The morning of May 6, 2026, started like any other school day, but with a festive spirit. “Ma, Pa, I’m leaving now,” I told my parents as I took their hands and said a quick prayer. “What’s wrong with you, Yan? It’s too early! School is still closed,” my father replied. “Bye, Merry Christmas!” I answered as I ran off to catch Noy Kokoy’s tricycle, my usual ride to school.
A Joyful Start
I handed him my fare and said, “Keep the change. Merry Christmas, Noy!” “Merry Christmas too, Inday!” he replied while counting my coins. “Good morning, Kuya Guard!” I greeted. “Good morning, Inday!” he responded cheerfully. “The vibes are really different this morning,” I thought to myself.
The campus was still quiet as I climbed the stairs to the third floor where our classroom was. A cold breeze greeted me when I opened the door. It was 7:00 AM, and slowly my classmates arrived, carrying their gifts. In just a few minutes, our Christmas party would begin.
A Friend’s Absence
“Kloe, have you seen Mel?” I shouted to my close friend as she walked down the hallway, still wrapping her gift. When she saw me, she ran towards me. “Yan, I’m sure you’ll love my gift!” she teased. “Shut up! Just wait,” I replied jokingly. “But seriously, have you seen Mel? She’s not here yet, and the program is about to start,” I added.
We were both worried because Mel was never late. She always had a friendly banter with the guard about who arrived earlier. “Good morning, Ma’am Reyn! Good morning, classmates!” a voice rang out from the classroom. “Oh no, Ma’am is here!” Kloe and I screamed as we rushed back to our seats.
The Party Begins
“Okay, class, please line up with your gifts. We’ll take attendance first, then assign numbers to your gifts,” Ma’am Reyn instructed. Suddenly, her phone rang. “Hello? Yes, Sir, this is the adviser. Mel? WHAT HAPPENED? WHY? Okay, okay, thank you for informing me,” she said, her face turning pale.
Without a word, she grabbed her phone and motorcycle keys and rushed out. “Mel’s adviser? Where is Mel?” I wondered, now truly worried about my best friend. Soon, Ma’am Reyn returned and told us what happened. Kloe and I asked for permission to leave.
Later, we heard the doctor’s words: “Time of death: 11:45 AM.”
