It was a sunny day and I was anticipating it. I don't know why but the day
was a good one. On my usual routines I began the day. I slipped on our
maroon uniform and green checkered skirt. I began to zoom in my scooter and
arrived at school. The usual hustle and bustle of the place was
overwhelming. As usual the day began with the flag ceremony. I happen to
arrive later than usual and was greeted by my classmates near the gate.
After the flag ceremony, we settled in the class room and began to wait for
our math teacher and adviser. All of a sudden, my classmates told me that
someone was at the door for me. My heart skipped a bit. It is not everyday
that I have people giving me attention of any sort and deep inside I was
flattered by their attention.
It was Rumi and Haruka by the door.
"Oi. Will you be attending the assembly during lunch? Rio asked us to remind you that." "Oh. Sure thing. I aint so busy anyway." I said. "Ok. We'll just see you then." Rumi replied as they went away.
We met by lunch. We talked about silly stuffs and about the coming campaign. Haruka decided to back out for she figured that she wasn't so into the job. Rumi decided not to as well since she was influenced by Haruka's disinterest. They were replaced by a junior C.A.T. officer and I noticed that she addressed Haruka as Ma'am but I did not take notice until the first C.A.T day arrived.
We were advised by the commandant to come in jeans and white shirt with our hair fashioned in a bun or in a hair net if it is short. Our hair must be neat, we must be clean and without cosmetics of any sort. We must come unadorned and without a whiff of cologne. We were advised to carry a white handkerchief and a mini notebook dubbed "tickler" to be able to jot down notes whenever the need arises.
The next morning at class, I was late. To my dismay, there is a new test in Calculus, the basics that we took during our summer class. I really hate math not because I'm not good at it but because it wasn't my cup of tea. I'd rather bury my nose reading geology along with a pile of rocks than solve boring and lifeless numbers on paper.
And so the day finally arrived. It was a Friday, in short, it is our military day. The classroom and the place was buzzing with liveliness as everyone tried to dress up to the required uniform as directed by the school commandant. In and out we go as we busied ourselves buying handkerchiefs, C.A.T. belts, hair net and gel. I had trouble fixing mine in that fashion so I asked my classmate who is good with fixing hair for assistance. Instead of my usual ponytail, my wavy aquamarine hair was tied up neatly in a bun. I think that I look silly in this style and suddenly I felt self-conscious of it all.
Then I was caught by surprise when my classmate told me that there is someone at the door. It was Haruka and Rumi. The two are usually together.
"Hi. What's up?" she asked and she was laughing. My classmate, Ukyo the heartthrob knew Haruka since they were also school mates greeted her. "Hi Ma'am." She teased. "Huh?" I turned to Ukyo. Then a realization hit me... "YOU are an OFFICER, too? Like Sarah and Anika?!" I asked incredulously. "Yep..I am." She grinned.
Our officer was Anika, another obnoxious girl from the pilot class section Opal. We were to address her as Ma'am Anika in respect to her position as a senior officer of the company. Our company color was fuchsia and we were to line our hair buns with ribbons of that color.
"Whenever I ask a question, you must answer me with Ma'am yes Ma'am. You can never answer in the negative. I will deduct some merit points whenever you fail to do the tasks appointed to you. Is that understood?!" Anika shouted sternly.
"Ma'am yes ma'am" we chorused though I hate to admit that I don't like answering to people who are not so credible.
"S.O.P. no. 1...do not squeal." She said in a booming voice. I looked at her loopy handwriting that she had photocopied for us..talk about megalomania.
Her spelling was incorrect, it was spelled "squill" instead of squeal. I grinned but controlled myself. My spell-checker mind's at it again. Me and my hidden evil. Nyahhahaa.
Then Mokuyo, a classmate of Anika came at the front and whispered something to her.
"Your Ma'am Mokuyo wants to announce something. She is Cadette 2nd Class Captain Mokuyo Hiromi, acting S5 of the Medic Company." Anika announced.
Mokuyo started to speak, "The Medic Company is recruiting people who wants to become a Medic, obviously. Anyone who wants to join, kindly raise your hand."
I was surprised when as if on an impulse, my hand was pointing to the heavens."
"You???" Anika exclaimed incredulously.
"The Editor in Chief wants to join the company..are you serious??"she asked me again.
"Sure." I said. I don't care if I leave my classmates anyway. I want fresher faces.
"Any more volunteers?"
"Miyou raised her hand.
"Okay. We have Miyou and Michiru." She announced.
This is going to be an exciting year.
It was Rumi and Haruka by the door.
"Oi. Will you be attending the assembly during lunch? Rio asked us to remind you that." "Oh. Sure thing. I aint so busy anyway." I said. "Ok. We'll just see you then." Rumi replied as they went away.
We met by lunch. We talked about silly stuffs and about the coming campaign. Haruka decided to back out for she figured that she wasn't so into the job. Rumi decided not to as well since she was influenced by Haruka's disinterest. They were replaced by a junior C.A.T. officer and I noticed that she addressed Haruka as Ma'am but I did not take notice until the first C.A.T day arrived.
We were advised by the commandant to come in jeans and white shirt with our hair fashioned in a bun or in a hair net if it is short. Our hair must be neat, we must be clean and without cosmetics of any sort. We must come unadorned and without a whiff of cologne. We were advised to carry a white handkerchief and a mini notebook dubbed "tickler" to be able to jot down notes whenever the need arises.
The next morning at class, I was late. To my dismay, there is a new test in Calculus, the basics that we took during our summer class. I really hate math not because I'm not good at it but because it wasn't my cup of tea. I'd rather bury my nose reading geology along with a pile of rocks than solve boring and lifeless numbers on paper.
And so the day finally arrived. It was a Friday, in short, it is our military day. The classroom and the place was buzzing with liveliness as everyone tried to dress up to the required uniform as directed by the school commandant. In and out we go as we busied ourselves buying handkerchiefs, C.A.T. belts, hair net and gel. I had trouble fixing mine in that fashion so I asked my classmate who is good with fixing hair for assistance. Instead of my usual ponytail, my wavy aquamarine hair was tied up neatly in a bun. I think that I look silly in this style and suddenly I felt self-conscious of it all.
Then I was caught by surprise when my classmate told me that there is someone at the door. It was Haruka and Rumi. The two are usually together.
"Hi. What's up?" she asked and she was laughing. My classmate, Ukyo the heartthrob knew Haruka since they were also school mates greeted her. "Hi Ma'am." She teased. "Huh?" I turned to Ukyo. Then a realization hit me... "YOU are an OFFICER, too? Like Sarah and Anika?!" I asked incredulously. "Yep..I am." She grinned.
Our officer was Anika, another obnoxious girl from the pilot class section Opal. We were to address her as Ma'am Anika in respect to her position as a senior officer of the company. Our company color was fuchsia and we were to line our hair buns with ribbons of that color.
"Whenever I ask a question, you must answer me with Ma'am yes Ma'am. You can never answer in the negative. I will deduct some merit points whenever you fail to do the tasks appointed to you. Is that understood?!" Anika shouted sternly.
"Ma'am yes ma'am" we chorused though I hate to admit that I don't like answering to people who are not so credible.
"S.O.P. no. 1...do not squeal." She said in a booming voice. I looked at her loopy handwriting that she had photocopied for us..talk about megalomania.
Her spelling was incorrect, it was spelled "squill" instead of squeal. I grinned but controlled myself. My spell-checker mind's at it again. Me and my hidden evil. Nyahhahaa.
Then Mokuyo, a classmate of Anika came at the front and whispered something to her.
"Your Ma'am Mokuyo wants to announce something. She is Cadette 2nd Class Captain Mokuyo Hiromi, acting S5 of the Medic Company." Anika announced.
Mokuyo started to speak, "The Medic Company is recruiting people who wants to become a Medic, obviously. Anyone who wants to join, kindly raise your hand."
I was surprised when as if on an impulse, my hand was pointing to the heavens."
"You???" Anika exclaimed incredulously.
"The Editor in Chief wants to join the company..are you serious??"she asked me again.
"Sure." I said. I don't care if I leave my classmates anyway. I want fresher faces.
"Any more volunteers?"
"Miyou raised her hand.
"Okay. We have Miyou and Michiru." She announced.
This is going to be an exciting year.