A Little Bit of Sunshine

36

Kabanata 36: Is It Okay?

I finally arrived to Canada with a heavy heart. Even though my Grandfather and Grandmother gave me their warmest welcomes, my mind was still occupied with the overwhelming events that happened in my life.

Hindi ako naging masaya. Aaminin ko.

And my grandparents were completely bothered with it lalo na nang magsimula na akong pumasok sa isang eskwelahan sa Canada. I experienced different kinds of discrimination because most of the students that I encountered are Canadians.

This is the reason why I had thoughts that I won't be able to survive in Canada again. I wanted to give up pero tinanong ko ang sarili ko, saan naman ulit ako tatakbo? I have no cards left that's why I decided to be strong.

And I'm lucky that I finally found another group of people that I can count on.

I met Filipino students who were studying in the same school as mine. Magkakaiba kami ng grade level but our group still clicked because of our similarities with each other. Nagkakasundo kami palagi sa mga pagkain at mga memories that we tried to reminisce while living in the Philippines.

"Anong pinaka-namimiss niyo sa Pilipinas mga pre?" Christian said while were eating lunch. "Ako kasi yung mga tagpipisong chichirya eh. Sinubukan kong maghanap sa stores dito sa Canada pero wala talaga akong nakita."

Christian was the youngest in our group. Nasa grade 11 pa lang siya and he looks like the flower boy type. Matagal ng nag-aabroad ang mama at papa niya that's why when they saved enough money, kinuha na nila si Christian sa Pilipinas kasama ang lola niya na ilang taong nag-alaga sa kanya.

"Chichirya? Yan yung namimiss mo Christian?" Zach said before laughing hideously. "Wala ka na bang ibang naisip bukod diyan?"

Zach is just on the same age and grade as mine. Siya ang pinakapalabiro at pinakamapang-asar sa grupo. He was biracial, half Pinoy-half Canadian. Naanakan at iniwan lang ang Mama niya ng Papa niyang Canadian but after a few years, his Dad came back and brought them to Canada to pay for what he have done before.

"Gago. That's what I really miss in the Philippines at walang masama dun." Christian just gave Zach a deadly look before rolling his eyes like a gay.

Leonard, the oldest member of the group finally interrupted before Zach could say something para asarin nanaman si Christian.

"Hoy hoy hoy mga pre. Tama na nga yan. Pag-aawayan niyo pa ba ang maliit na bagay tulad nito? Mga bata pa ba kayo?" 

Leonard was on the same grade as Zach and me pero mas matanda siya ng isang taon sa amin. He stopped schooling way back in primary school for a year because he had difficulties in adjusting to the new environment. Siya ang pinakamatagal ng nandito sa Canada and he can speak Cantonese fluently already.

"Let's continue with our topic. Ano ba kasing namimiss mo sa pinas Zach?'

"Siyempre yung mga ka-classmate kong babae na nagtitilian at halos mahimatay sa hallway kapag-"

All of us lifted our glasses and gave him a warning na bubuhasan namin siya kapag hindi siya umayos. Tinignan niya kami isa-isa, let out a heavy sigh before munching on his food.

"Kayo talaga. Masyado kayong mga seryoso!" Binalik namin ang mga baso namin and continue to eat the food on our plates. "Yung mga streetfoods talaga sa labas ng eskwelahan yung namimiss ko. Piso isang fishball pero palihim kang nagnanakaw ng isa para panalo!"