WET THE SERIES 2: CAR (SPG)

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER FIVE:

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AFTER what felt like an eternity, the day finally arrived. I stood outside the gates of Ayala National High School, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and anxiety. It was my first day as a Grade 7 student, and everything felt so different from the SPED Center. The atmosphere buzzed with energy as students chatted and laughed, rushing to their classes, but I couldn’t help feeling out of place.

Hawak ko ang bag ko habang nagmamasid. Sobrang dami ng mga tao—parang ang saya-saya ng lahat, habang ako, nandito sa labas, medyo kinakabahan. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. “Okay, Athena, just get through the day,” I whispered to myself, steeling my resolve.

As I walked through the gate, I spotted familiar faces from my previous school, but I offered them only a slight nod, feeling the walls I had built around myself tighten. I had always kept a distance from others, preferring to observe rather than engage.

Nang makapasok ako sa loob, I glanced around, taking in the vibrant hallways filled with colorful lockers and posters promoting various clubs and activities. Everyone seemed so carefree, and I felt that familiar tug of discomfort. This new environment brought a sense of vulnerability I wasn’t used to.

“Hey, you’re Wisdom, right?” A voice broke into my thoughts. I turned to see a girl with curly hair and a warm smile, looking genuinely friendly. “I’m Mia. We’re in the same homeroom!”

“Yeah, that’s me,” I replied flatly, trying not to sound too dismissive. “Nice to meet you, I guess.”

She gestured towards the classroom door, undeterred by my tone. “Tara! Pasok na tayo. I heard our teacher is really nice.”

As we walked side by side, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I was an outsider here. Maybe this year would just be another chapter of isolation, a chance to keep my distance from everyone. I thought about my cousins and the secrets we carried, but there was no place for those thoughts here.

When we entered the classroom, I took a seat by the window, letting the sunlight warm my face but still feeling cold inside. As the other students trickled in, I glanced around, noting the variety of personalities filling the room. Some were animated and loud, while others were quiet and reserved like me.

“Okay, class! Settle down!” The teacher’s voice broke through the chatter, and I felt a rush of anticipation mixed with trepidation. Would this year bring the same loneliness I had known? Would I ever find a connection?

“Welcome to Grade 7! Let’s make this year unforgettable!” the teacher continued, but I remained stoic, arms crossed, eyes scanning the room. I wasn’t ready to embrace anything yet, but maybe—just maybe—this year would reveal something unexpected.

As I focused on the teacher, I felt the weight of expectations around me, but for now, I would just observe. That was how I preferred it.

THE LESSONS began, and I settled into my usual pattern of keeping my head down and absorbing the information without getting involved. The teacher droned on about the syllabus, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. I glanced to my right and noticed Mia stealing glances at me every so often. She seemed eager, and it unnerved me.

As the class progressed, I began to hear snippets of conversation around me—talk about sports, pop culture, and weekend plans. It all felt so foreign, parang nakikinig ako sa isang wika na hindi ko naiintindihan. I was perfectly content to sit in my silence, but there was a part of me that was curious. Bakit parang sobrang excited ng lahat na makipag-ugnayan? Hindi ba nila alam kung gaano kadaling masira ang mga pagkakaibigan?

LUNCH TIME came, and I found myself standing awkwardly at the entrance of the canteen. Wala akong ideya kung saan ako dapat umupo. I scanned the room, observing groups of students laughing and sharing food. Parang nanonood lang ako ng pelikula, at ako ang outsider na nakatingin sa loob.

Mia spotted me again, waving enthusiastically. “Hey, Wisdom! Come sit with us!” she called, her smile wide and inviting. I hesitated, feeling the urge to decline, but there was a flicker of something in me—maybe loneliness or the faint hope of belonging—that made me move.

Approaching their table, I tried to mask my discomfort with a neutral expression. “Hi,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The other students greeted me with smiles, but I could feel the warmth of their friendliness pushing against the icy barrier I had built.

“Want to join us for a game?” one of the boys asked. He had messy hair and an easy grin, and I could tell he was one of those naturally likable types.

“Game?” I echoed, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah! We’re playing this puzzle game. It’s super fun,” Mia explained, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “You might like it. It’s all about decoding clues.”

My heart raced slightly at the mention of puzzles. I’d always enjoyed decoding and figuring things out in my own time. “I don’t know. I’m not really… into games,” I replied, trying to sound indifferent.

“Come on, just give it a shot! It’ll be fun,” Mia insisted. Her persistence was surprising, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of warmth. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to engage, just this once.

Reluctantly, I slid into a chair, feeling the eyes of my classmates on me. They began explaining the rules, and as the game unfolded, I found myself loosening up just a little. Each puzzle they presented pulled me in deeper, and I began to enjoy the challenge.

Mia nudged me playfully when I solved a particularly tricky riddle, her laughter infectious. I felt a faint smile tugging at my lips, a sensation I hadn’t experienced in a while. For a brief moment, I forgot about the icy walls I had built around myself.

But as soon as I realized it, I pulled back, reverting to my usual cold demeanor. I glanced around, suddenly aware of how easily I had slipped. Ayoko sanang maging masyadong invested, ayoko sanang bigyan sila ng kapangyarihang saktan ako.

After lunch, I retreated to a quiet corner of the school library, seeking solace among the books. Gusto ko ang amoy nila, ang paraan na nag-aalok sila ng isang escape. I sank into a chair and opened a novel, letting the words absorb me. The world outside faded away as I lost myself in the story, blocking out the noise and laughter of my classmates.

Pero kahit anong gawin kong pag-iwas, hindi ko maalis ang naiisip na maaaring, just maybe, nagkamali ako sa paghusga. Baka hindi naman talaga nakakatakot ang magbukas. Pero sa ngayon, masaya na akong manatili sa aking fortress of solitude, isang tahimik na tagamasid sa mundong puno ng buhay.

I sat there in the library, lost in my thoughts, trying to escape the noise of the canteen and the overwhelming energy of my classmates. But deep down, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I was more than just Wisdom Willow, the cold girl who kept her distance. Wisdom was just a code name, a facade I wore to hide my true self—Athena Minerva Montes Montello.

Sa likod ng ngiting iyon, may mga sikreto akong dala. Ang pamilya ko, ang Montes Montello, ay may mga lihim na matagal nang itinatago. As the daughter of Cronus and Rhea, I was part of a legacy that came with its own set of expectations and mysteries. I often wondered if anyone at school had any idea about who I really was, about the burden of my lineage.

Minsan naiisip ko, anong magiging reaksyon nila kung malaman nila ang katotohanan? What if they found out that my family was not just ordinary, but entwined with something far greater and more dangerous? It made me shiver just thinking about it. I had always felt the pressure of that legacy, the need to uphold the family name while keeping our secrets hidden.

As I turned the pages of my book, I felt a pang of loneliness. Despite my cold exterior, there was a part of me that longed for connection, for someone to see past the facade. Athena was a name filled with strength and wisdom, but it also carried the weight of expectations. I had to be careful, always on guard, especially since I knew that anyone could be a threat, anyone could be looking for the Montello Montes secrets.

TO BE CONTINUED .....