"What time is it?" My father said. I Just look at him, having no plans in responding.
"It's already three in the morning, ngayon ka lang uuwi? Do you really want me to cut your allowance, ha? Is this your form of rebellion?" He angrily said. His voice echoed in our living room.
"Gavin, bukas na yan. Anak, go to your room." It was mom. I just walk away without saying a thing. I heard them talking, dad's still mad. I entered my room and hurriedly jump in my bed. Who am I? I asked myself. I let a deep sigh escaped, I closed my eyes afterwards.
6:00am. I woke up because of the loud noise from my alarm clock. I'm still sleepy ngunit pinili ko nang tumayo at magpunta sa banyo para gawin ang mga dapat kong gawin. After an hour, I'm already riding my car. It's my first time going to my new school, Aster University.
'He must be a transferee?'
'He's cute! Oh my g!'
'What? In the middle of the semester?'
Heard them murmuring. Probably about me. Well yes, I'm a transferee, and I was admitted in the middle of the academic semester. I walked in the hallway, going to Teacher's office. I knocked at the door before opening it.
"You're late. In your first day." He said. I bet he's a teacher. He's wearing a white long sleeve paired with black pants and black shoes. Too formal.
"I just wanted to inform you that being late is not permitted in this university." I just looked at him and not saying anything. "I am Professor Lucas Villareal, Head of this Faculty. I'm giving you a warning young man. Go to Building 3, room 304 - Section 1A." He said. I just nodded.
"Good afternoon." I greeted.
"Yes?" She said. As I've observe, she's a professor.
"Is this Section 1A?" I asked.
"Oh you are the transferee." I nodded. Tinawag nya ang atensyon ng mga studyante sa loob ng kwarto. Ugh, how I hate being the center of attention. They were all looking at me, well, new face.
"Listen, class. You have a new classmate. Young man, introduce yourself please." She said.
"I'm Nox Eros Cervamontes." I said.
"Yun na ba yon?"
"Hala ang cute."
"He's definitely my type."
"That's all?"
Heard them talking, some are smiling. I guess they didn't expect a short introduction. I really don't care though.
"Is that all, Nox?" Our Professor asked and I nodded. "I see. You must be a man of few words. Very well, sit on that chair, beside Ms. Smith, the one wearing a black sweater." She said.
Habang naglalakad ako patungo sa upuan ay ramdam kong lahat parin sila nakatingin sa akin. May ilan na naka-nganga, ang ilan naman ay poker face, some are smiling. Nang makaupo ako ay rinig ko pa rin ang mga bulong-bulungan nila. Saying that I'm too handsome, cute and such. I hate attention wtf.
When our class discussion ended, someone approached me. He's tall, probably same height as mine. Wearing an eye glasses, not a nerdy type, more of a stylish spectacles.
"Hey, Nox." He said, I just stare at him. "Look at this boy, trying to act cool. Well, I'm Kairon Alarie, Head of Literary club." He said.
"Why did you transfer here? Saka nasa gitna palang kami ng semester, kailangan mo tuloy habulin yung mga naunang activities and such." patuloy parin sya sa pagsasalita ngunit di ko na siya pinakinggan. I wore my earphone, trying to focus on the music and not on the noise from our room.
Lunch break. I entered the cafeteria, there are so many students. I can't even see the stall for foods. I ordered two tuna sandwich and one can of soda. I'm not hungry though...I'm eating my sandwich when someone sat in front of me. I looked at him, he's the boy in our room earlier, the one who approched me. What is his name again?
"Hey, can I sit here?" He asked.
"Nakaupo kana." He just chuckled. Habang kumakain ay patuloy siya sa pagkukwento.
"Do you write? If you wanted, I can add you sa club. We're currently finding writers for our university." Napakad-daldal. Ani ko sa isip ko.
Pagkatapos kumain ay tumayo agad ako at naglakad na palabas ng cafeteria. "Tignan mo 'to! Hoy teka, hintay!" He shouted. I look at him with a bored face. This man is completely insane.
He hurriedly ran papunta sa pwesto ko. Pabalik na kami sa kwarto, ngunit heto pa rin sya at dumadaldal. It's kinda irritating actually. "Hindi ka ba marunong magsalita? Ang dami ko ng sinabi pero wala man lang akong narinig kahit isang salita mula sayo." He said.
"Did I told you to approach me or talk to me?" I asked.
"Hindi, hehe." Sabi nya habang nagkakamot ng batok, wearing his shy smile.
"See." I replied. Tinuloy ko ang paglalakad ko papasok ng kwarto.
'Aish, this boy is much colder than ice.' Heard him talking to himself.
Another professor entered our room. The sound of her stilettos echoed in our cemented floor. "Good Afternoon 1A." They greeted back. Yes, they did and I didn't. "As for the transferee, I met your brother earlier." She said nicely.
'Woah, he has a brother?'
'Sino kayang mas gwapo sa kanila? Hihi'
'I heard matalino daw yung kapatid ni Nox.'
Seems like they cannot shut their mouth, I really hate being the talk of the town..."By the way, I am your Understanding the Self Professor. My name is Arabella Salvatore. You can call me Ms. Ara." She said, I just nodded as my response.
"Class, for today's discussion, we will try to do a psychological test called 'The Empty Chair Technique'. All you need to do is to imagine that there's an empty chair in front of you."
"Think na yung nasa harap mo ay ikaw 10 years from now. You guys are professionals, try to talk to them and say everything you wanted to say. I don't need to hear it, say it through your mind. The goal of this activity is to show you how your dreams can make you happy in the future. That no matter how hard it is right now for everyone, your dreams will set as your fuel. Remember that all the hardships you have right now is an investment in order to achieve what you wanted. Go now and do it. You have 30 minutes for this activity. After that, as your assignment, you are tasked to write an essay about your experience in this activity." She smiled. Our professor is really jolly.
They started closing their eyes as if they were imagining it. Mostly are smiling while me, asking myself why am I even here? It's like I'm being drowned in the sea of their dreams.
They know what they wanted, they know their goal. While me, I don't even know who I really am. A deep sigh escaped...
"Nox, why aren't you closing your eyes?" Ms. Ara asked.
The thought of them closing their eyes and seeing different colors makes me feel envious. I started closing my eyes, unlike them, I see nothing but darkness.
BINABASA MO ANG
That One Real Smile
RandomA story about friendship, bravery, courage, dreams, hope and life. Desperate for his father's attention and support, Nox blamed his father for what happened to him. Until he met a girl named Athenna who taught him how to forgive and how to love. He...
