CARRIED BY THE WINDS

UNO

LOUISE AZURA

I was walking down the hallway at paakyat na sana sa 2nd floor nang may biglang umakbay sa akin. I was shocked at first pero nang marealize ko na si Kia and Oli lang pala ay napa buntong hininga na lang ako.

"What's up L.A?" Tanong ni Oli sakin. Oli Genesis Jacinto—hindi yan bayani. Matalino lang. Siya ang president ng student council namin pero siya yung nangunguna sa kasaltikan sa paligid. Hindi nga ako makapaniwala na binoto ulit siya ng mga tao rito sa campus. Palibhasa guwapo.

" How's your summer L.A?" And Kia Clarra Ynez Pioterio. Family of lawyers sila. They own the biggest law firm in town which is Pioterio Law Firm. She's the 'heir'. Kaya parehas kami ng kursong kinuha. Sa kanila kasi ako magttrabaho after graduation.

"Im absolutely fine, and my summer is great!" Sabi ko habang paakyat kami sa hagdan.

It's our first day in college. College lofe nga naman. I live far away from our university, University of Sto. Tomas. I live in Taguig, far from here. I have to take a train everyday 6:00 am para maaga akong makarating dito sa school namin kasi yung class schedule ko naman napaka hectic. That's why I decided to rent a apartment here in Manila near my school para naman hindi laging bitin tulog ko.

"My gosh! L.A sometimes sama ka samin ng fam mag vacation sa Italy, promise you'll love there, perhaps you always dreamed to see the Eiffel Tower ri—ANTE!" She shouted at me and sabay non ang pagyugyog niya sakin. I was spacing out.

"Sorry sorry KC Ynez, I was thinking kung pano ko masusurvive yung pag move in ko sa apartment na nirentahan ko." Hindi pa man kami nakaka akyat ay humarap siya sakin bigla kasabay ng gulat na tono nilang dalawa ni Oli.

"REALLY?!, You live here in manila na?" Kia exclaimed as I nod and smiled widely.

"Buti naman naisipan mo nang mag move in near our univ L.A , Nung senior highschool kasi halos bitbitin mo na yung de-takong mong sapatos mapabilis ka lang sa pagtakbo kasi malalate ka na e HAHAAHAHAHAH" Oli laughed loud.

I was kind of studyholic. Kahit weekends nag aaral ako, it's either para sa exam na one week ang gap from its date na minsan delay pa, I usually advance read some of our topics. It's my strategy para di na ako mahirapan para sa susunod na lesson. And yet all hard work paid off, I was the class salutatorian. Valedictorian kasi si Oli and Rank 3 naman si Kia, and we were contented.

As upon we reached our room which is PhilHis. We started to roam around and find some vacant seats there. Nang makaupo kami sa bandang likod ay kasabay nang pagpasok ng professor at isang grupo ng students na nakapang race attires. By their looks and aura's I eventually known their presence. They are the CSN short term for Cold Summer Nights. They are a band/campus popular people/dance group/gang(?)/racers, that represent our schoo, in short all around entertainer sila rito sa school.

"Ay antie, bakit nakatingin sayo yung dalawa sa kanila. Ang cute nung isa no? May palag?" Kia giggled. No. 1 fan ba naman ng CSN to e, kada gig hindi to pumalya sa pag aya samin ni Oli na samahan siya.

"Tanginamo Kia, abogadong malandi ka talaga" Pambara naman ni Oli kay Kia. Napatawa na lang ako ng mahina sakanila.

Dumaan naman sa gilid namin ang CSN pero di ko sila pinansin na dahil sanay naman na ako sa mga mukha nila. Inasikaso ko na lang ang mga gamit ko na gagamitin sa subject namin ngayon. Hinid ko napansin na sa likod ko pala naka-upo sa likod ko ang leader ng grupo nila. Zyra Erin Rosè Olivarez slash Z.E.R.O—the girl crush slash heartrob slash heart snatcher girl ng campus.

"Let's start our lesson class." Sabi naman ng professor namin. Siniko naman ako ni Oli na nasa gilid ko. Sinenyasan niya ako na mag focus sa lesson kasi matutulog siya. I can't believe na valedictorian namin to.

"Whatever, Oli." Lumingon naman ako kay Kia na natutulog na.

Mukhang ako ang toka sa notes ah. Abogado life nga naman.

Nasa kalagitnaan kami ng one hour discussion nang mapansin kong medyo maingay sa likod ko. Para bang may nag uusap na medyo napapalakas at di ko na marinig yung lecture ng prof.

"Pre, tara sa coffee shop nung chix mamaya. Papasukin ko yon sa loob ng offfice niya" sabi ni Paula.

Putangina.

"Sige pre, basta treat mo kami kape HAHAHAHA" Sagot naman ni Tyla na tumawa lang naman si Hydder.

Nakakairita talaga—

"Can you please shut your asses up?" Malamig na sambit naman ng leader nila, si Zero.

Buti sumabat si Zero baka bigla akong sumigaw dito.

What a great day to start.

Natapos na rin ang klase at nag aya ako kela Oli tsaka Kia na sa library na kumain. Pwede naman kasi kumain don papansin lang tong dalawang malandi na to sa CSN, patay na patay kasi masyado di naman sila papatulan.

"Hay nako L.A nadala mo talaga pagiging grade concious mo hanggang college. Maganda yan pero be mag enjoy ka naman" Sabi ni Oli na tinawanan ko lang.

"Oo nga te, baka mamaya maging katapat mo na si einstein diyan kaka aral mo" ani Kia.

Napahagikhik lang ako. "Hindi naman ako mayaman nga 'te, hindi ko afford tuition dito." Sagot ko naman.

"Eh sabi naman sayo kasi ante, tanggapin mo na yung full scholarship na binibigay sayo nila mo—"

"Kia, gusto kong paghirapan lahat ng gusto ko ring makamit. Ayokong umasa sa scholarship scholarship, oo gusto ko pero konsensya ko naman ang kalaban ko kasi makaka achieve ako ng mga bagay na hindi ko naman pinaghirapan." Misa ko sa kanila.

"Oo na madam Atty. " Pagsuko naman ni Kia. They know me too well. They know what I want, my goals, and dreams. They know what ive always wanted to achieve.

Nang matapos ang last sub namin chineck ko ang oras. 3:47 pm palang. Maaga pa kaya naman dumiretso ako sa library para mag advance read para sa mga next lessons namin sa Wednesday. Tuesday bukas at wala akong pasok. Kaya me-time ko yon. Sinabihan ko na rin sila Kia at Oli na sa library ako mag sstay. Um-oo lang naman sila kasi si Kia may family meeting si Oli naman maraming kailangan asikasuhin sa business ng family niya. Samantalang ako, eto pudpod na sa pag aaral.

Paliko na sana ako papuntang library nang bigla kong nakasalubong si Zero. She was looking at me a little starled and so as me. She was lighting up her cigar near the library. Yet she didn't even bother to stop what she's doing. Zero was a bad-ass slash heart snatcher kuno ng campus. I really hate arrogant people who think themselves as royalty. Baka sampalin ko lang sila paulit ulit.

As I passed by, I suddenly felt that she's looking at me. And I was right, she was smoking at the corridor while scanning my whole body. I found it disrespectful so I immediately went to her exact spot to confront her.

"Hey, can you stop eye-raping me?" I exclaimed.

She smirked and laughed a little while throwing the unfinished cigar somewhere. " Miss, be careful with your words, and I am not eye-raping you. Im just simply admiring the view." She said and looked at my lips.

"Anong 'admiring the view' Olivarez?, I know you—"

"Oh you do?"

,"Yes, who wouldn't? You're quite famous yourself Olivarez. Kung kaya mong takutin lahat ng tao including teachers in this building and University pwes ako..." I leaned closer to her which I felt uneasiness from her. Nervous Olivarez huh?. I smirked at her. "Hindi mo'ko masisindak Olivarez. Hinding hindi."

Pagtapos non ay naglakad na ako patungong library. I realized and analyzed my actions earlier pag upo ng mismong bench kung saan ako mag aaral. All I can say is.

Shit, Im doomed.