"See you later ate Jane."
     "See you later ate Nic."
     "See you later ate Robin."
Napangiti ako habang sabay-sabay silang nagpaalam sa akin bago bumaba ng kotse. Isa-isa naman silang humalik sa akin sa pisngi.
     "Remember what I told you earlier, okay?And Lourd, behave inside the classroom."
Magsasalita pa sana ito nang pinandilatan ko siya ng mata. Makuha ka sa tingin, ika nga nila. He's a boy, I literally meant 'boy'. He's quite naughty sometimes, but I know he will not do something that may hurt him or disappoint me.
     "You take care ate." Paalam ni Love.
I just smiled and started the engine. I glanced at my watch.
7:10 a.m.
I only have twenty minutes before the first subject starts. Sapat lang ang bilis sa pagpapatakbo ng kotse ko baka madisgrasya pa ako kung bibilisan ko. I hope I can make it. I think it's only a ten-minute drive to Hancock University.
Narating ko ang parking lot ng HU ng eksaktong 7:20. Dali-dali akong lumabas ng kotse at naglakad ng mabilis. Naghahabol ako ng oras baka malate pa ako sa unang araw ko sa klase and I didn't want that to happen.
Sa pagmamadali ko ay muntik na akong masagasaan ng kotse--- oh scratch the word 'kotse' because it's not just a car, it's a sports car, a Ferrari to be exact. Seriously, sports car in the university. Yayamanin nga naman talaga ng mga students dito.
Balak ko pa sanang pagsabihan 'yung driver ng Ferrari but I have no time for that, malelate ako and I think I'm okay. Hindi naman ako nasaktan, nagulat lang ako nang may rumaragasang kotse papunta sa akin. Thank goodness, my reflexes were fast, so I didn't get the slightest scratch.
Nagsimula na akong maglakad papunta sa loob ng HU.
Damn! I didn't know na mahirap pala hanapin itong room ko.
Lakad-takbo na ang ginagawa ko para makahabol sa oras but I think I'm not going to make it. Isang minuto nalang ang natitira pero nasa hallway pa rin ako.
     "Room 46. Room 46. Where are you?" I whispered to myself.
Hindi ako tumigil kakahanap hanggang sa makita ko na ang designated room ko. Mabilis ang pagtibok ng puso ko dahil sa kaba tapos hinihingal pa ako.
Huminga akong malalim bago ako kumatok. Ramdam kong pinagpapawisan ang mga kamay ko.
I hate this day. Sana pala naisipan kong i-explore itong university. Nahirapan tuloy ako sa kakahanap ng room ko.
     "Come in." Rinig kong sabi mula sa loob. Mas lalo kong naramdaman ang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko nang dahan-dahan kong buksan ang pinto. "You're 1 minute late."
Napaigtad ako sa gulat ng marinig ang malayelong tinig na iyon. What should I do? I can't think properly.
     "Are you mute or what? And please, look at me when I'm talking to you."
I could feel the irritation in her voice. She's strict! But I chose to look at her. Dahan-dahan kong inangat ang tingin ko sa kanya.
Napansin ko ang pagkagulat niya dahil sa akin or namamalikmata lang ako.
Hindi ko akalain na bata pa pala ang prof ko. She's taller than me, idagdag mo pa na naka-heels siya.
    "I'm..." Napapiyok ako. "I'm sorry Ma'am, I was late. Transferee po ako."
I thought they were going to laugh at me, but there was none. Everyone is serious and is lookin directly at me.
     "Okay, I'll let you get away with being late today just because you are a transferee. Give me a 1/4 index card with your name written on it. And introduce yourself; stating what school you are from and how young you are."
Kinabahan ako lalo. Do I need to talk in front of these people? Naglakad ako papunta sa harap and everyone's eyes are staring at me and their attention is on me.
     "Are you just standing there all day? Or you'll start talking?" She said in an icy voice.
     "Y-yes Ma'am. I'm s-sorry po." Huminga ako ng malalim bago nagsalita. "H-Hi! Ahm.. Nico Robin Jane Alexander is my name. I'm from Stanford University and am 22 years of age."
     "Stanford University? Isn't that a prestigious school? Why did you transfer here to Hancock University?"
Tumingin ako sa prof ko at tinignan ko siya ng seryoso. I'm sorry but I can't let anyone know about me.
     "I'm sorry Ma'am but it's a private matter. I can't tell you why."
Sinuri niya ako kung nagsasabi ba ako ng totoo o hindi. Nakipagtitigan din ako dahil ayaw ko rin namang magpatalo. Pero siya ang unang nag-iwas ng tingin.
Okay? What was that?
      "Okay, I understand. You can take a seat now." I was about to walk away when she called for my attention. "Oh you, the transferee," so I turned my back to face her again. "You didn't know me yet. I am Professor Boa, or just me Miss Boa, whichever you prefer between the two."
I nodded in response and replied, "yes, professor."
Bago ako naglakad papunta sa likuran kung saan may bakanteng upuan doon malapit sa bintana. I'm not a loner person. I'm just not fond of talking to other people because I'm not friendly. Pero dalawa lang naman ang kinikilala kong kaibigan sa buong buhay ko.
Yes, I have two best friends. They're not here in HU because I was separated from them when we lost our parents. For the sake of my siblings, I don't have a choice but to move to another university. They understood my situation, and they always supported me. I'm lucky to have them. And as for the change, I'll always support them in everything that will make them happy.
Napaigtad ako sa biglaang pagpalo ng stick ng professor ko. Wala naman akong napansin na may hawak siyang stick kanina. So bakit nagkaroon siya nyan?
Maaga akong mamamatay sa gulat nito.
     "Miss Alexander,"
Napaangat ang tingin ko. Seryoso siyang nakatingin sa akin na parang may ginagawa akong hindi niya gusto.
     "Miss Alexander, are you with us? Late ka na nga kanina tapos hindi ka pa nakikinig ngayon sa klase ko. You're not interested in my subject, are you? If you don't want to listen, get out because I won't tolerate a student like you."
Napanganga ako sa sinabi niya.
     "I'm sorry Ma'am, pero nakikinig po ako sa inyo simula kanina when you started talking in front." I lied.
Alam kong hindi ako nakikinig pero I never thought na magtuturo pala siya. First-day palang kasi ng klase.
     "Really?" Tumaas ang kilay niya. Kahit na kinakabahan ako ay hindi ko magawang alisin ang tingin ko sa kanya. I don't know, its like she's hypnotizing me. "Okay then, answer this."
~*~
Grabe yung kaba ko kanina. Hindi ko alam na may ipapasagot siya sa akin na equation. Thank God, and I always do an advance reading before the class starts, kaya nasagutan ko 'yun kahit papaano.
May one hour vacant ako ngayon then after that, I have three more subjects to go, and I have only twenty minutes before my next class. I'm here inside the library, taking some notes and theories about the contemporary world, which will be my next class.
I'm busy reading and taking notes when someone disturbs me makes me stop what I'm doing.
     "Hi. Is this seat taken?"
Tumingin lang ako saglit sa kanya at binalik din agad sa libro before answering him blankly. I know him; he's one of my classmates.
     "No."
     "Pwede makiupo sa tabi mo?" Nagpaalam pa siya kung nakaupo na rin naman siya.
     "You were good earlier, but I thought you couldn't answer the question that was given by Miss Boa. You know, kaka-start lang ng klase tapos yung tinanong niya pa ay hindi pa niya natuturo, and that was Math."
He's so noisy. I can't focus on what I'm doing. Didn't he know that I was busy and that I wanted a silent atmosphere? Ganyan ba talaga siya? Isn't it obvious that I don't want him to talk? I shouldn't let him sit next to me in the first place, so he wouldn't bother me.
     "... If you are interested in going out with me, I'm free, basta't ikaw."
Darn! That's it. I can't take this anymore. If he doesn't want to leave, I'll leave. Niligpit ko na ang mga gamit ko at pinasok na sa aking bag. Isinukbit ko na ang bag ko nang may humawak sa laylayan nito.
     "Hey! Where are you going?" He asked curiously.
     "Oh please, just mind your own business. And I'm not interested in you, not in everyone, because I'm content with my life. Leave me alone."
Naglakad na ako nang may nakalimutan akong gamit. Damn it! I returned to the table, but I saw the guy's smiling face, like he had won a lottery and I shook my head in disgust.
      "You've changed your mind." He smiled widely.
I want to punch his face to erase that fucking smile from him. But I don't need it. Simple words of rejection can hurt his feelings.
     "I forgot something. Don't assume too much; you may even die." Nakita ko ang libro na naiwanan ko at hinarap ang lalaking ginatungan ang init ng ulo ko. "And oh, it's Maths, not Math. You say Mathematics, not Mathematic. Try mo magbasa minsan nang malaman mo."
Nawala ang ngiti niya. It suits him just right. Pero may narinig akong tumawa sa may tabi ng table ko.
Lumingon ako sa kanan at nakita ang professor ko na may kasamang iba na natatawang nakatingin sa amin. Mas lalo akong nawalan ng ganang pumasok ngayon dahil nandito yung dalawang nagpainit ng ulo ko. I want to go home and rest. Saglit ko lang silang tiningnan at umalis na agad dun.
I want to end this day.
Ate Robin! Ate Robin! Ate Robin!
Nagulat ako ng nagvibrate at tumunog ang phone ko. Nag-iba na naman ang ringtone ng phone ko, and I think I know who changed it.
That little brat!
I answered the phone immediately when I saw the caller ID.
     "Ate Robin!"
Nailayo ko ang phone ko sa tenga. Ang lakas ng boses niya.
     "Babe, don't shout. I can hear you. Okay?"
      "Sorry ate, I just want you to know that we have no classes today."
I felt that she was very happy.
      "Oh really? And why is that? You want me to call Mang Samuel to fetch you there."
      "No. No ate Robin, I'll stay here and wait for you. Kasi... I checked your schedule today and I saw that your class is until noon, right?"
I can't help but smile. Lalo na kapag naiisip ko kung ano ang mukha niya ngayon. Goodness!
      "Oh ghad! Baby.."
      "Why ate, you forgot your schedule today, didn't you?"
She's acting like my older sister.
      "Of course not, babe. I'm just imagining your cute little face. That's why."
     "Oh. I want to talk to you more, but I think it's already time for your next class. Bye ate, I love you so much."
      "Yeah, I'll see you later, okay? I love you more." Kinikilig kong sabi. "I'll hang up the phone now."
Binaba ko ang tawag na may malaking ngiti sa labi. See? I don't need other people to make me smile because I know that I am content with my life.
My siblings are my life. They're my everything. I love them so much more than I love myself. And I promise at my parents' grave that I will take good care of them and never leave them.