Coffee Madness

5

Wandering around the university as a college student was my dream. I started stressing out for college when I was in 4th grade. I can't believe that I'm actually here

"Alara Clementine Ruiz" tumayo ako nang marinig ang pangalan ko sa registrar.

"Please proceed to the second floor for your ID picture taking" kinuha ko ang receipts at naglakad papuntang second floor.

Buti nalang nag concealer ako kanina at kung hindi muka akong sinapak sa mata dahil sa eyebags ko.

I got into the second floor and saw a group of people lining up sa room na may cameras sa loob. It's for the ID picture I guess.

I was still fixing my hair nung ako na pala ang p-picturan. Umupo ako sa upuan at ngumiti sa camera.

"Oh, wacky naman!" the photographer said.

Nagtaka ako pero ginawa ko pa din. Tuwang tuwa naman siya nang nag wacky ako, ano ba 'to?

"Hawak naman sa buhok, tapos medyo tingala ka kasi muka kang naninigas eh, kunyare sunkissed! Gigi Hadid!"

Excuse me? Kung hindi siya ngumiti ay iisipin ko na nananadya siya.

"Is that appropriate for an ID picture?"

"ID picture?" dalawa na kami ang nagtataka.

"Oy Mark, pre may problema ba jan?" lumapit ang isang lalaki na may camera na hawak hawak.

"JIO??" Ano ang ginagawa niya dito? Bakit siya may hawak na camera? Hindi naman siya photographer?

"Alara! Hahaha ano ginagawa mo dito? 'di ko naman alam na interesado ka maging Miss Freshmen this year?" He smirked.

Ngayon lang nag sink in sa 'kin lahat kasabay ng pag kita ko sa illustration board na naka flash bago pumasok.

'Audition for Miss Freshman 2021, now open'

Ano naman ang ginagawa ni Jio dito? Bakit ba lagi siyang lumilitaw sa pinaka nakakahiyang sitwasyon sa buhay ko?!

"Jiovanni Mendez, film major. Ikaw? Bakit ka andito? Hahaha"

Film major? Hindi halata sa kaniya. But who am I to judge? He has the looks, and obviously, he's also a social expert.

"I'm not supposed to be here, you asshole! Asan ba kasi ang ID picture taking?! Hindi pa naman ako patay pero sinalubong na kaagad ako ni Satanas!"

Natawa naman siya sa sinabi ko kaysa magalit! Hindi na ako nakikipag biruan dito ah.

Tinuro niya naman ang placard sa tapat lang mismo ng lounge nila. Tumalikod ako at hindi na muli siya nilingon. Dapat ay aware siya na kinaiinisan ko siya.

Pumasok ako sa loob at inayos ang sarili. Sana ay maayos pa ang itsura ko. Meeting Jio before taking my ID picture is definitely not a good idea! My aura right now should be good. This is my last chance to have a decent ID picture, and clearly, he ruined it.

It's not my fault for mistaking them as the ID picture booth! Who the hell sets up a whole set sa first day?

After taking my pictures, nilibot ko muna ang university at ginagawang familliar ang buildings para hindi na ako mawala.

When I saw the garden, I took a seat at one of the benches.

My Mamita loves gardening. Every morning she would water her garden as if siya ang nag luwal sa mga ito.

I loved butterflies. It reminds me of her garden. That garden, was my childhood.

One night, Mamita and I were talking and I told her how I'm not that confident to pursue law.

She told me "Bakit? kasi you're afraid that you're just wasting your youth studying law? You'd be 25 anyway. Be a 25-year-old lawyer."

I loved her words. She always reminds me to be the best version of myself.

I smiled, imagining how things would be if only she had stayed with me a bit longer.