A Beautiful Catastrophe (Paradox Series #1)

Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Principal's Son

It has been two weeks since the pageant and I can say that few things have changed after that. Unlike before, some of my classmates are now being friendly to me. All though, I am not really fond of them, kinakausap ko pa rin sila if they're trying to strike a conversation with me.

Hindi naman sa napipilitan akong pakisamahan sila pero hindi lang talaga ako ganoon kakomportable kapag kausap sila.

Honestly, it saddens me that I had to win first runner up on the pageant just for them to treat me nicely. It's as if they accepted me just because I was able to reach the standard set by them for me. I don't care about those, though. During the pageant, I didn't do my best to please them but to test how much I can do. It's for my own development as an individual.

At kagaya rin ng inaasahan ko, matapos nga ang pageant, mas marami ang babaeng humanga kay Ford. Laging may nagpapadala sa kanya ng sulat at kung ano-anong regalo these days. He's so exposed to women!

We were busy with the final exam for this semester as well. Iyon ang pinagkaabalahan namin after the foundation day. Ang totoo nga, katatapos lang ng huli kong exam sa araw na ito. It was really tiring. Medyo nahirapan ako but I am confident I'll get a passing score, at least. Nag-review naman ako kaya hindi ako babagsak, for sure.

Now I'm on my way to the junior high para puntahan si Aubrey. Napag-usapan kasi naming lumabas matapos ang exam para sana makapag-unwind kahit paano. Isa pa, balak ko ring bumili ng p'wedeng iregalo kay Ford. His birthday is fast approaching so I really have to think of a gift he'll surely love.

Iyon nga lang, wala pa rin akong ideya kung anong p'wede kong ibigay. Kaya nga ito at lalabas din kami ni Aubrey para pag-usapan 'yon. She's his sister so I know she can help me with this.

I took a deep breath and contemplated. Time flies so fast. Parang dati lang, hindi ko pa masyadong alam dito. I was alone and I don't have any friends when I first came here. Then now, I am almost graduating.

A lot of things happened. Marami ring nagbago. Some were good but some were too unfortunate. Nevertheless, I will always be grateful for these experiences because it helped me grow and learn. Iyon naman ang mahalaga.

"Kuya Russell, are you sure you're not coming with me? You'll let me go there alone? Paano kung mawala ako? Isusumbong kita kina mommy at daddy! I'll tell them pinabayaan mo ako!"

Ngumuso ako at sinimangutan ang nakatatatanda kong kapatid na tinawanan lang ang sinabi ko. Why is he like this? He's not really going with me, is he?

The first day of class started yesterday pero dahil kararating lang namin kahapon from vacation, I wasn't able to come to school. Ngayon ang una kong araw rito.

Hindi ko pa naman masyadong alam dito kaya nagpapasama ako kay kuya. I already visited and roamed around the school when I enrolled, alright. Kasama ko si kuya Edgar, ang driver namin. Pero isang beses lang iyon. At hindi ko pa nga nalibot ang kabuuan dahil masyadong malawak ang school na 'to. Nakakapagod kung isang araw lang ang ilalaan mo sa paglilibot.

"I'm doing this for you to be independent, darling. Come on, stop worrying. You can't always rely on me, you know. You have to learn by yourself. Hahanapin mo lang naman ang room mo," he replied with a sigh.

I frowned. Okay lang sana kung may kaibigan akong dito rin mag-aaral o kahit sinong kakilala but I don't have any! Wala kahit isa sa mga kaklase ko noong elementary ang nag-enroll sa PHU. Balita ko, mahirap din daw kasing makapasok sa school na ito bukod sa mahal ang tuition fee.