Letters to a Mysterious Stranger [ONGOING]

Application

(Sent on Dec 9th, Monday, 11:02 am, MPU Faculty Center)

To: prisoner24601@mpu.edu.ph

From: jerusha.abad@gmail.com

Dear Mysterious Stranger,

I think I am your first fangirl.

How can I even begin to thank you? Firstly, you saved my bag from being taken by a Salisi gang member, and now I cannot believe my luck when Prof. Zalde, our department chair, told me about the scholarship you are giving me. Before this, I used to think that things like these only happen in storybooks.

Do you want to know how our meeting went today?

Truth be told, I was terrified that morning, knowing that I stood her up last Friday. To my surprise, she greeted me with the smile that she usually reserved for our most distinguished alumni and visitors. "Have a seat, iha," she said, cheerfully motioning me to the chair before her. "I have some wonderful news for you."

I obeyed, still rehearsing the story I was about to tell in my head about what happened last Friday, but she didn't seem to care.

"Have you seen the guest in the benefit wearing a Zorro costume?"

"No."

"Pity. Or you would have had a chance to at least see your generous benefactor."

"I have a benefactor?"

She then explained to me about the anonymous scholarship program that you are starting, that in return for your sending me to grad school to the university of my choice, I am required to write to you once a month from the time that I begin my studies.

"Emails?" I asked.

She nodded. "Emails will do. The university has set him up with an account to satisfy this request. He just needs to be assured that his investment is secure. Far too many of our most brilliant scholars leave the country and never go back."

"Why me?"

"No idea," she replied. "But he said he read some papers of yours online, and was highly amused. He attested, 'We need young people like her with new ideas and new ways of seeing the world.' For my part, I never saw the cultural value of those video games and online fictions you write about."

At that point, I was a bit too elated to even think of arguing with her. I walked out of her office with your email address feeling like the luckiest girl in the entire universe.

It's a pity though, that according to your rules, we can never meet, and that you will never reply to me. I don't understand why, but I'm sure you have your reasons. I would like to think of you as my guardian angel or my own superhero, and of course as my own superhero, I know you will need your disguise so you can keep doing your good deeds. Still, I don't know much about you. I only know what I was told: that you are an eccentric rich idealist who is keen on spending money on derelict humanities departments, and revitalizing them with young blood. I think I like that about you because far too many sponsors tend to give their money on something more visible. I know you love disguises, vigilantes and Les Miserables (judging from that number on your email address). Fear not, my dear stranger. I will do what you ask: that I write and update you of my progress throughout this entire venture.

Now I realize that I have so much to do! I know I have to take the IELTS test, and I will have to send my applications as soon as possible.

I'll write to you again once I make some significant progress.

Thanks again!

Judy

PS. Mysterious stranger, the name that you have asked me to use, is too generic. Mind if I call you Zorro? You will always be Zorro to me.