"Hmm, ano ngang assignment natin?"

I looked at Kyla when she asked me again about our assignment. She's just asking me, she's not even doing it. I chuckled and handed her a tissue since sauce scatters on her face.

"Something in Lit. I don't remember," I said. She narrowed her eyes on me, probably thinking that I am lying to her. Well, I am done with mine so I forgot what was our assignment, so that was partly true. Hindi ko naman talaga ugaling tandaan ang mga tapos na. "Kung iniisip mo na nagsisinungaling ako, nagkakakamali ka. I really don't remember it."

"Sus! Patingin nga ng notebook mo!" I smirked. I know her too well. Kokopyahin niya lang naman ang nakasulat do'n. Even though we're best friends, I never tolerated her cheating issue so, as long as I can help her deal with her studies, I will do it. "Sige na nga! Tatanungin ko na lang kay Cressia. Malamang may gawa 'yon. 'Wag na lang kaya ako gumawa? Hindi naman major 'yang Lit-Lit na 'yan e."

"Hmm..." I nod at her, not minding her words. I busied myself with my notes. Nirere-read ko na lang 'yong discussions namin kahapon para naman may idea ako sa magiging topic namin. "Second year ka na, saka ka pa tinamad."

"Sinong hindi, 'di ba? Si Mommy naman kasi! Sabi na ngang Comm ang kukunin ko, pinilit pa ako sa punyetang Business Ad na 'to. Wala naman akong mapapala sa ganito e." She played her feet on the ground. "Magrerebelde talaga ako." I chuckled before focusing again on what I am reading.

Second semester. Well, second semester is harder than what I expected. Time management strategy is what students need the most. Madami ng pinapapagawang activities and mas hectic na ang schedule. Ang ibang department din ay nagrereklamo na tungkol sa schedules at dami ng pinapagawa.

But at least, we're still surviving. However, I don't just settle for survival. I have to be the best. I always wanted to be the best. I strive to get higher grades so that when the time comes, I won't have difficulties in applying for jobs.

"Minor lang ngayong hapon, 'no? Sana minor lang." She crossed her finger, wishing luck. Mahina lang akong tumawa.

"Why? You have plans on ditching class?" She looked at me and flashed a smirk.

Confirmed. She had plans in her head.

And like what she said, she didn't attend the afternoon class. Buti na lang at walang masyadong pinagawa ang mga professor kung hindi, wala na naman siyang grade. The teacher just gave us some activities and I doubt they will record it.

Naghihintay lang ako sa waiting shed ng pwedeng masakyan. Medyo late na kaya madalang na lang ang dumaraan dito. I guess, around 7:30?

Mabuti na lang at may dumaan na bago pa ako tuluyang mabagot. Sa jeep na lang ako sumakay kasi ito na lang ang available na sasakyan. Kakaunti lang ang pasahero, malamang ay galing lang 'to sa palengke.

Tumingin ako sa labas. Kakaunti na lang din ang bukas na tindahan pero maliwanag pa ang mga ilaw. The cold breeze of the night touches my skin and send shivers within me. Napayakap tuloy ako sa bag ko.

The peaceful night and the sound of vehicles that passes ours is relaxing. Nakakapagod sa school at ang tanging pahinga ko lang ay kapag nasa sasakyan ako.

"I'm home..."

I roamed my eyes around our house. I don't expect them in the sala so I am not shocked that no one welcomed me. They're probably upstairs, minding their businesses. Yeah, what am I expecting from my family?

Without having my dinner, I went upstairs. Hindi rin naman ako nagugutom kasi marami akong nakain kaninang tanghali. Buraot kasi si Kyla kaya pinabili ako nang pinabili.

Nagkasalubong kami ng kapatid ko. Sa buong pamilya namin, ako lang ang nag-take ng Business Ad. Lahat sila ay gustong maging Engineer pero ako, hindi ko kailanman nakita ang sarili kong nagtatrabaho't nakasuot ng hard hat habang may hawak na blueprint.

Kaya nga nang mag-college ako, naglakas-loob na ako na sabihing Business ang kukuhain ko't hindi Engineering. It's not easy to seek for their approval but I chose to fight for my dreams.

In the end, they let me. But that doesn't mean that they are supporting me. They payed for my tuition fee and other miscellaneous but they never ask me how am I doing in school. Unlike before when I was in Senior High, taking STEM.

I was like the black ant in the family of red. I opt to take a different path but I'll never regret choosing what I want. I am old enough and if the time comes that they decided to take that away, I will gladly choose my dream over them.

"I wish you don't regret choosing that shit, Callan." Huminto pa talaga siya para harapin ako. He crossed his arms and flashed a mocking smirk. I clenched my fist but did my best not to show my annoyance. "Why did you even choose that? You had no future with business."

"I'll prove you wrong. I can make my own name in business world." Lalampasan ko na sana siya nang magsalita ulit siya.

"Then start day dreaming. Sinasabi ko sa 'yo, wala kang pamilyang mauuwian kapag bumagsak ka r'yan. Hindi ka naman magaling e."

I would lie if I said that I wasn't hurt by what he said. Masakit lang na marinig mo 'yon sa sarili mong kapatid. That you are not good enough to reach your dreams. May instances tuloy na pinagdududahan ko ang daang tinahak ko. What if this was not for me? There are so many what-ifs that are running in my mind.

But I know that I shouldn't stop. No one can tell me what to do. And no one can tell me what path I should take.

"Hala, gago, wala akong ipapasa sa Marketing Research!"

Nagawa pang tumawa ni Kyla nang sabihin niya 'yon. "Hayaan mo na. Kapag bumagsak ako sa sem na 'to, marerealize nila na hindi ako para sa business! Aayusin nila ang desisyon nila sa buhay." She smirked before sipping at her juice.

"Hindi ka sure, sis. Baka mamaya, kapag bumagsak ka, i-arrange ka na lang sa arabo." We laughed at Carleen's joke.

"Hindi ko talaga 'yan maintindihan sila Mommy! Wala namang business sa kanila maliban sa mga kuya ko pero gusto nila akong pag-business-in. Duh! Ang hirap kaya ng Ethics-Ethics-eme na 'yan!" Umirap pa ito.

Hindi ko nga alam kung paano ko naging kaibigan 'tong si Kyla, e, hindi naman kami pareho ng gusto. My whole circle of friends are certified business student. Naligaw lang ata 'tong si Kyla. Naalala ko pa ang sinabi niya.

"Kapag hindi ako sumama sa matatalino baka ma-meet and greet ko 'yong mga baliw, sis!"

I just shook my head.

"Guys, sabi nila, lilipat daw 'yong isang student dito. Hindi lang ako sure kasi narinig ko lang 'yon. Transferee ata."

"Imported?"

"Gaga, karne ba ang lilipat? Imported-imported."

I heard gossip in our classroom exactly when we entered. Si Kyla, mukhang makikibalita rin sa mga nangyayari. I was not interested in the topic so I immediately sat on my seat and put my earphones on.

"Okay lang sa 'kin. Gwapo ba? Ay charot. Lalaki ba? O babae?"

"Bakit parang disappointed sa babae, sis?"

"Heh! Tigilan mo ako."

The whole room was immediately filled with silence when Sir Hid entered. Behind him is a man who is just a bit taller than him. His eyes immediately scanned the room.

I removed my earphones. Everyone is waiting for him to introduce himself. He's a guy wearing faded jeans with a red hooded jacket. His hair's a bit messy and his bored eyes are looking at the back. I think he's just taller than me centimeters.

"Introduce yourself." Tumikhim pa si Sir.

"Nash Dillion Lincoln." My brows furrowed the way he introduced himself. Gan'on lang? It's not that I am interested, though. I just found his introduction, plain. Gan'on ba talaga siya mag-introduce? Maikli?

"Anything you want to add?" His bored eyes glanced back at our professor.

"I am from NUS Business School. I hope I can make friends with you." He smiled but it didn't reached his ears.

And he's from NUS Business School. Did he mean the Singaporean University? National University of Singapore, Business School? Wow.

"Okay. You can choose your seat."

He nodded and his eyes stopped at the seat near me. There's no one sitting there and I wouldn't mind if someone took that seat. Sana lang hindi siya maingay.

"Hi."

I felt my heart beat faster with just a single word coming from his mouth. I gulped before avoiding his gaze, giving him a single nod.

Damn, Callan. What were you thinking?