Pagbukas na pagbukas ko pa lamang ng pintuan ng kotse ay bumungad na kaagad sa ’kin ang nakanginginig na lamig dito sa Baguio, buti na lang dinoble ko ’yong suot kong t-shirt.

Suot ko ngayon ang uniform ng Saint Anthony’s at pinatungan ko pa ito ng vest dahil sa sobrang lamig, may kaunting pagkakaiba lang sa uniform ng branch dito sa Baguio kumpara do’n sa lugar namin.

The uniform in our place is just a peach polo partnered with a pair of khaki colored pants, rubber shoes or black shoes is exceptional for the footwear.

Dito naman sa Baguio, dinadagdagan nila ng coat at voluntary naman ang pagsusuot ng vest. Since malamig nga sa mga gan’tong buwan dito sa Baguio—as if never namang uminit, eh nagbalot na ’ko para todo proteksiyon.

Kahit summer classes lang naman ay required mag-uniform dito, ang odd nga ng policies kasi do’n sa ’min ang kailangan lang isuot are just random pants and polo shirts.

Even though I just got here, I feel like I’ve been here. Ngayon ay nasa harap na ako ng Saint Anthony’s dito sa Baguio. Napakaluwang ng grounds nitong school, napakaganda rin ng mga facilities. It’s just like the one from my place, but it’s different in terms of the designs of the school buildings here.

Sa Saint Anthony’s kasi sa ’min ay medyo sinaluma ang style ng buildings, more on capiz wood and spanish colonial ang design ng mga classroom. This one’s completely different, modernized ang lahat ng mga facilities dito. It’s the complete opposite, it looks like a typical university than an academy.

Siguro kaya gan’to na rin ang school buildings dito’y dahil na rin sa panahon, saka maraming mga private schools dito sa Baguio kaya kailangan rin sigurong makipagsabayan ng Saint Anthony’s. I think I would go and ask Papa later why.

Bago pa man ako tumuloy sa gate ay may nakita akong isang pamilyar na muka, papasok rin siya ngayon dito sa school at suot ang same uniform na suot ko. His brown hair is getting swept away by the wind as always, his bright hazel eyes looking back at me—a little bit surprised to see me.

“Gael, I didn’t know you’ll come here.” He giggled as he walked towards me, lumapit rin naman ako sa kan’ya habang nakangiti rin.

“You didn’t know that I’ll be here? I thought your father told you, Austin. Since Papa and your father are friends.” I inquired as a reply, I thought that too pero hindi pala nasabi sa kan’ya.

“So this was the surprise that he was talking about yesterday, well I guess.” He laughed he scratched his head.

“Surprise?” I then followed, napatingin siya sa ’kin at sumagot muli.

“Ah, sinabi kasi ni Dad na masu-surprise raw ako dahil may makikita akong kaibigan ko rito sa Saint Anthony’s Baguio, well... I guess you’re that friend that he’s talking about.” Austin explained.

As I thought. Were we even friends before that bus accident since magkaibigan naman sila Papa at ’yong Dad ni Austin?

“Say, Gael, hindi naman talaga tayo gano’n ka-close dati. Even in childhood, kahit friends ang parents natin ay hindi talaga tayo gano’n ka-open sa isa’t isa no’n.” Napatingin akong muli kay Austin nang muli siyang magsalita.

“Hindi ko alam pero simula no’ng niligtas kita mula ro’n sa bus accident ay naging mas close na tayo kaysa sa dating gawi natin. Say, do you consider me as a friend?” tanong niya.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang marinig ’yon, dahan-dahan akong napangiti.

“Yes, even though it’s just recently. Gusto na talaga kitang maging kaibigan noon pa, but... I didn’t find a way to get close to you back then.” I replied and smiled.

The cold wind blew as the leaves  under the nearby trees started to arise from the blowing wind. Before we knew it, the bell rang so we both hurried to our own classes.

Luckily, we are both on the same set of Humanities and Social Sciences strand students so we’ll gonna spend the whole summer class together in one classroom.

***

General Mathematics is surely a hassle, ’yon lang yata ’yong subject na napakahirap intindihin. But even so, I managed to ace the subject even though it’s the most hardest subject I encountered so far.

Four days left on my stay here in the Parallel world, everything was doing great. I made some new acquaintances with my new classmates who’s also learning in advance for the upcoming year.

I spent some time with Austin also, but he sometimes go out without me because I’m too busy studying. Pero sabay naman kaming umuuwi.

Pareho kaming pinayagang mag-commute ng mga parents namin, at higit sa lahat ay hindi gano’n kalayo ang agwat ng bahay namin sa bahay nila because it’s just a baranggay away.

I’m currently doing my assignment on this subject when I heard the bell rang, kanina pang alas tres nayari ang klase pero hindi naman nagpapalabas ang guard dito ng mga students hangga’t hindi tumutunog ang bell.

Isininop ko na ang mga gamit ko sa bag at isinukbit ito sa kaliwang balikat ko, I then closed all the windows of our classroom here because my classmates left already. Before I close the last window of this classroom, I looked up the orange sky along with the orange sunset.

Isinara ko ang bintana at naglakad na ’ko patungo sa pintuan, I gently closed the door as I was about to leave the classroom. Nakita ko si Austin na naglalakad patungo sa ’kin.

“Gael, tara na!” he exclaimed.

Tango lamang ang itinugon ko at lumakad ako palapit sa kan’ya. Nang makalapit ako’y kaagad din siyang nagsalita.

“Umm, siya nga pala, Gael. Gusto ko sanang humingi ng pabor tungkol do’n sa assignment natin sa Twenty First Century Literature.” Panimula niya habang naglalakad kami pababa ng corridor.

“The thing is... I’m not really good at writing a story, could you be my partner for that assignment?” he asked me.

Saka ko lang din naalala ang assignment sa subject na ’yon, oo nga pala. I need a partner to make a flash fiction of any kind of genre as an assignment, malapit ko nang malimutan since busy ako kasasagot ng assignment ko sa General Mathematics.

“Ah, sige. Total wala pa naman din akong partner, eh. Kailan ba due date no’ng assignment natin?” I then replied by asking.

“It was due tomorrow, don’t you remember?” Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang marinig ang sinabi niya.

“Ano?! Bukas?!” I shouted in suspense.

“Why didn’t you asked me earlier? Eh ’di sana nakagawa na tayo.” I groaned, he just laughed at the situation.

“Makakalimutin ka talaga, well then let’s do the assignment in my place. Also, do’n ka na rin magpalipas ng gabi if late na tayo matapos.” Yaya niya.

“Huh? Eh wait... magpapaalam lang ako.” I hurried and grabbed my phone in my bag, I then dialed Mama’s number and called. Seconds later, she picked up.

“Hello, Gael, ba’t napatawag ka, ’nak?” bungad niya sa ’kin. Kaagad naman din akong tumugon.

“Ah, ’Ma, magpapaalam lang po sana ako. Gagawa po kasi kami ng assignment ni Austin sa bahay nila, if p’wede lang po sana.” I spoke to the point already, just waiting for her response.

“Ah... okay lang naman, sige sasabihin ko na lang sa Papa mo para ’di siya mag-alala. Are you spending the night there?” Napayuko ako at napaisip, I want to ofcourse but are there reasons.

“Okay lang na mag-overnight ka sa kanila, tiyak na mapagkakatiwalaan sila Ninong Claro at Ninang Zephany mo. And also you have Austin naman, I’m sure ’di kayo madidisgrasya.” She added.

“Talaga po, ’Ma?!” bulalas ko. I wasn’t expecting an answer like that!

“Oo naman, you know... we should give you some freedom since you’re in the right age.” Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong sumigaw.

“Ah! Salamat po, ’Ma, you’re the best!” I exclaimed, first time kong mago-overnight ngayon!

“Of course I am. Siya nga pala, may baon ka namang spare clothes sa bag mo, ano? So hindi na ’ko magpapadala ng damit.” Usisa ni Mama, she’s right. I always bring some whenever I go.

“Opo, meron po.” Tugon ko.

“Oh sige na pumunta na kayo’t pagabi na.” Tumugon si Mama.

“Sige po, ’Ma, we’re going now.” I hung up the phone breaking the line. I looked at Austin and smiled.

“It’s clear, we can go now.”