Embracing the Cold

Chapter 8

Wearing a white highwaist jean and a black crop top shirt, I'm all ready for the entrance exam. I haven't seen Bryce since that day so if given the chance, siguro ngayon kami magmemeet and I will be good to him.

Fresh start and scratch the first impressions.

"You ready, Quishanette?" Nakangiting tanong ni Andrea, she smiles genuinely. That should be another thing I should imitate. To clear things out, I will never imitate Andrea. Let's just say, she inspires me to make my good girl side comes out, alright?

"Ready," nakangiti kong sagot. Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata niya. Probably not expecting my kind answer, plus my smile. Well, road to becoming a good and soft girl? Here we go.

"O-okay.." nauutal niyang iminuwestra ang sasakyan ni Anthony na nakaparada na sa harap ng gate ng bahay. Sabay kaming lumabas ng bahay at pumasok sa backseat.

"You look so different, Quish." Nakangiting komento ni Anthony.

"How so?" Nakangiti kong tanong.

"I can feel the light atmosphere now, huh. You're just.. uh, with all smiles which you don't usually do?" Natatawa niyang paliwanag. Oh, even my cousin know me as real bad bitch. Literal. I don't smile. I don't say sorry. I'm rude.

"I think I needed some friends so, you know, I should look more friendly?" Kibit-balikat kong sagot. Half meant, anyway. I needed friends and I also want to be friends with Bryce. Fuck, that guy is really something. I can't get him out of my system.

"Twin, wag mo nang sirain." Mahinang bulong ni Andrea. Nilingon ko siya at nginitian. Napatikom ang bibig niya. I am not plastic, okay? It's just that I'm giving myself a chance to be a good girl.

Nakarating kami sa St. Isidore University just on time for the entrance exam. The school is big and wide. Well, what do you expect? Mayayaman ang mga tao dito. That's the first requirement, pera. May naka-reserve ng seat para sa amin sa isang vacant and air-conditioned room, doon kami iginiya.

"Dito po, Ma'am, Sir," anang isang babaeng staff ata or teacher. Sumunod kami sa kanya at naupo. The room is consist of, I guess, 15-20 people? I'm not sure. I'm not here to count heads. May dalawang babae na sa harapan and started talking. Ipinakita nila ang isang manipis na booklet na sasagutan namin. Matapos ipaliwanag ang lahat ay isa isa na kaming binigyan nito. 1 hour ang oras na binigay. That's okay, 50 items lang naman.

May mga items na need ng solution but I still get it right. Math, English and Filipino ata yun lahat. Well I'm confident when it comes to English and Filipino but not Math. Doon ako nahirapan kaya naman nilalagpasan ko muna ang items na may solving equations.

"10 minutes," napatingin ako sa babaeng nagsilbing proctor ngayon. Nasa 35 pa ako and paubos na ang oras. This is really getting harder. Calm down, Quish. You can do it! You can do it! Alu ko sa sarili ko.

"5 minutes," oh my this is really stressing me out. I'm not dumb bitch. Okay, enhale, exhale. Malapit na. Nakakagalit naman tong Math! Nakakawala ng poise!

"2 minutes left," anunsyo ng teacher sa harapan. Nag-iingay na ang mga tao sa room pero ako ngayon, focus sa pagsasagot like my life depends on it. 46 finally, nakuha ko ang tamang sagot! And the last three items is that easy. The problem with me is that I don't give up, kahit na mahirap ang item para sa akin, maghahanap ako ng paraan to get the correct answer. Siguro it's stressing me out because I'm competitive, I don't get content with a passing score. I want it to be perfect or atleast close to perfect score.

Naipass ko ang booklet 1 minute before the given time. Finally! Nilingon ko si Andrea and Anthony na tapos na rin, hinihintay lang ako. Nilapitan ko sila at sabay kaming lumabas ng room.