We never began, but we're over

CHAPTER 1

Pearl’s.

I immediately rushed myself out in preparing for school. This is my first day as a Medical Technology freshman at CIC (Clarksville International College) and last night nakatulog nalang ako without even arranging my school stuffs. Inaway ko pa iyong alarm clock ko na hindi tumunog pero ako naman itong hindi nag set.

Growing up in New Zealand, I never get to experience a rush hour like this. My parents never let me have my own car, para daw matuto akong maghanap ng ways how to survive here in Philippines. But I didn't know how to board a vehicle, aside from getting used to travel with my dad, transportations here are for limited space only and jeepneys are too occupied as well. After highschool, our family driver just resigned kaya walang may maghahatid sundo sa akin.  So how?

“Miss, sakay na.” a guy who probably has the same age as mine, approached. He's wearing his school uniform as well, just by looking at it, I knew that he's studying architecture.

“Uhm, how much should I pay for this?” I bite my lower lip, nakakahiya naman kasing taga rito ako pero mukhang walang alam, hindi lang pala mukha dahil wala talaga.

“No need, I’m heading to school as well.” he politely replied. I nodded, but I was confused.

“Sa’ yo ba itong tricycle?” without deviation, I asked.

“Sa papa ko, I am not using this dahil lang sa gusto ko o ano man. Maaga akong umaalis sa bahay araw-araw para maghatid ng ibang estudyante, para kumita.” nagulat naman ako sa sagot niya, his voice sounds weak.

“Sorry, I thought this was yours.” I feel so guilty asking him that. Obviously, he's doing this to help his family or specifically just to be able to go to school. Pero sigurado akong maliit lang ang kita ng pag ba-byahe lalo pa’t estudyante ang hinahatid. I couldn't imagine how hard it is for a person like him.

“Ayos lang,” he shortly replied without taking off his gaze on the road. “siguro nagtataka ka, kung papaano ako nakakuha ng ganitong course. Ang totoo kasi niyan, I used to be a top student simula no’ng elementary hanggang high school kaya, nakakuha ako ng scholarship.” I was interested by his lifestyle, but I didn't intend to meddle naman, it just that throughout my life I was surrounded by those wealthy people dahil nga sa ibang bansa ako lumaki at umuwi lang ako ng pinas when I was in senior high school.

While I was enjoying every material things, every money na binibigay ng parents ko, hindi ako naging aware na ganito na pala ang estado ng pamumuhay ng iba.

“Thank you.” He just smiled at me, at bago paman ako umalis, may inabot akong bayad sa kaniya. Ayaw pa sana niyang tanggapin, but I insisted. Knowing that, he's living under poverty, I couldn't afford for my ride to be free at all.

Our school has a three walkways. Medical department could be found at the right corner. For architecture, engineering, at education department naman in between. Pagkatapos, ay random courses ang sa left side.

I thought I was late, buti nalang ay dumating ako 10 minutes pa before class.

“Ay beh, ang tagal mo. Usapan natin 6:30 nandito na, bakit 7 hours, 5 minutes  and 23 seconds kana dumating?” ito talagang si Venice, calculated pati oras. Ewan ko ba bakit hindi nalang accountancy ang kinuha niya.

“Hindi gumana alarm clock ko, e.” napangiwi lang ito, at nag roll eyes pa.

“Naku! huwag ako ha, kilalang-kilala kita. Alam kong hindi ka nag set ng alarm clock kaya ganiyan.” Konting-konti nalang talaga at masasapok ko ang babaeng ‘to, mahilig talaga siyang makipag argument, ano ko ba siya jowa?

“bawi nalang ako bukas, hehe.” I was controlling my temper. Pasalamat siya’t my phone battery dies faster than my patience. 

Venice Briar, was my childhood friend. We actually met noong seventh birthday ko sa New Zealand, my parents invited her family so doon kami naging close. Lumaki nga lang talaga siya dito sa Pilipinas, while I stayed at NZ.