How It Should've Been

Chapter 1: The Day When It All Began

Kylie

Nandito ako ngayon sa SKY University. Isa tong elite school na tanging matatalino, mayaman, and excellent talents lang ang pwedeng makapag-apply sa school na to. Napakademanding pero kapag nakagraduate ka dito, malaman lang nila na galing ka sa SKY Univ., tanggap ka na sa trabaho.

"Ms. Kylie Gomez?" Tumayo naman ako.

"Ako po yun."

"Mrs. Scothe will see you now." Tinuro naman niya kung saan ang office niya. Ang tagal kong naghintay dito sa waiting area. Sobra! 6 am nandito na ko, 3 pm na. Napakabusy niyang tao.

Actually, parang hotel tong Admin Building. Ang ganda ng ambiance. Hindi mo aakalaing school building to.

"Good Afternoon, ma'am." Bati ko kay Mrs. Scothe. Siya ang chairwoman ng SKY Univ. Madaming nag-aapply noon para sa scholarship dito pero walang natatanggap. I wonder why?

Tinuro niya yung seat na nasa harapan ng desk niya.

"Hi, what's your name?"

"Kylie Gomez, ma'am" sagot ko. Kinakabahan ako. Mukha siyang masungit pero ang ganda niya ah. Fair ang complexion niya. Parang wala nga siyang makeup eh.

"Okay. So I'll cut to the chase 'cause I have an urgent meeting." Sabi niya. Mas lalo naman akong kinabahan. Bakit parang job interview to? Nakakakaba!

"What do you think of SKY University?" Tanong niya. Huh? Ano daw? Bakit yun ang tanong?

"I think that this school is the best school here in the Philippines. It offers elementary, highschool, and college. If you graduate here, it is a given that you'd immediately find a job. But every school has its flaws." Nakita kong medyo nag-iba ang expression niya. Shet! Itutuloy ko ba?

"This school is very demanding of time and requirements. No commoner ever had a chance to enter this school by the scholarship program. I don't even know why. Also, I think that the students here are too arrogant of their status even though they don't know the REAL world. But all of this is just what I think,.. Right now. This could change if I get to know the students and the culture of SKY University." Seryoso siyang tumingin sakin.

Shet! Dapat pala di ako naging masyadong honest! Pano na lang kung di ako pumasa? Saan ako pupulutin? Wala pa naman akong pera! Kaya nga ako nag-aapply ng Scholarship eh!

"Interesting!" Nginitian naman niya ako. Ang ganda niya. Grabe! Kaso.. may something sa ngiti niya. Parang nakakaloko ung ngiti niya eh. Ung parang may masama siyang balak.

"So? I have another question for you." I bit my lower lip. Nakakaloko talaga ung ngiti niya. Ang ganda ng ngiti niya pero--! Basta! Nakakatakot!

"What do you think of me?" Ngiting-ngiti niyang sabi. Parang kanina lang, masungit siya pero ngayon ngiting-ngiti siya. Abno ba siya?

Pero syempre di ko sasabihin yun.

"I think that you're too busy. You're so busy that you don't have time to know your students. You may only know some students by paper, applications. But I also think that you are doing your best as the chairwoman. I think you're striving hard to meet the expectations of the people around. Especially with this kind of pressure, being the Top 1 school in the Philippines, you're amazing." Sagot ko.

Pansin ko lang ah. Ang weird ng mga tanong niya. Akala ko ang itatanong sakin: Why should we accept your application over 87 students who are applying for the scholarship program in SKY?

Pero hindi eh. Ang weird ng tanong.

Nginitian niya ako.

"You know, Ms. Gomez. Ikaw ang kauna-unahang tao ang nagsabi ng negative about sa school at sa akin. You're brave. By saying all the negative things about me, I could trash your application." Natakot naman ako. Kapag nangyari yun, di ko na alam ang gagawin ko...

"I see that you aced the entrance exam. You're excellent! I like how you think. You have a very good record. I don't see why I should not accept you." Napangiti naman ako. Sana matanggap ako. Ito na lang ang pag-asa ko nuh!

"Alright. You're accepted." Tuluyan na akong napangiti ng malawak. Tanggap ako!! For the first time in SKY University's history! May natanggap na scholarship student! At!! Ako yun!

"In one condition." Pahabol niya. Shems! Masaya na ako eh! Napalunok naman ako.

"Isasama kita sa Three of SKY." Huh? Ano yun? Tree of sky? Puno ng langit?

"Uhmm.. Ano po yun?" Tanong ko.

"Three of SKY is like the student council of all departments. Be it elementary, highschool, or college. Sila ang masusunod. May mga generations yan. Last year, gumraduate na ang generation 2. At kung ipapasok kita, mapupunta ka sa generation 3. Tatlo lang kayong magdedecide nang mga gusto at kailangan niyong gawin para sa buong student body." Pagpapaliwanang niya. Ohhh. THREE of SKY. Akala ko, puno sa langit -_-

"Hindi po ba kayo ang nagdedecide? I mean,.. Bakit tatatlo lang ang student council?" Napabuntong hininga siya ng malalim.

"Kasalanan ko yan. I appointed the Top 3 excellent students to handle the Foundation Week back then. I didn't expect na babansagan silang ganun at sa kanila na rin nakadepend ang student council dati hanggang sa wala nang kumikilos at nag-quit. Okay lang sana kaso inabuso nila ang power nila. Ginawa nila ang gusto nila without my permission. Nagkaroon ng mga parties na hindi naman kailangan. That's why last year, I appointed another Three of SKY. Yung matino. Pero katulad ng dati, inabuso rin nila ang power nila at hindi nakinig sakin. And now? I'm still going to appoint another three but I have this feeling that it will change this year. Considering, you joining them." Sabi niya. My gulay! Di marunong maglead ung mga nauna. Ang abusive.

"I see." Sabi ko. Tatanggapin ko ba? Kapag di ko tinanggap, baka di ako ipasok. Scratch that. Hindi talaga ako makakapasok! "O-okay. I'll do it." Napangiti naman siya. Ung ngiting tagumpay.

"Congratulations, Ms. Kylie Gomez. Welcome to SKY University. I hope you're not abusive of your powers as one of the Three of SKY." Sabi niya sakin at nagshake hands kami. "Goodluck! I'm counting on you." Dagdag pa niya.

Di naman siguro maaapektuhan ang buhay ko ng malaki di ba? Student council lang naman eh. Last year naman, Vice President ako eh. I can do this. Yep! Madali lang naman siguro. Kaya kaya ko to! Alright!

To be continued..