Meeting The Weirdo

A Day For a Student

Nana’s POV
I never expected that I’ll be the luckiest one to pass the NV scholarship. Marami kami ang kumuha ng entrance exam at isa lang ang mapipili para mabigyan ng chance. Thanks to that woman na nakasalubong ko sa daan no’ng  gabing papasok ako sa trabaho ko. As I’ve said, I’m working at the pub na open 24/7. She’s a bit mysterious at weird kasi pwede rin namang mag-recruit tuwing araw. Medyo kinabahan ako no’n kasi baka mamaya wala naman pala akong kausap at mapagtangkaan pang baliw nang gabing iyon. Inabot niya sa ‘kin ‘yung calling card niya na may tatak na NV sa taas at numero ng telepono sa baba nito. Tawagan ko lang daw siya if need ko ng trabaho o kung gusto ko mag-apply para sa isang scholarship.
She even asked me about my studies. I told her na tumigil na ako sa pag-aaral. I thought of her as angel that night kasi napaalis ako sa trabaho ko sa Premiums. Hindi sa pinaalis talaga, nagtanggal lang ng mga empleyado kasi raw unti-unting nalulugi ang pub dahil may nagaganap na korapsiyon.
A day after, I made a call to that woman who offered me some help. I applied a part-time job sa pub nila. It was NV Express na bukas din 24/7. I talked to the owner which happened to be that woman who approached me. Yes, I was hired and she opened the conversation about me applying for a scholarship. I’m lucky enough na nakilala ko siya. Ang gaan ng pakiramdam ko sa kaniya. 
It felt like I’m dreaming about coming to school, again. The sound of the bell ringing, seeing your school filled with pretty and handsome faces in their school uniforms, different personalities na makakasalubong mo. May nerd na subsub sa pag-aaral, varsity players, heartthrobs, cheerleaders, singers, dancers, school youth and organization leaders, strict and humble professors, bullies and the bullied, fashionista and some of them. And here she is, simple lang, hindi kagandahan, hindi rin matalino, average lang, a poor student who’s given a chance to study in this prestigious school to make her dreams come true. That’s me and I promised to be somebody someday. You’ll gonna be the witness of my success, Menchuille Hana University.
Naglakad-lakad ako sa school para i-tour ‘yung sarili ko kasi masyadong maaga pa naman. The library caught my attention. Four-storey siya at napakaantigong tingnan. Parang nababalot siya ng misteryo kasi biglang nagsitayuan ‘yung mga balahibo ko sa katawan.
“Hello…” lumingon ako para tingnan kung sino ‘yung tumatawag o kung ako ba talaga ‘yung tinatawag. I caught him also throwing glances on the library. Finally, he turned to me.
“Hi.Nice meeting you, bro...? “I said while thinking about what to call him. He’s cute when he let out a smile. To be honest, na-attract ako sa kaniya at first sight.
“I didn’t expect that you have a nice approach to guys. Bro? “ he laughed a bit while offering me to shake hands with him. “Btw, just call me, Allen. And, you?” he asked while waiting for me to respond. “Nana Espiritu, Nana for short. It’s good to see and meet you.”
“I saw you looking at that...” he said while pointing to the library.” They said, there’s a story behind that. Marami raw na evil spirits na namamalagi diyan para guluhin ‘yung mga mag-aaral na tumatambay para mag-aral o kaya sa mga gustong mapag-isa”, pagkukuwento niya.  “Ah…” napatango lang ako.Kaya pala iba ‘yung pakiramdam ko. And, I noticed na may malaking akasya pala sa right side ng building na ‘yun. I think it’s a century old already. Ito ‘yung ikinukwento ni Lola sa akin dati na akasya na matatagpuan sa isang university na hindi kalayuan sa amin.
We talked so long at hindi namin namalayan ang oras. Nagpaalam na lang ako kay Allen at baka mahuli pa kami sa klase. I asked him kung ano course niya and luckily same course lang kami. BSSW kinuha ko but hindi kami magkapareho ng section. I’m in Class-A, while he’s in Class-B. Not that bad kasi, one room apart lang naman kami.
Naglalakad ako  sa hallway when I bumped into a girl. Nag-apologize ako sa kaniya. Gano’n din siya sa akin. She’s really pretty and cheerful.
“So, you’re also a BSSW student? Nana?” she asked while looking at my name tag na may nakalagay din kung anong course ko. Napatango lang ako at ngumiti sa kaniya. She’s Aelie and she said na Class-A ‘yung section niya. So that means, magkaklase kaming dalawa. Sabay na kaming pumasok sa room namin and we’re asked to introduced ourselves in front of the class.
“Hello, I’m Nana Espiritu, 18 years of age. An irregular student from another school.. I don’t have parents anymore. I am living with my grandmother and cousin. If you want to ask or talk to me, just don’t hesitate. I would love to befriend you all.” I introduced myself and after that, my teacher assigned me to sit by the window. He’s here, also. ‘Yung lalaking muntik nang makabangga sa ‘kin nang gabing ‘yun. Tssk, what a small world. Tumungo lang ako para umiwas ng tingin mula sa kaniya at diretsong umupo sa upuan ko.
“Good morning everyone, my name is Aelie, 19. And I’m really happy to meet you all” pagpapakilala niya habang nakatingin nang diretso sa lalaking ‘yun. I think magkakilala sila. Pinaupo si Aelie sa tabi no’ng mayabang na lalaki.
Lumingon sa akin ‘yung lalaki kaya nagkunwari akong sumisinghot ng sariwang hangin na pumapasok mula sa bintana.
Don’t mess with me again, you stupid jerk!