Love on Trial

Chapter 2: Maxi

A'ishah's POV

I stood in front of the mirror as I fixed my tight skirt. I’m wearing a crop top and a skirt above my knees. I also did my make up pero simple lang.

Glancing at the clock, it’s already 11 in the morning. And yes, I purposely got up late para mag ready kasi nahihiya akong sumabay kay Nicole na kasama ang mga kaibigan niya.

Enrollment day ko ngayon pero sa halip na excitement, parang may knot of anxiety sa tummy ko. Parang nagdududa ako kung ready na ba talaga ako.

What if hindi ako mag-fit in? What if mahirapan ako sa classes?

Girly girly ako tapos pinag Criminology? Ano na self kaya pa ba?

Pagbaba ko ng hagdan, si Tita nalang ang nadatnan ko. Si mom umalis daw at may inasikaso, while si Tito ay nasa work na. And yes, si Nicole nauna na sa school.

“You look so pretty, hija.” Puri ni Tita while smiling at me. She’s looking at me up and down.

I smiled shyly. “Sakto lang po, Tita.” Dapat ganyan lang guys. Humble lang ang atake.

“Aysus! Napakabait na bata. Maganda na mabait pa. Pwede ka kayang mag beauty queen no.”

Natatawa akong umiiling kay Tita kasi natatawa din siya. Halatang nambobola lang eh.

“Okaya model.” Suggest pa niya.

“Naku, Tita. Akala ko din noon eh. Pang Criminology naman pala tong beauty ko.” Biro ko kaso parang di natuwa si Tita kasi nawala ang ngiti sa mukha niya.

“Final na ba talaga yan? Pwedeng pwede pang magbago ang isip mo, A’ishah. Ano bang kurso ang kukunin mo dapat?” Her eyes filled with so much concern.

“Law po talaga.” I said to reassure her. “But I need to finish a four years course muna bago po ako maka take ng law eh. Kaya okay na po ito, Tita. Preparatory course naman po ang BSCrim sa law eh.”

She heaved a heavy sigh. “Okay. Whatever it is, I’ll always be here to support you, okay?” Tita reached for my hand, and I gladly let her hold me.

“Me, your Tito, and Nicole. We got your back.” She squeeze my hand before letting go.

“Thank you po.” I smiled bitterly.

“Anyway, I cooked lunch. Wanna eat with me bago ka umalis?”

This melted my heart. Tita could’ve eaten with her husband and her child, but she chose to wait for me and eat with me because she didn’t want me to eat alone. And that is the sweetest thing a mother could do to her child. And although I’m not her daughter, she treated me as one. For that, I’m thankful.

After eating my lunch with Tita, I booked a grab para makapunta na sa school. My mom used their chauffer daw eh. Kaya no choice.

Tita walked me pa outside and waited until my grab left before she goes back inside their house.

Pagdating sa campus, sobrang overwhelming ng paligid. Ang daming mga estudyante na nagmamadali. While yung iba naman ay mistulang gumagala nalang sa campus. Tapos na siguro silang mag enroll.

Hindi ko pa nakikita si Nicole pero sure naman ako nasa paligid lang yun.

Although malaki yung university, hindi naman ako naligaw kasi pagpasok mo, makikita mo kaagad yung mahabang pila ng mga estudyanteng mag eenroll sa kaniya kaniyang course na pinili nila.

Kada course iba yung linya siyempre, kaya pumila na ko sa course na napili ng nanay ko. Char!

“Excuse me? Nakapila ka ba?” Narinig kong tanong ng babae sa likod ko.