Can We Make It Right?

CHAPTER 1: Chase

CHAPTER 1 (Chase)

Finally! I'm done with Senior Highschool and all the shitty things that follows. Just a bit of patience and I will go out of that PICC with a college degree.

But? I still can't stop wondering if, Senior Highschool never existed? Maybe I'm in 3rd year college, doing some mini design of a residential buildings or designing road intersections.

The purge would be perfectly shorter. But what more can I do? I'm already here. About to deal with college life and shit.

Looking at the brighter side, I won't lie. That these added years for students are the best. So far.

Here, we all start to know what we really truly desire. Some start to go outside the box. Some are trying to do stuff they fail to experience in their junior highschool life.

Examples are my batchmates from our neighbor section. They never missed a friday without flocking into a bar. Why do I know? I almost unfollow them one by one for invading the Instagram with their IG stories. Boomerang of them having a toast, selfies with their tongues out and video clips focusing on every single person present. Looks cool. Really cool If you don't know how they fight over someone who didn't "ambag".

And there, they talk about their want-to-be's before taking different paths. I was about to burst in laugh when one of them told me how drunk they were. After finishing two towers of a blue cheap cocktail. Take note: They were ten that time. Subtract the two who leave early after receiving a call from their raging parents.

That was just another senior highschool diary. We all have different stories to tell. And that's all part of our development. From kids who were taught to follow society's expectations, to teenagers who believe that "Fuck those expectations. My life, my business". If you're one of them, you have a special place in my heart.

On the other hand, I envy those who were enlightened at their age. Some already found their callings. They already discovered where they excel. Some are blessed with vision of their future.

But if some are assured with their paths to take, I am sure there are still uncertain minds patiently waiting and fates unexpectedly changing.

I witnessed how my classmate who's addicted with watching porn, all of a sudden, becomes one of the sakristan in our parish. One of my girl classmates who dreamed of becoming a nun, ended up selling online. Posting selfies with her newborn son.

None of us knows what universe will play next. We don't know what twist it will make or how it would work for you.

College life is fastly approaching. Here I am, stuck in the pursuit of certainty.

Should I be happy? Nervous? Or both?

"Hi, Ako si Chase. Chase De Castro. Taga Quezon City, sa traffic na daan ng Novaliches. Engineer ang papa ko at resigned teacher naman ang mama ko. Naibibigay naman ni papa ang pangangailangan ng pamilya kaya tumigil na si mama sa pagtuturo. Kaya naman ni papa lahat ng gastos. Pag aaral namin, luho, isama na 'yung monthly make over ni mama kasama na 'yung rebond. Kaya naiwan nalang siya sa bahay kung saan mas madali ang buhay niya. Dalawang bata lang ang inaalagaan niya kumpara sa isang batalyon ng makukulit na batang pati pagbubukas ng zest-o ay iaasa pa sa teacher. Oo, dalawa. Meron akong kapatid, si kuya Nikko, puro pagba-basketball ang alam kaya 'di na inaasahang sumunod sa yapak ni Papa. Naaalala ko pa rin nga nung tinanong siya ni papa kung interesado ba siyang gumawa ng plates. Ang sinagot ni kuya?

"maghuhugas nalang ako, ba't niyo pa ko pagagawin?"

Kaya ito, sa akin napunta. Aasahan mo ba na ang susunod sa yapak mo e paghuhugas ng drawing plates ang alam? Gusto kong maging masaya ang parents ko at maging proud sa akin balang araw kaya inako ko na. Mukha namang masaya ang magdrawing ng bahay.