Chapter 4

Help Me, Teacher

San Francisco High School of Laguna, one of the few prestigious schools in Laguna.

Although it was one of the smallest schools in Laguna, it was still one of the renowned schools. Purely due to its staff and ways of teaching that it got its reputation. Unfortunately because of the lack of funds, facilities, resources and staffs, this school will only remain small.

One of the main reasons of its reputation is from the so called Goddess in the school, teacher Angeline Gabrero, a young teacher who is teaching for almost 3 years.

She was called Goddess because of her appearance and her gentle personality.

She was in charge of the school clinic and was also the trusted counselor, someone both her fellow teachers and students tell their problems and ask for advices.

It was also because of her that the risk of bullying was low and even fighting between students was recedes, and due to her motivations and encouragement that the students become more active on their studies.

In short, Ms. Angeline Gabrero was one of the main figures of the school.

It was March 29 of 2024, Holy Saturday or also known as Black Saturday.

It was weekend and was also Holiday, but Ms. Angeline was still busy doing documents and files for her students.

It was a life of a teacher, for students she will have to work hard.

10:35 PM. Angeline suddenly got a call from one of her students while doing her work.

“Hello Faith Ann?” Angeline asked.

“Hello Ma’am, did I somehow disturb you?” Faith Ann said in low and weaken voice.

“No. Are you alright?” Angeline noticed her weakened voice and immediately asked with concern.

“Don’t worry ma’am, I’m alright.” Faith said. Before Angeline can reply, Faith quickly added. “I just want someone to talk with, ma’am.”

“Okay”

“Ma’am, you should know about my situation right? My dad was a ceo of some company, and while my mom was working overseas. I’m always alone in my house, even if I asked them for just a meal and a trip together as a family, they will always say they are busy and can’t keep me accompany. But as the time passes, other than basically giving me my allowance they stop caring about me.”

“That is why I also do well in my studies, to achieve higher grades so that they can noticed me.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“I studied hard, day and night, so that if I achieved something high, I can show that to them and they will be proud and happy for me. Like the other parents to their kids.”

“I become the topper of my class, and when I showed it to them they only said ‘Good, don’t disappoint us.’.”

“That time my heart felt so heavy, like a boulder was on my shoulder.”

“The day of recognition, they didn’t come. I anticipated for them to come, because I thought they were satisfied with my performance.”

“I asked them why they didn’t come, and yet they said it was not as important as their work.”

“I cried when I heard them saying that.”

“Just why?”

“I did everything just to get their attention, I sacrificed my sleep and health for my studies.”

“And yet just one praise and recognition, I didn’t receive any from them.”

“So for them, their own daughter are not as important as their work?”

“Then why did they even bother to make one?”

“Faith Ann…” Angeline tried to console her but was quickly stopped.

“Don’t worry ma’am, I am fine.”

“Actually I already thought of it, why bother work hard when the people you want to please doesn’t even care about you?”

“I grew up with my grandparents because mom and dad was always at work, but my grandparents who raised me was already died.”

“Even if I tried to stay a little longer, I have no one left.”

“I don’t have any friends due to my personality.”

“Even if I found one, they will only backstab me.”

“I’m tired, ma’am.”

“I tried everything I got, but why?”

Hearing that, Angeline began agitated. “Hey Faith, stay with me.”

“Where are you?” Angeline asked. Without even arranging her works, Angeline immediately stood up and put on her jacket. She hurriedly went out and asked Faith.

It seems like Faith knows what Angeline is going to do, and she said, “Don’t bother, Ma’am Angel, I’m sorry.”

"Don't, Faith! Where are you? Let's talk." Angeline shouted, her face pale with worry.

"Thank you for your concern, Ma'am Angel. But I'm tired of proving myself to them." Faith quickly said, her voice trailing off.

Tears filled Angeline's eyes as she heard Faith's words.

“Goodbye and thank you for being with me.” Faith said, her voice filled with sadness and a hint of joy, she was thankful that she can talk to someone like Angeline.

She might have been thinking that if they had only known each other, maybe she wouldn’t have done it. But she was tired.

After saying that, the call disconnected.

Angeline immediately called the police to go to Faith’s house.

When they arrived, they found Faith’s body, already dead for several hours.

Angeline was shocked because they had just talked a few minutes ago.

The police talked to her and asked her several times. While being questioned, Angeline was filled with shock, fear, and confusion.

She was advised by the police psychiatrist several times before being escorted home.

When she arrived at her house, she sat on her bed in a daze. After a while, she opened her cellphone and checked her call history.

It's already late afternoon, and classes are over for the day. All the students have gone home, leaving only the teachers at school to take care of their students' quiz papers.

Angeline and her colleagues arrived home at 6 o'clock. Upon arriving, she immediately set to work on the papers to finish them.

With her full focus, it took her 5 hours to complete everything. It's already 11 o'clock, and Angeline was about to go to sleep when her cellphone rang again.

Because of what happened to her recently, she trembled and felt a chill.

Despite this, she still picked up her cellphone and checked it.

She hoped that what happened last Saturday wouldn't happen again.

And when she saw who was calling her, she felt anxious once more.

"Jamaica."

She answered it, asking, "Hello?"

A weak and trembling voice entered Angeline's ear, immediately filling her with fear and sadness. "Help me, Teacher!"