Chapter 1: Lay
"MADRIGAL, FIRST DAY MO NA SA KIRIN!" seven words and one exclamation point that awakened my senses. Ain't no ordinary day today!
"Diba first day mo sa kirin?" Ate said habang kumakain kami ng breakfast. I think hindi ko nakumpleto yung tulog ko thinking of this day. I hope na sana I won't sleep sa class mamaya. And Kirin is my ate's alma mater. so,
"Paalala ko lang sayo ah! malaki yung school na yun baka maligaw ka!"
"Pag may bumati sa'yo always smile na parang miss universe moment!".
"Kuya Nathan pangalan ng guard dun sa main hall, pasabi hello kamo!"
"Maraming murang pagkain dun sa canteen kaya I'm sure na mabubusog ka kahit konti lang dala mong pera!" Ate managed to say all of these and more habang kumakain kami. I feel na mas excited s'ya kesa sa'kin. I just nod to everything that she says.
I decided to finish my breakfast already to escape the instant briefing session na binibigay sa'kin ni ate. Kailangan daw kasi prepared ako, I just have that urge to know Kirin all by myself. I headed to my room para kunin yung bag ko. Then checked myself at the mirror one last time before heading downstairs.
"Bilisan mo baka ma-late ka na!" I almost died when ate suddenly came into my room and acting na parang may sunog or something.
"Ate, would you please calm down, 6:10 palang oh! 7:10 pa 'yung first class 'ko!" Ate looked sa watch niya and when she noticed,
"Ow. Excited lang kasi talaga ako para sa'yo" She said in her serious tone with that silence filled up my room along with the guilt if felt for being a party pooper kay ate.
"Our kid is already turning into a woman mom and dad wanted to be" and I was wrong. I really thought na mga kinder or grade 1 lang ang umiiyak twing first day of class, exception to it pala is ate. Ever since mom and dad died, ate has always been by my side. She became my mom slash sister.
"Ate naman! Mag-ayos ka na nga! May pasok ka din remember?"
"Oh right! sabay nga tayong aalis!" and she left the room.
Facing the mirror I let one final deep breath out of nostrils and kept on telling the girl in front of the mirror na kaya mo 'yan! Good luck sa'yo mamaya! Go Lay Madrigal! Pero na o-overwhelm parin talaga ako sa uniform namin, like seriously! Para akong mag-aaral sa japan. I can't describe how it looks I just suck at describing!
I went out of my room into our living room ready for school and waiting kay ate.
"Pst!" I heard it sa harap ng bahay namin, hindi ko na pinansin kasi baka passerby lang.
"Pst!" or maybe yung kapitbahay namin na nang p'pst' ng dumaraan.
"Pst!"
"Hoy Lay!" EH? I peeked into the door and to my suprise it was JM outside. We're on the same school din and ang gwapo niya wearing his uniform. I admit na crush ko siya eversince. I'll just let this a secret between you and I. wink!
"JM!"
"Bingi ka na ba Lay?" He said while still looking at me like there a deaf person meters away from him. Pero what's he doing here? Is he here to pick me up? Feeling Girlfriend Feels!
"Sorry." What I only managed to say. "tara pasok ka, maaga pa naman" I invited him na pumasok muna since maaga pa naman.
"Sasabay nga sana ako sa'yo, bakit kasi hindi mo sinabi na sa Kirin karin pala mags-study?" He said pagkapasok na pagkapasok niya sa bahay namin "Kung hindi lang sinabi ng tropa natin na dun ka mag-aaral ngayon ko lang din nalaman na dun ka mag-aaral" KILIG MUCH!
"Sorry talaga"
Wala pa yatang 20 seconds ng tumayo siya to where he is sitting "Tara na, May kailangan ka pa bang gawin?" and he offered his hand sakin para itayo ako, this really looks like a typical love story.
"Kasabay ko kas-" I was about to tell him na I'm going with ate pero she sprung out of nowhere.
"Sige sabay na ka'yo ni Lay, Jm!" Ate knows it all when it comes sa life ko. Including JM.
After hearing it a huge smile flashed on my face looking at ate. I no words came into my mouth, just a huge smile.
"Morning Ate Alyssa!" JM greeted ate.
"Morning din! Sige na umalis na kayo. Mabuti na yung maaga kesa sa late"
"Tara na Lay!" Punong-puno ng excitement yung boses niya. He's a year older sakin. And he's also a senior at Kirin. He's actually the reason I'm there. SHHHHHH!!
And we're off. but before leaving I said a quiet thank you kay ate. And she just nodded and said you're welcome. 'Yung feeling na sinundo ka ng Crush mo pero hindi niya alam na crush mo siya so shut up ka nalang and walk dahil nasa labas na yung kasabay mo.
Our house to Kirin is just a few blocks away, so we just walked exercise na rin.
"Excited ka na Lay?" I Forgot to mention na isa palang siyang Student council sa school. See? hindi lang gwapo, Matalino pa!
Kirin high ang pinakamalaking school dito sa metro. With 4 major building one per each year and one main hall, and pinakamalayo yung senior building. Credits to Ate for that information.
"Uhm, Lay?"
"Oh Yeah, I'm excited!"
JM didn't said a word for we're already a few meters away from Kirin's Entrance. It's a seniors first day at her new school. There are a lot of student walking, talking and hugging each other. As for me, Here goes nothing.
"UY JM!" Some of his classmate we're calling his name at a nearby store. By the looks of his face I can tell that he's excited to see them.
"Lay, You go ahead muna!" He tapped by back twice and flashing his cute smile in front of me. all I did was to nod. When I started walking JM Called me once more.
"Lay! Kaya mo 'yan!" And I started heading towards the school entrance.
*brooooom*
Many student filled the sidewalk so I stepped down into the road to pass over them.
*brroooomm*
Just when I stepped in, a motorbike appeared out of nowhere almost hitting me and made my skirt go up. Shocked, I remained standing there waiting for my brain to register what just happened. I saw her wearing the same uniform just as mine before turning into Kirin's Entrance. Kababeng tao reckless mag-drive!
Hindi ko na natuloy yung acting ko na kunwari hihinga ng malalim bago pumasok ng school kagaya ng sa mga napapanuod ko sa TV because of what that reckless girl driver did. A couple of minutes after when I reached the senior building I think I already bathed myself with my own sweat because of the hot weather and because of how big this school it. When they say its malayo, They really mean it. Mine is just up ahead right next to section 2.
Excited? Yes.
Worried? Yes.
Tired? Definitely yes!
When I reached our room konti palang yung tao around ten maybe? I picked the seat right next the door. As time passes by, more students came in and the noise became louder and louder mostly filled with How's your summers, gala tayo afters and I miss yous. I really don't know how can I be close with them.
"Okay Class Good morning I'm Mrs. Garcia and I'll be your class adviser. If any of you have any violent reactions" she paused while scanning us like a robot. a woman out of nowhere entered our room and it looks like someone pressed the stop button for every one was take aback by what she said. She placed her things in the desk and continued "You can quietly leave this classroom" with a smirk on her face. Now I'm scared.
"'Wag kang mag-alala, nataon lang sa period niya yung first day kaya s'ya ganyan" Said by the girl sitting next to me. But I was too focused on our adviser so I didn't acknowledged what she just said.
"I know all of you know me already, and I know almost all of you. Except for ONE" She said the last word while looking at me. and now I think everyone else is looking at me too. I can feel my heart running fast and my blood rushing to my face. This is so embarrassing.
"Are you just going to seat there and not introduce yourself to everyone miss?" Mrs. Garcia said with an irritated voice. I slowly stand up and walked in the middle of the classroom. Every step feels like I'm on a court trial and I am the prime suspect ready to be persecuted. I'm just not used at this things. I faced everyone and gave the best smile I can show. But I really think that I'm not doing a very good job at this.
"I'm Lay Madrigal. Nice to meet all of you" the class remained silent and like a metal near a magnet I went back as fast as i can to my chair. You did great back there I kept telling myself.
"You're a Madrigal, So you know Terrence Madrigal?" I stood up and told her that she was my father.
"So what are you doing here at Kirin? Aren't you supposed to be at a private school?" This was the question I don't wan't to answer. I just don't. I just stood in silence.
"Ms. Magdrigal?" Mrs.Garcia called.
"Isa lang ang ibig sabihin nun" Everyones attention turned to the girl who spoke. She doesn't even wear her blazer properly The buttons in her blouse are so loose halos Makita na ung cleavage niya. Hindi rin niya suot ng maayos yung necktie niya. And by her overall look, I don't think na magiging friends kami. EVER! And the next thing she said
"MA-HI-RAP-NA-SI-LA" With emphasis on the every syllable. I didn't saw that one coming. Una yung ateng naka-motor tapos ngayon naman siya? C'mon!
"That's a good one" sabi nung short and dark guy with a brace na nasa likod niya.
"Whatever!" at hinirapan lang siya ni ate na mahaba ang baba. Seriously what's with her?
"Konting Respeto naman!" sabi ng isa pang classmate.
Walang naging reaction si Ma'am towards sa rudeness ni Sey or sa nangyaring commotion, instead she let a huge sigh and went on.
"It's not fair kung si Ms. Madrigal lang ang magi-introduce right?" and the whole class quickly filled with groans.
"Sorry for that Ms. Madrigal, you can now take your seat".
"Who's next?" She said it Like a murderer looking for someone to kill. grining.
How great.
We'
