Uncontrolled [Baguio Series #6]

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Araw-araw, simula nung kinausap ako ni Deli noong first day of class, palagi na siyang nagkukwento sa akin at nagtuturo kung paano maging komportable sa lahat ng oras. She knew that sometimes, I am amazed with the little things that were happening when in fact, sobrang normal lang pala 'yon.

"Hindi bawal 'yon?" tanong ko kay Deli habang nakaupo kami sa Grandstand, nakatingin sa babae at lalaking naglalambingan. "Ang cool naman."

"Hindi naman 'to catholic school! At saka holding hands at hug lang naman, Aika!" bulyaw niya sa tanong ko.

Napakamot ako ng ulo dahil doon. One week na ang nakakaraan simula noong first day of class. Ang daming pangyayari na hindi ko naranasan noon. Minsan natatakot ako, lalo kapag kailangan akong iwan ni Deli sa lugar na maraming tao at hindi ko kilala, pero unti-unti, nasasanay na ako.

"Aika, pwedeng makahiram ng tech pen mo?" tanong ni Eric nang makaupo na kami ni Deli. "Naiwan ko kasi."

Tapos na ang lunch time kaya naman dumiretso na kami sa classroom matapos makapagpahinga sa Grandstand. May mga classmates na kami sa loob na nagmamadali sa paggawa ng assignments at plates, tulad ni Eric.

"Sure! Sandali, ah?"

Kinuha ko sa bag ang pouch at kinuha ang tech pen doon, saka iniabot 'yon sa kan'ya.

"Thank you! Soli ko kaagad pagkatapos."

Ngumiti lang ako at tumango sa kan'ya.

As the day goes by that I'm studying in this university I chose without my family's consent, I realized that there are a lot of people in this world that is so unlike me.

They chose to study in this state university because this is the only choice they have. Maliit ang tuition, public school o dahil malapit sa kanila.

I chose to study here because I wanted to feel the bigger world. All my life, I've been living only inside my home. Sa school naman noong high school, I'm surrounded with girls that I am not really friends with. Walang katulad ni Deli doon.

They were study all day and go home after school girls, just like how my family wanted me to do.

The problem is, I am not that kind of person. I don't hate studying pero ayaw ko namang doon lang iikot ang isang buong araw ko. I want to study and enjoy at the same time.

I want to enjoy studying.

A few weeks after the first day of school, unti-unti na akong nagiging komportable sa mundong pinasok ko. At alam ko sa sarili ko na masaya ako--na gusto ko ito.

"Alam mo, Aika, ang dami mo pang hindi alam sa mundo. Pero ito na lang sasabihin ko, ha? You can enjoy your youth in any way that you want. Pero dapat mag-iingat ka rin. You should know your limitations. Doon ka lang sa hindi ka mapapahamak. You should also try to analyze the environment. If it's not safe, there's nothing wrong with leaving the place--the situation. You can enjoy any time or any way you want but always put your safety as your top priority."

Tumango ako matapos marinig ang mahabang sinabi ni Deli. Palabas na kami ng school dahil tapos na ang klase para sa araw na ito. I'm gaining friends and I'm so happy. Minsan, nagugulat na lang ako na nagiging sobrang feeling close ko na sa kanila. Pero mukhang okay lang sa kanila.