"Good M-Morning Everyone! I'm Nata--! Uuugh! I don't know what to say. I'm a High School Student already, but why? And also, Why did my mom enroll me in a Public School for god sake?" I shouted while I am facing the mirror.

"Hello, Ma'am Tash, sabi po ni Ma'am, bumaba na raw po kayo at naghanda na rin po ako ng breakfast ninyo." Ate Lita said out of nowhere that made me shock.

"Freaker!" I screamed.

"Why! Ma'am?" Ate Lita replied, dazzled, why did I said freaker to her.

"I'm so sorry, Ate Lita, I was just shock. I'm talking to myself and then you appeared bigla. Plus can you speak English to me? So I'll not lose my vibe, stressedt" I mentioned while fixing my hair.

"Sorry, Ma'am. But your m-mom said the breakfast is r-ready na po."

"Hello Ate Lita, since you're here naman na come here, I'll ask you something," I command to her.

"Bakit po, Ma'am," She asked to me and she suddenly cough. "Este why is that po?" She corrected.

"Ate Lita, the English word of 'bakit po ma'am' is 'Why po ma'am', study hard please." I rolled my eyes.

"Oops! My English is bad pala po, ma'am" She stated while her hands were placed on her mouth.

"That's okay, just improve." I mentioned to her.

"By the way, Ate Lita. In many schools here in Philippines why my mom enrolled me in public? I hate it! It is so hot, and my face will be oily and sticky!" I complained.

"Yes, Ma'am! May Chika ako tungkol diyan! Narinig ko kasi si--" She suddenly stopped, looks like she will over share a piece of information.

"Sorry, Ma'am. English po pala dapat hehe. I heard Sir and your mommy na they enrolled you in public dahil magaling at matalino raw po kayo." She continued without hesitations.

Ain't being boastful, but I'm a consistent top student and I have always been included in the spelling and quiz bees when I was Pre-school and Elementary. Now, I kinda got why they enrolled me there; hence, the Philippines has many private schools that could perform well academically! 

"What?!" I shouted because my parents just enrolled me in public for that freaking reason!

"I heard that you'll join some intelligent students like you ma'am, just enjoy being a highschool student, ma'am. I'm rooting for you." She replied as if she cared. I mean, it is, but please? Is she supporting my parents' decision for me? 

"Alright! Thank you, Ate Lita. I'll go downstairs." I calmed myself since wala naman na akong magagawa. I will just talk that topic when I will go down later, hoping to be enlightened.

"Yes Ma'am, I'll ayos your bed first and I'll baba na po." She insisted.

"Thank you so much, Ate Lita! You're the best!" I kissed her on the cheeks before going down.

I giggled when I walk downstairs and I saw my mum and dad drinking their morning coffee.

"What is up, baby?" My dad kissed me in cheeks. There he is! Probably he is in a good mood.

"I'm great, dad" I replied and I sat on the chair. Am I really? 

"Hi, Mum! What's good?" I greeted my mum because she was busy swiping on her phone. Looking at the schedules for our company, I guess.

"Hay, dad! Tingnan mo 'yung anak mo, oh! Namana na talaga sa'yo ka-bata-bata palang alam na 'yang mga ganiyang salitaan," My mum suddenly protested with my dad but her face was still in a smile.

"So what, dear?" I giggled because my dad suddenly poured kisses on my mum.

Yup! They made my day again and again . I wish that they'll be like that forever. What a nice and lovely view.

"Sorry to interrupt mum and dad, but can I ask something?" I questioned to them. I really don't want to interrupt, but come on! I still need a reason why they enrolled me in a public school!

"Yes, dear. What is it?" My mom claimed.

"Why'd you enroll me in Public? I want to be enlightened... that's why I am asking it. Like we have many Private Schools here, right?" I asked, wondering.

"Baby, We-- " My dad said and he put his hand on my mum's hand.

"We enrolled you in Public because we want to enhance your ability and skills. We want you to enjoy and have fun. And to explore the things that we didn't experienced. We just want you to be happy, my baby. When I was young, I literally climb every oceans and swim in every mountain--" My dad continued. 

"Honey! Climb every oceans and swim every mountains? Are you alright?" My mum interrupted because my dad said a wrong statement! I suddenly let out a laugh because really? Did my dad said that? Oh my god!

"Ate Lita!" My dad called ate Lita out of nowhere, having a hard time not to laugh. He still maintains to be serious.

"Yes, Sir! What is it po?" Ate Lita asked. Her hand was in her apron probably she was nervous.

"Lita, you're too serious. Don't be shy. You stayed here for a very long time.", My mum replied to her.

"Can I speak Tagalog po ba Ma'am and Sir sa inyo?", Ate Lita asked to her. UGH!

"P'wedeng-p'wede! Sino ba nagbabawal sa iyo niyan?" My dad questioned her.

muntik na akong mabulunan at iniisip na sana ay hindi ako ilaglag ni Ate Lita.

"Uhm! Sir, wala naman po. Nag-prapractice lang po ako. Parang masarap po kasi pakinggan kapag English speaker po eh." Ate Lita defended me, I guess.

I sighed.

Hashtag feeling relieved.

"Barako ba itong kape na binigay mo sa akin? My dad immediately asked Ate Lita.

"Ay, Sir! Hala! Patay!" Ate Lita was shocked and now panicking. "Papalitan ko nalang po, Sir!" 

"Yeah! You better." My dad answered to her.

I saw Ate Lita immediately took my dad's tea cup. I thought he was in a good mood right now? UGH!

Minutes passed and she was back, "Sorry po ulit, sir and ma'am" Ate Lita bowed with respect to him. She is really nervous!

"Sweety, tapos ka na bang kumain?" My mum asked me now.

"Uhm! Yes mum," I replied so we can ease the tension.

"Mum... and Dad?" I called their attention. I just wanted to make a deal. I mean it was not easy for me to just transfer in a public without an exchange, right?

"Yes, sweetie?" My Mum asked, facing me.

"I will just want to make a deal about my education." I started.

She looked at me. " Sure! Anything, My sweetie."

" It is a contract," I said to them. " I will just finish my four years in public and I will go back in private." I smiled at them.

My dad suddenly choked at his tea. "What do you mean, why?"

I saw my mum's lips were moving and maybe she was thinking about it. I don't need my dad's approval anyways. Kahit isa lang ang mag-yes and my deal will be completed and cased.

"Why not, Sweetie?" My mum smiled back at me and she looked at my dad who was still in shock. " Why not?" She repeated.

"Ate Lita, can you assist my little cute girl? Kindly prepare her lunch and also take her in school." My mum ordered her and just changed the topic.

"Mum! I can go by my own na," I angrily replied but with respect.

"No, Natasha! You're still my baby!" My mom replied and pinched both sides of my cheeks.

"Whatever! I'll be late for my first class." I mentioned. I don't want to be late? That would be too embarrassing for me.

After I wore my school uniform and put light make-up, I already went downstairs.

"Ma'am Natasha, are you ready na po?" Ate Lita questioned.

"Uhh! Yes," I replied to her while putting my backpack from the States on my back.

"Hoy, Roland! Trabaho na, ano?" Ate Lita said to Kuya Roland because we found that he was just leaning on the car, playing games on his phone.

By the way, Kuya Roland is our trusted and most loyal driver. He's already there when I was young.

"Aba, aba! Ba't ka nandito, Lita? Papasok ka rin?" Kuya Roland immediately asked him.

"Beket ke nendeto? Pepesek ke ren?" Ate Lita mocked him which made me laugh a little bit.

"Hey, guys! Can you calm? I'll be late. So, let's go. I don't want to waste my time." I ordered them.

Ate Lita was in the shotgun seat. So, I'm here alone in the backseat, but I'm fine with that. I love it in the back.

"Nandito na po tayo!" Kuya Roland mentioned to me while looking at his right side, gazing at the front huge gate of... my school.

"Oh!" My heart stopped when I observed what was happening right now. It was still dim, but I can see the students who were walking.

I can describe the school by... there's a large gate and it is made in steel painted in blue. While the supporter is made in bricks and it is color red. So many young boys and girls too! I mean what to expect in a public school, right? 

"Are you ready na ba, Ma'am?" Ate Lita looked at me, looking concerned.

"Uhh! I don't really think so. I'm afraid, too many people. I don't think that I can survive this amount of high school kids or whatever do you call them." I mentioned to her, nervously.

"But Ma'am there is nothing back," Ate Lita said to me that made me chuckled.

"There's no turning back ata 'yon, Lita?" Kuya Roland mocked her.

"Ha? Naiba na ba Rolando?" Ate Lita asked with a mix of sarcasm.

"Anong Rolando ka diyan? Roland, hoy. R-O-L-A-N-D," He even spelled his name. UGH!

"Aba! May pa-spelling pa!" Ate Lita replied.

"Uhh! Guys, sorry to interrupt but I'll go now. Bye, I guess." I  stopped them from fighting because that would be much longer what would I expect.

"Ingat, Ma'am" Kuya Roland mentioned to me and waved his hand.

"God bless po, Ma'am. Don't forget to enjoy your day!" Ate Lita smiled.

I opened the car door and walked into the student's lane. I blended with them but I never want to be stand out. 

Seconds passed and I was shocked when I bumped into someone.

"Uhh! I'm sorry," I said to the girl because I didn't mean to!

"Mag-ingat ka nga sa dinaraanan mo!" She rolled her eyes and fixed her bag in her back.

"What the fuck is your problem you li'l ass girl?" I replied immediately because of her stupid attitude. Did I do something wrong? It is still her fault!

She continued her walk and she didn't even try to reply. What a coward, huh?

Instead of fighting in the midst of the morning, I'm trying to find my section on the board posted behind the landscape. A lot of students were there so I had a hard time looking. I'm just making sure that the section is only one. But when I confirmed it, I was still surprised.

What?

S.T.E?!

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