Lost People Department Trilogy #1: The Art of Getting Lost (and Found)

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Anong course kukunin mo sa college?" Sabrina asked while putting her lip tint on.

"I don't know, maybe architecture? Ikaw?" I said while opening my bag to find my mini mirror. Actually, i've been thinking a lot about that kung ano kukunin kong course kasi tinatanong ako lately ni daddy kung anong plano ko kapag tapos ng senior high, but I'm really undecided. Hindi ko alam kung ano gusto ko!

I'm thinking of architecture, my childhood dream. Bata palang ako nagd-drawing na 'ko ng bahay at kung anong design ang gagawin ko sa bahay namin. My dad's family is also affiliated with that job. But that's long ago hindi ko alam kung gusto ko pa ba 'yon. I also think about nursing and tourism courses. Alam mo 'yun? parang ang laki kasi ng chance makaalis dito sa bansa because seriously, sino ba gusto mag stay dito?

Staring at myself in the mini mirror. I notice that I look pale. My face was a combination of my mom's and dad's faces. I have high cheekbones, a narrow jawline, and a pointed chin that I surely got from my mom. My straight jet black hair, with curtain bangs, almond eyes, and pointed nose were from my dad, which go well with my face shape. All of the people I know said that their first impression of me was mataray, but I'm not. I'm sure, because I'm a people pleaser.

It sucks.

I look at her and open my hand, gesturing to borrow her lip tint. "Bakit parang hindi ka sure?" she said and slightly laughed before handing it to me. I notice the red shade of her lip tint. It's beautiful on her. I want to try it on myself.

"Undecided pa 'ko, tsaka matagal pa naman." sabi ko habang naglalagay sa aking bibig.

"Bakla ka, anong matagal? nag-announce na ng dates kung kailan enrollment sa university na balak nating pasukan." she replied but her eyes were not on me.

I traced her eyes kung ano tinitignan niya, and I nearly rolled my eyes. We have a vacancy, and we decided to go to the canteen dahil ang professor namin sa physical education was absent due to an emergency. I mean we're not really surprised kasi lagi naman syang wala, pero bilang lang yata natutunan ko sa kanya. I remember him saying one time, "Tandaan n'yo kahit hindi ako magturo, sa sahod ako!" Pinapagalitan n'ya kami kasi sobrang ingay sa classroom.

I wonder if it's really his passion at all. Because clearly you were given that job to teach students and make sure that the learners' needs were met, and that includes providing different teaching strategies and utilizing classroom management. How will your students be motivated to learn in your classes kung ikaw na teacher walang motivation magturo? But, really, who am I to judge? Maybe he's tired and overworked. After all, he's also a human.

I saw group of students in STEM, umoorder ng pagkain sa canteen. "Baka architecture nalang kunin ko," sabi ko. I tore my eyes on them when I saw a familiar face. Inayos ko na lahat ng gamit ko at niligpit na din 'yung pinagkainan namin. Tumingin ako sa kanya at nakitang nakatingin pa din s'ya. This girl. Kinurot ko tagiliran n'ya. "Hoy! Bakla ka baka malusaw." I whisper and laugh, ignoring the awkwardness i feel.

Tinanggal niya ang tingin. Buti na lang mga nakatalikod. "Ang pogi talaga nung mga nasa STEM at matatalino pa," she said. "Lord, bigay mo na sakin 'to." she added and I giggled. Ganiyan kasi siya pero kapag may dumating ayaw naman. Ewan ko sa babaeng 'to. Hindi ko din siya maintindihan minsan. Tumayo na kami at umalis, giving one glance to that one group. I sigh.

Nasa classroom na kami habang inaantay ang next prof ng kinalabit ako ni Sab. I look at her. "Ayaw mo mag teacher? Sabi ni Monica ayun kukunin n'ya. Wala daw s'yang choice." Monica was our other friend and she's absent. Susunduin daw sa airport daddy n'ya.

Teacher? Hindi ko nakikita sarili ko na magturo. Gusto ko na din umalis ng school. Buong buhay ko yata nandito ako. Ayoko na!

"Okay na 'ko sa lahat huwag lang 'yon," I said. Hindi man ako sure sa kukunin ko, but i'm sure na hindi 'yon kasama sa pagpipilian ko. No way!