Music class.

Music.

When I hear that in my thoughts, I always feel at ease. Music brings me joy. I love how music calms me. I love how I feel everything.

"JL, please, listen." Natigil ang pagmumuni-muni ko ng magsalita ang aking music teacher. "Are you alright, JL?" I just nodded with an assurance of a smile as a response, making her turn back to the class. "All right, let's continue."

Miss Weltz, our music teacher, continued discussing about the upcoming performance task in which we are going to perform in front.

Singing.

The simple institution was to choose a song that relates you and sing it with or without an instrument.

Simple as one, two, three.

I love to sing. I don't know where I got it from but Iove it. I play instruments, too. Violin, guitar, both acoustic and electric, and Kalimba. I've been practicing playing drums sa bahay ng isa kong schoolmate na naging ka-close ko dahil naging partner ko siya sa isang school event. And so far, okay naman. I can play na a song kaunti. I tried to learn piano also since my sisters knows how to, but mukhang sa piano tiles lang ako pwede maglaro.

After Miss Weltz discussed a few more other things, sumunod naman ang pagtunog ng bell, hudyat na next class na.

When I got out of the music room, I saw how the corridor was flooded with students. Halos lahat kami ay sa iisa lang pupunta.

Locker hallway.

Every after isang subject kase ay dito kami dumediretso para kunin ang mga kakailanganin for the next class that we have.

5 minutes locker break.

Saktong nasara ko ang aking locker nang tumunod ulit ang bell, meaning we should hurry to our next class before the second bell.

My next class is sa gym. PE class. My half and half favorite class. Half lang kase nakakapagod din minsan ang PE.

"Aright, class! Listen up! Today we're not going to do anything graded kase may meeting akong dadaluhan in five minutes so you're all free to do what you want to do. But please, students, walang magru-roam around sa campus. Stay in the gym or you can also go and use the field. Am I understood?" Our PE instructor told us before asking if we have questions ba in which my classmates raised theirs. After, he bid his goodbyes.

Since we're not tasked to change into our PE clothes naman, I didn't change nalang. Plano ko ring magpatugtug nalang sa cellphone ko. I'll just lie down sa bleachers doon sa field; hindi rin naman na mainit.

I was peacefully lying down with my headphones on when I felt something hit my left cheekbone. Hard. Parang naalog 'yung utak ko ng tumama ang bilog na bagay sa mukha ko.

"Oh, my God!" I heard someone react. "We are so sorry, JL! Hindi ko talaga sinasadya. I kicked the ball too hard towards here." I voice that reacted earlier came to where I was and examined my face. "Naku, I'm so sorry talaga. Ano, let's go to the clinic."

Gagi, hindi ako makapagsalita.

"JL?"

"Hey, hey! JL." I felt someone pat my shoulder.

What in the world is happening? Parang hindi ko maramdaman ang ulo ko sa lakas ng impact ng bola. Para ring nag-iba ang pandinig ko. Parang nagi-echo lang ang mga words.

"Guys, tulong!" Was the last thing I heard before I lost consciousness.

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Naalimpungatan ako ng may narinig akong malakas na boses. I wanted to open my eyes but I was still very much sleepy. I felt like I just wanted to sleep forever.

Teka nga, ano bang nangyayari?

"I think she's awake." I heard a familiar voice say.

"Can we bring her home later, nurse?" Another familiar one.

"Yes, Attorney. As I've checked, the doctor so, mukbang magiging okay na si JL. She can go home na po when she's fully awake."

"Thank you." I heard footsteps and a door that opened then closed. Sino 'yong lumabas? O pumasok?

"Ma, una nalang ako sa kotse..." Paalam ng isa pang pamilyar na boses.

Why are they here?

"Me, too, ma. Ire-ready nalang po namin ang sasakyan." And another opening and closing of the door. Clearly, may lumabas.

"Aika, hindi ka susunod sa mga kapatid mo?" Tanong ni, sure akong si mama. Pero wala akong narinig na response. I think she just nodded.

"Samantha!" Mama went next to the bed that I am currently lying in. "How are you feeling, aki ko?"

"F-Fine?" What, what do you want me to say?

"May masakit ba sayo? Masakit ba ang pisngi mo, aki?"

"I-I'm fine, really. I heard nurse Mary say na I can go home na. What time is it na ba?" I tried to find a clock inside the room where we're at.

"Past lunch. It's two-thirteen in the afternoon already." I was ate Aika who answered. "And yes, we're going home in a minute."

"Two palang?" I thought classes are done already. "I can't go home. I still have classes to attend."

"Can't you see, Cole, your cheek is busted. You would not be able to concentrate in your class, so it's better for you to go home." Sabi niya ng kapatid ko. "Come on, get up,

so we can go already. Your ate Pat and ate Jill are in the car na."

"As what I've heard..." Bulong ko.

"Anak, kaya mo bang maglakad?" Aalalayan na sana ako ni mama ng biglang bumukas ang pinto at iniluwal nito si nurse Mary.

"Oh, JL, you're awake na pala. How are you feeling?"

"Okay lang po. Nurse uwi na raw kami." Tumango lang ito at nagpaalam saamin bago ito tuluyang pamasok at pumunta sa higaang gamit ko kanina. Mukhang magdi-disinfect na ito.

Alam mo na, Covid.

Speaking of that, I just realized that I am not wearing a face mask anymore. Gagi, saan na kayo yung suot ko kanina. I don't think I took it off when I was lying down in the bleachers earlier since wala naman king gagawin nun.

"Let's go, Nicolette." Sabi ni ate Aika ng napatigil ako sa paglalakad palabas ng clinic.

"I'll just go back to nurse Mary. I'll ask for a mask. You two go ahead na. Una na kayo, susunod nalang ako." Mama hesitated to leave me while nauna na si ate Aika sakanya. "Go, ma. I'll be right at your back. I can lakad naman property."

"Sige, sunod ka agad, ha, aki ko."

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Emz, I don't know if I should continue this story chz.

Anyway, good day to you all! Maagang reply kase gininahang mag-write. Have a great day and thank you for reading!

-ms. banana ঞ