Chapter Ten [ The Awardee]

Chapter Ten [The Awardee]

Ericka is a freshman at the local National High School and is already thirteen. She returns to school after the Christmas break to find fresh difficulties with her older brother and first female cousin.

She is aware that she is the boarding house landlord and that her parents' farmhouse is where his adult son is presently staying to visit the farm and harvest rice.

The previous time they picked rice in the field, she was still enrolled in the community learning center's sixth-grade elementary class, and they are currently back while she remains at their home in the town proper.

Ericka would be happy to see her landlady's son arrive to harvest rice in her father's rice field, and she couldn't understand why she would be unhappy every time they returned to the town proper after the harvest. Her older brother and a female cousin had previously boarded and lodged there; now, as a freshman, she is also boarded and lodged there.

 She has always been able to handle these feelings when they come up inside of her, but she doesn't feel any sexual desire or fantasy between them.

"I don't know why I find him fascinating when there are several boys competing for my attention nearby, making me feel claustrophobic and repulsed. This incredibly unusual aspect of my personality has already let me and my family down. I need to learn how to handle it or else I might really start to stand out and make youngsters' lives miserable. "Ericka is reflecting on her insight as she goes even deeper,

“Before I entered freshman year, but I now feel otherwise, "because it caused me to feel emotionally disturbed, which limits my ability to focus on my studies and other life goals, and it produces a split in my bond with my loving parents."

She uttered.

Now that she is in her teen years, she no longer gets upset when her landlady's son is away because she always sees him in the boarding house. However, at that point, she no longer finds herself attracted to his masculine features and instead views him as a regular distant male cousin, with whom she sees eye to eye but never smiles or extends further greetings. “When he talks about his fiancée and shares humorous anecdotes about courting other female students on campus, I never feel jealous nor affected by any means.”

“He is obviously not my type, therefore that's all it means. When the new opposite sex that I had never experienced entered these stages, I found it challenging and exhilarating to have someone like him in my life. I was energized and intrigued by something new. For someone like me, who is a homebody, introvert, and reserved person, this is typical. "Ericka began to learn how to assess her private, individual, and social experiences.

Although she tries to remember how her parents treated her older sisters when her father discovered them entertaining her ardent admirers while still in school, she finds that stage of her life to be ostensibly cheerful and exciting. She would prefer not to experience that situation for herself.

"I will never allow it to happen since my parents may lose faith in me and undoubtedly won't be motivated to support my life ambitions. Even though I am annoyed and disgusted, I still want to inspire them with my good behavior and show them that I am a good girl who only concentrates on her goal and does not get attracted to any male suitors who just enjoy disturbing her peace. I want to make them happy and prove to them that I am a good girl. “

Ericka is thinking about going to the bathroom to clean up her bloody mess after her morning class session in the classroom as she stands behind the windows and observes her distant male relative from a distance doing something to declutter the surroundings.

She finds another work to complete that day around noon before going to the restroom.

 "My relatives and brother will soon arrive and eat lunch here, so I still have to help my landlady wash our dirty kitchen items. The fresh fish that my uncle caught with his net last night are still being sold by my aunt. Perhaps she will arrive back in the afternoon.”

Ericka wonders as she enters the outdated, filthy kitchen and immediately clears out all the strewn clutter after she cleans herself inside the bathroom.

After the last exam of the academic year was completed by all students, it was late in the afternoon. They know other people who join her distant uncle in fishing on the vast seabed where the national high school is located. These people are their acquaintances.

Ericka occasionally misinterprets older male individuals' gazes and feels energized, but she was warned by them all to be careful and watchful of her young feminine attitudes, adding,

"I don't feel at ease dealing with the mixed group because every time they bring up their sexual immorality with his married, female neighbor, it makes me feel insecure already. He now takes pleasure and pride in telling everyone how he got her pregnant and delivered a female child.

One of the adult daughters of the lady with whom he is having an affair is my sharpest classmate in Section 1, and I have never thought that her mother is unethical.

Since both of my male and female relatives, as well as my older brother, will graduate from high school at the end of this academic year, we should prioritize studying more than giving hugs to and taking care of his young child.

I believe I will be the sole student left behind here next school year, which bothers me. I should start planning how I would handle this situation before classes start here the next year. "

Her distant aunt stepped in to accompany Ericka as she climbed the elevated stage to pin her medal to her right chest before the ceremony of the graduating student complete audience came since her mother wouldn't be able to attend her award ceremony.

Her mother appears to be too busy to attend the ceremony, but she was happy when Ericka received the very satisfactory award last year during her elementary school graduation. She was quoted as saying, "I'm happy to announce that I have once again accumulated academic prizes for the full school year."

"That would be sufficient cause for celebration. Today is a busy day, and my mother doesn't have the funds to travel to my award ceremony. “Ericka muses.

"This is my first time serving as Ericka's guardian, and I'm thrilled to be seen by everyone on such a special event. “

The audience applauds Ericka's landlady as she makes a statement about the wonderful things she has accomplished on behalf of Ericka's absentee parents.

After the ceremony, Ericka and her distant aunt enjoy a quick snack before returning to the boarding house for lunch.

"I'll be depressed, Aunt! "As she chews on the edible native cake which her aunt also sells at the school grounds after ceremony, Ericka’s’ bright eyes and moonfaced grow dark and moody as she turns to stare at her thrilled aunt.

Suddenly, her aunt winced and inquired, "Why are you now upset, Ericka my dear?”

When Ericka first looks away, she realizes that her old aunt likes her as a boarder not because she is an honor to the boarders but rather because she is a wonderful assistance to the family when she is not at home and volunteers to do the household chores despite being worn out from her schoolwork..

"Because by the following school year, I shall be by myself here. Tomorrow is graduation day for your kids and girls as well as for my brother and cousin. But I won't go to their graduation any longer, Auntie, because I want to go home right now." Ericka continues,

" I'd like to relocate my studies into our community learning center when it opens up next year.”

When his married neighbor gave him a cute baby and spent a lot of time in the boarding house to expose the baby to the boarders, Ericka did not mention her thoughts in advance regarding her distant male relative's immorality issues to his married neighbor and mother of her smart classmate in section1.She also not stated that she was afraid of being responsible for his baby when he accompanied her uncle to gear fish net in the vast fishing ground of the ocean at night.

"Auntie, I've already made a decision. Even though I am extremely appreciative of your kindness in hosting us here for a year and my older brother, who studied here for four years, I will not be returning at the start of the next school year.

Although I appreciate your generosity, I'm glad that we can enjoy together today. “

Ericka is unsure of how to express her desire to continue studying there because the beach is entertaining and a wonderful spot to spend spare time swimming with friends.

“You have been a very good student to all of the teachers here, and we are so proud of your performance, “her aunt said regretfully.” I feel bad that you can't continue to maintain your strong academic standing in the school here. Why not give it more thought first? You are welcome to come back here whenever you decide to alter your mind, Ericka!”

Tears streaming down her face, Ericka's aunt accepted her choice as she packed up her belongings that afternoon and walked slowly to the train station to travel home.

Her classmates smiled at her when they met, unaware that it would be their last opportunity to talk with one another while she was waiting for hours in the station.

Ericka is also depressed, but her choices have given her peace and comfort because she does not have to put forth the effort to travel every beginning and end of the week, spend money on travel expenses, eat sparingly in the boarding house, do the cleaning and decluttering as part of life's challenges in order to have a well-adjusted relationship with others, and reduce tensions in dealing with her aggressive male schoolmates who constantly agitate and harass her.

“I've had enough. Although it is thought that the academic quality here is more modern than at the local high school.” Ericka has a lot of possibilities if she fails.

 "I should take a chance accepting the truth since I am not sure of my future if my parents still have the extra strength to work hard and make money to financially support my goals."

"As a factory worker, taking short-term practical training is also beneficial and can make me more productive. After high school, I can work anyplace in the neighborhood and apply for jobs away from here which is my country of origin. That way, I may save money while still pursuing my dreams of going to college to become a successful doctor, nurse, or dentist.”

Only a few vehicles drive early in the afternoon to that highway that circles back through the farmland, so Ericka is thinking while she waits for the public transportation.