Pine Trees and City Lights

A cool gentle breeze envelopes my skin as I step out of my room’s balcony. I breathe in the scent of pine trees and sunflowers, that’s when I know I’m home. I hear a faint knock from my door. I hear a small chuckle.

“I wonder what’s keeping you awake.” The voice said.

My brows furrowed. I couldn’t see anyone.

“Who’s there? Kuya? Hey don’t play games on me. ”

Another chuckle.

“Well aren’t you a curious cat. Isn’t that right, princess?”

Confused, I went back inside and opened the door only to find a tall man outside. He quickly puts his hands over my eyes.

“You must not see me. Not yet.”

“Why not? You’re standing outside my room! Are you a-”

“Shh. When the time comes. For now, you have to-”

“Wake up” “Wake up.”

WHAT?

“Kendra, wake up!” “Kendra, wake up!”

The warm touch of my mom’s hand indicated that I am no longer in dream land.

“Kendra, time to get ready for school.”

And there it goes. I woke up and faced reality.

I’m Kendra Castillo Perez. Your average high school teenager who dreams to become a theater artist. I’m a sophomore at Silvercreek High School. At dahil Monday ngayon…

“Kendra, bilisan mo na diyan at baka ma-late kayo ni Amethyst!”

Amethyst Dela Cruz is my best friend and forever neighbor! We go to the same high school, she’s taking up Media Arts but we’re both in the same class as well. We’ve been neighbors ever since my family moved here in Baguio. She’s literally my sister! But she’s a slowpoke, so I text her.

To: Ames

Beshie, you ready? Hehe

From: Ames

Yup! Baba ka na? :)

It was around 6:45 AM already so I didn’t reply and went.

“Ma, Pa, alis na po ako!”

“Oh ingat naman kayo ni Amethyst.”

I nodded and grabbed my bag. Amethyst’s house is just downstairs. Knowing her, she just got out of the shower and it’ll take her another 10 minutes to get dressed up. I went to their house and entered the gate. Tita Angela was already there waiting for me.

“Morning Kendra!”

My best friend greeted me while brushing her long, curly hair. I waited for a couple more minutes and we went on our way.

“May bago daw kaming prod sabi ni Sir Fred. Casting na namin mamaya.”

“Oh? Nice! May ico-cover na ulit kami na prod niyo.”

“Kamusta na yung entries mo sa exhibit niyo next week?”

“Ah! Oo pala, sa Saturday samahan mo akong mag-shoot ha. Diyan lang sa park sa rotonda. Ako na magpapaalam kay tita.”

“Sige lang. Sabihan ko lang din si mama.Ano bang naisip mong subject?”

“Well, ikaw sana. Black and White naman eh.”

“HAHAHAHA sure ka na diyan?”

“Oo nga! Please beshie?”

“Oo na! HAHAHA malakas ka sa akin eh.”

As we arrive in school, I was in work mode. Having Theater Arts as my field of specialization is both fulfilling yet hard. During “specia time”, it was announced to us that we will be having our major production for the year before exams.

“Okay, so casting na tayo. Ang main characters halong 1^st at 2^nd year para makita natin yung improvement niyo.

After 30 minutes of casting, I was still a part of the secondary cast. I’ve had this role when I was a freshman and it was an amazing experience. I took my script and after that, Sir Fred called us sophomores for a meeting.

“So nag-request ang isang independent group to perform for their anniversary. May kasamang 1^st years pero hindi silalahat. Sa BCC ang performance, take note na sa Friday next week na ito. Come up with a choreography as early as now, since alam niyo naman na ang takbo nung Lam-ang.”

“Sir, ano pong music ang gagamitin? Tapos mag-start na rin po kami after ng briefing sa school prod. ”

Sheena asked. She’s one of the best actually. I admire her so much, she’s like my sister already.

“And sir, sino po yung mga 1^st years na kasama namin?”

“Kendra, kunin mo sa office ko yung CD sa table. Pati na yung player.”

As soon as I brought the CD and the player, I was tasked to start the script reading with the freshmen.

“Okay so line up kayo. Main characters, center stage, then secondary, upstage. Windows.”

I guided them with the vocalization exercises first, then started reading with them. After an hour of reading, Trixie and Tiffany dragged me to the canteen.

“BREAK TIIIIMMMEE!!” The twins exclaimed, holding each of my arms, giggling.

“Taas din ng energy niyo no? HAHAHA anong gusto niyo? Hindi niyo pa hintayin ang lunch. Sa KFC naman tayo ngayon diba?”

“Eh iba naman ang snacks sa lunch, ma. HAHAHAHAHA!”

I roll my eyes and laugh. Tiffany and Trixie Jeon, the best twins ever! We're of the same age, ahead lng sila sa akin ng ilang months. The twins and I share a very special bond, thus the term "Ma". Almost all theater girls in my batch and most from the freshmen call me that because they said they admire me from being so caring and thoughtful, that they consider me their mom. 

"Kuya, tatlong Pillows po na Ube tapos dalawang Corn Bits."

"Ah! Tapos tatlong Sting po."  Tiffany added. I scratched my head. Sting na naman? Adik. 

When we got our snacks, we walked back to the Audio-Visual Room or AVR. It's our "specia room". I kept sighing. The twins have noticed and asked me what's wrong.

"Wala. Iniisip ko lang yung prod tapos yung performance sa BCC. May choreo na ba si Denise?"

"Meron na pero hindi pa tapos. Hintayin ka daw eh." Trixie said.

"About saan ba yung performance? Anong ganap dun sa event?"

"Ahh. About sa VAWC. Anniversary daw nung foundation nila. Sa Powerhouse daw magpeperform sabi ni Sir Fred."

Powerhouse? The new function hall?

"Sa Powerhouse? Hala, ang liit nung space dun. Around 50 pax lang kayang i-accomodate dun."

"Ay oh? Sabihin mo na lang kay Denise mamaya tsaka kay Sir Fred para makapag-adjust tayo."

My papa works there. Heand the rest of the engineering department have just finished building that function hall, so I knew what it looked like. After the break, we went back to the AVR and got back into rehearsals.

"Ate Kendra, tawag po kayo ni Ate Denise ni Sir Fred sa office."

"Ha? Oh sige. Thanks, Jade."

"Sir, bakit po?"

"Ito yung susi sa dressing room, hanapin niyo na yung costumes niyo sa prod last year. Tapos pag-usapan niyo na rin yung costume niyo para sa BCC. Baka may makita kayo sa dressing room na pwedeng magamit."

*sighs* And so it begins. Ever since I knew that the performance was about violence against women and children, I could't help but remember what had happened. I could't get my thoughts together and my friends have noticed that I have been spacing out.

"Ma, okay ka lang?"

"Oo nga, Kendra. Distracted ka ata."

I shake my head and smiled. 

"Wala. May naalala lang ako. Okay na ba yun props na nakuha niyo?"

They nodded.

"Oh tara na. Palit na tayo tapos mag-lunch na!"

The twins and I were walking down Session Road, going to KFC. We were happily talking about One Direction when a man suddenly bumped into me.

"So sorry!"

He quickly said and continued walking. I shrugged it off since he really looked like he was in a hurry.

"Naalala mo na naman yun no, ma?"

Trixie asked. I nodded and gave her a bitter smile.

We arrived at KFC and luckily, there were not much people inside. We ordered and waited for the food to arrive.

"Grabe, malapit na pala Foundation Day!"

I chuckled.

"Anong performance na naman kaya gagawin natin?"

"Ano kamong competition ang sasalihan natin? HAHAHAHA"

I love Foundation Day! All we do is attend the parade and get excused from classes. But I think this year's FD will be different for me. I just feel like something's going to happen.

Turns out, there IS something in store for me with this year's Foundation Day.

"Okay, Ms. Perez. You will be joining the Mr. and Miss Sophomore."

"Ma'am? Ako po?"