Need your opinion..... Is it good or not? For Performance purposes..
"Hey you fatlard, wake up and move. Go to our neighbour Aling Maria and and loan her food for us, and didn't I say to wake up earlier??! You really have nothing else right to do in this world huh?! What time did you sleep last night ha? And also, I found out you apparently got top 1 in your class, said that teacher of yours with long hair." Mom said loudly, with reproach.
"Ahh yeah, I have the highest marks in class", I said," no congrats for it?". I said jokingly, even though I know what she would say , since I got use to hearing her belittle me, her own daughter.
"What congrats are you saying? I know that you just copied that next to your seatmate, Shane, our neighbor, you're ridiculous, hah ! You didn't even feel ashamed of our neighbor, it was found out that you copied it. Instead of Shane, the top 1 went to you because you cheated, I know you're not smart, don't insist." She left through the door of my room, waving away my hardwork like a speck of dust, unwanted and looked down upon.
I just grinned at my mother and let out a sigh, even though what she said hurt, I'm used to it, there's nothing I can do ,I love my mother even though she's like that, anyway.
"Oh what else are you still doing here for? Go to aling maria and take a loan there, did what I said hurt? Who knows, it's true anyway.... Hurry up and go and I might be late for my date."
"It's okay for you to talk to me about that, Im the one hurt mother" and I smiled at her. I went out to go see Aling maria to get a loan and she even scolded me because my mother hadn't paid our debt in the past, I just lied to Aling maria that we were going to pay tomorrow so that mom and I can have something to eat.
"Hey, bamboo, why aren't you dressed yet? You'll be late for that!" Shane called me (Did you notice why my friend called me bamboo? I'm really skinny, because of the lack of food and sometimes I don't sleep enough because of schoolworks.)
" Oh Come on, what time is it?" I asked back at her. She looked at her watch and said that it's 7:30. We were supposed to start school at 8 in the morning so I hurried home and gave Mom the bread that I owed. Because of my fear of being late, I decided not to eat for now.
I got to school at 8:05, I forgot it was Monday. On Monday it has a Flag ceremony and on Friday afternoon there is a Flag retreat.
"Good morning children, how were your weekends?",Mrs. salamanca asked.
"It's okay," my classmates answered, "That's good, where is Miss. Kierra?" "I'm here, ma'am." I replied. "Congratulations, honey, you're top 1 in the class, and the highest honor," said our teacher, ma'am Fendeya.
I didn't realize right away that a tear had escape my eyes and then rivulets of them vame down, I clearly see the surprise in my teacher's face. That was what I wanted to hear the whole morning, a congratulations from someone whose happy for me and my achievements, because even my mom compares me to somebody else better, even though I worked hard for it, and not a copy.
"Oh child, why are you crying, did I say something wrong? Are you okay? Hold on honey." The teacher asked me, who was really worried about me. I smiled at my teacher because she called me like a daughter, because if she calls me that I would imagine that it is Mom talking, but it's not her.
"I'm okay, ma'am," I answered. I couldn't stop crying again after I automatically answered, here I am, lying to myself. 'Since when was I okay?', I asked myself.
"Hold on kid, rest first, you're an exception to my quiz today, rest first and you'll be okay again, that's just a test in life, you'll make it." The teacher told me.
"Ma'am, what about us?". My classmates asked her, which caused ma'am fendeya to laugh, she couldn't stand my classmates being cute and saying compliments for her so she made us sleep together at her time, in short , we were the section thats excemted from her quizzes.
Shane shook me to wake me up.
"What is it?", I asked while yawning. "What do you mean what? Dumbass, we don't have classes anymore today," she answered, amused.
"Huh!! Do you mean I slept through all our subs??!". I shot up and out of my deskchair, Shane shifting to the side to avoid me. She rolled her eyes, smiling," bruh, chill. Take more rest, besh, too much study could kill you." I glare at her incredeously, and she hurries to continue, "Look, don't worry, no teacher appeared after Ms. Fendeya since then, they said we could rest for the day. Oh, come on, let's go home." Shane grabbed her bag, smiling.
A few minutes later and I found our house with the lights still off, I was surprised because by this time mom must have come home already, she lets it go and entered the house. While mom was not there I thought about cleaning first, I didn't have anything else to do for school. It was 7 o'clock when I finished and my mother wasn't there yet, I suddenly felt hungry so I went to the kitchen to see if there was any leftover rice and dishes, I forgot that I hadn't eaten anything earlier Morning even lunch because I slept too much earlier in our room, not enough sleep last night because I finished some projects so I took a nap in the classroom earlier.
After I opened the pot, there was a little rice left and some bread on the table, bread that I owed earlier to Aling maria. I'm not going to eat yet and wait for my mother to come because she is sure gonna be hungry. I just went back to the living room and waited there because maybe they stopped because it was raining, while I was waiting for my mother I fell asleep in the living room , sitting on the chair by the table.
When I wake up later, it was seven in the morning. I stretched and looked around the living room, then walked around the house looking for mom. But I never see her , I teared a little when I thought she finally left me, but I shook my head and banished those thoughts. Maybe they did got caught up in the rain, she might be staying at her date's house. I thought about going to Shane's house, maybe I could borrow a telephone to call mom to ask her where she is.
I hurriedly turned around towards the front door, when I felt a woozing sensation, making me feel dizzy and disoriented. 'Ahh', I thought, ' I still haven't eaten yet since yesterday.' I leaned beside the wall and continue walking , slowly. When I got outside, I saw Shane right beside the fence. She looked up and waved at me, not seeing anything wrong yet.
"Hey, little bamboo. Why aren't you still ready yet? Are you not gonna go today? You--," she cut herself off, finally getting a clear look ate me, with harried hair and sweaty face. "Wait, you look like crap, what the hell?!"
I chuckled at her, vision slowly whitening out, then darkness finally claimed me after I collapsed on my knees, weakend. The last thing I heard was my dear, best friend, calling out.
"MOM !!!! KIERRA NEEDS HE---!!!!!".............
-
(4 years later)
"I am pleased to announce that Kierra Fendeya Salamanca has achieved the highest academic honor of summa cum laude in their degree of Computer engineering . We are proud to recognize her exceptional dedication, hard work, and outstanding academic achievements. Congratulations to Kierra fendeya Salamanca on this remarkable accomplishment." The announcer sits down and clapped for the student standing in front of him, having moved to take the stage after the announcement.
Kierra breathes deeply and lets it out on the mic, making a huffing loud sound, she smirks, and the crowd laughs and whoops loudly beacause of it.
"Sorry 'bout that guys, I'm wearing six inches heel today," that makes them laugh even harder.
"Ahem," I cleared my throat after the ruckus died down, before speaking up again, much more composed and confident.
"Good morning, honored guests, teachers, parents, and my fellow graduates.It is an absolute honor to stand before you today as a summa cum laude graduate. We all experienced lots of things, many that almost made us give up, but despite about it, we pushed through all of it ,for our family, for ourselves and for our future. To tell the truth, my mother left me to fend for myself when I was in 11th grade, and I know that some of you may know this, through close friends and those who were confused about my last name change , big thanks to the person who cared so much about me to adopt me, Ma'am Fendeya, a.k.a. my awesome mom. Even though at first I felt like an intruder to this family, they still accepted me to their family lovingly when Mother left me," I paused a bit to wipe tears from my face and looked up, mom(ms. Fendeya) smiled at me reassuringly, she too, looked teary. I smiled.
"I won't resent my Mother for leaving, for she might have a reason for not coming back. My biological mother's absence didn't stop me from overcoming this challenge and excelling academically.I encountered obstacles and failures,Just like climbing a staircase to get up here on the stage. I faced challenges and setbacks, but I continued to push forward and finally made it all the way here.Thus, to all of my fellow grads and those who have come to support us, let us rejoice in our successes, treasure the little things, and look forward to a promising future.Thank you, and best wishes to the 2024 graduating class." I smiled widely , as students and teachers alike stood up and applauded, cheering and screaming happily. I waved at them, and thought, 'no matter what happens from now on, I will make sure to enjoy the little things that I love, and preserve.'
Behind the crowds of students, teachers,guests and parents, a head bob up and down through the crowd, and going through the gates of the school. The person called for a taxi to take her to the airport to take her next flight. 'Everything worked out in the end,' she mused, 'for the daughter turned stranger on the stage.' She looked back at the school and smiled softly and sadly, 'as long as she's happy', then got on the car, and left, forever.
