Callous Heart

Warning

"Class, this is your new classmate, Miss Gabriella Isabel Silang. She's the newest almuni scholar." pakilala sa kanya ni Miss Flame. Everyone stood up and greeted her in chorus.

"Welcome to Sullivan University Miss Silang!" masiglang bati ng mga ito. She was amazed for a moment. Iba pala talaga sa private school.

"Thank you." aniya sabay ngiti.

Miss Flame roamed her eyes around. She smiled then turned to her again.

"You may now take your seat Gabriella. Kindly occupy the vacant seat beside Miss Adolfo." she said. Nakangiti siyang tumango at tinungo ang bakanteng upuan sa tabi ng babaeng itinuro nito.

"Hi Gabriella! I'm Addie! Welcome to our school." masiglang bati ng babaeng maputi at chinita nang makaupo siya. She even offered her hand for a handshake.

"Thank you Addie. You can call me Gab." aniya matapos abutin ang kamay nito.

Ilang sandali pa, nagsimula nang magsalita sa harap si Miss Flame. Since it's just the first day of class, the discussion was just brief and short. It was more on orientation. Dos and Donts in the class were discussed.

Gab could tell that most of her classmates came from a well-off family. Their clothes, things, and even skins screamed sophistication and class. Simpleng t-shirt and pants lang ang suot niya samantalang ang mga ito sunod sa uso ang mga damit. She didn't mind though kasi mas komportable siya sa nakasanayan niyang get up; shirt, pants and sneakers.

She's not supposed to be there. Actually, never niyang pinangarap na makapasok sa ganoong klaseng paaralan. Kontento na siya sa dating paaralan niya kung saan siya nag Junior High School but then, an opportunity came. Sullivan University offered a scholarship to all honor students from different schools. The scholarship was so hard to resist because aside from free tuition fee, miscellaneous, and books, it also offered a quiet big amount of stipend. Yun ang nagtulak sa kanya para kumuha ng exam kasi malaking tulong yun sa pamilya nila.  God was so good because she was blessed enough to have passed the exam and interview. Kaya ngayon, makakapag aral na siya ng libre sa isang prestihiyosong paaralan, makakatulong pa siya sa gastusin sa bahay nila.

"Class, I just need to go to the Principal's Office. I'll be back in awhile." paalam ni Miss Flame habang may binabasa sa cellphone nito. She looked a bit worried. Nagmamadali itong umalis.

The moment Miss Flame stepped out of the door, students started to buzz. Biglang naging magulo at maingay ang kanina ay tahimik na classroom. She was shocked because the classroom figuratively turned into a beehive. Students started to talk, laugh, play, and roam around. Kanya kanyang labasan ng mga gadgets, cosmetics, food, at kung anu ano pa na kaka discuss lang kanina ni Miss Flame na bawal sa classroom. They were all noisy and restless. She even got hit by a flying crumpled paper on the face.

"Ops! Sorry." anang classmate niyang lalaki na halatang hindi sincere sa paghingi ng tawad kasi nakangisi pa itong kumindat sa kanya.

"Shocked?" ani Addie sa kanya nang mapansin ang reaksyon niya. Marahan siyang tumango habang sinusundan ng tingin ang kaklase niyang hindi pa rin tumitigil sa pakikipagbatuhan ng crumpled paper sa iba pa nilang kaklase.

"That is a normal scenario here in Sullivan University. Masasanay ka din." natatawa nitong komento.

"Why?" nagtataka niyang tanong na ang tinutukoy ay ang behaviour ng mga kaklase.

"Just because." tipid na sagot ni Addie sabay kindat sa kanya.

She roamed her eyes around again. She couldn't believe that this prestigious university has this kind of students. It's almost hard to believe. Mas may breeding pa yata yung mga estudyante dun sa dati niyang pinapasukan eh.