Promdi Girls

Prologue

Clara’s POV

“Clara anong kukunin mong course sa college?” tanong ni Seah sa akin.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya at saglit na nag-isip. Ayaw ko talagang pag-usapan ang tungkol sa college, kasi alam kong hindi ako malayang kukuha ng kurso kung ano ang gusto ko. The decision will always be on my parents, whether I like it or not.

Bumuntong hininga ako at ibinalik ang tingin sa librong binabasa ko. I lost my concentration in reading because of Seah’s question.

“AB Psychology,” sagot ko. “I’ll take it as my pre-law.”

My parents are both lawyers, that’s why they want me to pursue law too. I am not interested to it though, pero wala akong magagawa. I can’t say no to them.

“So, you really are pursuing law.” Seah stated.

“Sinong mag-aabogado? Si Clara?” Aila suddenly appeared in front of us holding a plate of cookies. Nilapag niya yun sa coffee table nila at umupo sa katabing sofa ko.

Andito kami ngayon sa bahay nila, nag-aaral para sa finals sa makalawa. Huling taon na namin sa highschool kaya dobleng sipag yung ginawa namin, lalo na ako. Kailangan kong makuha ang Valedictorian spot dahil yun ang gusto nila Mommy at Daddy.

Bumuntong hininga ulit ako nang may naalala. Right! I’m not studying college here in Laguna.

“Kala ko ba gusto niyang i-pursue yung fine arts.”

“You know, she can’t say no to her parents.” Maingat na sabi ni Seah.

“Did you try to tell them Clara?”

Bumaling ako kay Aila at tumango.

“They won’t let me, and—”

“Hello guys! I’m here!” naputol ang sasabihin ko nang biglang dumating si Blair.

“Tagal mo!” reklamo ni Seah.

“Well, may pinapaasikaso kasi saglit si Papa sakin kaya ayun,” pagpapaliwanag niya samin at kumuha ng cookies nang makaupo. “Ano bang pinag-uusapan niyo? You look serious when I arrived.”

“College,” tipid na sagot ko.

“Oh, I’ll pursue Nursing na talaga. Sure na ako!” pagdadaldal niya agad. She’s been stuck between Nursing or Chemistry, I’m glad she already decided.

“We didn’t ask.” Mataray na sagot ni Seah kaya pabiro siyang inambahan ng suntok ni Blair.

“Ano pala ang sasabihin mo kanina Clara?” baling ni Aila sakin, di na pinansin ang dalawang nagbabangayan na.

“Ah, about that…” I sipped on my juice to ease my nervousness to tell them. “Hindi ako dito magkokolehiyo.”

Nakuha ko ang atensyon nila Seah at Blair ng sabihin ko yun. All of them stared at me with a shocked and confused look.

“San ka?” tanong ni Aila.

“I thought dito ka lang?” si Seah.

“San ka mag-aaral?” si Blair. “Sa UST ba?”

“Sa Manila, sa UST.” Sagot ko. “My parents told me so…”

We took the USTET last month, and luckily all of us passed. Pero napag-usapan nila na baka dito nalang daw sila sa Laguna mag-aaral since ayaw nila ng city life.

“Hala ako rin!” gulat akong napatingin ni Blair dahil sa sinabi niya. She was smiling widely as she raised her arms.

“Seryoso ka?” baling ni Seah sa kanya.

“Yes, I am!” masayang sabi niya.

I looked at her with a shocked expression.

“Papa mentioned yesterday, me studying in Manila kasi nasabi ko sakanya na I passed the USTET, hindi ako pumayag kasi wala naman akong kasama so,” nagkibit balikat siya at ngumiti sakin ng malapad. “Since you’ll study there, I’ll study there too!”

“Wag kang magdesisyon ng
Padalos—”

“Me too! I’ll study there!” biglang sabi ni Seah na mas ikinagulat ko.

Are they serious?

“Since I want to be a doctor, mas maganda sigurong sa Manila ako mag-aral.” Dugtong niya pa.

“Maraming magagandang school dun, at marami rin akong pagpipilian as pre-med course.”

“Teka-teka, seryoso ba kayo?” nalilito ko ng tanong. I can’t say if they are serious or not. Parang ang dali-dali lang nilang nagdesisyon.

“Well, of course magpapaalam muna ako kina mommy and daddy pero sure naman ako papayagan ako nun besides Ate Chloe is there.” She said and slightly chuckled.

“Ako! I’m very sure na!” sabi naman ni Blair.

Bumuntong-hininga si Aila kaya napabaling kami sa kanya. We were staring at her, when she suddenly smirked.

“I guess we’re all studying in Manila.” She said that made me shocked again. Napatili si Seah at Blair sa kasiyahan at excitement.

Is she going there too?

Wala naman siyang sinabi sa’min, pero base sa sinabi niya.

Pupunta siya dun?

That means the four of us will go to Manila?

Napatingin ako sa tatlo na parehong masasaya, hindi maitago ang excitement sa kanilang mga reaksyion.

The four of us were inseparable since we were in highschool.

Akala ko pagdating ng college, maghihiwalay-walay na kami.

And now,

“Oh my gosh! I can’t wait to go to Manila with you guys!” Blair said excitedly and spread her arms for a hug.

I guess it is not happening.