What Destiny Lies for Us (Esperanza Series #1)

Chapter 01

Chapter 01
Always Here
raeminiscence | #WDLFUwp

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Destiny... Is our destiny reliant on some hidden divine power above us or is it a pre-written story or legendary tale, divided into chapters based on the phases of our lives, before we were even born?

Either way, I'd been told that each person has a destiny—just like what my mother used to tell me. She believed that every prosperity or misfortune is meant for that person to live through for with the chances of it happening, a person wouldn't be the person they were. It shifted their perspective, shaped them to be themselves.

Every stop—achievement, obstacle, or adversity—in a person's life is a requirement; without it being completed, the next step wouldn't be as achievable. For her, our lives were already planned right from the beginning and all we had to do was live through and make the most out of it.

I liked to believe that, I really did for the while that she repeated it to me every time we're together. She thanked her destiny for without its plan, she wouldn't have me and my younger brother, Pierceson.

If she were still alive right now, would she still thank her destiny for letting her die young and taking her away from me, from us? Would she still regard her life in a glorified light after it deprived her of years for her to live her bestest? Would she still be grateful that instead of lying on my bed beside me, she's lying six feet under the ground?

Such a shame I used to believe in it.

Balisa kong tinignan ang relo ko. Limang minuto na mula nang matapos ang klase namin pero hindi pa rin kami pinapalabas ni Ma'am dahil may mga kaklase pa akong 'di pa tapos sumagot ng test.

Nang-iinggit ang ibang mga dumaan sa gilid ng classroom namin pero hindi 'yun umubra sa'kin. Kung tutuusin, naiirita lang akong nakalabas na sila at kami hindi pa.

Naghihintay na si Pierce sa'kin, kanina pa ang uwian nun.

"Wala na bang itatagal pa 'to?" bulong ko sa hangin.

Isa na lang ang natitira sa kanilang lima ang hindi pa tapos sumagot. Panay pa ang bura niya sa papel niya; siguro ay nakakaramdam na rin ng pressure mula sa mga tumititig sa kanya. Ikaw ba naman ang mabuntungan ng inis ng mga kaklase mong agit na agit nang magsiuwian?

Patuloy pa rin ang pag-iingay ng mga kaklase ko sa gilid, karamihan ay sinasabihan 'yung kaklase ko na bilisan na niya ang pagsagot. Napangiwi ako roon. Hindi ba nila alam na hindi lang sila nakakatulong sa pinaggagawa nilang pag-pressure sa kanya?

Nilipat ko na lang sa labas ang titig ko at pinatong ang baba ko sa kamay ko. Baka kapag hindi ko na 'to pinagtuunan ng pansin ay mas mabilis siyang matapos sa pagsagot at lilipas din ang oras nang parang wala lang.

Kaya naman siguro akong hintayin ni Pierce nang kaunting saglit lang, 'di ba? Hindi naman siguro niya iisipin na iniwan ko na siya?

Maya't maya, nagsalita na rin si Ma'am, "Okay, class, pass your papers."

May sistema ang pagpapasa namin ng papel. Magmumula muna ito sa mga nasa pinakalikod papunta sa nasa harap nito tapos sa harap ulit hanggang sa makaabot ito sa pinakaunang linya; gagalaw 'yun kada linya bawat segundo. With my chin still resting on my palm, my eyes followed Ma'am as she took the papers one-by-one from the students seated at the front.

Everybody watched her movements, anticipating for her to signal our long-awaited dismissal. 'Yung mga nasa gilid at likuran 'yung mga pinakamaingay. She sighed and pointed her finger to the door with a nod. Almost simultaneously, the cheery hollers and screeching chairs filled the silent gaps of the room.