PRELUDE
Nagmamadali akong humakbang paakyat ng third floor, tagaktak ang pawis ko dahil tinakbo ko mula sa main gate hanggang sa building ng SHS. Yes, today is the official start of class and I am freaking late, napalunok ako at napatigil nang makitang madami dami rin na katulad ko na late din, mabilis kong hinanap ang section ko sa kahabaan ng hallway, thankfully, may guide doon kung saan ang designated room namin, I glanced at my registration card and read it silently. SONATA GABRIELLA SAMANIEGO – STEM 11C.
I inhaled exhaled, praying na wala pa sanang teacher, I gulped as I gently pushed the door of my designated classroom for the whole year. It easily flung open, marahan akong dumungay, madami dami na din ang tao sa loob, I saw familiar faces, my distant classmates in Junior High, some of them decided to stay here while others chose the big universities. Tahimik akong pumasok and looked for the nearest chair I can occupy, I spotted a vacant seat next to the big window ay nagmamadali akong pumunta doon at umupo. Inayos ko ang sarili ko, unang araw palang ay dugyot na ako agad tignan.
“Sola!!!” I heard someone beamed from afar agad ko iyong nilingon.
There walking straight towards my direction are my best buddies, Trina, Sophie and Zeer. I waved at them, napansin ko ang ilang mga kaklase na napatingin sa amin pero agad ko din namang di pinansin nang bigla akong yakapin ni Trina muttering the word “Congrats” tumango ako at tinapik siya sa balikat.
“Sobrang galing mo na, grabe muntik na akong maiyak sa performance niyo ni Zeer!” she muttered in an amused tone.
“Sus, umiyak ka naman talaga. Anong muntik?” pang-gigisa ni Sophie kay Trina, mabilis na bumaling siya dito at tinarayan, I smirked while looking at them.
Kahapon ang naging laban namin sa Summer Camp Classical Harmony, ako ang piano accompanist ni Zeer, siya ang Violinist ko. Sa di malamang dahilan, nag-click kaming dalawa, he plays berserk and emotionally and so as I. Naging maganda ang kinalabasan ng Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso kahapon kaya naman naiuwi namin ang unang pwesto. Inapiran ko nalang si Zeer dahil nagtatalo na naman si Trina at Sophie, na parang aso at pusa.
“Hoy! Ikaw nga tulo na uhog mo e, kadiri ka pinagtitinginan ka nga.” banat naman ni Trina kay Sophie and then she sat on my chair desk at pinatong ang kamay niya sa ulo ko na para bang aso niya ako, hinayaan ko nalang.
“Ay wow hiya naman ako sa iyak mo pang Actress of the year, imagine Sola, Zeer kala mo namatay kayong dalawa after the performance, buti nalang walang deduction!” ani pa ni Sophie at nagtaas ng kilay kay Trina.
Pinipigil ko ang tawa ko dahil nakita ko nga ang pangyayaring iyon, I saw Trina throwing a bouquet on us while crying hysterically, habang si Sophie naman ay tahimik lang na umiiyak sa tabi niya at kinakalma siya, the crowd went wild after our performance, halata din na kami ang viewers choice, si Zeer naman ay nailing lamang sa dalawa.
“Eh tanga, malamang walang deduction ‘yon ako ba nagpe-perform? Di naman ah, tanga tanga mo.” Komento ulit ni Trina habang umiirap-irap pa kay Sophie.
I don’t know what would people think kapag narinig sila sa mga pag-uusap nila, way back JHS I was shocked when I instantly fitted in their circle, Trina is a straightforward and bitchy person, while Sophie is the silent but savage one, while Zeer is the combination of both, and I for the record is the evil of evil. You can say that birds of the same feather flock together right? People might think na nagkakainitan na sila or worse is nag-aaway na sa lagay na ito but no, this is normal, daily cycle of Trina and Sophie getting on each others nerve. Well, mag bestfriend naman sila so nothing to worry about.
Trina Andrea, she gained a little weight but was still pretty sexy,around 5’5, long shiny straight hair, round face paired with monolid brown eyes, east asian type of nose, thin lips and snow white skin, as brutal as it sound she’s loud, talkative, rude, straightforward, bitchy but she’s the most sincere person I’ve met, too caring and charismatic, and a singer, she have a low tone voice that is very calming and soothing, I don’t know why she did not joined any of the singing competitions way back JHS. Her father runs an electronics company.
Lanaia Sophie, tanned skin, 5’5, brown wavy hair, oblong shaped face paired with almond brown eyes, nubian nose, bow-shaped lips, silent most of the time that you won’t even notice that she’s with you, always the lutang frenny na di ko maintindihan kung nagegets ba niya kami minsan, very brutal whenever we have something serious to talk about, very bully, caring and compassionate to others. Her family runs a full-service construction business.
Timothy Arzeer, roughly 5’9 in height, snow white skin, heart-shaped face, heart-shaped lips, button nose, and upturned brown eyes, very brilliant, emo sometimes, lover, very very brutal when it comes to life decisions and love life, organized in things but messy in real life, very passionate to every single thing he do, pays to every single detail in life. Comes from a combination of Engineer-Doctor family.
“Bwisit ka bakit ba kita kaklase,” ani Trina at mahinang tinulak si Sophie.
Mabilis na bumawi si Sophie dito at binatukan siya, nanlaki ang mata ko at ganoon na din si Zeer, gulat sa naging reaction ni Sophie kay Trina bigla itong tumawa ng malakas. Agad na bumawi si Trina kay Sophie at binalik dito ang ginawa sa kanya.
“Bat may pagbatok ha? Binatukan ka?” mataray na saad ni Trina.
“Eh tanga, nakabatok ka na, lugi sayo!” ani Sophie, sticking her tongue out, teasing Trina more.
“Eh bobo ka pala, nauna ka e.” sabay batok ulit kay Sophie.
“Ah gago! Nakakarami ka na ah!” she said at gaganti sana ng batok pero mabilis na tumakbo si Trina palabas ng room at nagsasayaw pa sa pinto at inaasar si Sophie
Sophie was taken aback, she quickly glanced at us, parehas kaming tumango ni Zeer, she run as fast as she could to catch Trina and seconds gone both of them are no longer in my sight, I giggled and roam my eyes around the room, I gritted my teeth when some are looking in our way, kinabahan ako bigla, ang aga aga naman kasi ang kulit ng dalawang ‘yon.
“Both of them, STEM-A, STEM-D naman ako.” he said in a lazy tone.
“Hetero ba or sa surname nai-base?” I asked kung paano ba ang naging hatol sa sectioning namin.
Tumikhim siya, sandaling nanahimik bago nagsalita, “I think sa surname? I was number 10 on the list eh.” he said.
“Oh, sana next term hindi na. So we can be in one class,” I said.
Zeer, is the mature type of friend but he can be the most childish in some events, most of the time ay si Trina ang childish, while Sophie and I are in between, maybe depending on the mood. I glanced at my wristwatch and saw na one fourth of the time was consumed for our first class, mabuti nalang talaga at hindi strict yung unang professor.
“I should get going, mag-practice ka na. We only have 3 weeks before the preliminaries.” he muttered and waved before leaving the room.
In 3 weeks time, we’re going to perform in a big musical hall, dati lang ay sa bahay nila Zeer ang practice namin, nangangarap na magkaroon ng chance na makapag perform sa mga Grand Recitals. Now we’re aspiring virtuoso’s in our own field. Iniisip ko din na sumali sa mga Piano Recitals, pero sa ngayon magiging accompanist muna ako ni Zeer. As long as we have the same harmony and language in this kind of field.
“Hi, is this seat occupied?” tanong ng isang babae sa akin.
I smiled at umiling, ngumiti siya at agad na umupo sa tabi ko. I gulped, should I start a conversation? Maya maya pa ay may lumapit na isang babae sa kanya at upo din sa tabi niya, they’re talking about something, maybe they know each other? Tahimik lang akong nakinig, my row is getting occupied, dalawang tao na lang ang kulang, then someone entered the room, he have a long nail and he looks so approachable, charming indeed and handsome, err.
“Ate Riz, buti nalang magkaklase tayo.” ani ng babaeng katabi ko. Okay, they know each other.
“Oo nga e no?” Riz the girl said. She noticed that I’m looking in their direction so she smiled warmly at me and waved
I awkwardly smiled back at her. Err, what am I going to say? Hindi ako magaling mang-approach ng tao. Thank God, she started the conversation.
“Hello, Ako Riz, eto si Yanni, anong name mo?” she asked bubbly at me.
Parehas ko silang nginitian. Bago nagsalita, “I’m Sola, nice meeting you Ate Riz and Yanni.” I smiled at them again. Hindi ko alam kung mukhang timang ba ako sa kakangiti sa kanila. “Do guys know each other?” I added, for confirmation only, I don’t want to assume naman kasi.
“Oo, magkaklase kami nung JHS. Parehas kaming taga-Tanay.” ani ni Yanni habang nakatitig lamang sa akin, I don’t know why she’s eyeing me like that.
“Ang totoo niyan, mag-bestfriend kami.” Ani Ate Riz that shocked me. Nanlaki ang mata ko at napatawa dahil sa sinabi niya.
“Really?” di makapaniwalang tanong ko sa kanya.
“Oo para ngang hindi na kami mapaghiwalay netong si Yanni, e.” komento ni Ate Riz. “Ikaw ba?” she asked.
Hindi ko naintindihan ang tanong niya, but maybe she’s asking kung saan ako galing na school at kung saan ako nakatira, dahil yun naman ang topic namin kanina right?
“I’m from Teresa, dito ako galing ng JHS.” ani ko.
“Ah! Sa laboratory schools dito no?” ani Ate Riz, “Malapit ba ng Antipolo yung Teresa?”
“Yes, bayan muna namin then Antipolo na next.” ani ko sa kanya.
“Ah, okay.” she responded briefly.
“Sana seatmates tayo, Sola.” ani Yanni.
She looks so strict, her almond eyes, pointed nose and thin lips, bronzed skin, and above the shoulder straight hair, she looks stunning, while on the contrary, Ate Riz, has fair white skin, round eyes, concave nose and downward turned lips and bob cut hair she looks so fascinatingly cute.
Moments later, our first teacher arrived, I glanced at my registration card, General Science, huh? Tahimik lamang ang buong klase, kasi nga first day, one week later maiingay na ‘yan dahil comfortable na sa isa’t isa.
“Hello, aba ang cute naman nitong mga estudyante ko.” our teacher joked and everyone giggled to that, what an ice breaker huh? “ Ako si Ma’am Maybelline Laurel, ako ang magiging adviser niyo at teacher niyo sa Homeroom at General Science.” she addresed.
Tumango ako bilang pagtugon. Oh, base on her aura mukhang approachable at mabait naman si Ma’am Laurel.
“Okay, so now that you know me, it’s time naman na kayo ang magpakilala sa akin, at sa mga kaklase niyo na makakasama niyo sa loob ng isang taon, medyo matagal no? Cute pa rin kaya kayo kapag Grade 12 na kayo?” she joked again and half of the crowd laughed at her.
“Sige tutal 34 lang naman kayo start tayo…” she paused when two guys entered the room, followed by another man.
Nabaling ang atensyon ko sa mga bagong pasok na kaklase, the two who first entered the room are both looking for a seat habang ang huling lalaki na pumasok ay nakatingin kay Ma’am, his lips twitched and flashed a friendly smile.
“Ma’am, sorry we’re late.” he murmured, nakita kong tumango si Ma’am.
Hindi ko alam kung malas ba sila o ano pero ang huling mga upuan na natira ay nasa harapan, at doon pa magsisimula si Ma’am.
“Oh, naku! Gandang timing mag self-introduction na kami, at dahil late kayong tatlong itlog, kayo mauuna.” Ma’am Laurel, jokingly said. I laughed together with my classmates, siraulo ‘tong si Ma’am.
Matagal pa naman ang turn ko dahil nasa second row ako at last pa sa rotation, nilingon ko ang likuran ko, akala ko nung una ay aabot kami about roughly 50 students per section pero ang baba naman namin? 34? Or baka may mga late enrollees pa?
“Ay grabe naman Ma’am!” ani ng isa sa kanila.
“Game na, wag na pabebe!” ani pa ni Ma’am at natawa tawa pa. “Introduction about yourself, name, age, residency, and stuff you may do or hobbies and what your classmates are supposed to call you, ganyang intro lang.” dagdag pa ni Ma’am Laurel.
The last guy who entered the room lazily stood up and faced us, he looked good, no scratch that, he’s attractive, he’s handsome guessing roughly around 5’7-5’8 height? Diamond shaped face, monolid brown eyes, thick eyebrows, buttoned nose, red bow-shaped lips, and disheveled jet-black hair and fair white skin. He has this strong mysterious aura surrounding him, he’s thin, no not that thin you we’re imagining okay? He’s not just bulk. But all in all, he’s good. I fixated my eyes on him the moment he opened his mouth to talk and introduce himself.
“Hi, Juan Karlos Sevilla, 17, from Binangonan, mahilig ako mag-chess, you can call me Karl,” he said in a deep baritone voice and showed a friendly smile bago umupo sa kanyang upuan.
The guy next to him stood up abruptly, around 5’6, undercut with long comb, brown highlighted hair, square-faced, round eyes, concave nose and thin red lips, tanned skin. He looks like a joker type of person.
“Hello, classmates! My name is Sadder Vaugh Del Fuego, 17, pwede niyo akong tawaging Vaugh, oh kahit na ano kayo na bahala, mahilig ako mang chix–ay este mahilig ako mag-drawing, taga dito lang ako..” aniya at pinataas taas pa ang dalawang kilay na para bang nagpapatawa.
“Saang dito lang?” tanong ni Ma’am Laurel habang nakangiti sa kanya.
“Dyan lang, Ma’am.” Ani Vaugh at nagtawanan ang mga kaklase namin.
“Saang dyaan ‘yan. Taga Morong ka?” ani Ma’am at tinaasan siya ng kilay.
“Hehe, opo Ma’am sa Lanang lang dito sa Morong,” makulit niyang saad at umupo na.
Napakamot si Ma’am sa kanyang ulo, mukhang nakonsumisyon agad sa pangalawang kaklase ko, ang sumunod naman ay kasing tangkad lang din ni Vaugh, fair white skin, heart-shaped face, round deep set of eyes, straight nose and downward-turned lips, and paired with quiffed hair. He looks stiff and mukhang hindi nabibiro.
“Hi, John Ronald Fuentevilla, Ronald, 17, from Binangonan, my hobbies are playing sports such as volleyball, badminton and watching movies or series.” he said straightly. Tumango ako dahil sa sinabi niya.
And the list went on. Nang nasa second row na ay parang kinabahan na ako bigla, I am eyeing every single person, ofcourse I need to pay attention kahit hindi naman ako active at friendly, at least I know them by the name right? I smiled when a tall, snow white skin, pear-shaped body, paired with curly long black hair, diamond-shaped face, bow-shaped lips, straight nose, upturned eyes. Madami sa mga kaklase kong lalaki ang sumipol, what a total babe.
“Hi! I’m Elliana Danys Gutierrez, you can call me Ella, 16, taga-San Guillermo, Morong. Mahilig ako magbasa, and I engaged in physical activities a lot. Nice meeting you!” she winked and sat back on her chair. She talks smoothly and nicely.
“Hello, I’m Marienella Delos Santos, Mari!, 17, Morong, mahilig ako sa mga animes, kdrama’s and kpop!” aniya at ngumiti, she’s so cutee!!! I want to hug her! She looks so pretty too!
“Hi! Agatha Fracesca Halili, 17, Binangonan, Agatha nalang, mahilig ako magbasa ng mga lovestory tsaka makinig ng music.” she said in a soft tone. She looks so nice and pretty too,
The guy next to them stood up, he had the leader type of aura, I smiled when he glanced at my way, whoosh.
“Hi! Ako si Angelito Hernandez, Gelo for short, 17 at nakatira ako sa Pililla, mahilig akong magbasa, at tumutugtog ako ng piano.” Tumango ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Wow, I can talk to someone with my genres and likes.
“Hi, Avin Kristoff Laudingco, Avin, 17 from Binangonan, I like watching movies, I’m good at digital editing.” he said in a friendlier tone. Siya yung kaninang may mahabang nail, hinanap ng mata ko iyon at ayun nga siya nga ‘yon!
“Haba ng kuko ah!” Ma’am commented.
“Gugupitin ko na po Ma’am.” he said and giggled before going back to his seat.
The next guy beside him stood up, he’s tall, somehow chubby, thick eyebrows, almond shaped eyes, pointed nose, heavy-lower lips, round face, roughly around 5’8, fair white skin.
“Hello, I’m Jon Jimenez, 17, from Pilillia, I like playing video games and basketball,” he said shortly.
“Hi, I’m Tricia Patriz Laguidao, 17, from Pililla, you can call me Tricia or Trish, mahilig ako sa math.” she said sweetly.
Then it’s Ate Riz turn kinabahan ako dahil si Yanni na ang sunod and ako na. I inhaled, exhaled and calmed myself. Tumayo si Ate Riz at kumaway sa mga kaklase ko, she looks so cute and nice.
“Hello classmates! My name is Criztalyn Nicole Magdalena, 18, from Tanay and you can call me Ate Riz. I like singing and listening to music, and I’m a cat and dog lover!” she said in a bubbly voice and sat down.
Nang tumayo si Yanni ay lalo akong kinabahan, shit. Malapit na ako, and all the people here are eyeing everyone who’s turn na yumuko ako. I would just listen to Yanni and after her, magmamadali nalang ako sa pagpapakilala. This is not my thing at all.
“Hi, I’m Layana Nirvana Sacramento, 17, Yanni for short. I live in Tanay, and I don’t have any particular things to do as of the moment, but I often engage in playing video games.” she said in a boyish tone. Tumango ako. When she sat down, nagbilang muna ako ng 5 seconds.
5…. 4…. 3…. 2….. 1 and then I stood up to introduce myself. Kinabahan ako bigla pagtayo ko. Lahat sila ay nakatingin sa akin, I fixed my eyes on the beige wall on the other side so I can avoid eye contact.
“Hi, I’m Sonata Gabriella Samaniego, I’m 17, you can call Sola, I’m a pianist.” I said and smiled at them.
“Ah! Ikaw pala ‘yan, Sola.” Ma’am Laurel said in shock. “The principal said na you are excused for the rest of the week, goodluck on your preliminaries.” she added.
Umiling ako at nginitian si Ma’am Laurel, “Okay lang po, Ma’am. Thank you po.” Ani ko. I roamed my eyes one more time and there I met his eyes lurking at me with curiosity and amusement. His lips curved in a smirk and there, I felt butterflies all of a sudden.
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