'' I'm just concerned, Anak. What if Elmira isn't ready yet?''
''Mom, El is doing well. She's not as cheerful and bubbly as she used to be, but I still believe she is fine and she'll be fine. She simply needs to be exposed to the outside world and not be treated like a fragile baby here.''
I overheard Mom and Kuya talking in the kitchen and they were taken aback when they saw me, but I just pretended to be unconcerned, as if I hadn't heard anything.
'' Oh, sorry kuya hindi na kita hinantay, napaaga out ko ngayon kaya sumakay nalang ako ng bus pauwi'' I just said to break the silence.
'' Wow ah! Marunong ka ng sumakay ng bus?'' he awkwardly said. Nilapitan naman ako ni Mom at niyakap. They are very protective of me, but it can be oppressive at times.
''I'm trying to be a normal student mom'' I said while thinking about how to become a normal, lowkey, invisible student.
Kumalas ako sa yakap niya at nagpaalam na aakyat muna sa taas para magbihis.
I don't have a class tomorrow morning but I do have my counseling with my Psychiatrist. This never-ending obligation for the seeks of my insanity. But it's quite better compares to be in a rehab center for long-term residential treatment.
I woke up early in the morning to have a jog with kuya since he just told me last night after dinner that he wants us to have a jog in the morning since we both don't have a class but when I went into his room, he's still in his deep sleep that's why I didn't bother to wake him up. I can jog alone.
''Good morning Mira!'' I jog for 30 minutes around the subdivision when I noticed someone running beside me. I thought I am just hallucinating but the weird girl is really here. The girl that is my classmate in my first subject yesterday. I forgot her name but not her face.
''Dito ka lang pala nakatira Mira?''
Hindi ko siya pinansin. I don't like how she calls me Mira. We aren't that close for her to come up with such a nickname for me. I tried to ignore her, but she kept talking about random things. She even mentioned his pet, Haru, which I assumed was a cat or dog until the end of her story revealed that it was a mantis.
Buntot ng buntot lang siya sa akin hangang sa nasa tapat na ako ng bahay. Hindi ko siya pinansin at tuloy tuloy lang ako sa pagpasok while I saw Mom was watering our plant and I was just astounded when she called out a name while looking outside the gate.
''Haru! Oh! Nakilala mona anak ko?''
Wait? Magkakilala sila?
''Tita Elena! Woooh? Anak nyo po si Mira? Kaklase ko po siya!''
Her pet's name is Haru, and she is also Haru. Weird
Hinayaan ko silang mag-usap at pumasok na ako sa loob. Tinawag ako ni mom pero hindi ko sya pinansin. Narinig ko lang siyang humingi na naman ng pasenysa sa inaasal ko.
''she's a nice Kid'' Mom said while she was already inside after a long conversation with the strange girl outside. Mali-late na tuloy siya sa work niya.
'' She will be a wonderful friend of yours. Just be nice to her, El.''
''yeah right'' sabi ko nalang at pumasok na ng kwarto.
Days pass in a blur, but they remain the same. I gradually adjusted in school, attempting to appear outcast and lowkey, but this strange girl named Haru continues to annoy me. Kapwa kami architecture student kaya wala akong takas sa kanya dahil magkakaklase parin kami sa mga Majors namin.
'' Mr. Vanzuela is absent again?'' Ms. Santos asked since that individual was also absent at the previous meeting. Well, I'm glad I don't have to see that guy every day. When he's around, he just causes trouble. Napakainitin kasi ng ulo, walang naging kasundo sa klase ni isa.
''she's really pretty''
''ang puti pa!''
''freshmen right? Ang sasarap talaga ng mga first year ngayon!''
The next table was occupied by three guys. They are very close and I can hear them talking about me, but I choose to ignore them even if I want to throw my fork in their direction. Gusto ko lang naman kumain ng matiwasay sa Cafeteria.
''Hoy! Tumahimik nga kayo!'' Then another guy appeared. He's not dressed in a uniform, but rather in a plain white shirt, jeans, and sneakers. Binatukan niya ang tatlong lalaki at tumingin pa siya ng bahagya sa akin na para bang nanghihingi ng paumanhin. I'm not sure why he looked so familiar. I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've seen him in the university or even outside.
As I was finishing my lunch, I noticed that most of the girls were simply staring at the guy who had just arrived at the next table. I've come to the conclusion that he's a popular guy at the university. Siguro member siya ng Banda, Varsity team or Maybe he's a School president. Malay ko, wala naman kasi akong masyadong alam.
''Mira, tapos ka na sa Plates mo this week?'' Haru just appeared in front of me, and I almost choked on what I was chewing. Kung saan-saan nalang talaga ito sumusulpot.
''alam mo para kang kabute.'' I said while couldn't stand the irritability in my voice.
''Wow! Halatang naiiinis ka pero bakit ang cute?'' natatawa niyang saad at pinisil pa ang pisngi ko.
I can't help but be amazed by this girl's oddness. Hindi ko man lang namalayan na medyo hinahayaan ko na pala siyang kulitin ako.
'' Order muna ako, pero parang tapos ka na sa pagkain, mauna ka nalang baka may klase ka pa, vacant ko kasi later eh'' Paalam niya at nagtungo na sa counter. Patapos na sana ako pero pinili kung tumigil sa pagkain para masabayan pa siya later.
Maybe it's not such a bad thing to have a friend, Mom likes her and she seems nice even if she's a little odd most of the time.
After a few minutes, I heard a loud noise na parang may nahulog sa sahig. Lahat ay napalingon sa gawi kung saan nang-galing ang ingay. I noticed Haru standing in front of a guy with a lot of stains on his polo.
I couldn't help but interfere when I saw the guy was Ryton Khale Vanzuela, the arrogant guy. Nagmadali na akong pumatungo kay Haru.
''Stupid! Hindi ba uso ang tumingin sa dinadaanan?!'' umalingaw-ngaw na sigaw niya. He's having temper tantrums right now. When he saw me, he even gave me a dagger look at parang mas lumala ata ang inis niya sa nangyari.
''Sorry! Hindi ko sinasadya.'' Natatarantang saad ni Haru. It's unusual for me to see her in this state, terrified by the presence of this man with nothing but an arrogant demeanor.
''Tsk! I'm not surprised Oliver chose that girl over you. You're nothing but a piece of shit.'' Dagdag pa nito na siyang nagpapakulo ng dugo ko.
I don't know the whole story, wala din akong idea na magkakilala na pala silang dalawa aside sa magkaklase kami sa ibang subject, but this guy is an incredible jerk. I can't help but intervene. I bent down for a second to pick up a spilled pasta on the floor, and I just wiped it in his face. The cafeteria was filled with gasps, and everyone was shocked by what I did, which I didn't regret; it was just fun to see his face in distress and disbelief that someone had just done something like that to him in front of the crowd.
I barely know this guy, but he's really getting on my nerves. I'm sure he'll add a lot of stress and fun to my college years.
'' What do you think you're doing? How dare you butt in when it's none of your fucking business?!'' He yelled after he recovered from his shock at what I had done to him.
Damang-dama ko ang gigil niya. If lalaki lang ako kanina pa niya siguro ako sinuntok.
''Damn that girl, naghuhukay ata siya ng sarili niyang libingan''
'' If you want a peaceful college experience, avoid the Vazuela.''
''Mabuti pang magdrop out nalang siya''
Rinig kung bulong-bulongan sa paligid. I'm not stupid enough to not get it, but I'm not afraid of this guy or what he's capable of. But I was stunned when he grabbed me by the collar. We're already causing a commotion in the cafeteria; all eyes are on us, but no one dares to intervene.
''Ry! Tama na! Nasasakal na si Mira!'' sigaw ni Haru. Pero walang epekto ito sakanya, I tried to get away as well, but he's too strong, so I'm prompted to kick his balls, nakawala ako at namilipit naman siya sa sakit.
Right now, I believe we are already at war. I saw that he was going to grab me again or physically hurt me, but someone came along and blocked him.
''Ry! Calm down! Don't do something that you might come to regret later.''
Ito ang lalaki kanina, yung lalaki sa kabilang table. Napakalma niya ito but I could still feel his rage and anger towards me habang tinititigan niya ako. Hindi ko alam, pero parang may iba pang dahilan ang galit niya. This isn't just about what happened at this exact moment.