Don't Go

001

I took a deep breath before I entered the room full of people that mostly I am not familiar with.

Inilibot ko ang mata ko. Ang iba ay tahimik lamang pero ang iba ay maingay, maaring magkakilala na sila. I saw some familiar faces because just like Kit and I, they study here in highschool also. This is my block and the students who were here inside the room are my blockmates. I will be with them for the rest of the semester.

Nakita ko agad si Kit kaya agad akong lumapit sa kanya. He reserved the sit beside him. Nasa ikalawa kaming row. Alam niya kasi na ayaw kong umuupo sa likuran. I can concentrate more when I am seated on the front seats. Hindi ko nga maintindihan kung bakit ang iba ay mas gustong umuupo sa likod. Ang hirap kayang makapagconcentrate kapag ganoon.

"Sana mabait ang prof natin at mataas magbigay ng grades," saad ni Kit nang makaupo na ako sa tabi niya.

"Sana magaling magturo," I said.

Naglabas ako ng notes ko. I researched and studied this for the past few months. Alam kong mahirap ang accountancy that's why I must prepare myself. Hindi pa man nag-uumpisa ang pasukan ay nasa loob lamang ako ng aking silid nagbabasa at nag-aaral ng tungkol sa debit at credit.

There's no room for errors especially on this one. I needed to ace this course. I needed to be a CPA. I needed to make my parents especially my mother be proud of me.

Gusto ko maipagmalaki niya ako. She is a chief financial officer of one of the biggest company of the country. Kaya kinuha ko ang kursong ito dahil baka sa pagkakataong ito ay ma-appreciate niya na rin ako. I hope this sacrifice won't go to waste.

"Woah! Ang prepared mo naman, Ven. Hindi pa nag-uumpisa ang sem pero may notes ka na agad."

"Gusto mong humiram ng notes ko para makapagbasa ka?" I asked him but he just shook his head.

"Na. 'Tsaka na lang. Ayoko munang ma-stress," saad niya kaya nagkibit-balikat na lamang ako at sinimulan ko nang basahin ang mga isinulat ko. I am just rereading it anyway dahil pinag-aralan ko naman na ito ng bakasyon.

I looked at my watch and it was almost 8:30 AM — the time of our first subject which is cost accounting.

I just continue on reading my notes when suddenly, I heard our professor's voice.

"Good morning class," she said with a face full of smiles.

Nagsaya naman kaagad ang mga kaklase ko dahil mukha raw mabait ang prof namin. Well, I just hope so at sana may matutunan talaga ako.

"I am Bernadeth Avila, CPA and I will be your cost accounting professor," pagpapakilala niya.

She shared her experiences while studying also gave some motivations to us. Maybe, ganito talaga ang ibang professors upang i-inspire ang kanilang estyudyante. Isa pa ay first day din nga naman, halos orientation lang naman talaga ang dapat gawin.

Then all of a sudden, she was disturb when a man entered the room.

"Excuse me. Do you belong in my class?" tanong ni ma'am sa lalake and the man just nodded his head. That the same familiar man who possesses the same face with my childhood friend.

"Can I see your matriculation?"

Naglakad ang lalake papalapit kay ma'am at ibinigay ang kanyang matri.

I couldn't stop myself from staring at him. He really looks like him.

Naramdaman ko pang tumingin sa akin si Kit pero hindi ko na lamang siya pinansin. Kailangan kong malaman kung siya ba talaga si Lay. Kung ka-block ko siya, malalaman ko rin naman agad ang sagot. Sana lang ay naalala niya pa rin ako. Up until now, I am holding on to our promises.