Chapter 2

"Oh, I’m sorry. Are we late?" Daisy asked.

Angel smiled when she saw her friend Daisy who had just arrived together with Daisy’s brother with the same age of her twin sister. Jerry, the younger brother of her friend immediately waved to her when he saw her and quickly ran to catch up with the class.

She just shakes her head as an answer. “They just started.” She tapped the chair next to her. “Sit beside me. We just arrived; Teacher Sara was with us." She was referring to the teacher who sacrifices to educate the children on their island.

Only Teacher Sara really comes to them to teach her siblings and the other young people in their island. But that's it, it only teaches the basics because they don't have enough tools and books to teach the children more. Unlike her and his older brother who actually went to high school and they are very lucky.

In their island, there are no schools. Only a tiny hut that acts as a shelter and a classroom to their younger children. And if there’s no Teacher Sara, no one’s going to teach the children. She doesn’t even know the reason why there’s no classroom available in their island. Cause if you come to think of it, their island is big enough and it’s capable to have an own school.

What surprised her even more is that there is a school in the town but the people of the island do not allow the children to study there. People here have a saying that they don't need to study. You can write and read your name well enough. Enough that you can count to a thousand. You were born on the island, you will die on the island, that's the mindset of the people here that her brain is really against.

Well, how about her? She was born in the city. Is she just going to die here?

"Angel, have you studied in college?" Daisy asked him while staring at Teacher Sara who was teaching.

"No, only high school."

She didn't go to college because after her graduation, they immediately came here to the island. Her father said it was an island that would save them from poverty. Her father said then, they will not suffer anymore. That they can buy what they want.

I think you made a mistake, Papa. The island only provide hardship. I hope we don't have to go here.

"What is high school? How many years did you studied to reach high school?” Daisy asked again.

“Six years you need to studied for you to able to finished your elementary. And after the elementary, you will proceed to high school. There are to types of high school, first is Junior High School and then the other one is Senior High School. Junior High School is four years and the Senior High is two years. So, all in all, it’s twelve years.”

Daisy just stared at her trying to understand what she just said. She just smiled and put her arm around her friend. If only she could share her experience with Daisy, she would have done it. Her friend also deserves to be able to study. All the children here deserve to experience everything she experienced in the city. This island just denied the education that children should have.

"Isn't it bad? You've been studying for a long time. Aren't you tired?"

She quickly shook her head. When she still on the city, she always said that she was tired and wanted to stop studying. But now that she's living on this island, she only realized how lucky she was then. Because there are children who really want to study but fate just denied them.

"Of course not," she lied. "It's so much fun to study, Daisy. You have classmates, you can make many friends. There are many teachers who will teach you and you will learn a lot."

If only I could share with you the happiness I felt when I was in the city, I would have done it.

"Really? Isn't it hard to study? Because here, what Teacher Sara is teaching, it's a bit difficult for me." She even saw her friend sadness and stared at the teacher again.

She suddenly remembered when her groupmates were doing a research paper. It’s very difficult for them but no matter how hard it is, if you want to finish it, you will finish it.

"It's a bit difficult; it can't really be avoided. But even if it's hard, Daisy, hard can't compare to the fun you can experience while you're studying. Hard is normal. So, you should really get used to it."

Her friend came closer to her and rested her head on her shoulder. She didn't answer her and just watched the children listening to their teacher who was currently reading a story book.

Daisy and her just listened to what the teacher was reading. It reads the story of the tortoise and the rabbit.  The children listen to their teacher in silence. Even when it's hot, the kids don't complain. They really want to learn. It's a pity, if only the parents could support these children, the children would have a good future.

Maybe the President of the Philippines will be here among these young people. It's just a case of being denied a proper education.

“You know what, I also want to go to school. I also want to experience that. I want to have friends. I want to read books and I want to write. And above all, I want to leave this island. I want to be free.”

****

"Angel, can I talk to you?"

Angel stopped combing her sister Michelle's hair when Teacher Sara suddenly approached her. She quickly smiled at the teacher. Of all the people on the island, only Teacher Sara was the one she deeply admired. It is only the teacher who has come up with a way to teach the children.

"Of course. What are gonna talk?”

She quickly finished combing her sister’s hair and left the twins first. Maybe the teacher wants to talk about the twins.

"Because Mika mentioned that you studied in the city." Teacher Sara stared at her seriously. "I was going to ask you if you want to come with me to the town, we will have a seminar-training so that you can teach the children here on your island."

Training-seminar? She repeated what the teacher said. Does she want her to teach the children? Is that possible? She's not a college graduate.

She gently held her neck and smiled at the teacher.

Oh my God, Mika! What did you do! I hope you didn’t tell some exaggerated stories to Teacher Sara. I can’t deny that you have some potential to become a writer, she whispered.

"I will, Ma'am." She smiled. She didn't know how to refuse her. "I think you're mistaken or maybe Mika told you too much. I'm not a college graduate, Ma'am. My God, I'm not smart either. I don't know how to teach—"

“That’s the reason why we conduct training-seminar. They will teach you, Gel, on how to handle a class. They won’t let you teach without training—”

“I know, Ma’am. But teaching is not on my list. I feel like I’m not belong to that passion.”

Teacher Sara holds her hand and looks in her eyes. It sounds like she’s really serious. But why all of a sudden, she opened a topic like that? Is there something wrong?

“Come on, Gel. Accept my offer, in fact, it’s for you and in your island. For all the children here and to your siblings as well.”

"Wait, Teacher Sara. Why do you suddenly want this to happen? Don't you want to teach here with us anymore?"

She was suddenly stunned by her question. She took a deep breath and looked away.

"It's not that I don't want to teach the children on your island. I'm a Teacher Volunteer, right? You didn't ask for a teacher here, but I really want to teach the children." She took a deep breath again and looked at her. "I want nothing more than to teach, to share my knowledge. But things are really changing, Gel."

"Why do you seem to be saying goodbye, Teacher? I hope you misunderstood—"

"How about you? Do you really want to stay here?”