Genius in Distress

Chapter XIV: First Day at Uni

“So this is going to be my new school?” Aia asked herself looking at the building in front of her. It was big and modern. It was nothing compared to the Ivy League but it would do. She was not into the physical components or name of the school, the most important thing was the quality of learning they inculcate to their students. Useless lang ang magandang facility at magandang estruktura nang paaralan kung wala namang natututunan ang mga estudyante nito.

Aia and Lt. Castellejos stalked in silence toward the main building where the registrar’s office could be found. Aia still need to confirm her enrolment. The funny thing was that, she didn’t have any idea what course she’d enrolled in. Her dad decided for everything. It was no big deal for her as long as he didn’t enrol her in any science related course e.g chemistry, biology and physics. It would be totally pointless.

Everything about her was just weird, totally; first her triple life, then living in a military camp literally hiding behind an army; lastly living a life so new to her. Aia sighed. She might as well get used to it and her new name as well.

“First day jitters?” he asked as they turned to a deserted hallway toward the office. Napansin nito na kanina pa siya tahimik.

Aia shook her head and said, “I’m supposed to be on break, you know.”

“Young girls like you should focus on studies not on anything else. You can have your break once you finish school.”

“I told you I’m not one of those girls.” Paulit – ulit na lang.

“If you say so,” he said mimicking her just this morning. “I have to leave you here,” Lt Castellejos said after they arrived at the registrar’s office. “I have to check on the campus’ security systems. Wait for me here. Don’t go anywhere,” he ordered.

Aia was surprised he did not add ‘don’t talk to strangers’.  She’d surely laugh. Couldn’t he loosen up for a bit? Masyado kasi nitong dinidibdib ang trabaho.

“Copy!” As if she’d wander around without any assurance of her safety. She was being cautious too. “Lt. Castellejos, do I look normal?” she asked unthinkingly.

Lt. Castellejos gave her a once over. She was wearing her usual stuff, tattered jeans, oversized hoodie which hid her bulletproof vest, and a pair of sneakers.

“Why do you ask?”

“Nothing. Just answer me. I want your honest opinion.”

“Well, you look weirdo if you won’t pull off that hoodie.”

“That’s just it?”

“Why you expect me to say more?”

She shook her head. “Off you go Lt. Castellejos, I’ll be fine here.”

“Good!” he said and went off.

Aia watched as Lt. Castellejos headed off and disappeared in the corner before she turned her attention to the student aid in charge. She was busy typing on her computer.

“Excuse me, Miss.”

She looked up to her, pissed of her disturbance. “Ano tani?” she asked Aia in local dialect.

“Huh?” She was totally clueless of Ilongo dialect. At the camp, people there spoke either Tagalog or English as common language; so, she never had the chance to learn it even the basics. “I’m sorry but I don’t speak your dialect nor understand it. Anyway, I’m Aia. Aia Trinidad. I’m here to confirm my enrolment.”

The girl raised her brow to her. “Alam mo bang halos isang buwan ka nang late this semester?” she responded in Tagalog.

“I am well aware of it miss.”

She stood up and picked something from the other table. She handed it to her. “That’s your schedule, university manual, campus map and your locker key. It was prepared by yours truly. Next time, you should enrol on time para hindi ka nakaka-abala. Do you know that we have to fix your schedule so that there would be no conflicts?”

“Err.. Thanks miss.” Aia was about to turn away when the aid said something. It was almost inaudible.

“There’s nothing really special about her.”

“What does she mean by that?”

Aia paced the corridor outside the Registrar’s office. Thirty minutes had passed but there was still no sign of Lt. Castellejos. What was taking him so long? Aia was getting anxious by the minute. Another twenty had passed when he showed up. She stopped pacing and waited for him to come near her.

“What took you so long?” she worriedly asked.

“I checked everything from the security personnel, their agency, their training, on how they can respond to emergency cases, among other things. The whole campus was equipped with security cameras. Mahigpit din ang pagpapasok nila ng mga outsider dito sa campus. So far, wala pa naming history nang crime and violence dito.”

“Oh, sounds good. So, what’s the verdict?” she asked hoping na pumayag na itong iwanan siyang mag isa sa loob nang campus. 

“You’re safe here.”

“See, I told you.”

He just shrugged. “So what did you take?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“What?” he asked incredulously. Hindi ito makapaniwala na wala siyang alam sa kursong kinuha niya.

Aia just shrugged. She took a look at her enrolment student’s copy and read it, “It’s Business Administration.” 

“That’s good. Good luck. Give me a copy of your class schedule later.”

Aia nodded.

“Let’s go,” he said. “I’ll walk you to your first class,”

Aia called out as Lt. Castellejos started turning away. “What do you think of me twelve?” she blurted out. “I can make my own way, thank you. I don’t have to be your concern when I’m inside the campus.”

“But I am responsible for you," giit nito.

“I’ll be fine Lt. Castellejos. I took so much of your time already.” She peered at her schedule and said, “My class will end at six o’clock. You can fetch me by then.”

He nodded. “I’ll be at the gate in eighteen hundred hours.”

“Okay. G’day Lt. Castelejos,” she said and started walking away.

“Hey!” Now he was the one to call back. “You don’t have school stuff.”

She wrinkled her nose. “It is not really necessary. If it is, I’ll manage. I’m late, Lt. Castellejos. See you later.” She waved him good bye and hurriedly went to find her first class.

 Totoo naman. Minsan hindi na siya nagdadala nang notebook at ballpen sa loob nang klase. She had a photographic memory. Ano pa ang silbi nang mga iyon kung memoryado niya naman lahat nang sinasabi at sinusulat nang mga professor niya. 

Dito lang yata sa Pilipinas na ang mga teacher ay chine-check pa ang ga notebook nang mga estudyante.