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P A T
"Bilisan mo namang kumilos, Anak. Hindi ako puwedeng ma-late!"
Napatalon ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang marinig ang matinis na boses ng nanay ko. Pasado alas-sais pa lang ng umaga pero pati yata mga kapitbahay namin ay nagising na dahil sa lakas ng boses niya. Sinigurado ko muna na nakakandado ang pinto namin bago ako mabilis na kumaripas ng takbo palabas ng gate bitbit ang lahat ng mga gamit ko.
Lumulutang pa ang isip ko nang buksan ko ang likod na pinto ng kotse.
School bag: check Gym bag: check Laptop bag: check
Nang mailagay ko na ang lahat ng mga gamit ko sa likod ay dumiretso na kaagad ako sa harap at saka umupo sa tabi ni Mama. Sana naman ay wala akong nakalimutan.
Hinihingal pa rin ako nang magsimula siyang magmaneho palabas ng subdivision. When I finally caught my breath and my heartbeat had already slowed down to a steady rhythm, I quickly checked the vanity mirror and let out an exasperated sigh when I saw my reflection.
I look like a complete mess.
I barely had a few minutes to get ready and my hair is all over the place. In fact, if I was being honest . . . I look like I just woke up from half a year of hibernation.
I wiped the small beads of sweat forming on my forehead and hurriedly combed my bangs in a futile attempt to make myself look slightly more presentable.
Alas-dyis pa ang oras ng klase ko pero sinasabay na ako ni Mama tuwing papasok siya sa trabaho. Alas-otso ang oras ng pasok niya, kaya naman 06:30 pa lang ng umaga ay bumabyahe na kaming dalawa.
"How's school?" she asked, casually starting a conversation as she glanced sideways at me in the car. "Mas okay naman ba kaysa sa Patterson?
I drew in a lot of breath and avoided her eyes.
Patterson Academy was my second home. It's undoubtedly the best school in the country, and I spent an entire school year learning within its walls and roaming around its halls. Everyone around me knew how much I was completely in love with Patterson, and if it was up to me . . . I never would have left.
But sometimes, things just don't go according to plan. No matter how badly we want something, if it is not meant for us, then life will surely get in the way. Which is why I am now enrolled in Patterson Academy's rival school, and which is why my mom is always checking on me to ask how I'm coping.
"Okay naman po," I answered truthfully. "I already told you about my friends, 'di ba? Mads and Ganj? They're both really nice. I will introduce you to them soon," I said, smiling at her.
I honestly never expected to have friends in my new school because I am a transferee. Transferees are usually placed at the bottom of the social food chain, and some even get bullied. Luckily, that wasn't the case for me because I met two amazing girls who never made me feel like I didn't belong. We just clicked right away; like it was destiny.
