Navigating Hearts ( Aviation College Series #1)

Chapter 21

“I’m sorry, Miss Velasco. The school can no longer offer you a scholarship.”

When was the last time you had your hardest battle? How was the process of overcoming it? O baka natanong mo na lang sa sarili mo kung kailan ba matatapos?

“Po?”

Tila nabingi ako sa mga salitang binitawan ng aming school admin.

“Wala naman pong problema sa grades ko, diba? I passed all my major subjects Ma’am, wala po akong naaalalang may bagsak ako. Bakit po biglang ganun?” I grouched. Hindi ko magawang intindihin ang sitwasyon ngayon, lalong-lalo na ang mga salitang lumalabas sa kaniyang bibig.

Bakit biglang tatanggalin ang scholarship ko? This is my last remaining semester bago ako ga-graduate hindi pwedeng ganito.

“I know this is so sudden. I’ll accept your enrollment for now, but you have to half the payment before your first monthly examination starts this semester, okay? Hindi ka namin mabibigyan ng examination permit kapag hindi ka naka-comply.”

When life gets tough, how long are you willing to fight? Hanggang saan ang kaya mong gawin? Hanggang saan ang kaya mong isakripisyo?  Kasi kailangang may laban tayo, you can’t let life slowly destroy your whole being; you have to fight for it.

“Kahit hindi na mag-full scholar Ma’am, kahit 50% na lang po, o di kaya kahit 30% na lang po. I can’t lose this, Ma’am.” I said with my hands intertwined together, almost begging.

“Pasensya na, iha. Wala na akong magaawa dito dahil desisyon na’to mula sa nakakataas.” Matigas na sabi niya bago ako binigyan ng SOA na siyang magpapatunay na enrolled ako. For now.

I watched Ma’am Penyalosa turned her back on me through the glass window of the office. Only means, that she already gave me her words of finality; that I can’t do anything about it anymore.

All the remaining energy suddenly left my body. Parang lantang tangkay na kinulang sa tubig at nasobrahan sa sikat ng araw. I almost lost my balance sitting on a high chair. Fortunately, someone caught my forearm.

“Okay ka lang?”

“Ethan,” bulalas ko. Ngumiti siya sa’kin at pinulot ang aking SOA. “Salamat ha.” Ani ko.

He nodded. “No probs, see you around.”

My eyes wandered on the thick paper that I am holding right now. (Statement of  Account) Thirty five thousand pesos for 32 units this semester? Where the hell will I get this huge amount of money?

Tanong na hindi ko rin kayang sagutin sa ngayon.

3 weeks before our monthly examination, hindi kakayanin ng limang daan na sahod ko sa café ang kalahating halaga ng hinihingi nila sa’kin para makakuha ng permit.

 I did everything for my grades, dahil ito lang naman ang makakasalba sa pag-aaral ko. Lahat, para sa iniingatan kong scholarship. And then, in just a snap—I lost everything. Parang bula, it didn’t give me the chance to grasp, it all slipped out of my hold.

I walked through the long hallway half-alive. Wala akong planong umiwas sa kung sino man ang makakabangga ko sa hallway. I felt numb, my brain shut down. Hindi ko na magawang mag-isip pa ng solusyon sa problema ko.

When was the last time I felt carefree?

Or maybe, I wasn’t really meant to become one in the first place?

Parang habang-buhay ko na yatang kakambal ang problema.

My phone vibrated inside the pocket of my black slacks. Hinintay ko na lamang na makabalik sa aming classroom bago ko iyon binuksan.