Meadow and Lions

Prologue

It's already the first half of the school year and everything seems to make everyone tired. They are literally a dump site of brain cell-popping activities and energy-sucking assignments. But what choice do they have? They need to do everything even if they want to just burn the whole school down. They need to accomplish every piece of activity and assignment thrown at their faces in order for them to pass and advance to college. Senior high school sucks, but memorable.

Everyone is busy doing their own work. Some are just chit chatting about hot hollywood actors while scrolling their expensive phones. Some tend to just turn the whole place upside down and make a literal mess. Ugh, boys.

Arizona, commonly called Ari, is sitting in the first row in the classroom and re-reading the essay she wrote for their homework. Annoyed and irritated with her classmates, she plugged in her earphones and opened Spotify to play LANY songs. "It's so early in the morning and their energy is like a pig finally getting out of a pen. Ugh, kairita," she thought. Her classmates are always like that every single day since the previous year... And she's still not used to it.

A few minutes later, their teacher for their Philosophy subject came in. The whole class calmed down and went silent, finally. Everyone's scared of her, except Ari and Kendrick--who just arrived in the classroom while the teacher is doing an attendance check.

"Mr. Sarmiento, you're late again!" The teacher immediately noticed his presence the moment he arrive. "Araw-araw na lang ganiyan! Why don't you just enroll for homeschooling para hindi ka na nal-late sa klase?" The teacher has her signature expression everyday because of Kendrick--eyebrows are almost one line, the piercing big eyes, and contorted mad face. Walang makatawa sa sinabi ng guro dahil natatakot and lahat na baka sila naman ang makatikim sa bangis nito.

"Sorry, Ma'am. Hindi na po mauulit," nakayukong saad ni Kendrick. Mukha siyang napapahiya pero alam na ng mga kaklase niya ang tumatakbo sa isip niya.

The teacher scoffed and got even angrier. "Sorry? Hindi na mauulit? Mr. Sarmiento, let me just tell you na araw-araw ko nang naririnig 'yan sa'yo. Araw-araw hang late, e! Kung hindi ka lang matalino, matagal na kitang ibinagsak sa subject ko."

"Sorry po ulit, Ma'am." The teacher just ignored him so he went to his seat.

Nagpasahan na sila ng homework pagkatapos mag-attendance. Ini-scan ng guro ang bawat papel at hinahanap ang isang partikular na papel. Nang mahanap ay agad niya itong binasa. Tahimik naman ang buong klase na pinapanood lang ang kanilang guro.

"As usual, some essays are still poorly written and need more improvement. You'll know who you are once I give the individual grade for your homework. And, as expected, Ms. Santillan did a very great job," anang guro habang nakatayo sa harapan. She smiled at Arizona and gave her praises.

"As for your activity today, answer this question..." Lumapit ang guro sa pisara at nagsimulang magsulat. Matapos isulat ang tanong ay humarap siyang muli sa klase at ngumiti. "Napakadaling tanong, 'di ba? Write your answer in a one-fourth sheet of paper and pass it in a minute."

Naglabas ang bawat isa ng kani-kanilang papel. Well, hindi pala lahat. Kailan nga ba nawalan ang isang klase ng mga estudiyanteng taga-hingi na lang ng papel?

Nagpakita ng kagalakan ang buong klase dahil sa napakadaling gawain kaya nagsisulatan na sila sa kani-kanilang papel. Makikita sa kanilang mukha ang kasiguraduhan sa sagot. Tila ba matagal na nila itong pinag-isipan at nakahanap sila ng paraan upang ibahagi ito.

Ngunit, may dalawang mukhang tila hindi nagpakita ng sigasig sa ipinapagawang gawain. Nakatitig lamang sila sa kanilang papel habang ang mga kaklase nila'y tapos na sa kanilang pagsagot.

Halos sabay na tumunghay sila Arizona at Daniel upang muling basahin ang nakasulat sa pisara. Napabuntong-hininga na lamang silang dalawa dahil hindi sila makasagot sa napaka-simpleng tanong.

"What will be my profession or job 10 years from now?"

Nakakatawang isipin na lahat ng kaklase nila ay nakasagot agad sa ilang segundo lang samantalang silang dalawa ay hindi na yata makakasagot. Bakit nga ba napakahirap sa kanilang sagutin ang isang napakasimpleng tanong?

"I know what I want to do with my life but I don't have the courage to defy all the expectations shoved into my throat. I don't wanna fail and push myself under. More importantly, I don't want to be a disappointment."

—Arizona

"Lintik na buhay 'to, mamamatay yata ako nang maaga. Mula pagkabata, ang gusto ko lang ay yumaman at mamuhay na hindi iniisip ang pera. Hindi ako nakabuo ng pangarap o maski ambisyon man lang bukod sa yumaman. Sinubukan ko namang hanapin pero ayaw magpakita, e. Marami akong kayang gawin pero hindi ko makita ang sarili kong ginagawa ang kahit isa roon hanggang pagtanda."

—Kendrick 

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