In the early morning of summer, a young girl stare at the sight in front of her.

Blank eyes slowly

took in the features of the gate. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and open them. Her eyes now
full of life and a gleeful expression morphs in her face. Like seasons, she changed into a completely
different person. The young girl’s name is Miya.

She entered the campus and went towards her classroom. But before she could, she must go
through the guard. Like an actress, she greeted the guard happily and thanking him for protecting the
school. The guard recognizes her and returns the gesture. He then let her pass through.

Everywhere she goes, she greets her peers, seniors, teachers and staff members and asks how
their day is going. Walking up the stairs, she arrives at her designated classroom. The sounds of guitar
being played and the voices of her chattering classmates reaches her ear.

She opens the door and greets them as usual. They all turn towards her and greets her back.

“Hi guys! Kamusta man inyong kinabuhi dira?” she asked.

“Hi Miya! Since buhi pa man mi, okay ra dagay HAHAHA” her classmate and one of her best
friend replies back and her name is Ana.

“Girl! Naa koy chika nimo! Kabalo ka si kuan ba... katong crush nko ba” says Ana.

“Okay CUT! Lemme hug Miya pud. Sge ra mag ikaw” one of Miya’s best friends, puts her arm in
a slicing motion between Miya and Ana. Her name is Lizzy.

“Kay ako man iya langga. Maong gipili ko!” Ana retorts back at her.

“Uhm guys like, oh my god! We all know na ako jud iyang gipili. So pwede mupahawa mo. Like
hello?” says Sam, who is Miya’s last but not the least, one of her best friends. Sam is part of the LGBTQ
community.

[CHIKA TIME – The topic is still undecided and their convos]

...

[AFTER CHIKA TIME]

The teacher arrives in the class, “Alright students we will be having our exam today. I hope you
studied the coverage of the exam I gave you the other day. I want one seat part.” The announced to the
class. Groans of displeasure can be heard inside the room.

“Ma’am ayaw ma’am. Ma zero man ko ani for sure.” Jake complained to the teacher.

“And why is that?” the teacher asked Jake.

“Naa biya koy rason nganung ganahan ko dris seat nko ma’am. Kaning dapit sa window.”

“Pake ko Jake. Anyway one seat apart.” says the teacher. Uncaring and unbothered by her
student.

“Ma’am! Di ko kitas akong crush muagi ma’am! Maluoy ka intawon nko ma’am!!”

“Pagpuyo dra Jake. Kung ganahan ka makakitas crush nimo, are willing to take the risk? The risk
nga dli ka makapasars klase nko hm?” the teacher asks Jake if his willing without looking at him.

“MA’AM MALUOY KAS KALAG NKO MA’AM! Di ko ma inspired or ma motivate kog di ko kakita
niya ma’am! Have mercy on my heart, my soul and my spirit!” Jake made sure to exaggerate his voice
and got down on his knees.
 “Ah mao ba? Di ka ma motivate pag wala siya? Naa koy motivation nimo dodong” the teacher
looks at him ready to make him feel motivated.

“Unsa ma’am?”

“The deadline for the project. Instead of next week, it will be move”

“Ma’am? Asa ang motiva – “

“This incoming Thursday. You have three days left.” The teacher looks at Jake dead in the eyes
as she said those words.

“...... Murag ready na mugawas akong kalag. Ikaw Sam? Miya? Ana?” says Lizzy to her friends,
who couldn’t believe what she just heard.

“I have nothing to say” says Sam.

“Kani bas Jake” Ana mutters underneath her breath.

“Hahaha it’s okay guys. As long as we have each other, makaya ni nato. Tabanganay lang ta”
Miya cheers them up and encourage them. This made everyone sigh in relief knowing that there’s
someone they can count on.

“Ma’am sorry ma’am.....” Jake said to his teacher.

“.....Could it be, na annoy si ma’am, kay wla syay lalabs or wla sya tagda sa iya lalabs.... if naa.....
maypa maghilom ko para dli ma change napud ang deadline.” Jake mutters, walks away and looks for an
unoccupied seat.

[THE TEST STARTS...]

[CHECKING OF PAPERS...]

[RECEIVING THEIR SCORES...]

“Hala nakapasar ko! Oh M Gee. Di ko makatuo na nakapasar ko!” Lizzy couldn’t believe it. She
passed the hard exam. She then look towards her friends and they too, have the same expression.

“MIYA!! Bes! Nakapasar ko!” Ana screams in joy and jumps around. Her arms above her head
with her paper in hand.

“YES! HEEYYAA!! Tungod ra jud nis kape. All Hail Kopiko Blanco! I believe in COFFEE
SUPREMACY!” Yelled Sam at the top of his lungs.

Miya didn’t say anything and just smiles at her friends. Miya doesn’t want to interrupt them nor
let this precious moment be ruin. Miya’s phone beeped and she fish it out of her pocket. She turns
around with her back towards her friends.

“Miya, where are you? I thought I told you I don’t like tardiness. I’m at the parking lot.” The
caller hung up. Miya know all too well who that person is. She then faced her friends and told them she
needed to go. Her father is waiting for her.

[MIYA GOT INTO THE CAR]

[THE CAR DROVE OFF]

 Miya opened the car and got out heading towards the house where her mother is expecting her
presence at the living room. She opens the door, puts an act and greets her mother happily.

“Miya, I heard you had exam today? Let me see your paper.” Her mother demands her. Her
hand outstretch towards Miya with her palms open. Miya gives her paper and prays her father wouldn’t
be here at the living room with them, unfortunately, fate seems to have a different plan.

“What’s this? You didn’t PASS THE EXAM?!! Jusko Miya!! Pakaulaw man ka!” Her mother yelled
at her.

“MIYA! We did everything for you to be educated, be fed, give you a place to sleep, give you
clothes, and we get THIS?! Is this how you REPAY YOUR PARENTS? WHO RAISED YOU?!! YOU FAILED TO
PASS THE EXAM AFTER EVERYTHING WE’VE DONE!!” Her father screamed at her angrily.

“Di ko mudawat ani! Did you even study in the first place?!”

“Yes, I studied”.

“Then how come wla ka kapasar sa exam HA?! IF GATUON KA, DLI TA KA MAHAGBONG!”

“I will not accept this! Dapat perfect ka pareha namo since anak ka namo!! But this... Goodness,
you are a disappointment. A failure in this family. Why can’t you be more like your brother. Tsk! Get out
of my sight! You’re an eyesore!” Miya did not need to be told twice. She runs towards her room and
cries.

Her parents were angry and disappointed in her. To them, her grades matter more. They never
treated her like their own daughter. She felt like a caged bird. She seeks freedom and wants nothing
more but to escape the darkness she is forced to bear and live with.

Her friends are her hope. They gave her happiness. She wants to tell them of her problems, but
she doesn’t want to burden them, adding more problems to their already problematic life and fearing
that her father will know and her friends will be in danger. Worst case scenario, she won’t see them ever
again. With that thought, she cries harder.