Joie de Vivre

Start of Journey

Uzume's POV

Ang saya palang sumakay sa jeep. Medyo siksikan pero exciting. Dapat sa jeep ako laging sasakay. Pero minsan try ko rin ang LRT o MRT, mukhang masaya rin yun ehh.

Nakangiti ako habang tinitingnan ang magiging bagong paaralan ko. It's not as prestegious of my former school at Europe but this is my choice. I know my mom will be terrified once she knows this. Pero dito ako masaya. Dito ko gustong makita ang tunay na mundo na hindi ko man lang nakita minsan dahil sa piring ng karangyaan na aking kinagisnan.

I greeted the guard when I enter the school premises. Mukhang nagulat pa si manong guard. May ibang estudyante naman na napatingin sa akin na may pagtataka. I just give them a sweet smile.

Habang papunta ako sa registrar's office, I see my schoolmates. May nag- aaral sa bench, siguradong may quiz sila at nag-rereview. Meron din nagtutuksohan papunta sa kanilang klase. May naghahabulan na parang mga bata. May nagpapaganda at mayroon ding magsyota na umagang umaga ay sobra ng sweet. Hindi kaya sila makagat ng langgam yan? There are also group of boys na pinagtatawanan ang isang kapwa estudyante. I smiled at myself seeing this different bunch of people at my age. They're so far from my world. Parang ang saya nila.

But I know that behind those smiles are tears that silently falling. Alam ko namomroblema din sila sa mga grades at quizes nila. Siguro mayroon ding family problems o di kaya problema sa pag- ibig. Mayroon ding siguro namomroblema sa baon sa pang- araw araw. Pero nakakaya pa rin nilang tumawa.

They're just like me, but not so like me. How I wish just to be like them. Having problems, yet free. Free from the chain that life tied me. I shook the thought away. I need to be positive. I need good vibes.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglakad. Hanggang sa nakarating ako sa Registrar's Office. Hindi naman mahirap hanapin kasi may mga signages naman at nasa first building lang naman ang office. Kailangan ko munang pumunta dito kasi two weeks ng nagsimula ang regular classes at medyo late na ako nakapag- enrol. I knock on the door and when I heard na pwede na akong pumasok ay binuksan ko na ang pinto at pumasok.

"Good morning Miss. I am Uzume Dayne Radforth." bati at pagpapakilala ko.

"Oohh yes miss Radforth. I'm Mrs. Gregorio, head registrar dito sa St. Ezekiel's Academy. Maupo ka." pagpapakilala rin niya sa akin. Mukhang mabait si Mrs. Gregorio. Medyo chubby siya pero maganda. At parang masiyahin. Nagpasalamat ako sa kanya at umupo.

"This is your schedule. Medyo late ka na sa pasukan kaya kailangan mong humabol sa lessons. I already informed your teachers kaya pwede ka nang pumasok sa iyong mga klase. I hope you enjoy here." sabi ni Mrs. Gregorio sa akin sabay abot ng schedule ko.

"I will maam. I know I will." sagot ko sa kanya sabay tayo. "Mauna na po ako. Thank you talaga."

Lalabas na sana ako ng pinto ng matigilan ako sa tanong ni Mrs. Gregorio.

"Why did you choose this school Miss Radforth? Yes, we produce excellent students here, but I know you know that this school doesn't have that so clean reputation when it comes to students behaviour." seryosong tanong niya sa akin. "Your records are so clean and your previous school is a prestigious one. But why did you choose to stay here? I hope you dont mind. Im just curious."

I smiled at Mrs. Gregorio and asnwer her curiousity.

"I want to be with real people and share the happiness of life. Before its too late." I bow to her and walk outside the room.

Many people will question my decision. Others may judge me, but this is the only way I can achieve happiness. To be with people I dont know yet real.

2. Enroll in a new school. √