Love Above It All

Chapter 1

WARNING: If you can't handle explicit contents such as abuse and self-harm then skip some parts. Your mental health matters.

"Hi!"

Tumayo si Kaleel at binati ako nang makita akong palapit sa bench na inuupuan niya. Binigyan ko lamang siya ng isang tipid ng ngiti.

I'm in college. I can't believe it.

"Nagtanong-tanong na ako kanina, Solanna. Doon daw 'yung freshmen orientation." Itinuro niya ang direksyon bago bumaling muli sa akin. "Let's go?"

"Tara," bulong ko at sinundan siya. Umiiwas ako sa mga nakakasalubong ko, takot na mabunggo nila ako o mahalata. Hawak ko lamang ang strap ng backpack ko at nakayuko habang nakasunod kay Kaleel na kanina pa nagsasalita at sinusubukang bumuo ng usapan.

"Hospitality management, dito ka na?" tanong niya sa akin at tinignan ang nakahilerang mga upuan. Napalunok ako sa rami ng tao at tumingin lang kay Kaleel, sinusubukang makipag-usap gamit lamang ng mga mata ko. He flashed me a smile.

"Alright, I'll sit here for a while." Tumabi siya ng upo sa akin at pinagmasdan lang ang mga nangyayari.

Kaleel is my high school classmate. Hindi naman kami masyadong close pero siguro dahil may kaunting interaksyon na kami, sinasamahan pa rin niya ako hanggang ngayon. Knowing that I'm not very social and all. I thank him for that.

Inabutan niya ako ng tubig kaya napatingin ako roon bago ko kinuha dahil pinagpapawisan na ako sa kaba ng daming tao at sa mga mangyayari.

"Salamat," I smiled at him. Ngumisi lang siya at tumingin sa harapan kung sana naguumpisa na magsalita ang isang lalaki.

Today is day one of freshmen orientation. Where we should meet other students, which I don't feel like it.

He started tackling about the university's history and all. What they offer, the professors, the courses, and how students ease the transition into college. Familiarizing. It's actually just shouting one thing. Welcome to fucking college, freshmen!

I was just blankly staring at the front while remembering how I ended up here well in fact I shouldn't.

I took a lot of tests for any scholarships without my parent's knowledge. And this was the best offer I could get. The sponsor offered me a place to stay, which is a studio type condominium unit near the college I'm attending.

I gritted my teeth when my stepmother grabbed the paper in my hand that says I passed the test and I just need to comply. I swallowed the lump on my throat when I watched her tear it and threw it on my face.

"Anong ibig sabihin non?!" her voice thundered. I could smell, she reeks alcohol. In broad daylight.

"Magco-college po ako sa Maynila-" hindi ko nasagot ng maayos ang tanong niya nang itulak niya ako at tumama ang likod ko sa malamig na pader. I held my breath, scared for what's coming next.

"Pinapangunahan mo ba kami ng Papa mo?" she asked while slowly closing the distance between us. Her stares are enough to make my blood boil but make my legs tremble at the same time. I'm scared for my life.

"Hindi po."

"E ano 'yong nakita kong hawak mo? Sa Maynila pa talaga ang nais mo?" She laughed hysterically. But she stopped after a second and eyed me sharply. "Ang taas ng pangarap mo Solanna!" dinuro-duro niya ako. Yumuko na lamang ako para hindi na lalong lumala ang sitwasyon.

"Ano 'yon?! Ipinapamukha mo ba na hindi ka namin kayang pag-aralin?!" her eyes were fuming mad, I don't know why she's mad well in fact she should be happy because I passed a scholarship test. Hindi na sagabal sa gastusin ang pag-aaral ko... pero mukhang wala naman silang balak na pag-aralin ako.