Like X and Y

In a small wooden and nipa house situated in one of the thirty baranggays in a class- C municipality, resides a girl who is used to pray. She believes that living without prayer is like trudging in an endless road without actually having a place to go. For her, life is dead itself without prayer. At her young age, a strong belief has been borne in her heart that whatever she does and says must not negate to the will of the Divine Creator from whom her life was given. Thanks to her mother from whom she learned the value of prayer. She lives placidly in this chaotic world filled with so much trickery,deception, rejection and complexities and from time to time escapes momentarily from this kind of world and traverses alone to the world where she could live as happy as she could be without being bullied, without receiving any rejection and without experiencing tribulation. All she does in that world is live a happy life in a peaceful universe. That world is the world that she herself has created in her wide imaginings.

On the other side of the world, in a nearby baranggay, occupies a boy who used to play. He' s carefree of any anxieties and worries. He lives a simple life with simple dreams. He satisfies himself with what he has. He finds joy in the things he does with his childhood friends and makes silly and memorable things with them. He treasures every friend that comes his way and avoids any chance that can ruin the tie of friendship that binds them. His parents are blest enough to have his presence in the family. He is obedient to their orders and makes no resentment to their commands though sometimes he is tempted to delay the completion of his tasks due to his playful nature.

These two different persons come from two different corners of the world. They are like X and Y in a mathematical equation that come to intersect at some point in a line. Their paths have happened to cross. They both are of the same age. In fact, they're born in the same month of August in the same year and they go to the same elementary school to study. So, they meet.

It' s a day in June that opens the school year. They' re in Grade 4 now. Everyone seems very enthusiastic. Chitchats are here and there. The classroom is filled with a deafening noise. Boys and girls are talking. They seem to be boasting of each other's summer vacation experiences and thrills. They talk as if there's no tomorrow to come.

"Those whose general average in grade three is 79, please you pick up your things and proceed to Room Section 1", the Grade 4- Section 2 teacher announced. " When I call your name, please stand up", he added. The boy' s name, Gary, was one of those who were called. Without a second thought, he grabs his bag and moves out of the room. Some of his classmates followed him.

In room Section 1, there is that girl. Her name is Faith. She remains quiet and observant in her desk. She glances in a while, the new faces that have arrived in their class who are now part of their group.

"Class, please stand up. We will start our class today with prayer", Mrs. Malinaw, the Grade 4-Section 1 teacher requested. So all the pupils stand up and pray.

After the prayer, Mrs. Malinaw asked the pupils to be seated. She then introduced herself to them.

"Since today is the first day of classes for the entire school year, it is best that we get to know each other first. So I will ask each of you to stand up and say something about yourself",Mrs. Malinaw suggested.

"Good morning Ma'am,good morning classmates, My name is Irish Tribunalo and I am ten years old", the first sitter of the first row said.

"Good morning Mrs. Malinaw, good morning classmates, I am Faith Tumulak, the sixth of ten siblings. I am nine years old, thank you", Faith said in introducing herself.

While Gary was watching Faith introducing herself, he feels nervous for his turn to speak is near.

Then, "Good morning ma'am, good morning classmates, my name is Gary Malayo, I am nine years old, I am happy to be in this section. Thank you", Gary's turn finally came.

The rest of the class also did the same.

It's a year later, and the same procedure happens. Those who are listed in the second section during the enrolment having the general average of 79 are called to transfer to the first section. Again, Gary volunteers to stand up and go. They're still classmates then. And still the same happens in the last school year of the elementary level. They're grade six pupils now. Time has passed swiftly and March comes its way.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us give a warm apllause to Faith Tumulak for her declamation!", the MC said during the graduation ceremony as she called for Faith to come on stage.

Faith climbs up on stage with a nervous feeling. But in her mind she has to conquer her fears and must succeed in her task to declaim. As she walks through, she never forgets to pray that God may stay with her and lessen her fright and that the Holy Spirit may remind her of all the words she needs to utter in front of the crowd. Then she begins...

"The Master Is Coming". This is the title of her declamation

" They said, the master is coming to honor the town today. And none can tell at whose favored home the master will choose to stay. And I thought while my heart beat wildly, 'what if He'd come to mine?How would I strive to entertain and honor the guest Divine?...", she continues and in the later part of the piece, she cries,she really cries that her cries move the emotions of the audience. It's indeed a success

On this day, her Grade 4 teacher Mrs. Malinaw, who had retired a year ago has come with her daughter and some friends to witness this momentous event in Faith's life. After which, they go home.

Faith might have been dismayed at that time for the reason that her mother wasn't there. It's her mother's due to deliver their youngest sibling and her father was supposed to be there but wasn't able to walk beside her during the graduation march because he was late in coming, besides, he was drunk. However, the presence of her elder sisters and Mrs. Malinaw made her day a little brighter. She still goes home with a smile on her face. This is the last of her childhood days and she has to prepare to face another chapter of her life.

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