Summer but Fall

It was the last day of class before our summer vacation starts. The cicadas echoing, breeze feeling hotter, and the sun burning everyone that meets it.

We passed by the Balete tree. It protected everything beneath, a haven from the scorching sun. Now that I think of it, this side of the mountain is windy, plus the ancient Balete as a shelter, it would be a great place to relax during summertime.

But my daydreaming was cut off when a kid threw a trash behind the tree.

Well, except for a fact that it’s a dumping place.

We’re taking our final exam today and after that, we’re free!

 Since I learned how to read, I’ve always anticipated summer vacations and holidays. It allowed me to spend ungodly amount hours reading.

“Lin! Your brothers are here again,” said Annalyn during our break. The twins entered the classroom weakly.

Girls in my class looked forward for lunchtime and break time since my twin brothers visited me frequently. Sadly, they can only have a wishful gaze at them, since Jiro and Rigo easily gets uncomfortable with other people.

They make lame excuses like, ‘Oh! We forgot something in the classroom’, ‘We have to make our assignments’, ‘We’re having stomaches’ and so on.

Strangely, they’re fine with Cali. Perhaps, because Cali never showed any interest to them.

“Little sis, tell Ma that we love her…” Rigo said.

“I can’t believe I’m dying before finishing my research about dragons,” said Jiro. He loved searching for conspiracy theories. How it was real that unicorns existed or according to him still exists, dragons that used to live among humans, and many other unbelievable stuff.

“What up with you two?” I asked. I picked up my notebook and fanned myself.

“Its crazy hot today. I think my vision is starting to get blurry,” Jiro answered

“Haha… I think my vision became so clear, I started seeing our great grandma,”  Rigo said then he gasped. “Lin Lin, she’s calling me. Let’s all go together with granny.” Tugging my skirt while he dramatically slumped to the ground.

Cali gave both of them some cold water. “Here. You’re sweating a lot.”

“Lin Lin, I’m getting flashbacks of our happy times. Remember that time…”

They continued their skit for many minutes.

Thankfully, the bell rang. Jiro and Rigo immediately stood up as if nothing happened and returned to their classroom.

“Jiro, you dropped your handkerchief,” I said.

After they left, one of my classmates— Joseph asked, “How y’all manage to distinguish the two?”

I never gave it enough thought on how I was able to them apart. I just knew since I was little. Maybe it took me long to answer so Cali spoke, “Jiro speaks softer and moves carefully. And he loves talking ‘bout unicorns and stuff, while Rigo is more tactless and careless with his movement. Well, he usually blabbers about his games.”

Joseph gave a satisfied nod.

Now, that she mentioned it. Cali was the only person who could tell my brothers apart aside from our parents and me. Even our relatives sometimes got them wrong.

The exam ended and I felt like I’ve been freed from carrying the boulder this week. “Hey, let’s stop by the semi-con store later,” I said to Cali.

We called the small store ‘Semi-Con’ meaning a ‘semi convenience’ store.

“Oho! You must have done well since you’re so carefree,” Joseph said to me.

“Not really. I think I did poorly.”

"Ah..."

To be honest, my memories were hazy during the math exam period. Or at least, I wanted to forget how I managed flunking it.

I think I did well with whole numbers but the decimals made me dizzy.

Last night, Ma almost ruined her vocal cords explaining decimals to me, and I thought, somehow, I mastered it.

But anyways, all I can say is, let’s just hope for the best.

We sat in the corridors while waiting for my brothers. “Where do you usually get your fish chips supply?”

“Well, my aunt is—”

“I told you we’re just gonna borrow it!” I heard a familiar shrieking coming from the lockers area. Cali must have heard it too since she stopped talking.

Cali stood up and peeked where the loud voice came from. She gestured me to see what was happening.

“What is it now?” I stood near her and tilted my head, keeping my body hidden behind the wall. “The make-up girls,” she whispered.

And there they are, looking high and mighty. The three make-up girls looked like they found a new prey. Only this time, their prey was about the same age as them.

“I told you that I’m going to return your bracelet. Aren’t you our friend?”

The girl they’re harassing was on the verge of crying. “B-but it was given by—”

“Steph said she’ll just borrow it, right? Why are you acting like we’re stealing it?!” said the short-haired girl, who accused me of being impolite last time.

So, the girl who’s always in front of them was Steph. Now that I know her name, the more it sounded like it’s a perfect name for a villain.

“Can’t my brain just rest for a while?” I complained. I turned around to turn a blind eye on what’s happening.

The girl they’re harassing is much older than me so it felt wrong acting like a hero in front of her.

“What?! The beggar kid? What are you doing?” shrieked Steph. This girl has a voice that makes my blood boil.

I looked around and saw that Cali was nowhere to be found. I got a hunch that she didn’t mind her own business at all. How can this girl easily get angry for other people and not for herself?

I saw my brothers leaving their classroom. “Good timing!” I raced towards them and grabbed their wrists.

“Come with me.”

“Lin Lin, what the!” Rigo protested. I shushed him and continued to walk towards the commotion.

When the girls noticed that were approaching them, they closed their mouths and acted meekly.

“Hi! I overheard your conversation that you’d like to borrow a bracelet. But it looked like your friend doesn’t want hers to be borrowed,” I said. By then, my brothers somehow understood what going on. I’m using them as my shield so that these sly girls won’t have a chance to talk back.

“I can actually let you borrow mine, if that’s okay with you,” I smiled sympathetically. I noticed Steph’s hand clenched so hard that her knuckles turned white.

“N-no… Thank you. I think I’ll ask mom to buy me one,” she stuttered. Cali smiled at the corner. I could tell from their faces that they were furious although they tried hiding it.

The harassed girl thanked us and went on her way.

“Let’s go semicon!” I said.

__

Since the summer started, I frequently visited the Balete and just enjoyed the shade and coolness it offered. I’d climb a branch and just gaze on the cliff. Cloud would sometimes pass by obstructing my view.

“What you doing here?” Rigo asked, interrupting my sight seeing­— not that there’s any sight to see.

“Just bored. Cali’s been away for a few days now.”

“Well, where’re your books, then?”

I remembered the traumatic night when Ma caught me reading one of her novels.

“Ma saw me stealing her secret stash. She threw all of it away except for the kids-friendly ones,” I gazed at the cliff sadly. “But then, I already read all those books. Now, I’ve got lots of time to contemplate life.”

Rigo chuckled, “So dramatic,” He reached for my hand and helped me down.

The next afternoon, I visited my now bestfriend, Balete tree. I sat on the roots and started reading a book that I’ve already read before.

I felt warm. Not the kind where you get sweaty and icky, but the kind of warmth when you got into a fight, then you got home and your mother welcomed you with your favorite food.

Comfort.

I slowly opened my eyes. It took time for me to adjust since it was already starting to get dark. I must have slept.

Then, there it was again, the feeling of comfort. I saw a faint glow far from here. Below…

I reached for the tiny gleam of comfort. I can’t— it’s so far. I walked towards it.

Stop! You’ll fall!

But I can’t. My body was desperate to reach for it. Before I realize what happened next, my mind blanked out.