Sincerity's Sanctuary (Siren Avenue #1)

03

I was all tense, waking up. I quickly grabbed my glasses, but I grabbed nothing. It still pisses me off. Today is our first day and I can't wait for the last day.

Bumangon na agad ako at hinanda ang sarili para sa pagligo. I heard the two pricks having breakfast before going in to the bathroom.

God, I hope college life will be good to me. Sobrang kabado ako. Hindi ko alam ang mangyayari. This is like the final stage of my school days, the hardest too, as they say.

Mabilis akong lumabas ng bathroom at tumakbo papasok ng kwarto. I double checked the lock before finally getting to dressed up. Mahirap na, baka silipan pa ako ng mga bading na 'yon.

We're still allowed to wear civilian clothes for the first month so I'm wearing one instead of our uniform. Inayos ko ang mga gamit na dadalhin. I looked for my digicam na nasa study table ko pala at nilagay na ito sa bag. I can't forget this one.

My phone suddenly beeped as I put my bag on my shoulder. Who is it now? Bukod sa insincere goodlucks from my classmates sa aming GC, may isa pang message that caught my attention.

Rowan Elardo

Saan ka na? Kita tayo sa 7/11

I rolled my eyes. Seryoso ba 'yan? Talagang 'di niya ako lulubayan? I aggressively typed in a response.

Darrell Charles Monzon

leave me alone prick

Lumabas na ako ng kwarto and saw them na kumakain pa rin at nagtatawanan. Natigilan sila nang mapansin ang presence ko.

"Kain, baks!" Frank offered.

I heard nothing. Lumabas na ako nang room at bumaba sa hagdan. I took a cab for a five-minute jeepney ride. I don't care, I don't know how to ride a jeep.

Pagkababa ko ng kotse, sumalubong sa akin ang dami ng estudyanteng papasok ng gate. Agad akong pumila. Matapos i-check ng bag, nakapasok na ako.

I'm still astounded by the overall look of the campus. Kahit nasa Manila na puno ng pollution at civilization, the campus still had this old-school vibe and greenery scenes. I took out my digicam to take some pictures.

Nagpatuloy na ako sa paglalakad. Napadaan ako sa convenience store at naalala ang chat ni Rowan. Binilisan ko ang lakad, hoping he won't see me. Except I saw him when I accidentally look 'causing for our eyes finding each other.

Nakita ko kung paano siya nalito na tumakbo ako papalayo. Nilingon ko ang aking likod and nakita siyang tumatakbo rin! Nakakinis! I felt his arms around my shoulder nang maabutan ako. That's when I stopped running.

"Iniiwasan mo ba ako, p're?" he asked.

"Shut up."

"Nagmamalasakit na nga ako, oh?" he sarcastically said, and then waved at someone he probably knows.

"I'm fine being alone."

"I know pero you need to see some familiar faces, ano ba first class mo?"

"None of your business..."

"Sungit naman ni Dan-Dan!" he teased, laughing while messing with my hair.

I gave him a bad look before going back to staring directly sa dinadaanan namin habang patuloy siyang naka-akbay at nililingon pa ako. Kumawala siya at nauanang maglakad when we reached the park.

"This is the Agri-Eco Park, he widened his arms like he's some tour guide, "masarap tumambay sa mga kubo d'yan. But the main attraction is the hanging bridge na kailangang tawarin bago marating 'yon!"