Warm weather welcomed us as we arrived here in the Philippines.
Finally I'm home. I said to myself, I am carrying my travel bag going outside the airport. Hindi na ako nag abala pang magdala ng maraming gamit since we originally live here at ilang buwan lang naman kami mamamalagi dito sa Pilipinas, we are bound to go to Korea in 4 months dahil doon gaganapin ang semi finals and 3 months after that championship na. Napag usapan narin namin kahapon ni Mom na papasok ako ng school while I'm on training, I don't want to be home schooled again and luckily she agreed as long as I can balance and manage my time well. And since I'm not that busy kahapon so I grabbed that chance for me to enroll through online, para walang masayang na panahon, I only have limited time, masyado rin akong excited. I took Accountancy as my course on Clarkson University. The thought of me going to school for the first time also makes me feel jittery, I mean will I be able to make friends there? Magugustuhan ba nila ako? Gaano ba kalaking adjustment ang kailangan kong gawin-
"Monette hija, are you okay?" Naputol ang iniisip ko ng kausapin ako ni Mom, nilingon ko naman ang gawi niya upang makausap ng maayos
"I'm okay mom"
"Pagod ka na ba? We're here" I looked around and realized nakahinto na pala ang van sa tapat ng gate ng bahay, ni hindi ko man lang napansin.
"Let's go" Pag aya ni mom sakin, tinulungan ko naman siyang kunin ang mga gamit namin sa van para maipasok na sa bahay.
I miss home, I miss you dad. As I enter the house si manang Ester naman ang bumungad samin.
"Manang!" I said and hurriedly run to give her a tight hug. My nanny simula pa ng bata pa ako.
"Clarissa hija, ang laki mo na" she said as we let go of our hugs. Mapapansin mo na na may katandaan narin si Manang Ester pero ganoon parin ito kalakas animoy parang nasa 40's parin.
"Manang Ester"
"Mirna, nako salamat naman sa diyos at maayos kayong naka uwi dito sa bahay"
"Kamusta naman dito sa bahay Manang?"
"Maayos naman pinauwi ko nga lang muna si Felia nasa ospital ang anak"
"Ganoon ho ba? Dalawin nalang natin Nang, magpapahingha lang muna kami"
I decided to go upstairs nang sina mommy na ang nag uusap sa sala. This house brings a lot of memories with my dad. When I entered my room I smiled when I saw everything is in place, ganoon parin ang ayos simula ng umalis kami. From my icy blue colored walls, curtains and bed sheets. Everything's blue except for my study table and cabinet its a white color but of course with a touch of blue on it. Sa kabilang table naman I saw the white blade shoes I wore the first time I joined the competition, regalo pa ito ni Daddy sa akin bago siya nawala, from my photos when I was still young to our family picture. Napahiga ako sa kama ng makaramdam ng pagod half of my body was on the bed and while my feet were still on the floor. I was about to close my eyes when I remembered I haven't had anything for school yet.
"Oh shoot!" Nag madali akong tumayo and went to my bathroom para maligo sandali, after that I just wore a plain shirt paired with my fitted black jeans and a rubber shoes, I didn't bother to comb my hair basta ko nalang itong itinali into a messy bun.
Pababa na ako ng hagdan ng makita ko si Manang Ester sa sala, nangunot naman ang mga noo niya ng makita akong pababa at nakasuot ng pang alis.
"San ang punta mo hija?"
"Sa mall lang po manang bibili ng gamit ko sa school"
"Hindi ba pwedeng ipagpa bukas nalang iyan? Aba'y magpahinga ka muna kaya"
"Nakapag pahinga naman na po ako sa byahe kanina manang, papasok narin po ako bukas kaya kailangan ko na ng mga gamit"
"O siya sige, pasasamahan kita kay Gretta"
"Wag na po manang kaya ko na pong mag isa"
"Sigurado ka ba? Baka maligaw ka" Naiiling naman ako na natatawa sa sinabi ni Manang, I'm already 21 years old and still they see me as a baby.
"Don't worry manang I can handle myself, babalik rin po ako agad pasabi nalang kay mommy" lumabas na ako ng bahay and luckily nakahanap naman agad ako ng grab. I went to the nearest mall since NBS lang naman ang punta ko and sa boutique where I can buy my uniform there exclusive just for CU. Nang makarating ako ng mall dumeretso nako ng NBS to buy my notebooks and ballpen. Bumili narin ako ng mga libro related to my course since I really need a lot of resources dahil nga late na akong nag enroll, I need to double time dahil 2 weeks na ang nakalipas ng mag back to school na ulit dito.
Namimili ako ng mga librong bibilhin when a guy caught my attention, He 's wearing the same school uniform that I'm going to attend. Napansin ko rin ang librong kinuha niya Advance Accounting, he's probably an accounting student too, my senior. He had glasses worn on him and a clean cut hair as I look at him close. He's a bit taller than I am, he stopped in the middle of getting another book when he saw me staring at him. Nangunot ang kanyang noo ng tinignan ako.
"May kailangan ka ba miss?" Bigla naman akong nabalik sa huwisyo at nakaramdam ng hiya ng marealize kong matagal ko pala siyang natitigan at nahuli pa ako.
"Wala, I'm sorry I was just fascinated to see my senior here" he frowned to what just I said. Umiling naman ako sa pagkapahiya "BSA student ka rin right? I saw you getting accounting books kasi" dagdag ko. Tumango naman siya bilang tugon, I don't know what to say already and its rude naman kung tatalikuran ko nalang siya ng basta basta.
"Olivares!"
Magpapaalam na sana akong aalis na ng tinawag siya ng kasama niya and that man just saved me from my embarrassment.
Naglakad na ako ng mabilis papuntang counter to pay my things at nagmadali ng lumabas ng store. God Monette nakakahiya ka! I said to myself, baka na weirdohan na sakin kanina si kuyang naka eyeglass he looks like a genius pa naman kaso mukhang masungit din.
Nang makarating ako sa boutique a sales lady approached me nang makapasok ako.
"Naka reserve po ako to buy a uniform, Monette Fabrigas" I said when we reached the counter and I was amazed when my uniform's all set. From my Type A and B to my P.E uniform. Binayaran ko naman kaagad iyon and had my last stop, Clarckson University. I am here to get my I.D na naiprocess ko rin kaagad online. Pinakita ko naman sa security guard ang printed form 1 ko, my temporary gate pass here in the university para makapasok.
Nalula naman ako ng makapasok, 4 pm palang naman so medyo marami pang mga studyante. Excitement filled me in, malapad na mga ngiti ang namutawi sa akin ng mga sandaling makita ang tanawin. I can see some of the students sitting on the bench na I think mini garden ng school. Masyadong malawak ang CU, I can see some E-cars sakay ang mga studyante na malalayo pa ata ang mga building from the gate. I went to the administration office for my I.D na madali ko namang agad na nakuha.
Naagaw naman ng pansin ko ang soccer field na madadaanan ko lang dito palabas ng gate, saglit muna akong natigil at pinanood ang mga players na nag papractice. I wonder if marami ring nag cocompete here for Ice skating, this is one of the reason why I enrolled here, they have sports for Ice skating, I think may sarili ata silang skating rink dito sa loob and I can't wait to see and meet one of my colleagues here, I hope we can get along. I can't wait till tomorrow, Clarckson University I hope to make good memories here as I stay.
