Prologue

"You are going to transfer into your new school!"

That's the most excruciating part when my Mom told me about going into an actual school. She's too excited and giddy about it pero samantalang ako gustong gusto ko bawiin niya iyong sinasabi niya. At first, okay, hindi ko naman hiniling sa kanila ang pumasok sa isang school just because nag-aalala sila sa social life ko and they weren't sure if being homeschooled are still better for me. I have no against to them. Kailangan ko lang tanggapin ang reality na kailangan ko maglakad sa mahahabang hallway and wait for the professors kung papasok ba sila or not. I'm still not against but being homeschooled is I think good for a people—like me na hindi kayang makipag-initiate ng eye to eye contact.

Rinig ko ang pagkatok ni Mommy sa pinto saka siya tuluyang pumasok sa kwarto ko, when she sees me preparing, iyong nginitiang akala mo nakahanap na ako ng son-in-law niya, aguy. Inayos naman ni Mommy ang blonde na buhok ko, higpit na higpit ang pagkakapusod niya sa akin na kulang na lang ay sumunod ang anit ko sa pagkakahila niya.

"That's better!" ngiti ni Mommy, I waved my hair and I think it's fine. "You should be done by now, ikaw na lang ang hinihintay ng Dad mo sasakyan." Bumagsak naman ang balikat ko saka napabuntong hininga nang malalim, I looked at her with all the paawa effect that I don't really think would affect her that much instead she caressed my back, "it's gonna be alright..."

I didn't have much to say kaya nang lumabas si Mommy ng kwarto ko kinuha ko naman ang backpack ko—na wala pang laman, saka ako sumunod sa kanya pababa papunta kung saan naghihintay si Dad sa sasakyan.

"Look who's gonna start her day today!" Dad proudly say at gusto ko na lamang magtago, mabuti na lang din ay walang tao sa paligid. "This is just the first day, Alex and you wouldn't regret it!"

Nginitian ko na lang si Dad saka ako pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan, "you don't need to drive me anyway, there's a school bus coming, right?"

Tumango naman si Dad habang nakatingin mula sa rearview mirror, "yup! But they don't know it yet, kaya ako muna ang maghahatid sayo."

Napabuntong hininga na lang din ako, "and then we go for it!" sagot ko kahit deep inside, wala akong ka-ideya ideya kung anong gagawin ko pero this is not really the start of classes, it is just an orientation for upcoming students at wala akong takas doon kundi ang umattend kasi kung hindi, there's a lot of worst scenarios could happen in a first day, trust me—or don't, I've never been into any school except my kindergarten which is too different so I guess that's not gonna come out as an experience.

Hindi naman kalayuan ang school, we just took the long highway that were the only way that leads to the school and it's almost two miles ahead at mapapaisip ka na lang kung nasa London ka ba dahil sa long road na napapaligiran ng puno.

"We're coming!" Sabi ni Dad nang pinagbuksan kami ng gate papasok sa premises ng school na ito.

Nag sight-seeing naman ako sa paligid at nakakagulat dahil hindi ko naman inaasahan dito pala ako papasok. There were five buildings and I think some gymnasium and other facilities at mula pa lang sa malayo ay may malaking field na doon.

Huminto naman ang sasakyan, hindi ko rin namalayan na tinatawag pala ako ni Dad dahil kailangan ko nang bumaba at hinihintay na ako ng isang school staff which will guide as sa facilities at kung ano ano pa nitong school. Nagpaalam na rin naman ako kay Dad saka pinanood kong umalis ang sasakyan saka ko lang naramdaman kung anong kumukuni kuni sa balikat ko kaya patuloy lang din ang hawi ko pero nang humarap ako ay halos gusto kong sumunod kay Dad palabas ng school na ito.

Hindi talaga ako prepared.

"Hi, I am Miss Keltz, and will be the guiding officer today, what's your name?" tanong nito sa akin at hindi niya maalis ang ngiti sa labi niya.

"Alex Carreon..." tipid kong sagot sa kanya.

Tinitingnan lang niya ako, napataas na lang din naman ako ng kilay dahil mukhang may inaabangan pa siyang ibang sasabihin ko. "Oh, that's good! You're Alex, nice to meet you!" aniya at tinuro naman niya ako sa ilang incoming students din na makakasama ko sa orientation. "I think we're all here, kaya start na tayo!"

We're in the main building's entrance as we followed Miss Keltz going inside. Nasa fifteen ang new students at isa na ako doon, pansin ko ang ilan sa kanila ay magkakilala or maybe because they were talking to each other I felt so disgust by their plastic attitude—just a thought, okay... but I meant it if its true.

I was the last one on the group and don't bother to listen on Miss Keltz instructions as per the rules and regulations policy as she speaks. Dumaan kami sa mga hallways which pinakita niya sa amin ang bawat room which held a capacity of twenty five per class and I think this school is fine with that because of their high standard as well to their cannot afford tuition fee.

Sa main building kung nasaan kami madalas makikita ang mga normal classroom for lectures. There are five floors within this building and every floor has a vending machine which serves more than a hundred pesos chips or drinks pero kung nagtitipid ka naman, may drinking fountain naman... they say it's clean and free but you will find it just outside the comfort room and I think that's fine.

"As what it's written on your registration card, I hope alam niyo na kung saan niyo makikita ang respective rooms niyo as we get to see them, okay?" Miss Keltz announced.

May isa namang nagtaas ng kamay, "Miss Keltz, are allowed na tumambay sa hallways?"

Umiling naman si Miss Keltz, "no, why would you bother to stay in the hallways kung may library naman tayo to get your head on books and learn more."

Napangiwi na lang din naman iyong lalaking nagtanong, "nagtanong lang naman kung saan saan na 'ko dinala." Bulong pa niya pero natawa ako doon kaya nang mapansin niya ako, iniwasan niya ako ng tingin.

Napailing na lang din ako sa sinabi niya.

"Anyone elses have their questions before we proceed to the next building?"

Napalingon naman ako sa iba kong kasama at mga tahimik lang din naman sila kaya naman nagtaas ako ng kamay to initiate something more relevant, "Miss Keltz, how about we choose our elective clubs, how can we do it?"

Napatango naman si Miss Keltz sa akin saka ako nginitian, "yes, about that, we're gonna get that later but as for your elective clubs, yes we do have a lot of it, so all of the students don't need to fit to any given clubs but to seeks what they are really into."

"Ah... okay Miss Keltz." Sagot ko na lang sa kanya, deserve talaga ni Miss Keltz ang pagiging member ng welcome committee.

"Then we proceed to next building."

We go to the next building by a connected pathway at bumungad naman sa amin ang ilan pang classroom. Hindi na naman namin inabala pang puntahan iyon isa't isa dahil mukhang pare-pareho lang naman sila but this building has the room clubs and their library which we never planned to go, saka na kami lumabas papunta sa kabilang building which is the school's cafeteria.

Isang building ang cafeteria, may second floor pero puro seats and tables lang ang nandoon. Miss Keltz also said that cafeteria's menu changes every day or as per the season and we don't need to pay for anything because it's already on our tuition but she just warned us that not of the foods served is really good that we might actually ended up in one of the bathroom's stall and I think that's fine.

Bago naman kami tumuloy sa ibang building ay binigyan kami ni Miss Keltz ng fifteen minutes break. Pumila naman kami to have our foods. There are muffins, pumpkin soup, jell-o, pizza, pasta's and broccoli—I guess for vegie people.

Hindi naman ako nahirapan maghanap for over hundreds of seats at bilang lang din kami sa orientation na ito ay kung saan saan na kami naupo and I was alone to have my food. Sinubukan ko namang lumapit doon sa lalaking nagtaas ng kamay kay Miss Keltz. Nang ilapag ko ang tray ko sa table ay nagulat siya sa ginawa ko.

"Mind you if we share?" tanong ko habang nakangiti—just like what they do, smiling to get friends so easily.

Tumango lang naman ito sa akin, umupo rin naman ako sa table at sinimulang kumain ng pizza—I know it's not good but it's the only thing I found healthy—not really—but can make me feel so good.

Habang kumakain naman ako ay bigla siyang tumayo and I get the chance to stop him, "hey, sorry, ayaw mo ba akong ka-share ng table?"

Agad naman siyang umiling, "no? I was about to go the restroom, want to come?"

I shake my head, "no, go for it! Shoot your pee!" I cheered and that make me look so stupid dahil napatingin at natiglan ang ilang kasama namin sa akin and I wanna crawl out of this place. Inilingan na lang din naman niya ako saka siya tumuloy papunta sa restroom.

Ilang saglit lang din naman ay bumalik an si Miss Keltz para tumuloy kami sa touring namin. When we get to the next building, doon ko lang din napansin na hindi namin kasama iyong guy na hindi ko alam ang pangalan. Mostly, and building na sunod na pinuntahan namin ay rooms for faculties, clinic and the cinematic stage. As we proceed to the next building, it's just the gymnasium. Miss Keltz said that we'll be having a lot of physical activities and most of it will be attended here. It has mini-size Olympic pool, a room for gym studs, locker rooms and a basketball court—I think it is.

The last building we get to see is the student lounge, we didn't have to stay in the hallways neither to library because they have it! It also has some stores inside but we still can't come inside because it is still in renovation for the result, library is it.

Then we get to see the outside, more seats and tables, parking lot for some rich kids.

Nang tumuloy naman kami papunta sa open field which Miss Keltz told us na most of the football teams and cheersquad used to practice here and as of now, we're seeing a lot of guys playing football.

Nakita ko naman ang pamilyar na mukha sa akin mula sa bench and as when I though of it, siya nga at pinapanood niya ang mga lalaking nagpa-practice ng football.

"If you see that person whose coaching his mate is their team captain..." Miss Keltz said.

Nandoon ang lahat ng atensyon namin at nang tawagin naman ni Miss Keltz ang team captain na iyon ay habang papalapit siya ay tinanggal niya ang kanyang head protection dahilan para makita ang kanyang red hair na sobrang tingkad nang tamaan ng araw. Nang makalapit siya sa amin ay doon ko lang din napansin na katabi ko na pala si pee shooter na kanina lamang ay nasa bleachers. Tiningnan ko lang siya dahil sa curious ako pero hindi niya ako pinansin.

"Guys, I want you to meet our school's football team captain and the mvp, Korg—"

Agad namang tinapos ni red hair ang sasabihin ni Miss Keltz, "Just Korg, I'm fine with that... ah... nice to meet you and I think I should get back to my practice now..." he smiles to us—but I know it's on my direction, hindi naman siya banlag, tumingin siya sa akin!

"Damn..." rinig kong bulong ni pee shooter pero hindi ko na lang pinansin dahil hindi maalis ang tingin ko kay red hair, kahit pawisan ang mga iyon, ang hot niyang tingnan and I think it's perfect.

"The football team has an early practice because they were going to compete with another school, you know..." she laughed, "if anyone asks, that would be my answer."

Nang matapos naman ang tour namin ay bumalik kami sa main building para magtanong si Miss Keltz if we also has a questions regarding sa school polices and mostly none of them got ask.

Pero humabol naman si pee shooter, "Miss Keltz, is the school allowed to have blonde hair people?" aniya sabay tingin sa akin, gayundin nang iba naming kasamahan.

Tumingin naman sa akin si Miss Keltz.

"It's natural." Depensa ko naman saka biglang tumango si Miss Keltz at sa tingin ko ay sumang-ayon naman siya sa akin.

"Yes, the school allowed blonde, red, black, brown, whatever your hair color is as long as you're not bald just like our prin... I guess we don't need to talk about it." She smiled, "and students, welcome to Savvy International School and have your—oh I forget, shit!—no, no one's allowed of cursing to anyone or anybody! Just—just, enjoy your whole academic year!" and Miss Keltz walked out immediately and it thinks she's need to get on counsel.

Hinanap ko naman si pee shooter and he's annoying and I think this would be so epic for me. This school is great and I think, I just think, my parents best decision for me!