I'll Remember

Fourteenth Week

I won.

I am the new Student Coordinating Body President! I just got fucking elected!

Umpisa pa lang, alam kong dehado na ako. I was an independent candidate. Mas may advantage sa akin ang mga katapat kong may party list. They also receive endorsement from teachers. Kilala na rin sila ng student body. Though, I studied at Princeton in grade school, maituturing pa rin akong bagong mukha.

The only thing I did is to present my platform and advocacy. I prepared concrete plans and programs. Nilatag ko lahat ang gusto kong maging plano para sa common good ng student body. Maybe, students really like the idea of transparency. Yung alam nila at kasali sila sa plano. I made it clear na if I was going to be elected, I'll make sure everyone belongs to the SCB. Hindi lang ang mga nasa position ang may participation. Lahat kasali. Lahat may maiaambag. After all, it is the student coordinating body.

I guess it really shows that flowery words and empty promises won't buy people's trust anymore. At least, sa mga kabataan.

It also won't be possible without your help, Sky. It was not my victory alone. It was ours. Sa lahat ng mga tumulong sa akin. Sa lahat ng naniwala.

At first, I doubted myself. Kaya ko ba? Am I fit to be a leader? What if I'll just disappoint people? Malabo ring manalo ako. At aaminin ko, I only considered running just for the grades.

Dagdag pa ang low-tier social skills ko. Feeling ko, mahihirapan ang ibang tao na lumapit sa akin.

Akala ata nila, I bite.

"Ian, dahil ikaw na ang presidente, pwede mo na akong abusuhin." You playfully wiggled your thick brows.

We were at the Trident. It was a crystal blue pond at the back of the campus. It was named like that because the shape of the pond looks like a trident. Yes, Princeton has a pond. May iilan ring nipa huts around it. Sabi mo kagagawa lang nito two years ago. Malapit ito sa senior high school building, kaya sila ang madalas nakatambay.

"Sky, you wildin'." Ravi chuckled. During the campaign period, hindi ko akalain na mapapalapit ako sa mga kaibigan mo. Ravi is easy to befriend. Lahat ata dinadaldal niya tulad na lang ni Magui, na mukhang tinamaan sa kanya.

It was lunch break. Nagdecide lang kayo na dito kumain, then I get dragged along. Inaya ko rin si Magui but her Kuya Alistair came and fetch her. Maglulunch daw sila outside kasama si Ate Ceres. And as per Alistair's wordings, he wanted to be saved from being alone with Ate Ceres when she's mad. Magui would be his shield daw because Ate Ceres is nice when she's around pretty girls. Lalo na kung kasing arte niya.

So, that leaves me alone with your barkada.

"Oo nga! Kahit anong utos mo, gagawin namin!" Heaven chimed in.

"Tuta niya na kayo? Anong breed mo, Heaven?" Takara said while munching on her pizza. She never missed a chance to be mean. Inirapan niya pa ako nang magtama ang tingin namin. Pinaparamdam niya talagang ayaw niya sa akin. I find it funny, though.

"Bakit? Papabreed ka ba sa akin? Lahian kita diyan eh. Woof!"

"Wow, you bark really well. Isa pa, tahol ka pa."

"Woof! Woof!" Sinunod naman ng loko.

"Tanginang utu-uto 'yan." Binatukan ni Ravi si Heaven.

At nagbangayan pa sila.

"Taki, please be nice! Heaven, stop it already! Ravi, stop being a gatong! Nakakahiya kay Troian. " Saway ni Sloane. She flashed me her sweet smile.