Behind This Name (UNEDITED)

34

CHAPTER 34 — TAKE THINGS SERIOUSLY

AS the summer ends, new school year awaits. My new university is waiting for me.

Gail helped me to enter Cypress College, she helped me with all the requirements and stuffs I need. Few weeks ago, I took their admission test and gladly I passed. And this day, the first day starts. There's only one question left in my mind: Is studying in schools inside gifted institutions the same with studying in normal schools?

I wonder how classes start or how students do their PE classes. Naalala ko pa no'ng pumunta ako sa Institute Center at nakita ko 'yong ilang mga estudyante na tahimik at seryosong-seryoso na nakikinig. It's just that there's a different aura in a school filled with gifted students.

I woke up early this morning. Hindi dahil sa gusto kong maaga ang gising kung hindi dahil ginising ako ni Gail. Five in the morning, she knocked in my room countless times, breaking every peace in my body! Nine pa ng umaga ang klase ko tapos gigisingin niya ako nang gano'n kaaga? So yes, I did wake up and get out of my bed.

She left the house at seven thirty. She's now a teacher at an elementary school inside IAR. Me, on the other hand, waited for the wall clock to turned eight thirty before I left the house. I was wearing a fitted top that was inserted on my slacks and a gray blazer on top of it, as requested by Gail.

"Kamukha mo si Dwein sa ganyang outfit." Naalala ko pang sinabi niya bago siya umalis. Pinasuot kasi niya sa akin at ako naman 'tong uto-uto na sinuot nga.

And by hearing what she said, Dwein in this outfit flashed inside my head. I didn't look like her, that's the truth. Gail probably just saw Dwein in me through the outfit because it's what Dwein usually wear. A very professional-looking woman. Masasabi ko talaga na bagay sa bitch na 'yon ang Political Science.

Pagkalabas ko ng bahay, sa taxi ako sumakay at makalipas ang ilang minutong biyahe, binaba ako sa mismong harapan ng gate ng IAR. The gray closed gate welcomed me. People are walking towards it and tapping their IDs to enter the institution. There's a gate, smaller than the main one, where people go through. I stand in line along with the other people and wait until I got my time to tap my ID.

Ganito pala rito. Sa dami nang taong nagsisipasukan, nakapila na sila. I understand now why Gail wanted me to go here early, para siguro iwas late. But then, I couldn't care less if I ended up being late. Hindi rin nagtagal at nakapasok na ako. There's this road inside this institution where you will walk on to, and on both side of it stood different establishments. Sa Institute Center kasi walang pinakang-kalsada, kahit saan pwede kang dumaan. Dito, required yata na sa kalsada ka maglalakad papunta sa destinasyon mo.

I've obviously been here because of that admission test, so I already know where the university is. I've seen it, at least its structure and how it looks like inside. So, following this road and looking at every building that I passed by, I have found the university in no time.

Cypress College is composed of four buildings forming like the sides of a square and in the middle of those four buildings is a field. Each building has five floors. Tightening my hold on my handbag, I entered the university. I still don't know where my room is, so it took me couple of minutes before I found it. Thankfully, the class hasn't started yet.

Everyone was quiet when I entered. They just glanced at me as I found a vacant seat but never put a damn care on me. Some of them were talking but not that loud. Para silang mga batang inutusang 'wag mag-ingay. I took the seat on the third line from the back, that one near the wall. Medyo nasa likod at nasa tabi 'yong upuan kaya sigurado akong hindi ako masyadong pansin dito kapag recitation na.

As time passing by, students started to fill the vacant seats in this room. Five minutes before the time, a guy entered the room. And at only a first glance, he already caught my attention.