A Mistake!If you want to view the pictures of the characters, please click on their names (not true names and for imaginary purposes only) thanks.
xX.1.Xx
Today is the tomorrow I worried about yesterday.
Check Registration form/I.D.
Check Ballpoint pen
Check Paper/notebook/filler
How about,
X Composure
X Tranquility
X Relaxation
“Will you please calm down?!” the door of my room creaked open.
“kuya naman eh!” I stood bolt-upright from my bed in fright.
“Don’t you know that the word “knocking” was invented?” I quoted the word knocking with my fingers.
My older brother entered my white painted room laughing. He walked towards my window and tied the sky blue colored curtains hanging over.
“Oh yeah...? Since when was that invented?” he chuckled and leaned at the wall.
“pwede ba, alam ko first day of school mo ngayon but believe me, it won’t kill you.”“I’m just nervous! yun lang.” I said as I sat back to fix my things.
“Eh pa’no ba naman, nagka-cram ka.” he went near me, standing at the side of my bed.
“Haven’t mom reminded you to fix that last night?”“She did.” I pushed my cell phone into my shoulder bag.
“Unfortunately, nakatulog ako.”“No surprise there. Just hurry, baka ma-late tayo. Masmalayo na ang school mo ngayon noh.”“It’s our school. Not my school.” I corrected him.
“But still, I am already going to that school since two years ago. But you, it’s your first time. Sinasabi ko lang na masmalayo na yung magiging school mo ngayon unlike your high school before.”“We were in the same high school before so it was also our school and not mine alone.”“It used to be ours but when I graduated there, of course I went to college and—whatever!” he playfully pulled my hair.
“What are we talking about? bilisan mo na nga lang diyan!”I’m beginning to realize that guys and girls really are contrary creatures indeed and that the only thing males are good at is changing the subject.
“oo na.” I threw a pillow to hit him but he just caught it.
“Relax ka nga lang kasi!” he tousled my hair slightly and headed outside.
“Magbe-breakfast muna ‘ko.” he then threw the pillow back to me and closed the door.
“Hurry up!” I heard him hollering while going downstairs.
“Tama nga, relax lang Celine.” I told myself.
Inhale... and don’t exhale. I mean, exhale also. Whoa! I still feel uneasy knowing that today is my first day as a college student. My full name is
Celestine Angeline Olivares, if you have to have it all spelled out. Yeah, I know that it’s long so just bear with the Celine. I was born 16 years and 2 months ago. My parents enrolled me at a university same as where my 19 year old brother,
Erick Monriel, is currently studying. And today, here I am, getting myself prepared.
I hurried down the stairs after doing my morning ceremonies hoping that I would see my parents and my brother still eating so I could join them. When I was just about to sit down, kuya Erick shove the last spoon of rice in his plate into his mouth.
“Celine.” my brother called out and pointed at his wrist watch.
“I know.” I moaned and reached for some egg and hotdog.
“Are you ready for school?” my dad who is wearing his office uniform asked as I tried to eat fast. I just managed a nod.
“kabado nga yan eh.” Erick uttered as he got a pitcher from the fridge.
“Normal lang yan.” my mom stroked my hair.
“But don’t worry, everything will be fine.” she then stood up holding her finished plate and went to the kitchen sink. She is also about to go to where dad’s office is. They both work there together.
When I already consumed the food from my dish, I kissed my parents goodbye and ran outside our house. My brother is supposed to be sited inside his car by now. My parents bought him a car for his 18th birthday because he was longing for one and it will be useful anyway so that our dad won’t be tired dropping us at school before going to their office. But we’re not rich, middle class is more appropriate.
As I reached our garage, I saw that kuya Erick had already brought the car outside our gate.
“Get in.” he said after lowering the windowpane as I came into his view. I followed his instruction then he drove us together to the university. Our trip took 45 minutes without the traffic.
“Hey li’l sis, hindi na kita masasamahan sa loob ng building mo.” he pulled up to a stop.
“baka ma-late na ‘ko kung sasamahan pa kita kasi malayo pa dito yung building ko. Ayan naman na yung building mo eh.” he pointed at the structure not too far from us.
“Magkita nalang kayo doon ni Shane. About your room, it’s written at your registration form so—”“Okay, I got it!” I interrupted him and opened the door.
“alam ko nang gagawin ko kuya.” I stepped down outside the car and smiled at him.
“kaya ko na ‘to.”“Good luck!” he smiled back.
“Text me up when it’s time for you to go home, huh?”As he drove away, I saw the other students rushing to where they’re supposed to be so as for me, I walked into my building to look for Shane, our cousin (father’s side) who’s also going to take college with me.
Shane has been a student at this university where I’m in right now since she was in high school so she’s already used to this place unlike me. She’s six months older than me and we chose the same course to take.
“There you are!” I heard a familiar voice from behind.
I turned away from the bulletin board that I was reading seconds ago to face that person.
“Shane!” I beamed.
“sa second floor yung room natin, right?”“yeah.” she held my hand and we started walking.
“buti nalang magka-section tayo.”When we reached the second floor of our building, some students were standing by the corridor and I viewed umpteen unfamiliar faces. We just passed by them and went to look for our room.
Room 208I sighed as I saw the sign on top of the door in front of us. This is it.
Shane and I entered the room and had taken a seat about three quarters of the way back. The room’s already filled with other teenagers but not too full yet. When one of our professors crossed the threshold, I sensed that not all of my supposed to be classmates are inside. Not that I know where they are—how would I if I don’t know them all yet?—I have just been aware that the population is not enough compared to the number of names listed at the door. Well, I wasn’t wrong because that’s what it showed when the professor checked our attendance.
“Good morning. I’m Ms. Ledesma and I will be your professor in your major subject.” the woman who seems to be in her mid 30’s stated calmly in front with a warm welcoming smile. She gave an introduction about her subject and just checked on our registration forms. After those stuffs, she arranged our seats alphabetically.
I’m in a college with a dress code. They require us to start wearing our uniforms by next week. But having a seating plan? That kind of surprised me. But who am I to complain? It’s in their rules. Anyway, having a seat plan won’t make a difference. I will still be seated beside Shane because we have the same surnames. On my other side, a girl was placed on that seat.
After meeting all the professors for that day, I felt relief. So far, everything’s going well. Shane walked me around the campus then. She showed me the way to the library, field, sports complex, gym and other college buildings including the building of my brother.
“doon naman tayo.” Shane pulled me across the field to where we were walking along.
Few students were walking along on that part when we arrived at the destination Shane wanted to show me. Most of the students were spending their time near the field or probably at the fast foods around the university to eat because it’s almost lunch but instead of eating too, Shane is still touring me.
“That’s the chapel.” she said as we stood facing its front.
“Sa may bandang likod naman niyan, yung building ko nung high school.”I heard voices and when I turned my head around, I saw a group of guys standing by at the far edge of the chapel but I just disregarded them.
“nakakapagod naman maglibot. ang laki kasi dito.” I commented.
“siyempre may masmalaki pa ring ibang universities kaysa dito pero oo naman, malaki din dito.” she said.
“halika na, kumain na tayo.”“akala ko naman hindi ka na magyaya eh!” I chuckled.
We started to walk away from the chapel when Shane dropped her hanky.
“sandali lang muna.” we stopped and she bended down to reach for it.
As she was picking it up, somebody suddenly grabbed my hand and turned me. I came face to face with a guy and to my surprise, he kissed me.
I recoiled immediately and pushed him vehemently.
“teka—” I looked at his face. The lad taller than I am focused his dark brown eyes at mine as I glared at him.
“How dare you?!” I retorted.
“What happened, Celine?” Shane came back to my side.
The guy glanced at Shane at once.
“Celine?!” He then looked back at me with a puzzled look.
Does that expression in his face mean that my name doesn't sound good? tss! Whatever the reason is, I pushed my index finger towards his chest.
“ang kapal ng mukha mo ah! Who do you think you are to do that to me?!”I was about to slap his face but another guy wearing a pink shirt came and inserted his self between us.
“Hey wait!” he slightly pushed the guy that I was supposed to slap backwards.
“Don’t worry, aalis na kami.”The pink shirt guy pulled the other bloke’s arm and they both ran but just about three steps away, the one who kissed me tilted his head back at me.
“Bye.”I was about to chase them but Shane held me.
“wag mo nang habulin couz!” she went in front of me.
“ano bang ginawa niya sa’yo?”“anong ginawa niya sa’kin?” I pointed at my self.
“He kissed me, just like that! Ni hindi ko nga siya kilala eh tapos... tapos—argh!” I wailed.
“He did what?! Bakit?” Shane asked in surprise.
I returned my gaze at those guys and I saw them running toward the group that I saw a while ago. Later on, all of them dashed away.
“Malay ko!” I winced.
“Who the hell is he?!”“Yung umawat sa inyo, dito rin yun nag high school kaya namumukhaan ko pa pero yung isa, I think he’s new here like you.” she returned.
“At may gana pa siyang mag-goodbye! ang kapal talaga!!” I barked.
xXx
“oist Shane, ano bang nangyari diyan?” Erick looked at the rear view in the mirror and asked Shane who was seated at the back of the car. He might have noticed my silence.
“Kuya Erick, siya nalang magsasabi sa’yo.” she answered.
“pa’nong siya ang magsasabi eh hindi nga nagsasalita.” he just continued driving then later on, he pulled the car to the side of the road.
“dito na ‘ko. Thanks for the ride.” Shane said.
“No problem couz. Ingat ka sa FX ah?” My brother tilted his head at the back.
“Okay, kayo din.” Shane then gave me a tap on my shoulder.
“Bye na Celine, okay lang yan.”“Bye, ingat.” I returned as she went down the car.
The way to their house is different from ours so my brother just dropped her to where she could ride a FX.
“hindi nga okay yun eh!” I murmured.
My brother started the engine again and drove.
“How’s your first day?”I grabbed a pillow at the back seat and shrieked with my face slumped on it as if to lessen the sound that I would create.
“Hey!” I felt my brother’s hand on top of my head.
“What’s wrong?”I lifted my head.
“kuya, when was your first kiss?”“My what?” he glanced at me and laughed before returning his gaze at the road.
“That was when I was 15.”“Eh may girlfriend ka naman kasi nun eh!” I protested.
“What’s with that question anyway?” he inquired.
“wala!” I snapped back.
I went back to my silent state until we reached home. I marched upstairs into my room but before I could close the door, kuya Erick blocked his arm.
“teka nga muna!”I left the door open and just sat at my bed still upset about what happened.
“ano bang problema?” he asked as he seated next to me.
“kasi naman eh!” I yelled.
“First day of school, a stranger kissed me. Nakakainis kuya!!”“ano?!” he yelled too.
“sino yan nang masapak ko!”I gave him a look.
“ano ka ba, kasasabi ko nga lang na stranger eh! hindi ko nga kilala! basta, estudyante din yun eh.” I hugged a pillow from my bed.
“naglalakad kami ni Shane tapos bigla nalang akong hinila nun tapos yun na.” I frowned.
He draped his arm on my shoulder.
“eh baka naman crush ka nun, sa ganda mo ba naman!”“kuya!” I moaned.
“A compliment would have about done it then instead of a kiss.”“pero come to think of it, ang swerte ng guy na yun ah. Isang Celine Olivares ang nahalikan niya.” he grinned.
I hit his face with the pillow and he laughed. I know that he just said that to make things lighter.
“magpalit na nga muna tayo ng damit, hindi pa tayo nagbibihis oh.” he stood up and walked towards the door.
“And Celine, I’m sorry.”“Sorry? Kuya, for what?” I asked.
“Kasi hindi kita—basta. Iba’t-ibang tao na ang makakasalamuha mo ngayong college. Hindi sa lahat ng oras, nasa tabi mo ko para bantayan ka so better take care next time, okay?”On my second day in the university, I tried to forget the incident and hoped that everything would work out just fine. We met the other professors for the subjects scheduled on this day. The man who’s standing in front of us now, gave a brief intro about his subject and asked for our contact information and stuff. Some also of my classmates who didn’t seem to attend the first day of classes have now appeared. Everything seemed so usual not until someone entered the door.
“Name please?” our professor asked.
“Natividad, Darren. Sorry for being late, sir” the late comer answered.
And guess what? It’s h-i-m.
“Darren pala eh!” I whispered at Shane’s ear.
The professor looked at the seat plan on his desk.
“Where’s Olivares, Celine?”I raised my hand upon hearing my name. The professor looked at me.
“Okay miss, please move to the left and the rest, adjust.” he then turned to that Darren guy.
“And you, seat beside her over there.”I felt like an enormous rock crashed into me. Because of that alphabetical order seating plan, I will now be seated with this guy. I felt like shouting, but I can’t. As he walked towards his chair, he threw me a glance, maybe somehow he also recognized me but he didn’t bother to say a word and just took his seat. What bothered me is, he was here yesterday but how come he didn’t attend class? So much for that, I shouldn’t care about him.
“Miss Olivares? Looks like were in the same roads.” he spoke after a long time.
I looked at him and it’s obvious that he isn’t listening to the professor in front since there are earphones situated in his ears.
“Unfortunately, yes.” I snapped back though I’m not sure if he heard what I said if he’s listening to some music.
Just as I was getting used to yesterday, along came today. And now there’s tomorrow to worry about. As I take in all that has happened, there’s nothing else in my mind now but just to make it through each day.
Good luck to me.
“So... let me say hello.” he said.
“Hello your face.” I returned.
“At least I’m trying to make things right little by little.” I just ignored him.
“The first time our worlds collided, I started with a “bye” instead of a “hello” so now let me correct it...”“Hello to you, Celine.” whatever!
Poll
