BNM-4

                                    

                                          
Noelle Canarette
Pupungas-pungas akong umupo sa gilid ng kama ko nang tumunog ang alarm ko. It felt like I had been pressing the snooze button since six in the morning, and now, as I glanced at the clock, I realized it was already eight. No choice na tinanggap ko na umaga na naman at bagong araw na paghihirap na naman. 
Asar na nilingon ko ang cellphone ko ng mag-alarm na naman ito. I snatched my phone from the bedside table and threw it upon my rumpled sheets dahil sa inis. Labag sa loob na tumayo ako at dumiretso sa bathroom para maligo.
As I stepped out of the shower and dried myself off, I stared at the reflection in the mirror. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of annoyance at the lack of choices available to me. Why can't we have the freedom to express ourselves through our appearance in school? Ayaw na ayaw ko talaga ang magsuot ng uniform. Wala naman akong problem na magsuot ng skirt pero minsan kasi nakakairita. May oras kasi na gusto ko sumalampak lang sa damuhan ng hindi iniisip ang position ko.
After I finished getting ready and gathering my necessities for the day, I made the decision to go out. Indifferent to anyone present, I headed towards the kitchen to grab something to eat before heading to school.
"Good morning, Noelle," Marga greeted me, but I simply bypassed her and went straight to the fridge. 
I knew there would always be sandwiches prepared for me. Salamat kay Manang Jel, hindi niya ako pinapabayaan magutom. Pagkatapos kong kumuha narinig ko pa na niyaya niya ako sumabay kumain sa kanila, but I ignored her presence together with my dad and just walked out of the kitchen. I heard dad calling me, but the hell I care. They don't deserve my care anyway.
Paglabas ko ng bahay, I couldn't help but think about the state of my connection with my family, well hindi ko sure kung family ngang matatawag 'to. How did it get this far? A once-loving and close-knit family has seemingly shattered into shards of estrangement and hatred. 
Of course, things haven't always been this way. There was a time when we shared dinners, when laughter rang through our house, and when love filled the spaces between us. But somewhere along the way, that sensation of belonging had faded, leaving us as strangers sharing a house.
Minsan talaga ayaw ko ng ganitong mood ko. Bigla-bigla na lang akong magda-drama. 
Yak....
Hindi ako nagpahatid kay manong sa school at mas pinili ko na lang mag bike. Late naman na ako bakit hindi ko pa lubusin.
I hopped onto my bike, I turned on my phone to play some music, setting the soundtrack for my ride. As the melodies fused with the rhythm of my pedaling, I couldn't help but feel like I was in my own little world, detached from the reality.
Cool lang na naglalakad ako ngayon sa hallway nang masilayan ko ang isang magandang nilalang na naglalakad papunta sa aking daraanan. Ngumiti ako nang mapansin na niya ang presensya ko ngunit nakatanggap lang ako ng irap. 
Sungit talaga.
"Good morning, Miss ma'am!" Bati ko nang magkaharap na kami ngayon. Hinarangan ko kasi siya para mapilitan huminto.
"Move!" These were the words that pierced through the air. It was a simple command, but a tone of urgency and authority. The voice belonged to a woman na gustong-gusto ko makita ang asar niyang mukha.