And You Became My Favorite Track

Chapter 7

NAMUMULA
Namumula, Sabi ng utak, "Tama na"
Ayaw paawat ng aking na-na-nadarama
- Namumula, Maki

Sitting with Ali, Vie, Monique, and Cristoffer— casually chatting, and getting to know each other was the last thing I expected to happen on my first day here at St.Morgan Academy.

Napakakalmado ng aking isip at pakiramdam habang kasama ko sila. Hindi ko kailangan damdamin ang takot at kaba ng pagiging isang transferee. Lalo na kay Vie, patuloy pa rin siyang nagpapatawa. Hindi siya napapagod. Si Ali naman who keeps everything in check at si Monique na sakto lang ang humor at ang tahimik na kagaya ko. Si Cristoffer, who seemed to be intimidating at first pero okay naman pala.

Despite this weird feeling inside me na nararamdaman ko sa kanila ni Monique. Maybe soon I'll figure everything out.

I was just glancing around the place when Ali suddenly approached me;
"Taga Vigan ka diba, Rylle?"- him, smiling at me

Meanwhile sumali si Vie,

"Ang ganda diyan e, nakikita ko sa facebook, gusto ko magclout chase don lalo na sa Calle Crisologo". aniya

"I've heard so many good things about it. Sobrang saya siguro doon, yung mga kalesa, tapos yung mga old buildings. Ang saya siguro magka-road trip doon."- Monique

I froze for a second. My heart did a strange little drop, and for a brief moment, everything around me felt distant. Vigan. My hometown. The place I hadn't seen in a while.

There was a pause as everybody stared at me, sensing something deeper. — But then they smiled, nodding, as if they understood without me having to say more. I raised my brows, trying to give them a response. I forced a smile, trying to shake off the tight feeling in my chest.

"Yeah, it's a nice place," I said quietly, feeling the distance between me and the place I once called home.

I hadn't been back for over a week now, not since I left for a new school, new life. The thought of Vigan, of the old streets and the familiar sights, made me feel a little empty.

I took a deep breath, pushing the sadness down. I didn't want to seem too caught up in it, especially in front of my classmates. I looked at them, trying to redirect my thoughts.

As the conversation continued, the bell rang,— tapos na nga ang break.

We all stood up, gathering our things. We packed our stuff in silence for a few seconds but the feeling of homesickness lingered, it was still creeping up on me. I couldn't help but think of the streets of Vigan, the quiet mornings with the cool breeze, and how I hadn't really been able to call it home ever since i moved out.

Cristoffer glanced at me with a small smile, parang nakikiramdam siya his eyebrows were twitching, —when suddenly..

"Ang bilis ng oras, no?" Vie said, diverting Cristoffer's attention, stretching her arms as she leaned back in her chair.

"Yeah," Cristoffer replied, in a warm tone, looking at his watch
"May oras pa tayo to get to class. So tara na? "

"Kakatapos lang namin imeet si Miss Ferrier kanina, hmm di ako sure kung anong subject ng 12-C. Pero 'yung sa atin would be Literature" Ali joining the conversation, looking at his schedule.

"Argh, nakaka-antok raw yang lit, bio na ninyo after this di'ba Cristoffer?."
- Monique

"Yep, Lucky me, no 21st Century Literature today and unlucky you HAHAHAHAHA" Cristoffer said teasing Monique.