A typical Friday afternoon back when I was in 11th grade, we were given a task which I have expected because we’re a HUMSS student but I have never picture out that I will once encounter such task too soon. In the last phase of midterms, our Social Science teacher told us that we’ll have an encounter with the residents of the rehabilitation center she’s working at. The dreadful feeling was in me because of the thought that we’ll meet them face-to-face. It was like my mind pumping some negative thoughts but as possible as I can, I made my anxious thoughts inconspicuous. A mask of happiness was covered in me for them not to notice how nervous am I as we planned on what to do during our visit.
It’s kind of breathtaking for me to involve myself in such a thing like helping them make a plan on what to do for almost every week before the scheduled date. I just made my mind empty and think of the positive things such as experiencing this will be an exciting and fun one. Thankfully, the planning became smooth though we sacrificed almost half of our daily expenses as we decided to make games and prizes for them.
After a long waiting process, the day has come. The same day where my mind and heart wanted to come out. Also the same day, I wore that mask again.
Our class gathered at the school. Going on to that place, we were all packed and ready to depart. On our way, inside the van, I saw everyone's eyes twinkling of genuine happiness. I convinced myself to hide all the nervous and fearful thoughts to make them feel I am one of them. When we reached the place, my eyes roamed around and noticed how silent and far from everything it is that made me think it’s haunted. You could only see the feet tall trees outside. The place is also surrounded by the thick high walls and a huge gate where the security is. We successfully passed the security after we were examined carefully.
As we walk inside, my thought about it being haunted changed. I saw the beauty of it as we passed to their visiting area but no one was there. We were told that the residents where often got visited by their families either because it is way too far or something came up on the day of the visit. As we were told, I felt my heart pounds a little. And when we were in their small activity area, we saw some people locked in the small rooms watching us as we passed by. I felt my heart pounds again.
My heart and mind became intense when we gathered in the activity area and so the residents who will participate. We felt their warm welcome to us even with their small gestures but still, I am convincing myself to express my happiness as we go on. We started with a prayer, introduction of ourselves by our nicknames with the word “Ate” or “Kuya” as we were told by our teacher, motivational spoken word poetry presented by Joana and taught them our most favorite dance, the “baby shark dance”. Our long introduction made them more excited to the following ones as their eyes looked at us happily. About 50-70 residents were chosen to participate in our mini activity. My eyes roamed around and I saw that they do not look like someone who is recovering from drugs but they do look like the same as they wore the same uniform that even if the richest person is among them, he can’t be easily noticed.
The games were all packed and everyone joyfully participated every game we prepared. We instructed them what to do and not to do during the game and they followed it. Some bad things that might happen flashed to my mind but thankfully, nothing bad happen during our stay. In every game, I saw the sincere happiness they were feeling. Unconsciously, my mask slowly dissolved after what I have seen in the resident's eyes. I unnoticeably felt more at ease and happiness and strange sadness went in.
The whole day came to an end. Before we leave, we gave them out the simple prizes and they seemed happy to the small things we got them and some residents stood up on stage and told us their deepest gratitude about us giving them our little yet precious and meaningful time. We left the place without me wearing my mask anymore instead my true emotions about what happened the whole day came out and all the anxious feeling went off. I am happy that they had fun with us and I was sad that we needed to part ways because there was a part of me that wanted to stay in that place for a little more time.
The day ended giving me a rollercoaster kind of emotions.
