Spotlight on Me

Chapter 1

"Good morning, Ma'am. May I ask?" I'm currently at Brentwood University, the famous school I know because of its students who are really intelligent and talented, said by the school itself. Well, I'm here to try my luck to become one.

She wrote something on her paper before looking at me, looks like she's very busy. "Oh, sure! What is it?"

"Where's room 24 located? I'm here to take the entrance exam," I said. She pointed at the huge building with a beautiful exterior.

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome, and good luck!" I just smiled and started walking.

This is really a huge and beautiful school. Ang gaganda ng mga buildings at sa main building, doon nakatatak ang logo nila na talagang maganda ang pagkaka-design. I start to imagine myself walking in the morning here, admiring the whole school while waiting for the sun to rise...

I also saw their field, their gymnasium, and building for senior high students. After seeing everything here, I can't help but to feel really amazed. Well, I guess I really underestimated this school. You can't blame me, though.

I had an encounter with some arrogant guy who's studying here. Maybe, the school is not really the problem but the students who are "intelligent" and "talented". Let's see, then.

Sa sobrang pagmamasid ko, hindi ko na namalayan na nasa harapan na pala ako ng building na pag e-examan ko.

I sighed in relief when I saw that there are only few people in here, probably the others are in their rooms right now, waiting. Inaasahan ko kasing magkakaroon ng siksikan at mahihirapan akong mahanap ang room ko sa dami ng tao.

I went to the second floor since room 24 is not located in the first floor. It's kinda embarrassing to walk because I can feel the stares of people through the window of their room.

Ayaw ko talaga ng atensyon. Hindi ko kasi alam kung ano-ano ang nasa isipan nila sa tuwing tinitignan ako, kung masama ba o ano.

I walked faster to find my room and avoid attention. Pero mukhang wala rin dito sa second floor ang room na hinahanap ko. Mukhang may kamalasan ata akong dala ngayong araw?

I sighed and calmed myself before going to the third floor. Sana naman nandoon na 'yon dahil kung hindi, uuwi na lang ako at 'di na mag-aaral. Mas masarap pang humilata, e.

And finally, pagkatapos ng ilang minutong paghahanap ko sa room na 'yon, nandito lang pala sa third floor ng building na ito at bungad pa!

I walked slowly because I know that once I got into that door, it's the end of me, there's no turning back here.

I went inside and saw a professor in front. She smiled at me and pointed at a vacant seat just beside the window at the back.

"Okay, your exam will start in 15 minutes so be ready," we just nodded.

It's 8:45 AM and the exam will start at exactly 9:00 AM. Gosh, sana naman effective 'yong ginawa kong pagrereview nang 1 month. Hindi naman halatang ready ako.

I just peeked out the window to avoid being extremely nervous. Kitang-kita rito ang field na napakalaki!

Napaisip tuloy ako kung sakali mang makapasa ako rito tapos nakagawa ako ng mali first day pa lang at ang punishment ay tumakbo ako nang ilang beses sa field na 'yan, nako!

Nakaka-dalawang takbo pa lang siguro ako, makakakita na ako ng liwanag.

"5 minutes left. I will start giving you these papers para mag a-answer na lang kayo later," Inuna niyang bigyan ang mga nasa unahan hanggang mapunta siya sa mga nasa likuran. She gave me the paper and I just thanked her.

Pwede pa kayang mag back out? 5 pages lahat ng ito at sigurado akong mahirap talaga. Nakakatamad sagutan, pwede bang isang page lang?

I opened my bag to get my ballpen. Sana naman may dalang swerte ang ballpen na 'to. Pero mas maganda siguro kung 'yung ballpen na parang nginatngat ng daga ang dinala ko para sure na pasado.

It's already 8:57 AM. 3 minutes na lang bago mag start ang exam. I started praying silently. Alam ko namang malakas ako sa langit kaya bahala na!

"Okay, you can start answering your exam now. You only have 1 hour and 30 minutes to answer that. Good luck, everyone!"

After writing my name and the date today, I immediately proceed to see the first question. Alam ko 'to!

Mukhang effective nga talaga 'yung pagrereview ko kasi halos lahat ng tanong ay mabilis ko lang nasasagutan.

Not until umabot na ako sa part na mayroong essay. Huminto na lang ako bigla at halos tawagin ko na ang lahat ng santo para lang malampasan 'to.

Pero nang makita ang tanong ay nakahinga ako nang maluwag. Hindi naman pala gano'n kahirap, OA lang ako!

I finished answering at 9:52 AM at gano'n na lang ang gulat ko nang pagtayo ko, halos lahat ng nasa room ay iniangat ang kanilang ulo para tignan ako.

Why are they looking at me like that? They are creeping the hell out of me! Kung maka tingin, parang may ginawa akong mali!

I just ignored them and walked towards the professor in front to pass my paper. "Here, Ma'am." She looked at me the way the others did. Seriously, what is their problem? Gano'n na ba ako kaganda?

"Oh, really? You're the first one to finish the exam. Congratulations! You can go outside na pala and eat if you're hungry," she said. Kaya naman pala gano'n silang lahat maka tingin! Ako lang 'to, 'no! Basic!

"Thank you, Ma'am," she nodded and smiled. I went outside with a smile plastered on my face.

Yes, I did it! At least, nakaraos na rin ako at medyo nawala na 'yung kaba ko, 'no! Pero 'di pa rin ako pwedeng mapanatag dahil hindi pa sigurado kung makakapasa nga ba ako.

But for now, hindi ko muna iisipin 'yon dahil kailangan ko pang i-treat ang sarili ko. Deserve ko naman 'yon, 'no!

"Ang aga mo, hija, ah! Sigurado akong madali lang sa 'yo ang exam, ano?" I looked at the guard who's smiling at me right now.

"Ay, hindi naman po! May part lang po na mahirap pero at least, kinaya ko naman. Sana nga, pumasa po, e," I said.

"Aba, oo naman! Ipagdadasal natin 'yan! O siya sige, ingat ka, ha!" I just smiled and thanked him.

Sana gano'n din lahat ng guard. 'Yung kalbo kasi naming guard no'ng high school, akala mo pinaglihi sa sama ng loob, e! Kaya nakakatakot na tuloy pumasok minsan.

Paglabas na paglabas ko pa lang, mga buildings na agad ang nakita ko! There are also lots of fast food chains here, kaya naman marami ka talagang pagpipilian pag uwian na.

I chose to eat at Mcdo because I'm craving for their fries and sa lahat ng fast food chains na nandito, Mcdo talaga ang pinaka malapit! Tatawid ka lang tapos ayun na.

I ordered some fries, sundae, burger, and coke. Konti lang dahil hindi naman ako masyadong gutom.

I'm just scrolling on my Instagram while waiting for my food to be served when a girl suddenly approached me.

"Hi! You're the girl who was first to finish the exam kanina, 'di ba?" She asked. Big deal na 'yon?

"Uhm, yes," I awkwardly said.

"I'm Kiara. Kiara Lopez. What's your name?" Wow, speed, ah.

"I'm Alodia. Alodia Maurisse Jimenez."

***