Lullabies in December (Behind The Month #2)

8

8, But to me

I got all my projects done and have submitted them on time. While I was doing them, I also needed to leave a couple of minutes for some review sessions.

Panatag kahit paano ang loob ko habang nag-aayos sa harap ng aking vanity table. I'm done blow-drying my hair and now I'm just applying a tinted lip balm on my lips. I don't wear make up to school. I find it very time consuming.

Hinayaan ko ang bagsak at tuwid na buhok. Hinablot ko ang tote bag ko na siyang madalas kong gamit. I grabbed my keys and phone then I left to attend my classes.

It's the usual thing that happened when I walked alone, aiming to go to the CEA building after parking my car outside the university. It's been days since the last time I scanned my i.d. and so I wanted to do it today. Whispers... piercing stares... mga actions na makapagbibigay ng potential anxiety sa kahit sino ang natanggap ko. I guess it's just really hard to get used to it.

I pulled the strap of my bag closer to my inner shoulder and swallowed a bit.

"A-Wait... I thought... I heard she already dropped out?"

"I don't know... hindi ba 'yan nakausap ng director? O kahit dean ng CEA?"

"Baka sa OSC pinatawag na? Siya 'yan 'di ba?"

Nilampasan ko ang mga educ majors na nag-uusap sa malawak na daan. Once you entered the main gate of NCC, the first thing you'll see is the facade, its walls and circular columns were filled with colors of white, a pinch of black, light gray, maroon and orange. Sa left side pagkatapos noon ay ang College of Business Studies. Sa right side naman, ang College of Education. Maraming pasikot-sikot at daan sa sobrang laki ng school.

As far as I know, this is the biggest university that caters almost all courses or programs for college students here in this province. May aviation pa nga kaya may malawak na concrete grounds na may mga naka-stay na aircrafts. Nasa bandang dulo na iyon. Mayroon ding medical related course rito- nursing, biology, pharmacy, vet med, and of course, how could I forget psychology. Marami pa at hindi ko gaanong kabisado.

NCC also offers senior high school program so there are girls in white blouse and maroon skirts with pleats who flocked on the view too. I kept my face serious as I continuously walked.

Madadaanan ko pa ang building ng mga hospitality and tourism management bago ako makarating sa mismong building kung saan ako kabilang. Boys are also around, talking and looking at me like I'm not aware of what is going on inside their heads.

"Siya 'yon 'no... Hey, bro..."

"Yep, man. We could just say, one who's wild on the inside..."

Nakangisi ang isa sa mga kasama nang banggitin iyon.

I sighed and thought about the comments I heard from those educ people just a while ago, I was never called out by the director of the school. Ganoon din ang dean ng department namin. I don't know if I should be thankful about it because if that would happen, I might receive an advice of transferring myself to another university.

I guess they don't care that much, huh? Lalo na... pati ang nangangalaga sa Office of the Student Concerns, hindi rin ako kinausap. Siguro iniisip na lang talaga ng iba na may nangyari ngang ganoong bagay at kung sinu-sino ang nagpapakalat noon.

I took the left side of the hallway and finally entered the CEA building. Sa paglakad pa lang papunta rito, lalo kang mali-late sa klase mo kung nagagahol ka na sa oras.

I fixed my specs with my point finger as I'm sitting on my armchair, at the back of our room. Ngayon na ang simula ng aming final exams sa ilang subjects at sana'y matandaan ko ang mga pinag-aralan ko sa loob ng ilang gabi.