Chapter 1: Pay attention!!!
“Miss, paki-suot ang ID.”
“Ay, sorry po.” Sabi ko sa guard ng bago kong school. Hinga lang malalim, wag ka masyado kabahan. It’s just school… five times the size of your old one.
*gulp* Ano ba, takutin ba ang sarili?
Yes, I’m the kind of girl na may inner monologue, lahat naman ng tao meron nyan e, yung sakin lang mas maingay at mas opinionated.
I’m Marley Zamora, 17 years old, College freshman. And if you’re wondering - yes, I was named after THE Bob Marley, my parents are music addicts. As in lahat na yata ng klase ng instruments meron sa bahay, which works especially para sa tatlo kong Kuya. Ang panganay naming si Kuya Dylan (Bob Dylan), Pangalawa si Kuya Jim (Jim Morrison) at si Kuya Zep (Led Zeppelin). Ayos na rin pangalan ko, cool pakinggan e – kahit na I’m so NOT cool. Muntik pang maging Cat ang name ko (Cat Stevens) or Janis (Joplin).
I had earphones on sa right ear lang para I can still hear the chatter around me. Ang aga ko dumating dito sa school so nag-observe muna ako sa paligid. Benedict College is a semi-catholic school, semi-catholic kasi although they have mass every first Friday of the month (like my old high school) they don’t ask all the students to attend. You’re free to attend if you want to. Hindi kagaya ng dati kong school, pwersado ka umattend at kumanta (ng malakas) sa misa, kabisado ko rin ang books ng bible (ginawan ko pa ng tono yan, parang song para di ko malimutan), walang klase pag feast day ng Patron Saints ng school namin, may program at kung ano ano pa. At syempre may rosary kada umaga. “Praised be Jesus and Mary” ang linya naming pag mag-ggreet ng teachers. Hard core Catholic school girl ito.
Anyway, Benedict College allows students of any religion to enroll here. Ayun oh, dami Koreans!
Medyo old school (teehee), I mean old ang school na ito. The design of the building is based on the church that is in the center of the school. Old brick stones like the ones in the church were used to construct its façade. It’s tall and regal, with concrete Greek-inspired pillars that give the school the sosyal and mamahalin look.
Bene (as it’s more popularly known) is in the middle of Manila now pero dati sya lang ang nag iisang brick structure sa lugar na ito. What once started off as a charity Sunday school for little children grew into a full-fledged College sitting on a 10-hectare land. It’s a good feeling na makapasa sa isang prestihiryosong eskwelahan na kagaya nito. After all, I have been working towards this my entire high school life.
Sa wakas, nakarating rin sa aking bagong classroom. Good thing, hindi ako naka-block section, mas maapreciate ko ang ganda ng aking alma mater. Naks. Finally, Room 203 – silip muna tayo, Marley. Sus, bago pa makarating ng 1st period nakapag-chikahan na kami ng kunsensya ko ng bonggang bongga.
Ahem. Eto na ang isa sa mga pinaka-importanteng desisyon sa buong college life ko. WHERE TO SIT???
Nagstay muna ako sa pinto sa likod na part ng classroom to observe, may sampung tao na nandito sa classroom:
1. Ang mga “henyo” nasa pinaka-unahan nakaupo. The smart and nice people, by nice I mean okay naman sila kausap wag mo lang sila tanungin ng sagot nila sa assignments at wag na wag kang mag-aattempt na kopyahan sila sa exam. Hihihi.
2. Ang mga Friends for life nasa side ng bintana. Usually, sila yung mga galing sa iisang area, usually province at magkakaibigan na simula’t sapul. Ayaw na maghiwahiwalay e.
3. Ang mga trying-to-be-cool kids, na sa likod nakaupo, kasama ng mga “mayaman si mama/papa, pwede akong umulit”. Hehe. Joke lang.
I decided to play it safe, sa may bandang gitna na lang, keeping my options open to either left or right seatmates. I’m so smart. Ugh.
“Hello.”
“Hi.” Automatic reply ko sa biglang tumabi sa akin sa kanan. Aba, ang girl na ito napaka-ganda. She’s everything I’m not, maputi, slim, matangkad at
mahaba ang buhok.
“I’m Nina. Short for Dynina. I know it’s a weird name. Don’t ask.”
“Uhm, I’m Marley. As in Bob Marley.”
“Sino???”
“Uh, wala.” Hindi ko ine-expect na lahat may kilala kay Bob Marley, pero automatic na reply ko yun pag may nagtatanong ng pangalan ko. Old habits.
“Wait, may boyfriend ka na ba?” Tanong ni Nina.
“Uhm. Wala.”
“Ah ganun, okay lang yan. New school, new people. Marami ka makikilala dito na guys, gawin nating project yan – wanted: Boyfriend for Marley”.
I hate that I know what people thought of her nung High School, most High School girls were very judgmental, and they probably call her a “slut” behind her back just because she was honest. What I like about her though is that mukhang wala syang pakialam, I mean, she just met me. But she would say such things.
And on and on she droned about her “older” boyfriend. She wants to seem mature siguro for being with an older guy. But all in all, she’s nice. I made by first
College friend. Yay to me.
All the other students came in, taking their seats (making big decisions), to my left a petite girl sat. Cute rin sya, pero mukhang malupit ang mananahi nito’t hapit na hapit sa kanya ang uniform. It’s the first thing I hate in this school – damn uniforms. Her name’s Kat and she’s from Taguig! She’s too arte but she seems nice enough so it’s all good.
After an entire day of orientations and introductions, my first day ends. Byahe na lang pauwi ang iintindihin ko. Syet. Ang layo ko pa. Oh well…
I was on my way home when I noticed guys na nakatambay sa parking lot. Chinese guys. Gaganda ng kotse, mukha nga lang sloppy with their polo’s open showing their undershirt. Enebeyen. Kakatingin, nabangga tuloy ako sa isa pang student.
“Ay pucha”
“Ow”
Sabay naming sabi. At napatingin na ako sa naka-sumo wrestling ko.
Jusko, ang tangkad.
“Sorry” Automatic response ko.
“Sorry rin” Sabi nya. Dun ko nakita ang mukha nya, aba ka-pogi. Chinito, maputi at in fernez hapon na mabango pa.
Feeling ko umaakyat na yung dugo ko ulo ko kasi nakatingin sya sa mukha ko. Escape! Escape, Marley! May kaengotan ka masasabi kay pogi, go go go!!!
“Sige, bye!”
“Bye!” sabi ni pogi.
Ang puso ko kabog-kabog pa rin hanggang sa bus. What an end to my first day.
“Miss, paki-suot ang ID.”
“Ay, sorry po.” Sabi ko sa guard ng bago kong school. Hinga lang malalim, wag ka masyado kabahan. It’s just school… five times the size of your old one.
*gulp* Ano ba, takutin ba ang sarili?
Yes, I’m the kind of girl na may inner monologue, lahat naman ng tao meron nyan e, yung sakin lang mas maingay at mas opinionated.
I’m Marley Zamora, 17 years old, College freshman. And if you’re wondering - yes, I was named after THE Bob Marley, my parents are music addicts. As in lahat na yata ng klase ng instruments meron sa bahay, which works especially para sa tatlo kong Kuya. Ang panganay naming si Kuya Dylan (Bob Dylan), Pangalawa si Kuya Jim (Jim Morrison) at si Kuya Zep (Led Zeppelin). Ayos na rin pangalan ko, cool pakinggan e – kahit na I’m so NOT cool. Muntik pang maging Cat ang name ko (Cat Stevens) or Janis (Joplin).
I had earphones on sa right ear lang para I can still hear the chatter around me. Ang aga ko dumating dito sa school so nag-observe muna ako sa paligid. Benedict College is a semi-catholic school, semi-catholic kasi although they have mass every first Friday of the month (like my old high school) they don’t ask all the students to attend. You’re free to attend if you want to. Hindi kagaya ng dati kong school, pwersado ka umattend at kumanta (ng malakas) sa misa, kabisado ko rin ang books ng bible (ginawan ko pa ng tono yan, parang song para di ko malimutan), walang klase pag feast day ng Patron Saints ng school namin, may program at kung ano ano pa. At syempre may rosary kada umaga. “Praised be Jesus and Mary” ang linya naming pag mag-ggreet ng teachers. Hard core Catholic school girl ito.
Anyway, Benedict College allows students of any religion to enroll here. Ayun oh, dami Koreans!
Medyo old school (teehee), I mean old ang school na ito. The design of the building is based on the church that is in the center of the school. Old brick stones like the ones in the church were used to construct its façade. It’s tall and regal, with concrete Greek-inspired pillars that give the school the sosyal and mamahalin look.
Bene (as it’s more popularly known) is in the middle of Manila now pero dati sya lang ang nag iisang brick structure sa lugar na ito. What once started off as a charity Sunday school for little children grew into a full-fledged College sitting on a 10-hectare land. It’s a good feeling na makapasa sa isang prestihiryosong eskwelahan na kagaya nito. After all, I have been working towards this my entire high school life.
Sa wakas, nakarating rin sa aking bagong classroom. Good thing, hindi ako naka-block section, mas maapreciate ko ang ganda ng aking alma mater. Naks. Finally, Room 203 – silip muna tayo, Marley. Sus, bago pa makarating ng 1st period nakapag-chikahan na kami ng kunsensya ko ng bonggang bongga.
Ahem. Eto na ang isa sa mga pinaka-importanteng desisyon sa buong college life ko. WHERE TO SIT???
Nagstay muna ako sa pinto sa likod na part ng classroom to observe, may sampung tao na nandito sa classroom:
1. Ang mga “henyo” nasa pinaka-unahan nakaupo. The smart and nice people, by nice I mean okay naman sila kausap wag mo lang sila tanungin ng sagot nila sa assignments at wag na wag kang mag-aattempt na kopyahan sila sa exam. Hihihi.
2. Ang mga Friends for life nasa side ng bintana. Usually, sila yung mga galing sa iisang area, usually province at magkakaibigan na simula’t sapul. Ayaw na maghiwahiwalay e.
3. Ang mga trying-to-be-cool kids, na sa likod nakaupo, kasama ng mga “mayaman si mama/papa, pwede akong umulit”. Hehe. Joke lang.
I decided to play it safe, sa may bandang gitna na lang, keeping my options open to either left or right seatmates. I’m so smart. Ugh.
“Hello.”
“Hi.” Automatic reply ko sa biglang tumabi sa akin sa kanan. Aba, ang girl na ito napaka-ganda. She’s everything I’m not, maputi, slim, matangkad at
mahaba ang buhok.
“I’m Nina. Short for Dynina. I know it’s a weird name. Don’t ask.”
“Uhm, I’m Marley. As in Bob Marley.”
“Sino???”
“Uh, wala.” Hindi ko ine-expect na lahat may kilala kay Bob Marley, pero automatic na reply ko yun pag may nagtatanong ng pangalan ko. Old habits.
“Wait, may boyfriend ka na ba?” Tanong ni Nina.
“Uhm. Wala.”
“Ah ganun, okay lang yan. New school, new people. Marami ka makikilala dito na guys, gawin nating project yan – wanted: Boyfriend for Marley”.
I hate that I know what people thought of her nung High School, most High School girls were very judgmental, and they probably call her a “slut” behind her back just because she was honest. What I like about her though is that mukhang wala syang pakialam, I mean, she just met me. But she would say such things.
And on and on she droned about her “older” boyfriend. She wants to seem mature siguro for being with an older guy. But all in all, she’s nice. I made by first
College friend. Yay to me.
All the other students came in, taking their seats (making big decisions), to my left a petite girl sat. Cute rin sya, pero mukhang malupit ang mananahi nito’t hapit na hapit sa kanya ang uniform. It’s the first thing I hate in this school – damn uniforms. Her name’s Kat and she’s from Taguig! She’s too arte but she seems nice enough so it’s all good.
After an entire day of orientations and introductions, my first day ends. Byahe na lang pauwi ang iintindihin ko. Syet. Ang layo ko pa. Oh well…
I was on my way home when I noticed guys na nakatambay sa parking lot. Chinese guys. Gaganda ng kotse, mukha nga lang sloppy with their polo’s open showing their undershirt. Enebeyen. Kakatingin, nabangga tuloy ako sa isa pang student.
“Ay pucha”
“Ow”
Sabay naming sabi. At napatingin na ako sa naka-sumo wrestling ko.
Jusko, ang tangkad.
“Sorry” Automatic response ko.
“Sorry rin” Sabi nya. Dun ko nakita ang mukha nya, aba ka-pogi. Chinito, maputi at in fernez hapon na mabango pa.
Feeling ko umaakyat na yung dugo ko ulo ko kasi nakatingin sya sa mukha ko. Escape! Escape, Marley! May kaengotan ka masasabi kay pogi, go go go!!!
“Sige, bye!”
“Bye!” sabi ni pogi.
Ang puso ko kabog-kabog pa rin hanggang sa bus. What an end to my first day.
