"Hey! Stop doing that!Or else I'm gonna tell Miss Elly about this!"
The boy stood straight, hands on his hips.
"Really? T-that's not true! She's probably busy and stuff so shut up!"
The others laughed along, trying to look confident...Until a grown-up showed up.
"What's with all this racket, you brats?! Did I say y'all can play outside? Get back in-now!"
The group scurried away, shooting begrudging glances before disappearing from the boy's sight.
Ren turned his head to see the poor, defenseless child on the ground, his knees pulled up to his chest.
"Hey, are you okay? Did those guys hurt you or anything?"
Ren said with a concerned expression etched on his face as he lend a hand towards the child.
The boy lifted his head slowly, and with a smile, he said
"No,"
"Just know...I'm still out there, trying to find where you are right now."
Ren shot up from his bed, panting heavily as he tries to catch his breath.
" That dream again, urggh...My head hurts."
He groaned and flopped back into his bed, his hands fumbled across the night stand until it found his phone.
4:03 am
"Still got some time before school starts..."
"First day of Grade 12, huh?"
He chuckles, but suddenly a grumpy voice was heard outside his room.
"Ren! Kumilos ka na! Anong oras na, ohh! Malalate ka nanaman!"
(In English:Ren! Get ready for school now! Ohh look at the time! You're gonna be late again!)
he sighed as he finally got up from his bed
"Huhu!I still wanted a litte more time to sleep...Guess it can't be helped."
he muttered to himself.
He went down the stairs as his hands glided against the railing of the stairs.
Ren headed towards the dining room to see his mother, Maya,already setting down the plates with scrambled eggs and pan de sal on the table as the soft glow of the kitchen lights illuminate the room.
"Good morning, anak!"
"Good morning 'Ma, thank you for the food."
He says as he sits on a chair beside his mother.
"Dad already left for work?"
"Yup!He's extra early today because I heard he's getting a bonus from his boss today!"
She says with a genuine smile
"Ahh, well that's good news."
He smiles back, but it fades as he worries about facing the day ahead of him, introductions, getting to know your classmates and teachers, whatever!