Class of 2020

Chapter 1: 2030

"So, what do you want to be 10 years from now?" tanong ni Miss Jenny, ang guidance counselor ng school. This is just her second year as counselor in Fillian Science Academy. Fillian has a good standing as a top special science school in the country. Maganda rin ang sports curriculum ng school especially with football kaya marami silang sikat na athletes. And for Miss Jenny, isang honor na makapasok sa school na ito kaya she's doing her best to stay.

Nakaupo sa harapan ng table niya si Aly, senior student. Matangkad, mestiza, maikli ang buhok na hindi lalagpas sa kanyang balikat, singkit, at walang expression sa mukha.

Nag-pause siya ng ilang segundo bago sumagot

"I wanna study business and continue to manage my family's business," sagot niya.

Hindi ito ang unang career aptitude interview ni Aly. Mula summer, sinali siya ng tatay niya sa college prep school upang makapaghanda para sa kanyang future. Hindi lang 'yon, naghahanda na rin si Aly para sa mga upcoming interviews at applications niya para sa mga universities abroad. Kabisadong kabisado na niya ang lahat ng dapat sasabihin. May prepared speech na siya sa utak niya.

Taimtim na nakinig si Miss Jenny sa kanya at habang nagsusulat ng notes sa kanyang clipboard.

"So..is that what you really want?" follow-up question ni Miss Jenny.

Natulala si Aly. Sa unang pagkakataon, after her perfect interview answers, may isang tanong na hindi siya prepared. Isang tanong na walang nagkaroon ibang may pakialam para itanong sa kanya.

Hindi siya maka-imik. Halos nanigas ang buong katawan niya. Para bang hindi niya ma-process ang simpleng tanong ni Miss Jenny.

Napangiti si Miss Jenny, "it's alright if you don't know the answer. Most of your batchmates don't even have a goal in mind in the first place. Don't be nervous." Inabot at hinawakan ni Miss Jenny ang kamay ni Aly. Sobrang lamig nito.

Hindi makatingin ng diretso si Aly. Akala niya she had it all figured out. She knew exactly what to respond at these questions. She knew what to do..or at least she used to knew what to do.

After a few minutes, natapos na rin si Aly. Sumunod na pumasok ang isang babae na chinita, maganda, mahaba ang buhok, maganda ang kutis, at tila mapapalingong ka talaga tuwing dadaan siya.

Confident siyang naglakad at papunta sa table ni Miss Jenny at umupo. "Hi!" bati niya.

"Hello Miss Cheng, it's always delightful to see you," tugon ni Miss Jenny.

Vina Cheng smiled so brightly. She has an air of confidence and charisma around her.

"You're doing very good Miss Cheng. You have an excellent track record; extracurricular activities, even school council, and your grades are very good..straight—oh, except—"

"Yes, P.E, hehe," she interrupted. Vina hated P.E. She hates getting exhausted. Ayaw niya mapawisan at mapagod. Despite being a perfect student, she wasn't athletic at all.

"Well, anyway, still a very great record. You are even running for honors if you continue to great."

"Yes," Vina nodded and smiled politely.

"So I'll cut to the chase ha, where do you see yourself in 10 years?"

"Well..as you know, I came from a family of lawyers. I wanna continue that and also become a lawyer. I wanna study pre-law in Stanford or in an Ivy League abroad and then study law in Harvard, of course. And then maybe, eventually, running our firm," she answered sweetly.

"That's great to hear. Is it something you really wanna do or just you know...family pressure?"

Vina smiled hesitantly. How dare this teacher question her life plans she and her family had perfectly planned out since she was six?!?!