Chapter 1 - The Verity
I was in the middle of the class when my phone suddenly vibrated. I read the sms sent from my Auntie Veronica.
"Hija, what time will you come home? Pupunta kasi ako sa plaza. Don't worry, iniwan ko sa Yaya mo ang susi."
Seriously, Auntie? Well as for me I don't care about what she will do in the Plaza. My only concern are my grades. Class is boring. I yawned. Maybe any minute from now my eyes will shut down. Kung bakit naman kasi ganto magturo 'tong si Mrs. Agana. Kala mo napakabagal ng ikot ng orasan at kung magsalita may pag 5 seconds pause every words. What the heck lang diba. I feel my eyes closing.
"Ms. Yokoyama, please stand up."
Sinasabi ko na nga ba. Eh kasalanan ko bang ganyan sya ka boring magturo? Ka bad vibes 'tong Agana na 'to! Kala mo naman napaka expert magturo. Mas magaling pa nga ata ako sakanya tsaka mga yaya ko kung di lang ako tamad eh. Aba! Kahit sino naman tatamadin kung every subject nyo 2 hours. Wanya sino ba sisipagin sa ganon? NO ONE. At dahil nag aasik na ang mata ni Agana the banana eh tumayo na ko. Baka mapatawag pa ko sa Prefect of Discipline kung hindi ko sinunod ang matandang 'to. Menopause na kasi kaya ganyan. Pssh.
"What is the study of knowledge, Ms. Yokoyama?"
Mapapa wtf ka na lang sa napakadaling question ne'tong banana na 'to! Minsan naiisip ko pang highschool lang ata 'tong pinagaaralan namin. Inayos ko ang pagkakatayo ko and then I answered her.
"It is Epistemology, Mrs. Banana" I heard my classmates laughing. "Pardon?" Her eyes were mad now. I want to giggle but you know, I can't. So I made an alibi. "Sorry Mrs. Agana! I was just craving for banana right now" I think she is much more relax right now. She motioned her index for me to be seated. And so I did. How many minutes pa ba ko magiintay? This is so effin' boring.
"15 minutes more" I looked at my seatmate. Just so you know, she is the most mysterious in the class. I was shocked. Did she really read my mind? How can it be so possible! Oh my goodness gracious. "Yes, I can read your mind" What? She is really something. Or may something something talaga? Anyways, I rested my back in my chair and feel the air of the aircon. It's relaxing, right? 15 minutes more until class dismissal. It's not that long so it's really fine for me. Where should I go later? Hmm.. Coffee shop? Book store? Is there a restaurant wherein coffee and books are together? Because I badly want to go in that kind of place it's like my comfort zone. My phone vibrated again for the second time. And it is my auntie again. Tss. What now?
"Aurélia, go home early please." What happened? Is there something wrong? Hays si Auntie talaga. I waited until the bell rang. Kinuha ko na ang bag ko and then nag punta sa locker to put my books and other things. Habang palabas ako ng campus hindi ko maiwasan isipin ano bang nangyari kay Auntie. This is the first time na pinauwi nya ko ng ganto ka-aga. Well well caramel. I should tell you my name and my background lol.
I am Aurélia Yokoyama. No parents. That's what my Auntie said. I don't really love that much my Auntie. It's not that napaka walang kwenta ko but I don't feel anything towards her. But yes, I care for her. After all these times, she's the one who's being there for me. I always wonder what my parents look like. I always wonder what would happen if I grow up with them. Longing. That's what I feel everyday. I am 18 years old. Kung itatanong nyo, no hindi ako nag debut. Because every fantasy has no happy ending. I don't believe in fairytales and magics. Let's face reality here, it's for children. I also don't believe in other world. Like what the fuck, are you crazy? My auntie doesn't explain much how my childhood was. Basta all I know, ang natatandaan ko lang when I was 11 years old. Yes, 11 down hindi ko na maalala. Nagtataka nga ako kasi diba yung ibang bata natatandaan nila pano sila nag celebrate ng every birthdays nila. But most of all, I don't have friends.
