Story of a Chapter

Ika-anim na Pahina

The first day of tenth grade was vastly different from the first day of ninth grade. And in that whole school year, ang dami kong natutunan. It was the time where I had my greatest character development; the starting point of when I became tougher, wiser, and braver. I didn't know that it would become such a pivotal time in my life as it gave me new experiences to explore and learn from. Kaya nang maganap ang moving up, I surprised the school with my cry. Years of studying in my alma mater, I never once teared up. I became a different person than who I was at the start of being a tenth grader.

Labis ang inis ko sa unang araw pa lang ng pasukan. Kasalukuyan kong sinusuri ang papel na nakadikit sa labas ng classroom kung saan ako nakalagay. Meaning, sa section na ito ako mapapabilang. Pang-limang basa ko na 'to sa listahan ng mga pangalan ngunit hindi ko makita ang dapat na narito.

"Tama na 'yan, Ash." Zirren sighed and pulled me away from the list. Nakasimangot naman ako na tumingin sa kaniya.

"Hindi tayo classmates." I can't help but whine. Nakakainis. Gusto kong sigawan ang mundo. Kaya pala hindi masyadong madami ang tao sa pagbukas ng enrollment kung noon naman ay nag-uunahan ang lahat. Iniba nila ang patakaran.

Before, it's first come first served. Pipili ka lang ng gusto mong maging adviser at mapapabilang ka roon sa susunod na school year. Kaya para hindi ka maubusan ng slot ay dapat una pa lang, mas mabuting mag enroll na. Yet, I just came to know that the teachers' students will vary from their draw. Nakalista lang daw sa papel ang pangalan namin at kung sino ang makakakuha sa pangalan mo, roon ka mapupunta.

Naging mapungay ang mga mata ni Zirren. "I also want us to be classmates but that's not the case, right?" naglabas ito ng isang pilit na ngiti, to lift me up. "You'll do well. Magkikita pa naman tayo tuwing lunch. Ihahatid pa rin naman kita pauwi."

"You seem so composed," puna ko na tinaasan siya ng isang kilay.

Before he could speak, a teacher suddenly burst through the hallway, shouting at how the students who were still outside should go to their respective classrooms already. I motioned Zirren to go since nasa tapat naman na ako ng classroom ko. I watched him as he reached his destination, away from me.

And for the first time, the first day of school made me fear for what's about to come in the following days. Pumasok ako sa loob ng silid-aralan na mabilis ang tibok ng puso. Kasabay ko ang karamihan na magiging kaklase ko. Unlike the past few years, mas napili kong umupo sa second row first seat rather than the first row.

I gazed at the floor with pouty lips and furrowed brows, like it's done something terrible to me. Hindi maganda ang pakiramdam ko umagang-umaga pa lang. Una, hindi ko kaklase si Zirren. Pangalawa, kasama ko sa room na ito ang taong may utang na loob ako. At panghuli, naging kaklase ko si Kobe, iyong matagal nang may gusto sa akin. He's seated across from me, but he's still too close. Lalo na at ramdam ko ang titig niya sa akin kaya mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko.

Lumingon ako sa aking kanan para hagipin ang nanunusok niyang mga titig na ikinagulat naman niya. He frantically looked everywhere but me. Naawa naman ako kasi parang mahihimatay na siya kaya iniwas ko ang tingin. Hindi na siya tumitig sa akin pagkatapos no'n, nahihiya yata. It was also bad for me to put my frustration towards him.

It took me several weeks to finally accept of how things are going. Nakakasama ko naman si Zirren pagkatapos ng klase. Kinakaya ko ang panunukso nila kay Kobe sa akin. Natitiis ko rin ang presensiya ng prinsipe. Mabuti na lamang at wala kaming muse at prince ngayon. Sigurado at siya pa rin naman ang makakakuha ng posisyon, which means seeing him at every class officers meeting. Kahit doon man lang ay hindi ko siya makita. Hindi ko pa rin nakakalimutan ang sinabi niya sa akin noon kaya't naman kapag namamataan ko siya ay kaagad na tumataas ang dugo ko.