Chapter 1
Akleo
“CONGRATULATIONS, Ateneo De Davao University. Champion. Mr. Akleo Eleazar De Silva, BS Chemistry IV. ‘56th International Science and Research Congress.’ Held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 22-25, 2020”
“Wow, sana lahat. Akalain mo yun? Champion,” tanging naiusal ko nang basahin ko ang tarpaulin na nakapaskel sa bulletin board.
Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit may mga matatalinong tao. Pare-parehas naman kami na may utak. Pinaglihi ba sila sa dictionary?
Yung iba, may utak pero walang laman. Napangiwi ako dahil sa naisip.
“Napakatalino niya, ano?” Napalingon ako sa babaeng nagsalita sa likuran ko, nagtataka.
I nodded as response.
“He’s the pride and joy of our university,” saad niya at bahagyang ngumiti.
“You know him?” I mentally made a facepalm after asking her. Tanga, syempre, alam nga niyang ‘pride and joy’ ito sa unibersidad.
I heard her chuckle. She just smiled and, without saying anything, walked away.
Sino ‘yon? Fan ata nitong Akleo.
“ALAM niyo naman siguro ang bagong balita sa loob ng uninersidad, ‘di ba?” tanong ng aming Club President.
Parte ng kolehiyo ang mga organization at mga club kaya naman as a fourth year Mass Communication student, of course, I joined the journalism club.
As a journalist in Ateneo Dava De University, I collect and gather informations, unravel some mysteries, and spread latest news.
“Tungkol kay Mr. De Silva---” I rolled my eyes, “---na naman.”
“Ang gara talaga ng lalaking iyon. Ewan ko ba, ang talino masayado. Magaling sa research, pambato sa sports, marunong tumugtog, at tsaka gwapo!” Nagtawanan ang iba sa sinabi ng isa naming miyembro.
Marupok sa gwapo. Lihim akong napangiwi.
Our club president heaved a sigh, “Wala tayong ibang maisusulat na makakakuha sa atensiyon ng mga studyante. Malakas ang pangalan ni Akleo sa publiko. The name Akleo Eleazar De Silva speaks power.”
“Well then, I expect your first draft tomorrow about the latest news. That’s all. Meeting adjourned.”
Nagligpit na kami ng kanya-kanyang gamit at handa na lumabas nang tawagin ako ng presidente namin.
“Heidi, magpaiwan ka.”
Confused, I went back to my chair earlier and sat.
“Anong meron, Stella?”
“Heidi, isang semester nalang gagraduate na tayo. Proud ako sayo kasi scholar ka since first year. You’re studying really hard to keep the scholarship with you.”
Yes, I am a scholar. Ateneo De Davao University is one of the most prestigious university in the country. Ang pangarap kong unibersidad.
We are not rich, we’re not poor either. Sakto lang pero hindi pa rin sapat para makapasok ako sa AdDU pero alam kong makakapasok ako, by hook or by crook.
One time, visiting the university’s official website to find scholarship offers. I found some pero sa sports, pageantry, pep squad, and academics. May paraan na para makakuha ng scholarship but through those things, eh, I’m not sporty, dancer, di masyadong matalino at lalong-lalo na, I am not into pageantry.
Digging deeper and searching more, I found the right thing to get the scholarship for the university and that is through writing.
Making articles and journals is my thing. Writing is my passion. Alam kong makukuha ko ang scholarship sa pamamagitan ng pagsusulat and I got it.
To have the scholarship with me ‘til my last college days is my everyday goal. Writing and submitting articles are the ways para di mawala ang pagiging scholar ko.
“Salamat, Stella pero ano ba ang gusto mong sabihin?” giving her a questioning look.
“Well, I have a proposal for you.”
“What proposal?”
“You know, Mr. Akleo Eleazar De Silva is our pride and joy, right?” she paused. “We have lots of articles about him being the best at everything pero parang may kulang---may kulang talaga.”
Kumunot ang noo ko sa pinagsasabi niya.
“Sa dami ng naisulat natin tungkol sa ginawa niya, wala naman tayong naisulat na tungkol talaga sa kaniya, ‘di ba?” tumawa ito ng mahina. “Ang alam natin ay napakamatalino nito, napakahusay, napakagaling, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.”
“What are you trying to say, Stella?” Hindi ko alam pero kinakabahan ako.
“I want you to know who is Akleo Eleazer De Silva. Who is he? Behind his great intelligence, sino ba talaga ito? Ano ba ang sekreto nito?”
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BINABASA MO ANG
Unveiling The Ace's Enigma
RomanceA boy, entitled as the ace of the university. Secretive and enigmatic. Living with a big burden. A girl striving for her life to be a great journalist. An open book. Unraveling great secrets. Then the universe let their fate collide. The girl diggin...
