Tinatangi, Yves

Chapter 1: Fea?

"Today's the day!" I exclaimed. It's early in the morning and heck, I'm so excited to go to my future school. . They have an event today, an open house, kung saan ipinapakita nila ang kanilang mga gawa and greet applicants para sa kanilang school. "Aiah, ready ka na?" I asked my friend through the phone. Aiah has been my best friend since 5th grade, and we're very close. "Oo, andito na ako sa sala niyo, pinapasok ako ni tita." ngi, wala man lang pasabi si mama.

"Tara na!" I told Aiah. We were both excited, so we did some speedwalking just to go there faster. "Wow! May shuttle sila!" manghang-mangha ako sa nakita ko. Shuttle? Papuntang school? Aba, nanibago talaga ako. Galing kasi kaming public school ni Aiah, but before that, we went to a private school, which didn't have something as cool as this. Now we don't have to walk to school since there are no jeepneys in this area. It's pretty convenient for us.

At last, we've arrived. Philippine National University, or PNU—my future school. Hindi ko naman aakalain na dito makikita yung taong pinaka mamahalin ko. *ring* *ring*.

Fea:
Bub, are you at school na? Good luck with the open house!
Colet:
Hey, I'm here na. I'll text you later, mwa.

Well, there you go. I had a situationship before meeting my greatest love, tipong napasabi ako ng "kung hindi si Fea, ayaw ko na." but she changed my mind.

"Welcome!" sinalubong kami ng Grade 12 student. "Hello po," we greeted him back. "Tara, I'll give you a tour along with our other students." tumango kami in response. I scanned the room and everyone looked so unique. They had their own styles, showcasing their special exceptional features. There's a girl that piqued my interest though. She's tall and wore a long black dress, eye contact, and a black mask. Ang intimidating naman nito. I definitely don't want to get involved with her. Beside her was I think her friend. Ang amusing nila tignan kasi they look like their the opposite of each other. Kung yung unang girl intimidating ito naman isang cutie patootie.

"Are you guys ready?" sabi nung guide. We all nodded our heads and followed him throughout the session. "So, sino sainyo yung STEM students?" I raised my hand and saw the girl in black do the same. Shet, baka maging magkaklase pa kami nito, lagot ako. I sighed, and told Aiah that I find the girl intimdating. "Hindi 'yan, malay mo nga maging magkaklase kayo diba? You should approach her later." she said, patting my back. I sighed.

Natapos yung tour and napunta kami sa cafeteria where the booths for every club and strand were located. Aiah saw the HUMMS booth and left me alone. Iniwan niya talaga, ako? Hays. I checked my phone and scrolled through tiktok while standing, waiting for Aiah. Wait, sino itong katabi ko? May aura kasi na-

Shit! It's the girl in black. Act fool lang ako, act fool, act fool. Ayaw ko talaga siya kausapin, please. Pero it seems like her friend na HUMMS din left her. Aiah and her friend were getting along. Hahaha, sila na lang, okay na ako sa setup namin.

*PING!* ay, nag-chat na si Fea. She's been my current ka-talking stage for 3 days now, we met each other in Bumble.

Fea:
Hi, baby! How are you doing there?

Colet:
Okay lang naman, the school's cool and it looks like I'll enjoy my time here.

Fea:
That's good to hear, baby. Enjoy ka diyan! Date tayo once nagpasukan na kayo.

Colet:
Okay po, bub!

Napangiti na lang ako sa cellphone ko. I wonder kung hanggang saan kami aabutin ni Fea. She looks like she's serious about me pa naman. I'm also starting to like her, hehe (3 days pa lang na-attach na ako agad).

"Uy, Colet!" Tinawag ako nung dalawang babae na nasa likod ko. "Uy! Jaz! Alexa!" sinalubong ko silang dalawa. Kaklase ko sila dati sa dati kong school. "

Pagkatapos ng open house, naging busy ang mga sumunod na araw sa paghahanda para sa pasukan. Halos araw-araw, naguusap kami ni Aiah tungkol sa mga bibilhin na gamit at kung ano ang expectations namin sa bagong school. Hanggang sa dumating na ang first day of school.

AHHH! First day of school na! I'm getting excited. Madalian akong nag-ayos ng gamit at pumunta ng 7/11 para kitain si Jaz. "Par!" tinawag ko si Jaz. "Ayos, ah, pogi ata natin ngayon, par," biniro niya ako. Suot ko ang long sleeve polo ko na kulay amber at black slacks naman na tinernohan ng itim na leather shoes. Wala kasi kaming uniform pero naka-ayon naman kami sa dress crode which is corporate attire kaya kami na bahala sa susuotin namin. "Gara, ikaw nga 'tong nagliliyab ang kagandahan, eh," tumawa kami. Nako, wala pa kami sa school puro tawa na kami. Patay talaga kapag nasa klase na.

Pumunta na kami sa sakayan ng shuttle at pagbaba ay agarang pumasok sa classroom. Medyo naligaw-ligaw pa kami niyan, ah. Una akong pumasok at...

"Ang tahimik," bulong ni Jaz sa'kin. Natawa ako ng unti. Tumingin yung iba sa'min sabay hinampas ako ni Jaz sa braso. Aba! Kasalanan ko pa talaga na tahimik sila.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto at nagsimula na ang klase. Introduce yourself muna ang peg namin for today. Ay, ako na pala, "Good morning everyone! I Am Nicolette Vergara, you may call me Colet. My sports are taekwondo and badminton. As for my hobbies, I play the guitar, I sing in the shower, and draw whenever I have time." Patok, galing ng introduce yourself ni ate ko, o ayan, uulitin ko pa ng limang beses hanggang 3:30. 

"Good morning sir, and classmates. I am Mary Loi Yves Ricalde. My nickname is kind of unique and cute. You may call me Maloi." Ah... Maloi pala pangalan niya. Sarap sa tenga sabihin. Ang cute rin ng boses. Ay! Ito yung babae na ayaw ko maging kaklase eh! "My hobby is dancing. I used to do ballet." Dancer pala ang atake neto, eh. May sipa pa 'yan kapag sasayaw. 

Natapos na kami mag introduce yourself para sa unang klase. May date pa ako pagkaptapos nito! Pakibilisan ang oras, please.

For the last class, our professor wanted to do a little activity. Para sa activity ang instruction lang sa'min ay mag step forward kapag ayon sa characteristic mo yung binanggit. "Who here is part of the LGBTQ+ community?" I stepped forward. Bading naman kasi ako! Lesbian! Tumingin ako sa kaliwa't kanan ko. Tatlo lang kami. Hindi ko kilala yung dalawang babae pero nginitian ko sila kasi, yes! Bading! Let's go bading! Walang lalaki na humakbang. Sus! Mga closeted! Joke. 

Sa wakas, 3:30 PM na rin! Namaalam ako sa mga bago kong kaibigan tapos umalis na ng school at nagmadali papunta sa McDo.

*RING!*

Mikha: 
Sis, kumusta ang school?

Ay, message ni Mikha. Ang bait talaga ng validator ko nangamusta agad. Kaibigan ko si Mikha mula Grade 6. Same school kami dati kasama si Aiah kaso hindi sila close. Validator na naging tawag namin sa isa't isa kasi tuwing kami yung magkausap nagkakaintindihan talaga kami like as in parang we understand each other in a deeper level pero siyempre si Aiah parin number one best friend ko. 

Colet:
Okay lang naman, may date pa ako hehe. TTYYL!

Mikha:
Ay, sabi ko nga, sige, date well! Update mo ako!

Oo nga pala, nagkaroon din kami ng something ni Mikha nung Grade 7 ata pero wala lang iyun, ano lang, kabag ata.

Habang nagscro-scroll ako sa phone ko may babaeng papalapit sa'kin. "Colet," she tapped my back. "Uy, Fea! Andiyan ka na pala." Nginitian ko siya. "Tara?" tanong niya. "Saan?" I tilt my head.  "Sundan mo lang ako." Hinawakan niya kamay ko at naglakad kami papalayo ng McDo. Saan naman ako dadalhin nito? 

Dumating kami sa isang local cafe, "Juan Cafe." May two kaya? Haha, Juan, Two. 

Ang ganda naman dito. Five floors tapos may rooftop, sabay maraming design. P'wede pang pinterest yung cafe sa totoo lang. "Medyo malayo dito ah, tapos tago pa. Paano mo 'to nahanap?" I asked her. "Baliw, taga rito ako diba?" Ay, oo nga pala. 

Bumili kami ng corndog tapos milk tea habang tinitignan namin yung langit doon sa may rooftop. Buti na lang talaga sakto na walang gaanong tao dito. We exchanged glances and smiles. It was nice, sana maulit.