The body was removed from the cabin already. The crew found an open area near the shore where they buried the corpse along with its head. Other passengers were still crying in their makeshift tents. Our hope of leaving the island felt more distant than ever.
I peeked outside my tent and spotted teacher Mary at the far corner of the shore near the coconut trees, surveying the area and trying to identify suspects. She seemed unable to fully believe what had happened, though the experience wasn't unfamiliar to her.
She had shared with me a bit about her past before we disembarked from the barge after finding the captain's body. It was perhaps to distract me from the horror. She had once been an investigator and still carried her ID—illegally—believing it might be useful one day, which it had been. It had been a long time since she'd last seen a corpse, and it had terrified her, making her scream in an uncharacteristic way.
Lately, things had been better for her. Her husband had stopped drinking, and her eldest daughter had recently graduated elementary with honors. It had been a marvelous year for her—until now. She was aware of her tendency for obsessive organization and mild OCD, but she struggled to stay composed as events unfolded.
Her gaze fell on a moving figure emerging from the woods: Alyssa. She was carrying a backpack filled with fruits. I could see apples, oranges, and grapes as she emptied them onto a malong near the white tent designated for food storage. I turned back toward my bed when a sudden realization stopped me mid-step.
Apples, oranges, and grapes? How on earth were they here in Bantayan?
I went outside and approached Alyssa. Teacher Mary was already questioning her.
“Teacher Alyssa, may I know where you got those?” she asked, pointing at the fruits on the malong.
We were both wondering the same thing.
“Oh, hi, Jelly,” she greeted me, then she answered teacher Mary, “Since we have a lot of free time, Ritchelle, Vhina, and I went to find something to eat in the jungle. We were lucky to find these.” She gestured to the fruits and added, “It’s strange for an island like this to have these kinds of fruits.”
“Didn’t we have enough rations already? I thought some people gathered food earlier today?” teacher Mary asked.
“Yes, cher. Some even added the little food they salvaged from the barge in the yellow tent. However, after Jelly told the truth about the captain, some left, bringing ample provisions with them. We thought we should replenish our stock.”
“Well, that’s odd. Anyway, are you sure you picked those fruits from their trees?”
“Yes, cher. Vhina was the most shocked. She kept saying it was impossible and that there was no way they could grow here. Well, for me, I don’t really care what grows here as long as they’re edible,” Alyssa replied, biting into an apple.
Teacher Mary just stared at her for a moment, then she went to the blue tent. I asked Alyssa more questions, but she just handed me an apple.
*****
An emergency meeting had been called in the largest tent on the shore—the blue tent. It wasn’t actually painted blue but marked by a piece of stenciled driftwood hanging near the top. People who chose to stay were gathered outside, nervously waiting for a decision. The student council officers had been isolated in the orange tent with teacher Selena and teacher Norkie guarding the perimeter—teacher Mary didn’t want them hearing the news about the barge captain as well.
Inside the blue tent were teacher Mary, the doctor, an old-looking man who I guessed was in his late forties, a businessman with a torn suit, and me. The four of us were chosen to decide because of our influence outside the island, which could improve our chances of rescue.
It was my first time seeing the businessman. He had a balding head, a clean-shaven face, and drooping eyes.
There were no chairs, so we improvised, piling up salvaged items to resemble seats. We had taken the late captain’s study table, and the four of us sat tensely around it—especially me.
I was the youngest and most amateur-looking one among us. I had been included in the meeting because I saw what was inside the captain’s cabin. But it was more likely because teacher Mary summoned me and no one had the courage to challenge her. At least, that was what I thought.
The businessman adjusted his seating position, trying to get comfortable, but his weight made it difficult. He finally settled and then rudely asked, “And why would a young woman be ‘ere with us?”
“Come on, Dr. Niel. She’s also a teacher, and she’s old enough to share her opinion. It wouldn’t hurt to have her around, would it?” the doctor who had taken care of me since we got stranded—and who had nursed me back to a stable mental state after the incident in the captain’s cabin—answered calmly. He reminded me of the favorite uncle of a group of children back in our neighborhood in Tabogon. “You’re a professor at a well-known university in Cebu. You should know how a teacher’s opinion can have an impact. I believe you know it because you’re a teacher yourself.”
So, he was not a businessman.
“I’m sorry, but can’t we just start this meeting? People entrusted us with deciding how to move forward. Aside from the captain being dead, we still have missing people. One of the barge crew members reported about thirty people total, including those who went inland. Now, isn’t that more concerning than arguing over someone’s presence, doctor?” teacher Mary interrupted. I wasn’t sure which doctor she was referring to, but I’d bet it was the professor.
Dr. Niel was taken aback for a moment by the sudden opposition but quickly recovered with a single, pretentious cough, which I believed was his petty attempt to clear his throat. “I was supposed to be ‘aving a seminar at Salazar Colleges of Science and Business in Bantayan an hour ago, or maybe hours already. Judging by the sun’s position outside and the heat tormenting us, I’m assuming it’s around two in the afternoon.”
I had a wild thought that he and Vhina would surely not have a peaceful conversation if the opportunity arose.
“So,” teacher Mary continued, seemingly guessing what the professor was pointing out, “they might have already been trying to contact you. And since they can’t reach you, they might have already called someone from your university.”
“Actually, I think it’s convenient for us since the distance between Hagnaya and Bantayan isn’t that far. Port operatives on the island might already be alarmed,” the other doctor—my doctor—said. It silenced teacher Mary, and she gave him a condescending look.
“You’re right there, um... What was your name again?” Dr. Niel asked.
“Lorena,” the doctor replied. He let out a charming chuckle and clarified, “Actually, I’d rather appreciate it if you’d just call me Shawn. It’s my given name.”
“Wait. Are you the well-known Dr. Shawn Lorena? A successful entrepreneur slash doctor in Rodrigo Sotto ‘ospital?”
“Now, that’s something I’d rather not be called, especially in front of everyone. Just call me Shawn, please.”
“So, are we going to come up with a decision now?” teacher Mary interrupted again, asserting her authority. Though an instructional supervisor wasn’t much compared to the two of them, her personality and pride wouldn’t allow her to feel inferior.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
The two returned to being serious. Dr. Niel was about to speak when I realized something and shot to my feet.
“Um... Aren’t we already in Bantayan?” I blurted out, breaking the tense atmosphere. The three turned to me, giving blank stares. Embarrassed, I sat back down.
“That’s actually a point worth considering,” Dr. Niel replied.
“Well, I didn’t think of it. It completely went over my head,” Dr. Shawn admitted.
Teacher Mary gave me a soft, warm pat on the back, perhaps silently commending me. “Now, we might think we’re in Bantayan, but everything else here doesn’t make sense. We should have seen more people by now.”
“Maybe we’re not in Bantayan Island but on one of the surrounding islands. What do you think?” Dr. Shawn guessed. He pulled out a half-emptied Nature Spring bottle from his long, dirty-white coat and finished what was left. He wiped his bearded mouth in one swift motion, giving off a rugged charm. I couldn’t help noticing how attractive he was for his age.
“You might be right. So, all we need is to wait for rescue,” Dr. Niel cautiously concluded.
“Not just wait. Let’s at least survive. We can divide the remaining crowd into groups handling specific tasks. Isn’t that the best thing we can do for now?”
“‘ow about the children? I’ve seen some students in one of the tents,” Dr. Niel said, giving a judgmental look straight at teacher Mary. She didn’t budge.
“It’s not unusual for us to bring them along, especially when we have a training to conduct for the betterment of the school’s student council. You should know that, professor,” teacher Mary retorted with a tinge of authority.
“Is there really a need to bring them all to Bantayan? I don’t quite see the need.”
“Don’t worry, we have their parents’ consent, and they’re in good hands.”
“‘ow sure are you they are all in good ‘ands, teacher? Can you still say that they are in good ‘ands right now?”
“Why does it matter to you that much?”
“Well, because I’m a teacher myself.”
“It’s just like having field trips. The complete change in environment helps boost their learning experiences.”
“Does it really have to be in Bantayan? There are plenty of educational environments in Cebu City or nearby municipalities. Why here?”
Their argument continued for several minutes while Dr. Shawn and I remained speechless, not daring to interrupt for fear of being lashed out at any moment.
Dr. Shawn moved closer to me, a gesture I consciously noticed, making my heart race. “Hi, teacher Jelly. How are you feeling?”
I was confused about how to reply. “I’m doing well, Doc. Thanks for your help.”
“No worries. Do you ever feel dizzy?”
“Well, sometimes. But it’s nothing serious, so I usually just ignore it.”
“Don’t neglect it like that. It could be something serious. Or worse.”
I shied away, embarrassed. “Okay. I’m sorry.”
“Just make sure to drink a lot of water. It’s the natural way to cure dizziness.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“I’ve heard you’re a Science teacher. What was your major in college?”
“Biochemistry.”
“Oh? So, you’re good with chemical processes within living organisms?”
“Not really. It wasn’t my choice to be a Biochem student. It was my sister’s.”
“Really? What course did you want to take?”
I hesitated, barely able to look him in the eye. No one knew what I truly wanted in life, not even Molly. But for some reason, I felt the sudden urge to share it now—with him.
After a pause, during which the doctor waited patiently, I finally muttered, “I wanted to enroll in medical school. I wanted to be a doctor.”
Dr. Shawn paused. “Well, isn’t Biochemistry a pre-med course?”
“Yes, but not BSEd. I wanted a BA or BS degree. I don’t really like teaching in general.”
“It’s still great, though. Being a teacher isn’t easy, especially talking in front of students. I once lectured in front of aspiring doctors at UR Med. Even now, I still feel the nervousness from that day. It’s scary.”
Teacher Mary interrupted, halting me mid-reply. “I think this meeting is going nowhere at this rate.”
“It’s because you keep babbling nonsensical stuff,” Dr. Niel defended.
“Oh? Me? Aren’t you the talker here?”
“Why don’t we just come up with a decision we can all agree on?”
“That’s what I was trying to tell you earlier! But we kept talking about irrelevant stuff instead of focusing on our primary objective!” She was on the verge of losing her cool. “Okay, let’s handle this quickly and rationally. Should we divide the remaining people and assign them tasks?”
The three of us didn’t reply, which, for teacher Mary, seemed like an agreement.
“Good. Now, let’s discuss how to divide them.”
*****
The meeting lasted about an hour. I excused myself briefly to use the makeshift comfort room. Passing by the orange tent, I greeted teacher Selena and teacher Norkie. Without much thought, I peeked inside.
Rex was still working through the S-tier English workbook his uncle had entrusted him with on the barge. When I asked about it, he said he needed to finish it to learn the basic rules of grammar—and how to break them masterfully for effect in writing. I told him it was great since he wanted to be like Josh, but he clarified that while he wanted to teach, he didn’t plan on teaching English.
He wanted to teach kindergarteners.
By the way he spoke, he didn’t seem entirely committed yet, but he told me he’d once visited a daycare full of small children—so small he joked he could fit them in his pockets. It made me giggle. He was amazed by how the teachers managed everything despite the cries and little fights.
To him, it looked fun.
On a side note, he asked what was happening outside and why they weren’t allowed to leave the tent without a teacher. He also asked about his uncle’s whereabouts, mentioning that Josh had never checked in on him yet.
Before I could reply, someone patted his left shoulder. When he turned, a finger was poised, ready to poke his cheek.
It was Maynard, the auditor.
“Hi, teacher Jelly. Rex, are you done yet? We might as well start planning the retreat budget. Or maybe you’ve already started,” he said, his voice heavy with drowsiness.
Maynard, a four-foot-tall, chubby student, looked almost like a caricature of a stereotypical bully. His small uniform stretched tightly over his bulk with bulges and excess fat visible at every seam. He seemed like he was about to demand Rex’s pocket money.
Rex turned to face him and said squarely, “Look, I might be one of the officers, but I have no intention of being friends with you—or anyone else.”
“Man, come on. I’m your best pal when it comes to this stuff. Treasurers and auditors are inseparable in the council. You might as well befriend me.”
“You know why I signed up for this, right? Don’t worry. I’ll finish the budget plan and pass it to you for double-checking. No need to come talk to me.”
“Man, you’re a letdown. Just make sure to leave it near the makeshift table I made,” he said, pointing to a pile of clothes and driftwood.
After Maynard returned to his spot, Rex continued working. I stood behind him, observing his progress. He was working on subject-verb agreement when he mentioned a tingling sensation on his cheek. The feeling worsened as time passed, growing so intense he said he couldn’t ignore it anymore.
He stood but stumbled, knocking over his backpack, which he had been using as a makeshift table. As he tried to get up and reach the tent’s opening, Joseph blocked his way. I hadn’t even noticed him inside before. Despite his usual attitude, he actually asked Rex something instead of making a rude remark.
“Where are you going? Didn’t teacher Selena say you need permission before leaving?”
“Yes, and I’m going to ask her now. Move if you don’t want to get hurt.”
“Really? Were you a delinquent before? What a foul mouth.”
Rex winced. The tingling had clearly turned into pain. “Move. One more word, and I’ll hit you.”
“Try me. I’m the acting president here, and I have the right to disci—”
Joseph never finished. Rex hit him. Hard.
I froze, unable to react as a teacher.
Joseph rolled onto the sand, landing with a loud thud against the metal tent post. He sat there, stunned, wiping his bleeding lip. “Now, you’ve done it. Swear to God, you’re not leaving this tent while I’m here.”
“I warned you. Don’t threaten me unless you want another hit.”
Joseph’s face shifted. His usual aloof demeanor vanished. “You know,” he said with a calmness that felt strangely out of character, “I wasn’t supposed to talk to you. I’m playing the shut-in, antisocial nerd who just wants to game all day. But I can drop the act right now and show you something interesting.” His voice was chillingly controlled. “So, where are you going?”
“Shut it, nerd.”
“That was your last chance. Thanks for your service in the council.”
I didn’t stay to see what happened next. I returned to the blue tent immediately. Surely, it was just a childish fight. Still, I told teacher Norkie and teacher Selena—though I should probably inform teacher Mary, too.