citizen Army Training, is fast approaching and those interested can apply. Juan, Jacky, Rose, Melchor, Geraldine, and many more applied.

They have the "hell week", a rigorous training and military simulation. Those who can pass and who will be the Lieutenant Colonel and the rest be announced by the commandant after the training.

The week started with a haircut for the guys that only a few hairs in the front remained. Some were teased by the advanced officers by a funny haircut. Then an army dozen, an exercise from stork walk, bobber, crouch, high jump, squat bend, push-up, squat thrust, jogging, etc.

The psychological tests are hard and painful. Blindfolded you are being commanded to walk, to crouch, and to march. You are to undress and dress in fast counting and form in complete uniform. You are to put broken glasses and commanded to jump barefoot blindfolded. You are to turn a dozen times and to walk straight. It's a crazy day.

Marching with full mock gear, running, and follow imaginary missions. Obstacle courses, assembly and disassembly of M16, 45 pistol, memorizing each part.

Then, the most awaited is the actual target shooting with a pistol and M16 rifle. When we accomplished this activity we felt we are already adults and ready for war.

Jacky survives the training. Juan also survives it. The commandant announced that there will be a command initiation. All will be tried to shout a command and have a marching performance and test and he will select who will have the highest command after. That's the dream of all the so-called soldiers to be the Lieutenant Colonel, the highest rank in the CAT.

"Talupad, Humanay!" The command was given to assemble. Then the battalion was formed. Then the candidates for officers were called, at the front, we were brief to give the commands to see if our voice is good in making commands. All of us, one by one were to shout, "Talupad..... Humanay!" and other commands until we almost lost our voices. Then we marched, drill, and had some lectures about the General Orders, Map reading, Escape and evasion, military tactics, and discipline.

We had our combined lunch, in military square meals. But before we reached the mess hall, we crawled going there passing the kitchen canal with our plates in our mouth biting it. as we passed the canal we smell the rotten odor and it will really make you puke. But we were briefed that if we puke we will eat the vomit like a dog. It is the hardest to fight that you will really vomit. I destructed my mind and think of the goal to go to the mess hall fast. Thank God, we reach the hall. We thought it is the end of it. We were made to jog around the hall because the food is being prepared inside is not yet finished.

Thug!

Somebody collapsed...

Everybody continues to run, Juan stopped and carried the girl who fainted and prevent others to trample her from the running battalion. Carried her to the clinic, while the medic running behind. "Who is she?" Juan thought, I did not see, because her face is covered by camouflage and mud from the crawling. He was immediate, commanded to be back to the jogging, and entered the mess hall.

"Why did she collapsed?" Juan's thoughts were stopped by the announcement to sit in our respective space in the long chair. Somebody lead the blessing with a short prayer. We ate in the military square meal manner.

We had a good entertaining program of command turn over. All the commanders from the Commissioned officers of the platoon to the company commanders were named... Jacky was the platoon commander of the second platoon. While I don't know where I will belong because my name was not yet called.

I just wonder why Jacky was not present when her name was called. I doubt that she was the one who fainted.

The commandant announced: After much deliberation, we have made a decision that the new Battalion Commander for this school year is " Juan Tera"

The battalion shouted, hep, hep hooray!

I went to the stage, received the symbolical sword of authority and responsibility. Made some salutes. Have some handshakes and congratulations from the previous senior officers who graduated from the CAT. They will be my mentors and advisers.

The program ended.

I never saw Jacky. I asked some of the girls. They said they don't know also.