Under One Roof

CHAPTER ONE

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"Ito din naman gusto mo diba?" he said as he dropped boxes of my belongings on the floor.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at my brother's remark. It always feels like everything he says is an attack on my desire to be 'independent'.

"Yes. Yes, it is, Kuya. I'd also appreciate it if you could tell Mom that I'll be fine living here alone and she doesn't have to worry as much. Kay Papa, kahit wala ka na sigurong sabihin, it's not like he cares, diba?"

He has to return home and only Mom deserves an update on my life's situation and progression.

"Sure, pero may roommate ka daw sabi ni Tita Vangie, mukhang wala pa yun nakarating dito."

Kuya Dale looked at me with a perverted smile, and I knew kung saan parating yan.

"Basta bunso ha? Use protection," he remarked, complete with the raising of his eyebrows and his perverted smile, which was vomit-inducing, sa totoo lang.

"Tangina naman Kuya, you don't even know if it's a guy? At kahit lalaki pa yan, walang ganong mangyayari, kilabutan ka naman, anong klaseng tao ba tingin mo sakin?"

I feel like I talked too much over two words, pero triggering naman talaga. He teased me more for being overly defensive (not gonna lie, I noticed I was too).

After unpacking my stuff and grabbing a quick lunch sa karinderya na malapit lang din sa boarding house ko, nagpaalam na rin si Kuya...

"Basta Dean, I'm only one chat away, got it? Let me know if you need anything."

Those were his last words, plus a 5,000 peso e-wallet transfer, before I was left alone to thrive in college and life. I lay down in my single-person bed and couldn't help but feel something heavy. Hindi ko rin alam.

Ang bigat. It could be from the obvious fact that I am not a high schooler anymore who could get away from the consequences of being a stupid kid. It could also be the way I saw my Mom cry when I got in Kuya's car as I left home, or... it could be the fact that my "father" couldn't care less that I am leaving (and that maybe, he's way happier I am leaving).

I hate being alone and unoccupied kasi kailangan kong i-deal tong mga putanginang feelings na ito! I can't wait malunod sa reqs and scheds!

I was able to take a quick stroll as well outside the boarding house din to familiarize myself with the area. Ayaw ko pang pumunta sa Centro to make gala.

I alsoo familiarized myself with the routes from here to school. As I discovered, it would take me 5 minutes if I take tricycle from the boarding house to the campus. 10 to 15 minutes if I choose to walk, depending on my pace and if I'm with someone. I tend to walk slower if I'm with someone and faster if alone.

I unpacked most of my stuff na din. The room is quite spacious. There are two beds at each side of the wall, a shared vanity table which also works as a divider of the space between each bed.

May separate closets naman at the foot of each bed. The rooms itself have bathrooms so it's not communal. It's beside the door as well as an adjacent sink/small kitchen area.

It's the weekend so I might as well just eat out for now. I'll have to consult my supposed roommate about the food situation if they want to stock up and cook alternately.

Days passed and it's now the actual day of classes.

"Dean Vale Tan. You're next. Introduce yourself."

That was my IR1 professor. I expected this to happen so I have prepared myself na rin for the 'Introduce yourself' portion of the classes.

"Good morning everyone. I'm Dean Vale Tan, 19 years old. I graduated from **Eastfield Academy** wherein I took up Humanities and Social Sciences as my academic strand which led me to further education in International Studies here at **Southeast Pacific University**. It was mostly an influence from my teachers and mentors as well as family members who are inclined with foreign government careers. I hope to have a fruitful time with everyone here. Thank you."

I sat down afterwards but to my surprise, the prof did not call the girl next to me immediately. She did have follow-up questions sa mga naunang nagpakilala but her question caught me picking up my jaw from the floor.

"How are you related to Damian Tan? The Embassy Secretary a few years ago?" she asked while eyeing me with her glasses down.

Prof. Lactuan is like a typical prof in her 50s as one imagines. Tall, poised and would call you out without hesitation if you messed up.

"I'm his son po."
"Oh wow, but you really look more like your mother. I'm his ex-girlfriend from centuries ago, in college."

It was such a shocker that I found myself with an open maw while my classmates "Woahhh"-ed their hearts out. I simply expressed an acknowledgement of her TMI. My classmates tried milking out further details but she did not buy any of it and proceeded with the class.

The day went well and I think I met the people I'd want to be friends with already. I met Ashley and Keith. Same lang kami ng age kaya it wasn't hard to navigate the social norms. No need mag Ate or Kuya. They took me to lunch sa 'hidden gem' daw na karinderya and they were right.

"Hindi ka rin naman siguro pagti-tripan ni Ma'am Lactuan kasi ex nya father mo, noh?" Keith joked as he and Ashley shared a joking look while we're at lunch break.

Keith's your typical hunk-loving twink pero hindi masyado feminine, he has a really good speaking voice though.

"Gaga, baka eme emehin ka nya teh ng pa galit, tapos kunware ipapatawag nya pops mo para magkita sila ulit. Boogsh, grand reunion mo lang!" dagdag naman ni Ash.

Babaeng bakla si Ashley, maingay at maraskal. If there's an emotion for OA like in Inside Out, that would be in charge of her all the fucking time. She's really pretty though, I have to say.

Natawa din ako sa joke nya but I mentioned that my father never cared for me. Medyo crazy for a first day pero nagtrauma dump agad ako sa kanila on how my father has treated me since I could remember. They were supportive naman – Keith hugged me when I was telling them stuff and Ash threatened to unalive my father.

They're graduates of the laboratory high school of this school so they're already familiar with the campus and gave me a tour during vacants. Out of seven subjects, we had four today and everything went well naman.

As I went home, rain started pouring heavily. Buti na lang malapit na ako sa boarding house when the rain crashed. Sobrang lakas kahit ang ganda naman ng sinag buong araw.

Nakita ko si Tita Vangie and helped her gather yung mga sinampay nya. "Tag-ulan na talaga, anak. Kaya ikaw lagi kang magdala ng payong ha" she reminded me.

"Pero Tita?? Nakakatamad po." is what I wanted to say pero tumango na lang ako and ngumiti.

I got back to my room and still, wala pa rin yung supposed roommate ko.

"Baka nagdrop" sabi ng utak ko.

I just proceeded to take a hot shower, change into my Cinamoroll pajamas, and tucked myself to bed. I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep when...

"HOY! BUKSAN MO NAMAN TONG PINTO!"

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