Close as Strangers

Day 1.1: The Girl Who Stole My Place

6:00 sharp. That was the time I arrived, and the school was so quiet, not even the volunteers were making a sound.

First day of class, as usual I was the first one there, typical. I'm always the first one too arrive at almost everything. It's lonely being the first sometimes, but I have gotten used to it. 9 years attending Javier Academy and still my routine has never changed. I thought being in Senior High School there would be changes but sadly it feels like it's going to be the same typical boring year.

As I wait, I practice the lines I prepared and muttered them under my breath.

"I am Isaac Johann Peter Nostra III , you can call me Isaac. I am a Javier Junior High School graduate, formerly from the section 10-Jupiter."

As the words poured out of my mouth I still could not believe it. Only two months have passed since I was in 10-Jupiter, honors class for Javier Junior High, a class that I regarded as family. Yet, now, we are now separated. Some are in STEM others in ABM, none in HUMMS and only one in GAS.

As the number of students increased in number, I slowly work my way to some familiar faces, Slade, Marron, Eden, Adarna, Kalo, Mat, Jessica, Julie, Sayer, Europe, Mai, all people from 10-Jupiter, except for Sayer.

8:00, that was when registration started, and I wanted to be the first one on that list. Why? Well nothing special, I just wanted to be first, I was waiting here for 2 hours, I wanted to be the first on the list. So silently, I slipped away from the group , as I usually do. Seriously, I'm 5' 7" in height and 116 kg in weight, and yet they don't notice me going or leaving.

When I got to the desk, it wasn't open for registration yet, but I was patient and waited.

I then saw something that I haven't seen since grade school, a student being accompanied by her parent during the first day. My first thought was , "Woah, new student, protective parent, possible threat." So I avoided her.

It was a bit awkward waiting at the desk, knowing well that my friends, if I can call them that, could see me now waiting. Meanwhile I was a bit busy trying to see all the new faces in in school. Once in awhile I would glance at that girl for a moment then go on by to looking at someone else, but I kept returning to her. There was something with this girl that bugged me, or intrigued me, but I didn't show it.

Finally registration was now open, but lo and behold, that same girl, stole my place at the top of the list because her mother went first. So I had to settle for second.

Then we were "herded" into a group of ten and were made to line up so that we could go to the Gymnasium in an orderly manner.

She went, first, and I followed.

I knew that I was going to be separated from my usual group but it was only for the opening Mass and the program, I was surely going to find a way back somehow.

Oh but I was wrong.

Sitting there being the first ones inside, it was a bit quiet and I can't stand silence really. However the only ones I could talk to was the person at my right or at my left, both people were new to me, but because the girl to the right was the one I saw earlier I chose to talk to her.

I decided to talk in "Bisaya" or in the Vernacular language because I already had a feeling that she was a new student.

"Bag-o ka diri sa Javier Academy?"

For those who can't speak Bisaya, it means, "Are you new to Javier Academy?"

Her reply, was just a soft, "Hindi kita na iintindihan."

So, she was a new student and she doesn't understand Bisaya, nice.

Instinctively I switched to Taglish, a mix of English and Tagalog or Filipino.

"Are you new here in Javier? Bago ka pa sa Javier?"

"Oo", mahina nyang sagot.

"I'm Isaac Johann Peter Nostra, but you can call me Isaac. How about you?"

"Aya"

And because I was hard of hearing, I didn't get it right away.

It went something like this:

"Ara?"

"Aya"

"Ayla?"

"Aya"

"Aya?"

"Yes"

So finally I got her name, Aya, nice name, didn't know anyone else with that name.

So we talked a little, mostly I was the one to talk, but I was careful in choosing my words. So i had some pauses thinking for the right words.

So finally the mass started, and how ironically, the priest, who was also the President of the Academy chose to speak his Homily in the Bisaya language. Great. She just smiled and laughed a small laugh. So I had to be the translator, luckily the story was familiar enough that I could tell the story as fast as he, the priest, said it.

Then came the Our Father, the holding of the hands, yes, because it was tradition in Javier for everyone to hold hands.

I was able to feel her soft hand, it was small compared to mine, and mine was rough and hard.

Afterwards it was like that, small talk during most of the program. Well basically I would talk and she would respond in that same soft voice.

Then what came afterwards was not expected.