Hiraya - Macolet

001

"Colet, are you really going to keep this up?"

I smirked at my father's remark. It was no longer a challenge that I heard. It was a stern demand for me to prevent me from causing trouble at this university. Nakakarindi na.

Nasa Dean's office kasi kami ngayon — where students go when they're in trouble and the customary destination for students on the brink of expulsion. Well, 'yon ang sinasabi ng ibang estudyante dahil palibhasa ay mga takot sila.

"Ano na naman kinukuda mo?" I asked, trying to annoy him even more. Seeing him frown always makes my day better. It never gets old. This frowns on him just because there's one person that can defy his orders.

"Ma. Nicollete Vergara!" He shouted, not minding the people around him. "Enough with your attitude!"

Ayan na naman siya, the man revered by many for his accomplishments. But, little did they know, despite his successes — big or small, he struggled to take care of his own family.

Kaya minsan nagtataka ako kung anak pa ba ang turing niya sa aming magkakapatid, eh.

I sighed, avoiding his stern gaze. "P'wede ba, Pa? Pakihinaan 'yung boses mo. You're practically shouting na kasi. Mahiya ka naman, wala po tayo sa bahay," I said, pretending to clean my ear with my fingers.

"Do you honestly believe your behavior in this school is acceptable?" He shouted one more, his voice echoing off the walls of the Dean's office. "Colet, you know that we didn't send you here para lang to cause trouble, 'di ba? Can't you at least try —"

I tuned out his words — This is already a familiar scene for me, well for the Dean too. Paano, ilang beses ba sa isang linggo akong pumupunta dito sa Dean's office? Dalawang beses? Tatlong beses? Hindi ko na alam. I lost count already. Kaya nga minsan ay gulat ako dahil hindi pa rin ako ine-expel sa school na 'to.

I guess, having Vergara as your last name is indeed useful at times, 'no?

But, for me, it isn't. Paano, basura 'tong paaralan na 'to! Hindi ko nga maintindihan 'yung ibang estudyante kung bakit mas pinipili nilang mag stay dito para mag-aral at dito ipagpatuloy ang kolehiyo nila. 'Yung academic system? It was a fucking joke. What kind of school allowed students to study for hours on end without a single break? And don't even get me started on the smell in those cubicles.

Ang mahal mahal ng tuition tapos ganito lang? Like, come on, kung hindi kaya magpaka-tatay ng tatay ko, sana umayos naman ang sistema ng paaralan na 'to kung saan ako pinapa-aral ng magiting at magaling kong tatay.

— angerclub —

Colet : sa dean's office ako

With a sigh, I sent a message sa group chat namin ng mga kaibigan ko. Hoping my so-called friends would come to my rescue once again. Gets na nila 'yung message ko sa group chat. Hindi na kailangan ng explanation na sobrang haba.

Habang hinihintay ko sila ay I couldn't help but dwell on the absurdity of it all. Nandito na naman ako, ulit, stuck in the same old situation na kasalanan ko rin naman, habang 'yung mundo sa labas ng kwartong 'to ay patuloy na umiikot.