Traversing with the Infinity (Sun Rays #1)

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

"I told you, kayang-kaya ko 'yon bawiin. Ako pa ba?"

I convincingly grinned while eating my snacks. Narito ako sa Petal's Garden, kasama si Jayscen, and we were in our usual spot. Kung saan sa pinakadulong gazebo kami laging tumatambay.

He hasn't gone back to the States since what happened to me. It's been a few months since the last incident, and now that I'm in the final quarter of the school year, it's time for me to catch up on the lessons I missed.

Tsk, very basic lang 'yan, thanks to my mala-DSLR camera na brain. Thanks to my friends as well who lend me their handouts at saka tinuruan din nila ako. I told Jayscen before that he should go back to the States dahil hindi ko naman hahayaang masayang ang pag-aaral niya kung mag-i-stay siya rito.

I assured him many times already that I am okay, definitely okay. Kaya ko naman, e! But he's too stubborn, he did not leave my side. Kayang-kaya niya raw habulin ang mga lessons doon sa university.

"I believe in you, Sunrize," pilyo siyang ngumiti. "We will study together, alright? If you need help about the lesson, you can always count on me."

"Thank you, love."

Pinagpatuloy namin ang magmeryenda habang dinadama ang sariwang hangin sa hardin. Mas lalo na rin dumami ang mga bulaklak dito kaya ang aesthetic tuloy tignan. Kaunti na lang at magiging fairy na ako rito.

I truly dedicated my time to catching up on the lessons I had missed. I often spent time with Jayscen as well, since he was also busy studying whilw balancing his senior high requirements in the Philippines while being enrolled in a university program in the United States.

Unlike most students, his educational track was unusual, but still possible. Back in the US, he earned a scholarship under a special early-admission program for gifted students. The university he attended accepted academically qualified students aged eighteen and above who had already completed Junior High. They allowed him to begin taking core subjects related to Astronautical Engineering, provided he continued his remaining high school requirements independently.

However, when he returned here in the Philippines, he temporarily paused his on-campus studies and shifted to remote completion of his university subjects. It was something his scholarship allowed as long as he maintained academic standing.

But then another complication came up. For certain future career paths and local licensing requirements, he would eventually need a Philippine Senior High School diploma. Without it, international credentials alone might cause issues later on.

Kaya napagsasabay niya 'yon ngayon. Kung tutuusin mas mababawasan 'yong burden niya sa pag-aaral kung mag-i-stick na lang siyang mag-aral sa US. Pero dahil sinabi niya sa 'kin noon na bumalik siya rito dahil hindi niya kayang mahiwalay sa 'kin nang sobra. . . ito ngayon ang resulta.

Kaya ngayon, we always make time to study together, of course, with a touch of a study date vibe. Until one quarter remaining left bago kami maka-graduate ng Grade 12. I passed the entrance exam that I took last month sa Isabela State University, kung saan doon na rin ako magka-college.

Marami rin akong naipasang entrance exam, including sa university sa Tuguegarao at Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. Ewan ko kung bakit nag-take pa ako ng exam do'n, pero sa huli, sa ISU pa rin ang pinili ko.

This quarter was definitely exhausting, but in the end, it was all worth it. The sleepless nights, stress, and breakdowns over schoolwork were no joke, but they tested my resilience. I still have a long way to go, I'm only in Senior High, and I need to be ready for college.