Walang Forever: Ang Diary ng Bitter

Chapter Three: Is This Love?

-Drei's POV-

After 8 hours of flight, at last, I'm here already. It's really my first time that my feet touched Philippine soil. I mean, though my mom is a Filipina, I didn't have any opportunity to visit Philippines.

This is a BIG PROBLEM to me - living a life in a strange place. Very strange, I should say. Well, I really don't know what came up with my Dean's mind why he chose me to be here (as an exchange student). This is a sweet nightmare. This is not happening.

I got to travel by taxi then. I was on the middle of my contemplation when my phone rang.

"Yes, ma...", my contemplation was interrupted with my mom's call.

"How are you Drei?", she worriedly said on the other line,"...how's your flight?....the school?".

Mom never failed me to feel that I'm important to her especially, when my dad left us. She took all the responsibilities and I'm so grateful to have a mom like her. I can't show it oftentimes though. 

"Still on my way", I responded in a rude manner. "Ma, I'm stuck in this place. I mean, ALONE in this place?!"

Honestly speaking, sometimes (or most of the time) I showed rudeness to her. Though sometimes, I asked myself why I am so rude? Probably, because I'm just the only child.

"Drei, if I have just the time to be with you there...", apologizing response by mom. I can see through her voice that she's worried on my condition right now.

I cut mom's statement. "Yah, I know. I have no choice." Sigh. "Mom, I need to go by now. The school is waiting for my presence."

"Enjoy the three months of staying there. Love you, Drei." I know that my mom was very worried about this stuff yet I also felt that she wanted me to be independent by means of living a life like this. I was being pampered and spoiled for years and seriously, I wanted this attitude to pop out and disappear.

"Love you too, ma", I switched off the phone with a grimy or disappointed face.

Fact?! I have to face this alone.

I have to suffer from the consequences of this problem.

That's the problem! Mom got too busy to, at least, accompany me in my flight. I tried to be independent yet THIS is different. It's my first time in this messy place. Traveling for me is fun but staying for months means isolation.

Urghh. If I could say no.

I haven't noticed that the two-hour ride on the taxi ended. We're already in front of the school where my nightmare will start. The driver handed over my packed bag.

"This is it...", I sighed to myself with less confidence and problematic aura.

When I entered the school premises, I just noticed that some of the students went out the classrooms to look at me. I mean, literally. They were staring at me. Did they know that I'm coming? I guess.

Or maybe, there's something wrong with my looks. Well, I'm on my semi formal grey coat with v-neck white shirt tacked in blended with my skinny black jeans and black leather shoes. Isn't it okay? Or maybe, I needed to learn the fashion sense of this place.

Looking at the second floor of the building, I saw some girls giggling while staring at me. Why those girls were giggling? I didn't get it. Whatever.

"Sir, let's proceed to the Guidance Office", instructed by a young teacher in a pleasing voice who approached me. The young teacher was telling me about something yet I was not paying attention. I was just not interested. Who cares?

I followed her towards the corridor, passed by the lobby before we reached the guidance office.

"Have a sit Mr...", greeted by the guidance counselor while trying to reach my hand for a shake hand.

I sat and studied the cozy office before I paid attention to her.

"Mr. Foster...", I received her generosity of shaking her hand.

"Complete name please Mr. Foster".

I know that she's holding her temper towards me. Towards my insensitivity perhaps. I can't blame myself. I know nothing about my mom's culture.

"Andrie John Natividad Foster, 17, from London". I introduced myself with my British accent. There you have it. She asked only about my full name. Well, like I said, I wasn't paying attention.

"Mr. Foster, welcome to Integrated High School for Excellence. As our exchange student from London, you are our responsibility." She said while pulling out a folder from her desk. "According to the letter given by your dean, you will be staying here for three months. Within your staying period, you will study our culture and basically Filipino teenagers' behavior which I think will be difficult for you".

"Actually, that's my problem. I have no idea of your culture though my mom's a Filipino", I answered in a sarcastic way.

"In that case, I will assign you to a student guide. She will accompany you throughout the three-month period".

This time, I paid my full attention to the guidance counselor when the door opened. Another teacher came together with a female student.

"Oh, heto na pala sila", the guidance counselor said.

When I saw them especially the student with her, time suddenly stopped when I saw her. Is the world stopped turning? My heart beats so fast. It was my first time to feel that kind of eeriness. I can't explain what I felt. Damn, she's so beautiful in my eyes. I focused looking at every detail of her face that I didn't notice her hand extending to have a shake hand with me.

"Hi, I'm Angie". She smiled. "...and you're".    

Her smile almost killed me.

Is this LOVE?