The sky was covered with cumulonimbus clouds, an ominous sign that there will be a heavy downpour. The day was just starting and students normally go to school, employees systematically go to work and every other normal occurrence.

What better way to term it than the calm before the storm. The storm in which changed the fate of this blue world.

On the Archipelago of Philippines, Leyte Province, a young boy awoke.

“Kriss! Wake up or you’ll be late!” I opened my eyes as I heard my mother’s loud voice.

I woke up feeling dread without any reason and my back was filled with cold sweat.

I checked the clock the time is 7 am.

Oh Crap! I’m going to be late. The previous feeling of dread was totally forgotten as I rushed out of bed.

“Brother if you keep eating like that then sooner or later we’ll be required to call an ambulance.”

A little loli wearing a pink pajama sat in front of me munching on a Pandesal bread. This is my little sister Angela 8 years old and a smart mouth.

With weird golden pupils and a pale complexion, I even wondered sometimes if we really are siblings. I guess mutations really do sometimes happen.

“Brat, who are you cursing there! Well, I don’t have enough time to play with you so just finish eating your breakfast, I will be going.”

“Take care big brother. Remember to say hi to that beautiful big sister we met yesterday.”

“Augh!”

My little sister really knows to hit where it hurts.

That big sister she was referring to was my long time crush, Ava , the governor’s daughter. The main point of this story is that I “liked” her. Yeah liked, the day I learned the different castes of society was the day my feeling started to die. There will be never a good end to those kinds of relationships, history has proven it countless of times.

Well, no time dwelling in the past, it’s time to focus on the present. That’s the essence of life, moving on.

My school was one of the prestigious schools in the region. It was named as Ortahonga National Highschool. The school has harsh punishments to those who break the school rules which running late happened to be one.

I was running through one of the corridors of the school building. I then noticed another set of footsteps at my back. I turned around and saw Marivick a long time friend which is also my neighbour.

“Hey Michel morning. I did not expect a straight A student to be running late from school.” I waved my hand and also slowed my pace to match his.

“Good morning Kriss. I just got lost track of time while studying yesterday.” Michel replied while panting due to his running.

Michel can be described as a hardworking genius. Raised by a single mom and with his 2 younger siblings, he got a scholarship in this prestigious educational institution. He can be summarized as a good person but that is also his flaw. He is too naive to the real ways of the world and was often taken advantage by other people. I can only repeatedly advice him about it but his inherent goodness can’t just be changed.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

We talked for a few moments and soon I found out we arrived at his class room.

“See ya later Kriss.” Michel did a little farewell

“Well, I’ll be going.” I nod and ran to my respective room.

I was already panting when I arrived at the classroom. The teacher is calling in the attendance. I hurried to my seat but I never expected that a foot will trip me, causing me to stumble.

I was almost knocked down to the floor, but I luckily regained my balance.

A tongue clicked behind me

I glanced back and saw a sneering face of a student, Mark.

Mark is your typical rich second generation, an arrogant and overbearing student which most in the class boot-licks and curries favour.

I want to complain to the teacher but found out that he didn’t even react and just turned a blind eye. I sat down in resignation and just waited for my name to be called.

“Good balance. I thought you’d kiss the floor for a moment there.” This voice is of Marivick, a good long time friend.

“Heh! just my luck. And I don’t really love the floor, why the heck would I kiss it.” I said with a grin while arranging the things in my desk.

“By the way you look like a zombie with that eye bag of yours.” He pointed to my panda eyes due to lack of sleep

“Look who’s talking, the anime addict. I'm much fortunate that I sleep, It seems you do not even know how to.” We laughed but soon stopped when we saw the teacher glaring at us.

Time passed quickly and the morning classes have finished. I am your typical loner and Marivick is my only friend in class and he is also antisocial. He is what you can call an otaku and a chuni .

We just ate in silence at a corner of the room while reading books and watching anime.

“Another anime finished. Hmm... What should this king watch next?” Marivick stretched his flabby arms.

“You should take a break. With that fat body of yours, I'm afraid that you will soon meet the king of hell.” I retorted with my eyes still glued to my phone screen.

“I don’t want to get advice from a stick man. And being fat isn’t too bad; at least I got a huge energy reserve.”

We continued bickering for a while and then attended back to our own phones. I was immersed in my reading and felt that the surrounding got noisier to the point where it is interrupting my reading. I was annoyed and glanced at my surroundings. I saw Mark and a bunch of his friends teasing or more like bullying a petite brown haired boy. The boy’s face clearly expressed stubbornness.

“F*ck you. If I said get the f*ck out of here then you should just scram!” Mark grabbed the boy’s collar and raised it causing the boy to have difficulties.

“What the hell is your problem?! You do not own the school what right do you have to make me scram.” The boy gripped the hand holding his collar hoping to release it.

“It looks being polite isn’t effective with you. You need to taste my fist to learn your lesson.” The grip of Mark didn’t even loosen clearly expressing his strong and fit body.

“Arghhh!!!” the boy ate a few punches on his stomach. The result was his lunch being discharged from his stomach through his mouth which in turn showered Mark. The boy lost consciousness afterwards as he was thrown to the floor.

The whole class laughed at the funny site but soon turned quite with a glare from Mark’s stained face. The scene concluded with the puking of Mark into the floor. He and his henchmen then left the room in shame to have a change of clothes.

“What a good play!”Remarked Marivick after the group left

“Yeah, it sure is.” After saying that, I stood up and went to the fainted boy on the floor. I crouched down and tapped the teen’s face a few times. The boy soon regained consciousness and a confused expression appeared on his face.

“A bit of advice to you. The mango tree shall break in face of storms living its short-lived glory while a bamboo shall bend and endure to prosper in the nearby future. It is up to you what you will become. Now go change, you stink.”

“Why are you helping me. Aren’t you afraid of offending Mark?” The haggard boy stared at my eyes with confusion.

“Help? I just woke you up and said a few words. Nothing more and nothing less.” I stood up and went back to my desk.

“Is wise man Kriss a busybody now? What a great news.” Marivick teased

“Busybody your ass! What will the world become without kindness and goodwill?” I glared at Michel

“That will be called hell, am I right?” And Michel continued his playful tone and smile

“Yeah, hell.” I murmured thinking about my forgotten dream this morning. Are dreams really meant to be forgotten.

Let us not burden our remembrance with a heaviness that is gone. A Hamlet quote rose on my mind.

The dream was once again tossed at the back of my mind.

After that I returned back to my reading oblivious to the unforeseen, dreadful, and soon to come future.