CHAPTER 3

Aside from the day I chased the piglet, I just got out of the house again. I think that the blue sky above appreciates my happiness today. I'm under this roof of blue sky, in a field of mid-day sunshine, surrounded by the scent of wet grass and the music of song birds and buzzing insects. I can see the ferocious monkey-eating eagle; bluish eyes, a large, sharp, curved beak, and a warlike headdress of spiky feathers, giving a striking appearance.

Appearance.

I looked 18, again and I will be studying in school.

For the first time. 

I am excited. The farmers were excited.

It is a new day. It is a new life.

And maybe a new trouble.

The wind blew our seal above the bamboo pole. I have always thought of the wind as so free, chaotic even, yet it has its path, even if there are infinite possible destinations. Its air has its passion, a drive that powers onwards, every direction an option.

I went to any direction. But do I have an option? I am the option.

I think deeply as I walk through the forest, "I'm a teenager again," I told myself.

Who doesn't want to rejuvenate, be young again? My skin became smoother again like a snake that has changed skin. My body was as curved as the bottle. But, can I pretend to be a teenager, again?

"For what?" I murmured.

Why did that unknown scientist made me eighteen years old instead of twenty-three? Why does Padre Oriel and Dr. Connor know each other? What was the content of the notebook given by Dr. Connor? What does the Padre mean that he will only send me  to school and he will not allow me to join?

Maharlika Spelling TwistBee.

If there were walls, I want to rise on the balls of their feet to gain height and get a better look. 

What's going on there?

Curiosisty doesn't kill me. I kill curiosity.  

It looks like my gray school uniform is knotted because of the winding roads leading to the school. It's like a maze. It is a maze. The maze was glorious in the sunshine, only weeks ago grasslings could have stepped over the walls but now the maze towered over even the tallest of them.

As always, farmers are gathered on the day before the harvest, a feast laid at the center by that year's maze designer.  Mother Ceres, Goddess of Agriculture.

We have what we called the Cerealia which was celebrated on April 19. Another special time for Ceres was Ambarvalia, a Roman agricultural fertility rite held at the end of May. She is portrayed holding a scepter or farming tool in one hand and a basket of flowers, fruits, or grain in the other.

Grain.

I stopped. I saw a door. Like most books about magic doors begin with the journey through the door and end with a battle. A long, tangled aftermath that follows the battle.

I've read some god-like strangers who had slid into another or parallel world and crushed it beneath their boot heels; imagine the native citizens had one day risen up to slaughter their oppressors in turn; imagine five juveniles surviving during World War II, navigating the scars where two worlds collided.

It could be a terrible and dreary reality. 

And I raised my head. I saw a signage written in an auspicious styles o typography with graphical vintage elements.

"Soar Higher, Shine Brighter Grasslings." I read it. 

That’s was the thing written overhead. I was about to enter but the door was closed. I move closer to the door and knocked it three times.

"Hey there, Please say the Grass mantra before entering." I was surprised when someone talked.

He must be the guard who was secretly trained like those Manjie Armies. He is quite old. He must have a protective suit. 

I processed my mind before saying the mantra and said,

"We are Maharlikas, we belong to Grass, we are not a trash, give freedom to us. "

After I said that there was suddenly a laser-beam-like line that passed all over my body. I thought we already had a high-technology device here in District G. But as I followed its source, It was just a light casted and reflected from the sun to the mirror.

Laser beam. When can I hold a laser beam? We're not allowed to hold and create any electronics.

"Good morning, the door is open. Thank you, enjoy," He greeted me as if he's opening a clandesstine portal. He gestured a salute and bowed. 

"Wait, that's a minor offense," I whisperred, "Don't salute me, it's forbidden. We only salute the Manjies and Hugo and all their useless officials."

 "Shh, I know the placements of all the cameras here in our district. They can't see us here." He stopped and talked again, "I salute you for being here, I know you are new. I wonder where have you been? You must be hiding something."

"How beautiful to remain a mystery in a world of people who have noting left to hide. Somebody is always hiding something. Anybody can hide anything."

"You only need to hide if you're doing something you shouldn't." It seems like he's suspecting me. He's looking up my head and down to my feet.

"Remember that there are things that can not be long hidden; The sun, the moon, and truth," he reminded me.

"You are seeing the truth. I am the truth. That is the tuest truth," I convinced him, pointing myself with my two index fingers.

Now I just noticed his white mustache. He looks like he is from the character of Ibong Adarna during the Spanish era. This amazing folklore is about love, sacrifice and fantasy.

I love to sacrifice my fantasy.

But this isn't fantasy, this is dystopia.

Those mantra I've uttered earlier are the words we always say here in Grass. It is like a routine. It is memorized by all Grass people, children, young men, farmers, the elderly, young women — like me, everyone.

I wonder when can we have our freedom back?

Now, that we are under the power of the Embassy, ​​the way they control us, Freedom is so far to come.

Or maybe not?

Not yet.

I went through a tunnel full of flowers and hanging plants and I ended up looking at this beautiful paradise. The only school of Grass. A jaw dropping view of the school. Is this really the school? This is very different from the schools I see in books. Surrounded by a wide field of Grains, plants with various species, and the bold mountains.

Does the Mahar have such a place like this? As far as I know the Mahar is a den of evil rulers.

There are many high-rise buildings there in the sprawling metropolis called Mahar where the whole Embassy officials lived. It's like the rich lived at the top and the normal Mahar people scrambled on the grim streets below. This is the literal depiction of a class-based hierarchy. There are lots of high technology devices; guns, choppers, robots, digital phones and more. A bustling urban city unlike my District.

Our District. 

I wonder if there is anything more beautiful than this.Of course, the other districts. They have their schools, too, more beautiful than Grass. But, I am contented. Peaceful. That is District G! Our industry is Grain. It's all that matters here.

Before I could even tighten my grip on my bag made from Abacca fiber, someone ran and bumped me. He also came from the tunnel.

But he was not alone, many followed out. We are both in the same uniform. Of course, they will also study here. They haven't entered the School yet but they are already dirty.

The filth, the stench of the smell. Smell of Grass. I'm accustomed to that. Maybe if I hadn’t just always been stayed in the house for so long, I would have definitely fallen in the mud. I wish I stink like them.

They might be dirty physically, but not on the inside.

Grass!

"Let's go to the main gate of the school," I'm eavesdropping.

"All right! The one who will be the last to enter will eat the leaves," the woman said with a gleeful face. It's so comforting.

Look how simple their life is. Five of them finally entered the main gate but I'm just walk slowly with sudden movements or furtively. 

"Come on, let's go." Someone talked in my side and I think this man was talking to me. He is a well-dressed man. Decent. His hair was dishevelled, his clothes were clean and he seemed to have walked well towards here. Unblemished.

"U-Us?" I was shocked because he suddenly appeared out of the blue.

"If they want to have a race, then I have a deal for you. We'll be going to walk slowly until we can't attend our class. Whoever goes first will have a consequence. Are you in?"

"Umm—"

"Of course you're in." I haven't yet decided it but he want me to take a yes. He was wearing a mask, made by Abaca fiber, too. He seems to have a cough or something. I can't see his whole face. But, his silver lightning eyes was sharp that doesn't miss a thing. I think he wants to befriend with me. He almost touched my skin so I managed to move a litle bit away from him.

Who is this guy?

"What if I go first? Or if I want to go in because our teacher is waiting for the students, what's the consequence?" I ask this stranger man.

"I'll give you my banana. I know you'll love my banana."

"What banana?"

"My brown banana."

"You are a jerk. Aren't you?!" I hissed.

"I'll give you my Puso," he said, holding his left chest. There are various meanings of Puso that I know. It could be the literal heart or the Banana heart which has a fleshy, chunky, and flaky texture but its taste is quite neutral due to its fibrous capacity but does has a slightly nutty and fruity flavor.

When he opened his bag, I saw it. 

"I mean, I'll put a banana heart in your bag. Since my bag is so heavy, I'll sell it inside school. Can you sell it or even one banana heart for me? I just need money and my body can't lift much. I have a fever," the man pleaded.

Sell? No way! It is forbidden to sell or buy anything here in our disricts.

"Do you want to die?" I asked him.

"Do you want me to die?" He replied.

"No. No. I mean that's not—"

"There's no time to die."

After a few seconds, I'm back to my current predicament. Will he give me a job? But I pity him, I just took the one of his banana hearts.

“Okay, just one. Because I am going to be a student here, not a seller, not a pawn.” I murmured. 

When he put it in my hand, he ran inside the school first. "Hey, where are you going? I thought we're going to slow down? Come back here! If you don't give me a share, I'll going to take your heart and hang it on a banana tree. You jerk!" I shouted from here, annoyed. 

He is the who have consequence, not me! He really ruined my morning!

I was just looking at the banana heart I was holding. Okay, I'll just let it slide. I don't want to be devoured by my conscience. I will just secretly sell it for Twenty Five and Seventy Cents.

I put it inside my bag and entered the main gate of Grass University. Before I could pass, I stopped, I returned to the main gate.

There seems to be something wrong.

Gotcha! A signboard hanging on the gate, again.

I want to take get it but it's so high so I grab stones and stack them and stand on it. I strecthed my body.

"Ouch!" I screamed out of time and my uniform finally hit the land. Oh, no, this can't be!

I was expecting this. I fell, but at least, I got the signboard. I'm really a fan of falling from anywhere. I'm not a dumb, maybe It's just always a coincidence.

Wellcome To Grass University

That’s what’s written on the signboard. The sad thing is that, Welome is spelled with a double 'L'. 

I took a pen out of my bag. If I erase the letter 'L', the signboard will be dirty so what I did, using two lowercase 'l', I drew it to make it look like a house. The two small letter L served as walls, I drew a horizontal line below it to connect and I put a roof on top. It looks like a single L designed like a house. Yes, a house. It means that this school is our second home.

Oh my grass, nice one, Synecdoche.

I went inside. I am now stepping on this terrazzo tile. I just gasped. I walk down the hallway and I look at every door I pass. Am going to experience the things I haven't eperience before? Am I already inside the school? 

I looked side to side before I saw my room that Padre Oriel had told me. 

"Don't trust anyone because they'll thrust you backward." I remembered Padre's warning to me.

I entered the classroom and I saw a group of students, having their tittle-tattle.

"Show that to us!"

"You are selfish!"

"That's cool."

"Where did you get that?"

"What's that called?"

 I heard some commotions.

"Well, my fellow grasslings," Now, the people are listening to that bespectacled man. They are curious about that thing. I know I have seen it before, in the book, "this is what you call a digital hologram. Something you won't find here in the Grass. Shh, don't tell others. Would you like to know how it works? "

"Yes!" everyone shouted.

Wait ... it seems ... No, no, crap! They are disobeying the law. I immediately ran, grabbed it and threw it away.

"What the hell, Who are you ?! What are you doing?" The man shouted, eyebrows scrunch together, foreheads crease, lips tighten, jaws tense, and his nostril flares. He seems to be blushing with anger. I know I did it badly but what they do is not right. 

I looked at them one by one. Some went back to their seats, some stepped back, and some looked at me like they saw a heat mirage. 

"Sorry for bothering you but you need to listen! You are disobeying one of the rules! May I remind you that we, the Grass people, are not allowed to use any electronic devices. The Manjies, they will shoot you, us, each of us. The Embassy will punish us if they caught us. Don't you know it or you forgot it? Thank me for reminding you about this. " I took control. I just came in but this was what I've encoutered. They are not responsible. I can't help but stop them.

"Woah, but they're not here! And what do you know, huh? And who the hell are you? You're just a little grassgirl!" If they only knew I was 23, they must obey me, I know I'm the eldest here! Where are his manner. I still can’t really forget that I was eighteen years old. I would like to tell him not to disrespect to someone older than him. Let's just see.

"What's that called for you? A toy on the wall?" I pointed at the surveillance camera, "Do you have something to say? The Manjies will take their way up here anytime," I reasoned while pointing at their faces. Sorry, but I need to do this. This is for the safety of our Grass people.  Their eldest is here, they are are all under my control.

"N-Nothing! Get the hologram. Wrap it in the handkerchief, hide it, quickl. It's up to you if you want," he stammered as he spoke and then his hand shook. No one wants to hide the hologram. The hologram was passed onto different hands. And suddenly, it ended up on my hand.

"Hey sister, just hide it because we're scared. You said we're disobeying it. Just get it. I know you know what to do. You're an expert." This woman is crazy. I am not an expert. I said it's forbidden, will she going to put my life at risk? I returned the hologram to her. I don't want to die. I still have my Padre.

Someone entered the room. "Okay class, sit down properly because I have something important to tell you. Faster grasslings, faster!" And everyone was suddenly synchronized. I know her name is Miss. Oomf. That's the woman in the picture which was Padre Oriel had shown to me.

 She took a deep breath before saying, "Today is your first day of the class but before we will start our class, get ready because the Embassy is here." Suddenly the student's eyes widened as she continued talking, "including their armed force. " Our eyes widened even more and looked at each other. The bespectacled man looks like he is looking forward of what will be happening today.

Armed force?

Manjies.

I hope they didn't catch us or else…