Rainan stood at the edge of his bed, his hands brushing across the scattered papers, books, and random objects that had accumulated over time. He had decided to finally clean his room, a decision motivated by the overwhelming silence that filled the house. His parents had gone out for errands, leaving him alone with his thoughts. As he tidied up his belongings, his fingers skimmed over an old, familiar notebook. A slight twinge of nostalgia struck him as he recognized the notebook—his old art sketchbook.
He opened it slowly, the pages filled with rough sketches, architectural designs, and detailed drawings. It was a book filled with his dreams and aspirations as a young man. Each page held a memory of a time when he still wasn’t sure what he wanted to be, yet had a passion that was slowly taking shape. His eyes fell on a particular drawing that made his heart stir—a sketch of a grand building, a vision of what could one day be. It wasn’t the first time he’d drawn it, but it was one of the pieces that stayed with him throughout the years.
Suddenly, the sound of pages turning faded, and the memories from his school days began to flood his mind, pulling him back to a time when his path had been uncertain.
---
Flashback:
It was a bright morning in his final year of high school, and the air was thick with excitement as students prepared for their exams. Mrs. Soledad Dimaculangan, their art teacher, stood at the front of the class, her smile warm as ever. She wasn’t just any teacher; she had a quiet way of inspiring her students, of making them see beyond the ordinary. Today, she was sharing something very personal—an old sketchbook belonging to her late husband.
"These are the works of a man who taught me to see the world differently," she said, holding up the fragile, worn notebook for the class to see. The drawings within were meticulous and full of life—sketches of buildings, bridges, and architectural wonders. Each one spoke of a man who had seen beauty in structure, in the way things were built, not just physically but conceptually.
Rainan’s eyes were glued to the pages. The drawings were not just designs; they were visions of a world he had never fully considered before. He didn’t know it then, but this moment would change his life forever.
"Architecture is not just about creating spaces," Mrs. Dimaculangan had said softly, "it’s about creating stories. It’s about leaving something behind that tells the future who you were."
Her words resonated with him on a level he couldn’t explain. The clarity that followed was sudden, and undeniable. This was what he wanted. He didn’t want to just be an artist; he wanted to shape the world in a way that was lasting, meaningful.
After class, Rainan approached her hesitantly. He was unsure of how to express what was stirring inside him. Mrs. Dimaculangan, seeing the conflict in his eyes, smiled warmly and said, "If you want to pursue this, Rainan, then you should. Don’t let doubt stand in your way."
That day, Rainan made his decision. He would become an architect.
---
Rainan snapped back to the present as he ran his fingers over the old sketches. He smiled to himself, remembering that conversation and how it had solidified his career choice. He owed so much to his teacher, to her quiet encouragement that had helped him find his path.
His mother’s voice pulled him from his thoughts as she called from the kitchen, reminding him that dinner was ready. With one last glance at the notebook, he set it aside and walked to the dining room.
---
That evening, as they ate together, Rainan couldn’t help but bring up Mrs. Dimaculangan. "Mom," he began, his tone casual, "do you know if Mrs. Dimaculangan is still teaching at the school?"
His mother paused, lifting an eyebrow in curiosity. "I believe she is. She’s been there for years, hasn’t she? Why do you ask?"
"I was just thinking about her," Rainan answered, his voice trailing off. "She really helped me figure out what I wanted to do with my life."
His mother smiled knowingly, placing a bowl of rice on the table. "She always had that effect on people. You were lucky to have her as a teacher."
Rainan nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude for the woman who had unknowingly set his life in motion. "I think I’d like to visit her," he said. "See how she’s doing."
"That sounds like a lovely idea," his mother replied, her eyes soft with understanding. "She’ll be thrilled to hear from you."
---
Later that night, as Rainan lay in bed, the thought of seeing his former teacher began to feel more and more like the right thing to do. He grabbed his phone, then hesitated before texting Mikaela.
Hey, are you free tomorrow? I was thinking of visiting Mrs. Dimaculangan. Want to come with me?
He waited for a few minutes, then smiled when he received her reply. Of course! I’d love to. What time?
They agreed on meeting in the morning, and as Rainan set his phone down, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. He hadn’t seen his old teacher in years, and the idea of reconnecting with her, and with his past, felt like the perfect way to tie up a loose end in his life.
---
The next morning, Rainan stood at the front of his house, waiting for Mikaela to arrive. He had dressed casually—jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers, as he didn’t want to appear too formal. He felt a wave of anticipation rising in him as he glanced down the street, but when the car pulled up, it wasn’t Mikaela who got out.
It was Angelo.
Rainan blinked in surprise as Angelo approached, his expression unreadable. He was dressed similarly—jeans and a hoodie—looking every bit the twin of Mikaela, though with a more serious air.
"Hey," Rainan greeted, his voice hesitant. "Where’s Mikaela?"
"She can’t make it," Angelo said, his voice flat. "Something came up."
Rainan frowned slightly, unsure whether to believe him. Maybe Mikaela set this up, he thought, feeling a sense of unease. He hadn’t expected to be spending the morning with Angelo, but there was no turning back now.
They got into the car, and the drive to their old school was quiet. The tension was palpable, as if an invisible wall stood between them, neither willing to break the silence. Every now and then, Rainan would try to make small talk, but the responses were short, and the conversation never grew beyond the basics.
When they finally arrived at the school, Rainan was surprised to see that the entire campus was bustling with activity. Students were everywhere, preparing for what looked like a school fest or intramurals. The sound of laughter, music, and chatter filled the air.
As they walked through the hallways, several teachers recognized them and stopped to say hello, asking about their lives and how things were going. Rainan smiled and exchanged pleasantries, but his mind was focused on one thing: finding Mrs. Dimaculangan.
After a few moments, they finally reached the faculty room, where Mrs. Dimaculangan was sitting at her desk. When she saw them, her face lit up, and she quickly stood up to greet them.
"Rainan! Angelo! How wonderful to see you both!" she exclaimed, her warm smile lighting up the room.
Rainan returned the smile, his heart lifting. This was it—the moment he had been looking forward to.