Ariston Sebastian A. Celerio thinks that studying at Montecillo University will give him peace. Well, kabaligtaran ang nangyari. Dahil nasa top list ng campus crushes, halos lahat ng babae-pati na rin ng mga lalaking pabebe-ay pinagkakaguluhan siya...
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"FINALLY, a place where peace is perfect," bulalas ni Ariston nang magmulat siya ng mata. It's been almost half a year since he last slept on that comfy bed in his room. He felt glad, he was already home in Batangas.
It's been two years since he lived separately from his parents. It was a tough decision at first. Ayaw pa nga siyang payagan ng Mama Jibelle niya na mag-aral sa Manila. But his Daddy Jude wanted him to learn how to be independent. Iyon din naman ang gusto niya. Being the eldest, bata pa lang siya ay palagi nang sinasabi ng kanyang ama na kailangang matuto siyang maging independent at madiskarte sa buhay. Kailangan niya iyon para magampanan ang responsibilidad niya sa pamilya. He must be a responsible kuya and so far, he believed he was.
Living alone in a dormitory inside the Montecillo University compound gave him the best training ground to be independent. Walang Mama Belle na halos gumagawa ng lahat para sa kanya. Wala ring Daddy Jude to the rescue kung kailangan niya ng tulong sa mga simpleng bagay. Siya ang magdedesisyon sa bawat kilos niya araw-araw. And so far, he was enjoying his independence.
Ngunit sa kabila ng lahat, he always had a heart to go back where he grew up. Iba pa rin ang kapayapaan sa sarili niyang silid sa mansion sa loob ng Arella Meat Market Corporation, ang kompanyang pagmamay-ari ng kanyang ina.
Napangiti siya nang makarinig siya ng tilaok ng manok. The sound of provincial life. He breathed. He grew up being awaken by roosters. Aminado siya, na-miss niya iyon.
"Kuya Tunton!"
Napakunot ang noo niya nang kumatok ang nakababatang kapatid. Panira minsan ng moment itong si Telai.
"Gising ka na ga, Kuya Tunton?"
Napangiwi siya. Tunton ang tawag sa kanya sa lugar na iyon mula pagkabata. Though sa school, Aris o Ariston ang tawag sa kanya, wala na siyang magawa kapag nasa bahay na siya. His parents and siblings called him Tunton ever since he was young and he couldn't change that. And yes, he didn't like it that much.
"Tulog pa ako!" pasigaw niyang tugon para asarin ang kapatid.
"Hala, echoserong tulog. Breakfast na tayo, kuya habang tulog ka. Pinatatawag ka na ni Mama," hirit nito. Sunod ka na dine sa kusina."
"'Geh! Ayusin ko laang areng higaan ko." Napatawa si Ariston.
Itinago na niya somewhere ang tonong Batangeño niya ngunit kusa pa rin iyong lumalabas kapag umuuwi siya sa lugar na iyon. Hindi naman sa hindi siya proud. Of course, he was proud being born and raised there, but living in Manila made him realized that he should practice minimizing the use of local dialect and tone.
He lazily got off the bed, folded the blanket he used, and carefully placed it along with the pillows at one side of the bed near the headrest. He opened the sliding door of the balcony and went outside. Nilanghap niya ang sariwang hangin. Yes, nasa loob ng isang malaking livestock farm facility ang bahay nila pero never siyang nakaamoy ng dumi ng hayop ro'n. His mom's company was using state-of-the-art technology that eliminated the unwanted smell.
