Lost Chocolates

Chapter 1: Little Secret

ELLERY

"This is it. Eto na ang hinihintay ko." I took a deep breathe, habang kinikiskis ng paulit-ulit ang aking mga palad.

I took a deep breathe again, as I was facing my laptop screen, as I was facing this Hamilton University homepage. Hindi naman malamig, ngunit sobra akong nanginginig habang tahimik na binasa ang title sa the webpage, which is written in big, bold letters.

"HAMILTON UNIVERSITY LIST OF SCHOLARS FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2020-2021."

Pagkatapos kong mag-enroll last month, nag apply agad ako ng scholarship. I am aiming for at least 75% or kahit 50% off man lang sa total assessment. Malaki ang maitutulong nito sa lahat ng mga gastusin ko sa pag-aaral.

I clicked for the link and lo and behold, I was shocked! There are a total of 200 students na nakapasa sa scholarship sa buong university. Sa pagkakalam ko umabot kami ng isang libo na nag apply nito ah? Ang taas naman pala ng standards nila, Lord! Sana naman nakasali ako dito.

In an extremely slow pace, I typed my name in the search box.

Loading...loading... Ahhh!!! Halos masabunutan ko na ang sarili ko ng biglang humina ang internet.

Until the window popped out.

Name: ELLARINA, Maria Ellery Alarcon
Course: Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management
Grant: 100% FULL SCHOLARSHIP

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. My mouth was wide open.

F-full? Seryoso ba ito?

I refreshed it, pero ganun parin. I closed the website and opened it again, and it still displayed the same thing. Kumurap ako at pinagsasampal ang sarili ko, ngunit di pa rin ito nagbago.

And with that, I broke.

"AAAAHHH!! Aly, Ran, Clara! Hali kayo dito! Bilis!!"

Aly was frantically running towards me, na nakatapis pa lang at kalalabas pa mula sa banyo. "Ellery?! Anong nangyari?!"

Nagmamadali ring lumabas sa kanyang kwarto si Ran habang dala-dala ang kanyang cellphone. She was talking to Clara, who lives in England, via video call.

"What's happening, people?" I heard Clara asked in Ran's phone.

"Tingnan niyo ito dali!" I excitedly pointed at my laptop screen. Sabay-sabay nila itong tiningnan. Nung una ay nakakunot ang kanilang mga noo dahil sa inasal ko, ngunit ang bakas ng pagkainis ay unti-unting napalitan ng malalaking ngiti at matinis nilang tili nang mabasa nila ang magandang balita.

"Ellery! Totoo ba ito?! Ang galing mo!!" Tumili si Aly at niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit.

"I'm so proud of you!" Ran shouted at nakisali sa hug namin.

"Congratulations my dear friend! This calls for a celebration!" Clara uttered with her oh-so-good english accent.

"Thank you, girls! Hindi ko talaga inaasahan ito. Ang konti lang kaya naming nakapasa, at ang hirap hirap niya pa!" Tugon ko sa kanila.

"Hay nako. Ayan na naman si Miss magaling-ako-pero-hindi-ko-alam." Ran said this as she motioned a rainbow-like action using her hands.

"Ran's right Elle." Ani Aly. "Kaming lahat may tiwala sa ginagawa mo, ikaw lang wala."

"Just recognize your talents, Elle!" Sabi ni Clara sa kabilang linya.

Nakaka-touch naman ang mga ito.

"Sige na nga. Thank you!" We all giggled.

"Anyway, Clara's right. This calls for a celebration. At dahil jan, magbe-bake na naman si SweetsniELLE! Ihanda mo yung camera set Aly, gagawa tayo ng bagong video! Ran, tulungan mo akong magprepare ng ingredients." Utos ko kay Aly at Ran habang lumalakad papunta sa kusina.