The Bridge Gang

How She Became What She Is Now

by Sharmaine

I came to tell a story, not of mine, but of a friend. It is not to say that I have no part in this anecdote, it is just to say that this is not about me. Go figure.

My Point Of View:

We knew it, we were in deep shit. How can we pull this off? The three of us barely know how to organize our acting. How the hell are we suppose to do the Chinese oral test?

I warily looked at my friend, Jermaine.

Sigh.

It was useless, I know. Jermaine would never speak up. She’s too shy. She has her own little world to dwell into and rarely gets in contact with other people.

Sigh.

How do I expect her to help us pull this little play off?

Argghhh…And that is when I remembered.

“You know? I really want to be an actress. That’s why I wan’t to join the Drama Guild! I love singing too! Especially the song, “Especially For You”. Someday, I will join an English singing contest and sing that song for him to see. I’ll dedicate that song for him, especially for him. I’ll prove myself to the world! Hindi lang ako isang taong tatapaktapakan. People look down on me, but someday, I’ll prove them wrong.”

I grinned stupidly and smacked her head upside down.

“Why are you hitting me?”

“Ano na gagawin natin?!”

Smack.

Maybe I’m getting a little bit too harsh on her.

“Nanay ko lang pwede sumapak sa akin noh!”

Tsssk.

“We need you to shout Jermaine. Kaya mo ba?”

“Oo, kaya ko.”

Smack.

“Oo ka nalang nang oo eh!”

Smack.

“Ano ba!!!”

“I thought you want to make it into the Drama Guild? You keep saying that one day, you’re going to prove yourself, but when will that day be? Jermaine, face it, you’re a loser, and you will be for the rest of your life!”

She opened her mouth to retort, but I wasn’t finished yet.

“UNLESS!!! Di pa ako tapos, tae. Unless, you start! You keep saying these oaths that one day nyanyanya..! Shut your trap, man! What better day to start unless you start now? You keep telling me that you will do this and do that one day, but when will that be? JERMAINE!!! Grade na natin nakadepende dito!!! I need you to shout, kaya mo ba?”

“Yes.”

Smack.

“If you don’t do this and suddenly cower like you usually do, I’ll never talk to you, ever again. Because, wala ka ring patutunguhan kung hindi mo toh gagawin. You keep dreaming of things but you don’t make an effort to make it a reality. That’s what your world is! A fantasy! You’re living in a world of lies! If you can’t prove yourself now, then what more is there to prove?”

And we were called. She did great that day, really great. I have never felt this surge of pride rush inside of me just as it had that day. I felt like a mother, seeing her child evolved into something beautiful.

Just to inform you, she wasn’t really this annoying back then, she was reserved. She doesn’t talk, and only stares off dreaming her life away. She doesn’t talk much, but now she does. She has dreams now, REAL dreams, not those lousy dreams that she had back then.

She’s now known as one of the best actors in school whenever we have oral tests. She socializes. She’s coping. She’s facing life, facing reality. She doesn’t need to rpove herself, because she already has. Now, for her new dream.

She wants to become a teacher, and we support her for that.

We love you Jermaine!