Ang Girlfriend Ni Crush(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 15

JUST A SCENT

SKYLIE's•

"Agahan niyo sa Monday, girls. School van ang magiging service niyo papunta at pauwi galing Feminy."

"Yes, sir. Thank you po," sagot ng college student.

Next week na gaganapin sa Feminy University ang Science Academic Tournament. Nandito ako ngayon sa loob ng isang private conference room kasama ang tatlo pang representative. Nandito rin ang ilan sa mga admin ng Science Club, Science teachers, at ang adviser namin for this competition. Hindi rin nawawala sa pagpupulong ang observant na co-assistant ng may ari nitong paaralan, at isa muli mula sa mga executive members. Ganito ang ginagawa namin taon-taon, a week before the competition, doing a short briefing and making sure everything is settled.

Hindi basta-basta ang Science quiz. Isa ito sa pinakamalaki at inaabangang kompetisyon sa buong syudad. It's a battle of pride and brain. Walang institusyon ang nagpapahuli pagdating dito. Lahat ay gustong manguna sa akademya, lahat ay may gustong patunayan sa agham, at lahat ay ninanais ang higit pa sa kampyunato, at iyon ay ang pag-ilab at pag-ingay muli ng kanilang pangalan. Kaya naman nakasalalay sa bawat estudyanteng pinili ang lahat, buhat-buhat namin sila sa aming likuran. We're taking all the heat.

Harrision has four representatives. One per grade. Mayroon kami sa elementary. Another one from secondary, then tertiary. While me, I represent the separate senior-high level. Last year was my last won for secondary, and this year is my first competition as a senior high, which is somehow a new game for me dahil hindi pa nanalo ni minsan ang senior high grade. And my goal this tournament...is to get us our first win.

Crossed fingers.

All universities and colleges here in the city have the full education system. We have all the levels. Mula elementary hanggang tertiary; undergraduate level, graduate level, and doctoral. Kaya rin apat ang representative per school. I've been here in Harrison since elementary, kasama ko sina Gwen at Rob, kaya naman parang tahanan na rin namin ang lugar na 'to. We love it here. We really do. Pero nakakasawa rin minsan dahil pare-parehong pagmumukha lang ang nasisilayan mo araw-araw sa loob ng ilang taon.

"You will get additional allowance and bonus next month," sabi naman ng isa pa sa mga admins. Bumaling siya sa'kin. "Yung sayo Rae baka isama na sa scholarship allowance mo."

I nodded.

Kunwari chill lang pero ang totoo ay nagr'rejoice na ang laman loob ko. I figuratively had dollar signs in my eyes by now. 'Yon lang naman kasi ang hinihintay kong marinig, ang isa sa dahilan kung bakit ako napapayag sumali—pera.

Have I ever mentioned that I am an academic scholar? I may have forgotten. I never bragged. Sr. Harrison granted me a full scholarship two years ago. That was after my two consecutive wins in the Science contest. I was in my third year back then, and I was already planning to quit, not to join anymore, but little did I know...they have already decided to give me more than just a bonus—and that's the Academic scholarship or their so called 'special'. Libre ang tuition fee at may discount pa sa lahat ng stores around the city. Tapos every year ay dinadagdagan nila ang benefits na nakukuha ng bawat scholar. This year they announced na student and health insurance ang additional benefit. Super generous eh? They made me change my mind. Malaking tulong sa'kin at sa parents ko ang pagiging scholar dahil kung dati kalahati ng kita ng business namin ay napupunta lang sa school fees, ngayon naman sa savings account na ng pamilya. At hindi lang 'yon...nakakapag-ipon na rin ako gamit ang sarili kong allowance.