Chapter One.
Camp,
"Elle! Bilis!!" sigaw sakin ni ate.
Pupunta kami ngayon sa may San Rafael para sa taon taong youth summer camp na madalas daluhan ng young pro sa aming church.
Nagmamadali akong lumabas sa kwarto ko at bumababa na sa sala kahit hindi pa man suklay na mabuti ang aking mahabang buhok.
"Mag-ingat kayo doon. Si Elle, Riz bantayan mo ah," bilin ni Daddy.
"Yes Dad. Ako po bahala kay Elle. Pagbalik po namin mabait na yan," pabirong sabi ni ate Riz sabay halik kila Mom at Dad.
Ganoon rin ang ginawa ko. Yumakap at humalik muna kila Mommy bago sumunod sa kay ate na nasa labas na at inaayos ang aming mga dala sa SUV.
Sumakay agad ako sa sasakyan at hinintay na lang siya matapos sa pag-aayos. Makakagulo lang ako kung tutulong pa ko sa kanila nila Yaya kaya minabuti ko na lang mauna sa loob ng sasakyan.
Nang matapos si ate sa paglalagay ng gamit namin ay sumakay na rin siya sa driver seat at pinaandar na ang sasakyan.
"Fasten your seatbelt, Elle," paalala ni ate.
"Oops! I forgot, sorry."
Nalimutan ko na magseatbelt dahil sa busy kong pagsusuklay. Inayos ko agad ito bago ko sinuklay muli ang buhok.
"Are you enrolled already? You only have three weeks to spend before your classes start," she asked while driving.
It's five am in the morning kaya maluwag pa ang daanan at wala pang traffic. Our call time is at five thirty am in front of our church so basically we're early.
"Yups. I'm with Mom when I enrolled myself last Thursday," I said still busy brushing my hair.
"What strand? Dapat ay nagSTEM ka."
Here we go again. It's another series of convincing me to take the strand that I never like. They wanted me to pursue a medical field course, but I keep on declining their offer. This is not their business. It is my life decision to make and what my heart's desires are what I should follow.
"I enrolled taking TVL strand."
"Why? I told you na STEM dapat ang strand mo para sa course mo sa college." I saw her furrowed brows.
"Hindi naman ako kukuha ng course na related sa medical. HRM nga gusto ko."
"Bahala ka."
Ang aga ko na naman pong naiinis dahil sa pagpupumilit nila sa mga ganitong bagay.
I hate it when I don't have the chance to choose for myself. All my decisions and choices must be always defending their will and wants. Natawag pang sa akin 'tong katawan ko kung sila rin naman ang masusunod sa kung anong dapat mangyari sa'kin.
Minutes later we had already reached our destination. In front of our church, Pastor stood there with an evident smile on his face. Lalo na siyang natuwa nang bumaba kami ni Ate at nakita niyang kasama ako.
"Riz! Buti naman at naisama mo itong si Elle," sabi ni Pastor sabay salubong ng yakap sa ate ko.
"Oo nga po, buti na lang at sumama."
Niyakap din ako ni Pastor at agad niya kaming inanyayahan sa loob ng church habang naghihintay sa iba namin kasamahan.
Sa loob ay agad akong nilapitan ng mga kakilala namin at ibang kaclose sa young pro. Sila Kuya Chris and Ate Kaye lang ang madalas kong kausap kahit na magkakakilala naman kaming lahat dito sa church.
"Hey Elle!" bati agad ni Kuya Chris nang makita kaming papasok sa loob.
Kaagad siyang lumapit at pinisil ang pisngi ko. Niyakap ko siya nang makalapit.
"Miss you, Kuya," I said as I hugged him tightly.
"I'm glad you're coming with us. I miss you too, Elle." He whispered in the middle of our hugs.
"Ako na man Chris, namiss ko rin si Elle," singit naman ni Ate Kaye sa catch up namin ni Kuya.
Pinaubaya naman ako ni Kuya Chris kay Ate Kaye na agad ko ring niyakap.
"You know what, Elle, hindi buo ang Bible study kapag hindi ka umaattend. You should come often. We're missing you here," Ate Kaye said.
"I'll try, Ate Kaye. Minsan kasi kapag aattend si Ate Riz ng bible study, from duty s'ya. So wala akong kasama pupunta. Our parents won't allow me to go and travel by myself. Maybe when I turn eighteen."
"Sino bang hahayaan kang mag-isa. Delikado at baka manakaw ka," sabi ni ate Kaye sabay tawa.
Kumalas siya sa yakap at nagpicture kaming tatlo nila Kuya Chris, For memories daw. Tuwang-tuwa sila pareho dahil raw makakasama ako ngayong taon.
We waited until five thirty before Pastor and other part of the team gave us the direction of our destination.
It is my first time to join a youth camp. According to our itinerary, we are about to stay in San Rafael Campsite for two days. It means we are spending our weekends in San Rafael for different activities. This is exciting.
Ang alam ko ay hindi lang ang church namin ang kasama rito. May iba rin ata na from other Christian churches kaya ibig sabihin madami kaming pwedeng makasalamuha.
Nang dumating kami sa campsite ay halos ala sais y medya na ng umaga at marami na rin ang nagdadatingan delegates mula sa iba't ibang churches .
"Wag kang masyadong pasaway, Elle. I keep my eyes on you." Paalala ni Ate bago bumaba ng sasakyan.
I just nodded at my sister and continued to survey the place we are in.
Kinuha namin ang gamit namin at nakihalo na sa iba namin ka-churchmate. Si ate ay kasama ng mga kaclose n'ya while me, I'm with Kuya Chris and Ate Kaye.
"This would be fun," excited na sabi ni Kuya Chris.
"And memorable," dagdag ko.
Nag-apir kami ni Kuya Chris at sabay tawa.
"Because you're with us," sabi ni Ate Kaye sabay tawa rin at yakap nila sakin ni Kuya Chris.
The facilitators help us find our designated tents and area. Magkakasama kami ni Ate Kaye, Ate Riz and one of ate's close friend sa isang tent. Sa ganda ng view nagpaalam muna kami kay ate Riz na maglilibot lang kami ni Ate Kaye sa labas since hindi pa naman magstart. Pumayag naman siya.
Sinama namin si Kuya Chris at tinanaw namin ang magandang view sa lugar. Nagpicture kami sa tapat ng magagandang view at hindi na napansin ang ibang naroon. While taking pictures, I suddenly hit someone's shoulder.
"Sorry," sabi ko sabay hawak sa braso ng natamaan ko.
"No. No. It's okay," She said then smiled at me.
"I didn't notice you. I'm really sorry, hi I'm Elle." Pakilala ko sa kan'ya.
She's morena with short thick black hair. She's wearing faded pants and a white v-neck t-shirt paired with sandals. I can't deny her beauty even when she is only wearing plain clothes. She's stunningly beautiful. It's nice to have a friend here that's why I introduced myself.
Hindi napansin ng mga kasama ko ang nangyari kaya patuloy pa rin sila sa pagkuha ng pictures.
"Laine." Pakilala din niya sabay abot ng kamay sa akin.
Nakipag shake hands ako sa kan'ya at ngumiti rin.
"Elle. Doon tayo!" yaya ni Kuya Chris sa akin.
"Nice meeting you, Elle. See you around," sabi ni Laine habang marahan na binitawan ang kamay ko atsaka ngumiti ulit.
I politely bow my head to her before Ate Kaye gripped my hand so we can go to the place where the beautiful scenery is spotted.
After a little while exploring the place, the facilitators held a program and orient us to all the activities we are about to experience in this year's Youth Camp.
I hope and pray for an experience to remember. Sana mag-enjoy ako dahil weeks from now, magstart na ang klase ko. I will be entering a new chapter of my life in a new environment and with new people. I hope I cope up and get along with my new classmates immediately.