One Day It'll Last

Chapter 2

"Ikaw? Anong course mo?"

Iyan ang bumungad na tanong sa akin ni Cholo nang tingnan ko siya. Hindi ko inaasahan 'yon dahil hindi ko naman kung ano ang topic nila dahil hindi busy ako kanina nang imessage ako ni Chris.

"A-ah, business," kumunot ang noo niya. I know why his reaction was like that. Syempre, kapag business, ABM ang strand, pero nasa STEM ako. "It's a long story," sabi ko na lang para hindi na humaba ang usapan.

He just nodded and did not engage in it anymore. Well, hindi naman talaga siya mahabang kwento, ayaw ko lang talaga mag-share sa ngayon.

I was supposed to take ABM because I was planning to build my own business, and I was so sure that I was going to take that strand. But at the last minute, I changed my mind. Simply because I want to explore more. Besides, all my life I've been trained how to handle a business because of my family. Hindi lang naman ako sa senior high matututo. Gusto ko ring mas lumawak pa ang isipan ko sa ibang opportunities. Malay natin ay may iba pala akong gusto.

"Since groupmates tayo, I think as early as this week ay mag-isip na tayo ng topic natin for research and capstone," suhestyon ni Lorenze. I nodded and agreed. "Alam naman natin na magiging busy ang sched natin lalo na sa mga minor subjects na feeling major," he chuckled.

"Oo nga! At saka, mas okay na mauna na tayo sa mga magagandang topics bago pa tayo maunahan ng iba. Para rin makapagstart na tayo sa paggawa."

Hindi na kami nagtagal doon at agad rin kaming umalis nang dumating na ang driver ko. Isasabay ko na sana sila dahil lahat sila ay magco-commute lang ngunit lahat sila ay out of the way kaya hindi sila pumayag. Sila-sila na lang ang nagsabay para hati rin sila sa pamasahe.

"Diretso bahay na po tayo?" Manong asked.

I nodded. "Nandoon na po ba sila Kuya?" I asked.

"Si Nicholas ay nandyan na, si Blaike ay wala pa," sagot niya. Of course, Kuya Blaike will not be home this early. I'm sure he's busy club hopping.

I sighed. Pakiramdam ko ay pagod agad ako kahit unang araw pa lang. Wala naman rin akong gagawin ngayong gabi kundi mag-advance study para sa mag discussions bukas. Hindi naman necessary pero gusto ko kasi ay alam ko na kung ano ang tinuturo ng mga teachers at para makapag recite rin ako.

I'm not the smartest but I can say that I'm studious. Mahilig ako mag-aral at masipag naman ako. Enough para manatili ako sa honor's list. I'm not pressured by my parents, which I'm thankful for, but of course, I want to do my best to make them proud. Hindi naman biro ang ginagawa nila para sa akin.

"Hey."

I smiled when I saw Kuya Nico as soon as I entered the house. He was holding a cup of coffee, mukhang papunta sa living room para manood. Kinuha ng isa naming katulong ang bag ko bago ako lumapit kay Kuya.

"Hi, Kuya!" Masigla kong sabi at tumakbo para yakapin siya. He chuckled and kissed the top of my head.

"How's your first day?" He asked as we walked inside the living room. Nakabukas na ang TV at mukhang nanonood na siya ng movie.

"It was fine. Same lang rin naman ang classmates ko at wala kaming masyadong ginawa," kwento ko. "Oh! May bago pala kaming classmates and he was an ABM student before. His name is Cholo."

His brows furrowed. "Cholo?"

I nodded. "If I remember it correctly, his full name is Cholo Gabrielle Lim," I said.

"Hmm, a Lim, huh? I wonder what Lim clan he is in," sabi niya.

I shrugged. "Wala pa akong masyadong alam sa kaniya dahil first day pa lang."