Chapter 5 Strengths

Chapter 5 Strengths

I feel the world has dropped me or the world is on my shoulders. I cried for nights. I don’t know why this happened to us. My mom too would not stop crying. Each time I look to the persons around me, I saw my dad. I remember how he had been good to us or to that person.

“Í won’t be coming to class for days or a week, I guess.”, I told mom. “You have to get on your senses son. Your dad don’t want to see us suffering. He don’t want to see us very affected and sad.”, mom said. Then, we embrace.

Relatives come to see the last instance of the mild face of our hero, my father. He has served well. Giving all what he got to serve our barangay. Many good stories are told about my father.

“You know when your dad was living, he helped me with work. He recommended me to my work.”, an old man said. “You know when your dad was living, he made sure that my family is eating well and good.”, a boy my age said. “Your father was a good employee. The barangay is number one in peace and harmony.”, the mayor approached and said to us. Many other people gave their last words for my dad.

The nurse who gave the rejuvenating potion also came. She told me about the ring of wish that could send me back in time to stop the incident and live another life with my dad alive. That is only found in a secret deadly forest. “I will tell you more details in the proper time.”, the nurse said. Drink this, “I know that you are the one.”

I can’t sleep. I still remember what my dad told us. To love family more than anything and to love God above all. Now, he is with God now. What the nurse said lingered in my thoughts. What if I could live a life with dad again? I guess that will be good. More than that, I could stop the Demonia. But Demonia is very strong, its members are exceptional. I have to be strong.

Food doesn’t interests me. For the whole day, I haven’t eaten any. It is quite strange but I was still strong. Perhaps because of the rejuvenating potion. I watched a game of chess and I recognized patterns. Have I become wiser too? Super strength and superior intellect, those are the things is what I aspire.

After 5 days, my father was buried. My dad is gone. What are the things that I must consider? The event strengthened our relationships. Life is short. We should treasure it, give importance and love the most we can. My dad loved us. He has no enemies. He lived a great life. Our barangay and family is at a great loss for a good man. Flowers and balloons were offered on his burial. As for me, life will be different. I will look for my passion and serve people with it.

Professors handed me the review materials and sincere sympathies for the loss. Our secretary and other students gave their time for me to understand the missed lessons.

“Which is lighter, the hydrogen or helium?”, our chemistry professor asked. We are then asked to defend our answers. The topic of our class is elements. We are given 5 minutes to write down our explanation. A couple of the students, about 12 wrote helium because they were used in balloons they thought.

“What is the hardest element and in what form?”, the next question of our professor. Again, we are given 5 minutes to explain our answers. I calmly wrote carbon in the form of diamond. On the Mohs Hardness Scale or Test, it ranks ten or the highest.

“What is the best conductor?”, a question by our professor. Five minutes were then allocated for the defense. We answered the problem and we are intrigued. “Is it silver or copper or gold or perhaps platinum?”, a thought lingered to myself.

“Which chemical element has the highest melting point and what is a common use for it?”, the professor asked. A person at the back silently mentioned tungsten and I heard it. The problem is I don’t know what is the use for it. I guess it is used in rockets.

“What is the brightest element?”, the female professor asked. We think for a while. And I recalled the gift of an inventor to my dad. A bright signage, influenced by neon lights. I confidently wrote neon. But is it the brightest?

The professor continued and asked five more question. The questions got us interested in chemistry. It is some facts that we want to study. Chemistry is one of the building blocks of Engineering. Who knows who could be working as a chemist? My first year would be very interesting.

After the last subject, I went to Department of Military Science and Tactics (DMST) office. We are scheduled for a 1 hour jogging. As I begin to tie my shoes, I thought of helium. Then, suddenly, I started to float, to fly. What has happened to me?

As I reached higher and higher, I thought of other things such as metals. Then, I started falling. “I am gonna die.”, talking to myself, “Please think of something.” I started garnering my thoughts. I have to control myself. I dropped to a lake. I lost awareness.

A fair lady took me. She brought me in her home. In the evening, I was awake. “Where am I?”, I asked the lady. “Do you recall what happened?”, “I found you without senses in the riverside.” she asked and said. “If I told you, would you believe me?”, I said. “No!”, she said. “Do you care joining me with dinner?”, she asked. We enjoyed dinner like it was our last.

“Please visit me here if you got the time.”, she said. We parted ways as I went back to my home. I firmly held her address. There is no way that I could forget her. She is Monica.