Hatsukoi

Chapter 21:

“Nakapag-desisyon ka na ba kung sa’n ka mag-aaral ng kolehiyo, Leni?” tanong ni Lourdes sa kaniyang anak. The Gerona family is currently having their dinner when that question came out of Salvacion’s mouth, saglit pang napaisip si Leni habang siya sa ngumunguya ng ngayon ay kinakain nilang carbonara na kanilang hapunan.

“Hindi pa po, actually.” Tugon ng dalaga sa kaniyang ina. More or less, she hasn’t been able to decide on behalf of herself because it was her parents who got her enrolled in Epiphany Christian Academy in the first place. She just depends her decision on on someone’s.

“’Di ba dapat tinatanong na sa inyo pagyari ng midterms ninyo kung magi-stay kayo for Epiphany Christian Colleges or lilipat kayo ng school?” banat muli ni Salvacion.

“I can decide naman po, ’Ma, but I’m too busy preparing for the divisional track meet on Sunday.” Tugon naman ni Leni, dito na sumabad ang kaniyang amang si Antonio.

“Tama nga naman ang anak natin. Last year, ’di ako nakapunta dahil napakarami kong trabaho no’n, pero ngayong taon makakapanood na ’ko. I’ll cheer you up.” Ngiti nito, but Salvacion insisted to let Leni lead her decision on choosing a school for her college studies.

“Kung sa school kaya ng ate mo ikaw mag-aral?” putol ni Salvacion sa patutunguhan ni Antonio. She looked at Lourdes and by look, she told her that she wanted Lourdes to speak up.

“Ay oo, maganda sa school ko, Bunso.” Lourdes persuaded, she ate her carbonara after she spoke.

“You mean in Saint Louis University Mary Heights Campus sa Baguio?Maganda ba ’don?” Leni asked again to clarify her option.

“Naman! Pipiliin ko ba ’don kung ’di maganda? Saka malaki ang focus ng school sa clubs and activities at competitive rin sila in terms of intellect. Palakaibigan din ’yong nga tao ’don.” Muling Tugon ni Lourdes.

“Subukan mo ’don, I think it will be great for you.” Lourdes recommended, saglit pang napaisip ni Leni at kalaunan ay sumagot nga siya sa rekomendasyon ng kaniyang ate.

“I think maganda naman ’don, pero ang layo eh!” panghihinayang niya.

“Kung bumalik na lang kaya tayo sa Baguio, ’Pa? Total ’don ka na rin naman po next na madidistino sa trabaho mo, why don’t we move back there? ’Di po ba?” Kay Antonio naman ngayon naitapon ang rekomendasyon at desisyon.

“I’m actually thinking the same thing, pero hindi ko pa alam kung matutuloy tayo dahil ’di pa rin naman naglabas ng official statement ang boss ko eh.” Ngisi naman nito.

“Yeah, and living close to my school would be convenient for me though.” Napahagikgik naman si Lourdes, saglit pa ay pinutol ni Leni ang kanilang pag-uusap.

“Kukuha pa po ako, kagutom eh.” She stood on her seat and she went to their kitchen.

***

Hapong-hapo si Sara habang patuloy ang kaniyang pagtakbo paikot sa oval ng kanilang eskuwelahan, it was in the middle of the night and a few people—mostly from the track and field club, are there. Sasapit na Ang alas otso ng gabi ngunit nanatili pa rin sila roon upang mag-ensayo pa sa kanilang laban.

Epiphany Christian Academy was open for twenty-four hours but is exclusively for students only. Also, the rooms are locked together with the office, library, and laboratories except for the cafeteria. Lights are everywhere to not keep the tracks dark so that the track team can easily practice their run.

Back then, Sara didn’t win any awards when she ran in the track meet. Leni and Kiko was the school’s only hope that time because there’s no one else in the track club other than Pia, Leni, Cynthia, Kiko, Koko, and her. All of them either got into third place or fourth, or dragged down on the top 5. Unfortunately, Sara and Koko were the ones that didn’t earn a place.