“Good morning, everyone. It’s now June once again, the flowers are once again blooming as it marks the start of a new school year.” The school principal, Clarita Carlos gave her speech to the entrance ceremony of the Epiphany Christian Academy as she stands in front of everyone at the stage at the school’s gymnasium.

“To the first years. I hope that you’ll hold to the fresh state in mind that your’re in now, and that you’ll live your coming years at this school the fullest.” She smiled, and once again she continued.

“To the old highschool and senior highschool students also studying here, I welcome you back as you start a new school year. We are all glad and we all welcome you and welcome you back at Epiphany Christian Academy.” Principal Clarita then finished her speech and she put her microphone down on the podium.

Matapos ang entrance ceremony ay naging abala na ang lahat sa paghahanap ng kanilang kinabibilangang klase, sa paglakad ng mga tao patungo sa kani-kanilang mga classrom ay nakayukong naglalakad si Leni at malalim ang kan’yang paghinga.

Ma. Leonor Gerona—her friends call her by the name Leni, is a seventeen-year-old grade twelve student of the Epiphany Christian Academy. She has dark buish hair and so as her eyes, twinkling when the sun shines on it. She has an average height of five feet and three, has a flat nose and rosy cheeks so as her thin lips.

Nanginginig ang kaniyang mga palad at mabilis ang pagtibok ng kaniyang puso. Nagmamadali siyang nagtungo sa C.R at doon ay nakaramdam siya ng kaginhawaan. Kaagad niyang inilabas sa kaniyang bag ang isang maliit na teddy bear stuffed toy at kaagad niya itong pinisil-pisil.

“Nininierbiyos ako, kumalma ka, Leni, kumalma ka.” She calmed herself down and smiled at herself when she looked at the mirror infront of her.

“Okay, heto na ’ko.” Nagkaroon siya ng motibasyon, at lumabas na nga sa C.R upang pumasok sa classroom na kaniyang kinabibilangan.

Even in senior highschool, there are a lot of inequality. Higher over lover lower sections, the main clubs over the least performing, attractiveness over good grades. They all use every weapon at their disposal to establish a pecking order.

Ito ang nasa isip ni Bongbong habang pinagmamasdan niya ang bagong classroom nila. Sitting on a chair at the back of their classroom while reading a book, he got distracted when he got a vision of a group of girls waving at his friend, Francisco Dumagoso—known as Isko.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. —also known as Bongbong, a grade twelve student of Section A, an introverted guy who enjoys reading. Standing on five feet and five, this eighteen-year-old has a pale skin, brown hair and brown narrow eyes, a flat nose and dense reddish lips.

“Oy!” Isko waved to that group of girls, halos mamatay na sobrang kilig ang mga babaeng kaniyang kinawayan. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni Bongbong at kaagad napatingin kay Isko.

“Man, you’re popular.” Ngiti niya sa kaibigan, simpleng ngiti lang ang itinugon nito sa kanya.

“Damn, I wish I had that kind of charm.” Hagikgik maman ng isa pa nilang kaibigang si Panfilo Lacson—simply known as Ping.

“Napakaraming nagkakagusto rito kay Isko, chick boy talaga eh.” Nagtawanan pa silang dalawa at nag-asaran. Bongbong just kept his mouth silent and he just smiled.

While seeing his friends teasing each other, nahagip ng paningin niya ang isang babaeng nakasilip sa pintuan. Bahagya siyang nagtaka sa kaniyang nakita at doon din ay kaniyang napagtanto na baka isa sa kanilang mga kaklase ang babae.

“Leonor!” Tawag sa kaniya ng isang pang babae na ngayon ay nakaupo na sa loob ng kanilang classroom. Suddenly, Isko and Ping started to curdle around while laughing, Bongbong was then caught in between them, annoyed.

“Me?” Leni asked and pointed to herself, the girl who asked her smiled and nodded.

“Halika pumasok ka rito, ’di ba Section A ka rin? Nakita ko sa list kanina ’yong pangalan mo.” Ngiti pa ng babae, kaagad namang pumasok si Leni sa loob ng classroom dala ang kaniyang bag.

“Naaalala mo pa ba ’ko? Ako si Grace, Grace Poe, classmate mo ’ko no’ng grade eight.” Ngiti ng babae sa kaniya, bahagya siyang nag-isip at napatango.

“Ah oo, nice seeing you again.” Leni smiled.

“Member ka ng track and field club ’di ba?” tanong naman ng isa pa nilang kaklase.

“Ah oo, member ako do’n. Sana nga makapag-recruit kami ng mga bagong members eh.” Leni laughed slightly as she covered her mouth with a handkerchief.

Suddenly, Isko got a glance of Leni talking to their schoolmates. Natigil sila sa pagkakaladyaan ni Ping at kapuwa sila napatingin sa dalaga, they then told Bongbong to look.

“Kilala niyo siya?” Isko asked and pointed Leni by his lips.

“Hindi, parang bago lang siya sa eh. Marami kasing nadagdag sa ’tin ngayong taon. Either galing sa ibang section no’ng nakaraang taon or mga transferee students.” Sumabad naman si Ping, sandali pa napaiwas na Ng tingin si Bongbong.

“Ay, nandito na ’yong bago nating teacher. Terror daw ’to, tumahimik tayo.” Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Isko nang pumasok ang isang guro na nakasuot ng kulay pulang barrister robe at sa leeg nito ay nakasabit ang isang kuwintas na gawa sa south sea pearls. Medyo may katandaan na rin ang guro. Kaagad namang bumalik ang mga estudyante sa kanilang mga kinakaupuan.

“Everyone return to your chairs.” Saad nito nang nang makapasok nang tuluyan sa kanilang classroom, nang makaupo na ang lahat ay kumunot ang noo nito.

“Anong susunod niyong gagawin? Ako pa ba ang unang magri-greet?” she asked in an Ilonga accent, everyone then stood up and greeted her good morning.

“Good morning, Professor Miriam, good morning, classmates.” They all greeted their teacher and each other.

“Good morning, now take your seats.” Professor Miriam ordered them and the whole class sat on their armchairs.

“Grade twelve, welcome to another year here at Epiphany Christian Academy. For those who know me, yes I will be your adviser this school year. And for those who don’t, my name is Miriam Santiago. A graduate and valedictorian of La Paz Elementary School, Iloilo National Highschool, magna cum laude of UP Visayas...” As she’s speaking, everyone was left stunned, in reeling while looking to her and hearing her speak.

“Ugh, what a Jolibee, proud showing her different credentials again. I can’t stand her, she’s too much.” Dumukdok si Isko sa kaniyang armchair matapos sabihin iyon kay Bongbong, pero kaagad namang napalingon ang propesor sa gawi nila.

“Mr. Francisco Dumagoso Moreno, stand up, I heard you!” Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Isko nang bigla siyang tawagin ng kanilang guro, nanginginig siyang tumayo.

“Y-yes, P-Professor?” nininerbiyos niyang utal.

“You said that I’m a Jolibee, well I’m gonna say that you’re a Mcdo because you look like a clown—and clowns are jokes. If you don’t want to hear from me, then get out of my class. Hindi ko kailangan ng mga katulad mong payaso.” Everyone treated Isko like a laughingstock as they laughed at him because their professor just embarrassed him infront of the whole class.

Napahiya siyang umupo habang nanginginig-nginig pa rin, sandali pa ay napaharap naman si Professor Miriam sa buong klase at istrikto sila nitong tinignan. By that, the whole class silenced once again.

“Better be. Now, let’s do introductions before we head to our first lesson. I might’ve known you all because of your submitted forms from your enrollment, but the rest of the class doesn’t. Let’s start with...” Everyone introduced themselves after.

“Thank you, Mr. Gadon, now let’s call on Ms. Gerona.” It was then Leni’s turn to introduce herself so she stood up her chair, medyo nininerbiyos siya dahil napakarami nila sa klase.

Sandali pa ay napatingin sa kaniya si Bongbong, the boy was left in awe as she walked on the aisle up to front. Nang makarating si Leni sa harapan ay ngumiti muna siya bago siya magpakilala.

“Hi, my name is Maria Leonor Gerona, I’m seventeen years old living here at La Trinidad. You can call me Leni for short and I took Humanities and Social Sciences as my strand in senior high. That is all.” Pinagbubulungan siya ng lahat, her anxiety prevented her from speaking too long so she cut herself along.

Nakadama ng pagkaginhawa si Leni nang matapos siya, pabalik siya para umupo sa kaniyang armchair. Tumawag muli ng panibagong pangalan si Professor Miriam para magpakilala.

“It’s your turn, Mr. Marcos.” Kaagad tumayo si Bongbong sa kaniyang kinakaupuan, he then went to go the front. By that chance, his and Leni’s eyes met as they passed on to each other.

Now, their paths crossed.

~A Fresh Start.