Fidelity

1st

Good News

Making friends hasn't been easy to me ever since. Miski nung pre-school at kindergarten. Mailap sakin ang mga kaklase pati na ang iba pang nakakasalamuha. They're often taken aback by my background.

"Congressman ang Daddy mo?" singhap ni Shiela na katabi ko noong nursery.

Mas lalo lamang nanlaki ang mata niya nang kumpirmahin ko iyon. My Dad has been in politics ever since. Bago pa man mahalal sa kasalukuyang posisyon ay umupo na ito bilang punong-lungsod. He's been re-elected as a Mayor for two consecutive terms before. My Mom, on the other hand, handles  an engineering firm. It's been a long-time business founded by my grandparents.

Napalunok siya bago umayos ng upo. "Mine's a lawyer. He buys me a lot of stuff all the time. In fact, he just got me an iPad. Let's play at your place sometimes so I can bring it with me and share with you!"

Her voice was filled with excitement and enthusiasm. Nagniningning pa ang mga mata. Hindi na bago sakin ang ganitong reaksyon. Ganito madalas ang nakukuha ko tuwing napag-uusapan ang pamilya. People seem so eager to get close to me right after.

"I have one at home din naman," tukoy ko sa iPad dahil meron din naman ako sa bahay. Hindi niya na kailangang dalhin ang kanya upang ipahiram.

Natigilan siya at napangiwi. Ngunit agad ding nakabawi at binalik ang ngiti.

"That's great then. Pareho pala tayo. How about we eat together later during recess? I know this food stall that sells really good pizza!"

My thoughts halted at what she said as an appetizing image flashed in my mind. Bago pa tuluyang matakam ay pinilig ko na ang ulo.

"I only eat healthy foods eh. Hindi ako mahilig sa pizza that much. It's too greasy,"

Bukod sa mahigpit ang paalala ni Mommy na lumayo sa mga ganoong pagkain ay hirap din ako sa dance at swimming lessons tuwing nakakakain dahil mabigat iyon sa tyan. That's why I must never give into temptation no matter what.

Natunghayan ko kung paano tuluyang napawi ang ngiti sa mukha ni Sheila. Napangiwi pa siyang muli bago ako tinigilan. I don't know why but Sheila never spoke to me ever again after that small talk in our first day of class.

It such a dismay since she happens to be the friendliest person in class. Lahat ay nakakausap niya. Well, maliban na sa akin. And before I even know it, everyone seems distant from me already. I sort of became an outcast.

Well, wala naman akong pakialam. I enjoy my own company. I don't need anyone else to make me feel whole.

If anything, I rather feel bad for them. Wala silang kaibigang tulad ko. It's their loss not mine.

I don't know if it was mere intimidation towards my social status or simply the way I talk that got people wary of me even as I grow older. I'm also aware that I'm often stereotyped as a spoiled brat so it can be that too.

Panahon na mismo ang sumanay sakin sa pag-iisa. Dala ko iyon hanggang grade school at maging sa pag-transfer sa UA&P. I got too used to being friendless that the sight of solid friendships actually amuses me.

"Davion, Adea, papers nyo?" our class secretary approached the two.

PE ang sunod naming subject at hindi ko maalis ang tingin sa dalawa habang naghahanda ang lahat. Plano ko kasing ibalik doon sa Davion ang pinahiram na solution paper sa Kumon noong isang araw.

"Pinasa na ni Elcid." yung Adea ang sumagot.

Sa tinagal-tagal ko sa klaseng ito ay ngayon lang ako naglaan ng atensyon sa kaklase. I noticed that the girl and boy from my Kumon are in the same circle of friends. In fact, their group is pretty popular here in UA&P. I found out that they all grew up in the same neighborhood. Apparently, pare-pareho silang nakatira sa Calle Nueva.