Thirteen

DIGITAL ART by Ma. Angelic Jean Sual.

Once, time ticked so, so slowly. It was underneath the shade of the school gym, "I like you," she said. The vast space of the gym never felt this suffocating before, and neither did the tall buildings that towered behind her. Time moved so slowly that the memory of them bumping together when they first met was evident and felt like it was déjà vu.

The next second, she could recall the time when they were sitting on the green grass of the park and looking over the STE buildings, wondering if the wisest students could make each other laugh so stupidly. She remembers how the school seemed vividly clear to her, she remembers the comfort and the glowing aura. That was how she fell in love with the school and with the person who was with her. By the third second, it was getting difficult to hold back a smile.

She was met with furrowed eyebrows by the fourth second, reminding her of that time in the school canteen where they had to sort of fight an army of hungry teens for a chocolate bar. The chocolate bar ended up spoiling their lunch, but when they were both toiling over from laughing about it too much, not an ounce mattered. Then, the fifth second also went by.

The sixth second of silence resembled the silent campus they got to have after the rush of students going home. It was exhilarating for them when they ran through the halls, through the oval where the chatter of people lingered, and everywhere else as long as they were with each other. No matter how quiet the seventh second goes by, laughter will always remain in their hearts.

Eight seconds passed, and a heavy sigh could be heard. A sigh that is similar to the mud that stuck on her shoes after heavy rain as she ran giddily away from it. She was thankful for the shade the school provided them. She was also glad to know that no rain could ever drown the thrill she always seemed to feel. The ninth second passed by shortly.

The tenth second, the memory of the gym being brimmed with proud students and the feeling of accomplishment passed by. She was the tenth student to go up on the stage and thank the teachers for their guidance. She remembers how humbling and warm it was when she received that sweet "Congratulations" from that special person.

Eleven, twelve, the furrowed eyebrows were replaced with a smile. It was bright, brighter than any student this school could have. She thought at that moment that any math equation or any problem could be solved by that smile alone. The campus could go wider, it could become more welcoming, or intimidating, or whatever, she wouldn’t mind.

Thirteen seconds have passed, but the smile remains. It’s not rejection, but acceptance. She wonders how a smile can be this loving. She wonders how everything around here could be as comforting as a warm hug. Even after all the troubles, the scandals, or whatnot, she knows she could come back and it would still be the same.