Surrounded by the Past

Chapter 1

"Did you pack your things already? How about your lunch and your snacks? I gave you the money incase na mabitin ka sa baon mo. Don't forget to eat, okay?" Nginitian ko na lamang si mommy. She's being over-protective again.

"Mom, I'm going to be fine okay? Trust me." She smiled and hugged me.

"Okay, I'll trust you, but make sure to call me incase of an emergency, all right?" Tumango na lamang ako para matapos na at makaalis na rin ako. Hindi naman ako luluwas ng bansa o pupunta kung saanman. I'm just going to school, my first day of school. But here's my mom, baby-ing me again.

"I need to go, mom. Bye love you!" I kissed her cheek and waved her goodbye. Malapit lang naman ang school ko rito. Isang sakay lang ng tricycle ay naroon ka na, kaya sa palagay ko naman ay hindi ako malelate. Buti na lang din at maaga-aga pa kaya hindi pa punuan ang mga tricycle.

"Manong, sa Zild University lang po," ani ko nang may pumarang tricycle sa harap ko.

Mmm... fresh air

Matagal-tagal na rin kasi akong hindi nakalalabas. Lumalabas lang ako tuwing may bibilhin ako or I've got to do something important that requires going out of the house. It's not my hobby to go out; I would rather be stuck in my bed and just sleep.

Sininghot ko ang malamig na hangin na sumasalubong sa akin.

6:30 AM pa lamang kaya medyo madilim-dilim pa at malamig pa ang simoy ng hangin. Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata dahil medyo inaantok pa ako.

Maya-maya'y hindi ko na rin namalayan na nasa tapat na pala kami ng university. Nagpasalamat ako kay manong at pag-alis niya'y napatulala ako sa laki ng escuelahang papasukan ko.

Wow... so this is my school huh? Damn, it's pretty big.

This is it. Señior High na ako, my last year in high school. Hinawakan ko nang maigi ang aking bagpack at sinimulan nang maglakad papasok ng university.

Pagpasok ko sa loob ay nakita ko ang mga nagsikalat na estudyante. Hinahanap nila ang kani-kanilang mga sections kaya nakihalubilo na rin ako at hinanap ang akin.

"Soleigh!" I turned to my back and saw Aiken waving her two hands at me. I rushed towards her and hugged her. God, I missed this girl! Kumalas siya sa pagkakayakap at tinitigan ako.

"I missed you, Soleeeeigh~" She said using her excited voice while jumping up and down. I just rolled my eyes and smiled.

Aiken is my bestfriend since childhood. We just lost our communication when she went abroad together with her family in Canada. They lived there for a decade that's why we never had the chance to bond in the following years.

"Hey! I thought you left me forever and will never come back. You owe me much!" I said as I glare at her, the reason why she pouted.

"It's not my fault! Biglaan eh!" Aniya habang iniikot-ikot ang sapatos niyang mayroong four inches na takong.

I tsked jokingly and brushed the topic off.

"What's your section? Magkaklase ba tayo?" I asked with excitement but she just frowned at me. We are both taking STEM strand, but since there are three to five rooms per strand, there's only a bit of chance that we'll be put together in the same class. I'm still hoping though!

"No, I'm in room 1 while you're in room 3. Kainis! I told my mom I want to be in the same class as you eh!" Bakas sa kanyang tono ang pagkabigo. Napawi ang excitement at ang ngiti ko sa labi kanina. So wala akong kakilala sa room namin? That's friggin' bad!