It's the first day of my college life. Nothing's new, we need to introduce ourselves, as usual.
I went to the center and speak, "hi. I'm Sky Abellera," at, iyan palang 'yong nasabi ko nagtilian na sila and I can't even hide my laughter. Kapag ganiyan sila, natatawa na lang ako. They're not yet done daydreaming of me, so I can't continue my introduction.
"Okay, Abellera, sit down now, baka mamaya mabaliw na 'yong mga kaklase mo sa'yo," our Professor pulled a joke.
"Sir naman! Pakantahin mo muna si Sky o pasayawin na lang," a lady said. Well, hindi ko siya kilala. I guess she's new.
"Hala ka," Veia whispered. Yes, we're classmates on the first subject, minor lang kasi 'to.
But, everyone stops blabbering when someone went inside. And, she changed so much. I haven't seen her for the whole four months of summer vacation kaya sobrang nakakagulat 'yong itsura niya. Her long hair was cut, hanggang leeg niya na lang, and she colored it with ash blonde. She also got a light make-up and she's wearing a non-revealing dress, but it really showed her perfect body figure.
"I'm sorry, I'm late," she bowed to show her sincerity.
Our Professor smiled at her as he gestured her to go at the center, "kindly introduce yourself, Miss," he said that without taking off his eyes on her. I'm not being malicious, but the way he stares at her is so strange.
"Good morning, I'm Hillary Aeiou Gomez," she uttered.
She's now using the surname Gomez. I wonder why she'd changed it. Sabi niya she'll bring the surname Madrigal until the end.
"Is that all?" our Professor asked.
"Yeah. If you guys want to know me more don't hesitate to approach me," she said and looked for a vacant seat. Nadaanan niya kami, but she didn't look at us.
"Laki nang pinagbago niya," Veia suddenly said. "She's gotten prettier," she added.
Hindi ako sumagot at nanatili lang akong nakatingin sa kaniya habang busy na siya sa pakikipag-usap sa katabi niya.
"Okay, everyone, since all of you were done introducing yourselves, then I'll introduce myself now," said the Professor. "I am Professor Lance Chua, 26 years young, and I'll be teaching you the course Science, Technology, and Engineering. And, since today is our first meeting, we're not yet going to have our first lesson. We will have a game," he added and everyone seems so excited. "I have here 30 paper hearts and all of you will have one. In the paper heart, there are numbers from 1 to 5, it means that each of you will go to 5 people and ask what are their first impression on you. Now, everyone, stand up," we followed him right away, "and start," he said.
Halos lahat nagkagulo at nagpunta sa'kin. Hindi ko na alam kung ano 'yong isinulat ko sa paper heart nila at minsan inuulit ko na lang dahil naguguluhan na rin ako. After how many minutes, nag-umpisa na akong lumapit sa mga taong 'di ko kilala.
"Hi," I greeted this curled hair lady who's been so quiet since then. She was surprised after seeing me, but she showed me her smile after a second, "can I have your first impression on me?" I asked.
She nodded and gets her pen. She wrote at number 1, 'I'm a transferee and it's the first time I've known you, but I am certain that you're a good person.'
"Thank you," I sincerely said.
"You're welcome," aw, her voice's so cute. It's so tiny like she's just a 10-year-old kid.
"By the way, I'm Sky, and you are?"
"Kreisha Amor," she replied.
I extended my hand and she accepts it too soon, "nice to meet you, Kreisha," I uttered.
"Nice to meet you, too, Sky," she answered. I bid my goodbye for the meantime and look for another person.
"Hi," I greeted him.
"Hey!" he's very energetic. Kanina ko pa nga siya napapansin. "Give me your paper heart and I'll write my first impression on you," he said and I handed it to him immediately. He wrote, 'You're kind and handsome, but please don't steal the cute woman you had conversed earlier.'
"Wait, do you like her?" I asked him, smiling.
"I find her cute, crush lang muna," he replied and I just tap his back, trying to hide my laughter. We introduced each other first before I finally leave.
The third person, named Cassy, wrote, 'You're intelligent, good, talented, and seem nice to be with.'
The fourth one, named Nicholas, wrote, 'You broke thousand of woman's heart already.'
Tss. I never did that.
And, for the last one. I took a deep breath as I wait for her to finish writing on our classmate's paper heart.
"Thank you, Hillary," our classmate said.
Hillary replied, "no worries." She then looked at me with no expression at all.
"Can I?" I asked.
Without further ado, she gets my paper heart and wrote, 'I missed you.'
S-Sh*t! I'll be lying if I say my heart didn't skip a beat. Of course, I wasn't expecting that she'll write those words. Akala ko kasi wala na ako para sa kaniya, pero ngayon alam kong kaibigan pa rin ang turing niya sa'kin.
"I have nothing to write. I know you already kaya 'yan na lang," she said and turned her back at me, she then approached another person to write on her paper heart.
Napangiti na lang ako bigla. Tapos naalala ko 'yong papel na ibinigay niya at sinulat niya ro'n ay 'I like you', pero hindi pala 'yon para sa'kin. But this time, the three words she'd written is really meant for me. I sat in my chair, feeling like I'm at Cloud9.
"Maganda siguro 'yong isinulat ni Hillary kaya todo ngiti ka," Veia suddenly said. "Iba talaga 'yong ngiting ibinibigay niya, 'no? Kanina ko pa napapansin, eh, lahat ng taong lulamapit sa kaniya napapangiti na lang bigla," she added.
My smile faded and I looked at her, "gusto mo bang isulat din 'yong first impression mo sa'kin?" I asked.
"Para saan pa? Parang ngayon lang tayo nagkakilala."
"Edi hindi na lang first impression. Isulat mo na lang kung ano 'yong gusto mong sabihin sa'kin."
"Saan ko isusulat? Binuo na ni Hillary 'yong limang taong magbibigay sa'yo ng first impression."
"I'll make one for you."
Kumuha akong violet colored construction paper, it's her fave color, then I cut it into a heart shape. Then, I handed it to Veia.
She smiled as she gets it. Tapos isinulat niya ro'n...
'I LOVE YOU, SKY...'
'MY BEST FRIEND!'
Umasa tayo sa bandang 'yan. Hay!