Under the Starlight

19

First day of school was hectic!  We don't have any uniforms yet but I'm glad na mayroon akong dress na babagay sa first day of class ko. 

Sancho sent me to the University like a toddler who needs a guidance from her parents. Mom called me today to say good luck on my first day. 

"Huwag kang ngingiti sa kanila. Baka maagaw ka." That was Sancho's words to me before leaving his car. 

Mabuti na lang at maaga rin ang work niya sa araw na ito.  He cooked breakfast and lunch for me. Kahit sobrang late na kami nakauwi last night ay inasikaso pa rin niya ako. 

I was carrying my Louis Vitton bag while walking at the pathway of the school. Malaki ang University kaya ang hirap hanapin ng building ng Engineering. 

Dahil siguro sa mahal ang university na ito at halos mayayaman ang nag-aaral ay hindi na bago sa mga nakakasalamuha ko ang mga branded na suot at gamit ko. I'm wearing a Dolce & Gabbana pants that just came last week straight from New York and a white button-down shirt from Ralph Lauren, not to mention my Christian Louboutin black high heels. 

I'm wearing different famous brand from the world. 

I was panting pagdating ko sa College of Engineering. Katulad nga ng expectation ko, there were more men than women kapag Engineering ang kinuha. But who cares, this is what I want to pursue. 

I took a deep breath bago naglakad papasok sa loob ng building. Ang dami ring pumapasok sa building na ito. I gather all my courage before I took a step inside the building.

Most of the students were wearing blue shirt that has a logo of the school. May ilang na katulad kong freshmen ay hindi pa nakasuot ng blue shirt. I was not aware naman kasi na I have to wear a shirt like that. 

Men were looking at me especially the men who has case bag on their backs. 

Katulad ng sabi ni Sancho sa akin ay hindi ako nag-smile sa kanila. I don't want to waste my smile to them. 

Nakarating ako sa tapat ng room ko for my first subject.  May mga tao na rin doon and most of them ay male na napatingin sa akin. 

"Good morning," I greeted them before finding a seat. 

Vacant pa ang unahan kaya doon na ako naupo. I'm not a fond of seating at the back dahil takot matawag ng mga professors. I prefer front seat and that's better for me. 

I waited until the class was full with students. Akala ko nga ay only girl lang ako ng class namin pero may pumasok na isang babae sa loob ng room. 

She smiled widely upon seeing another girl from the class. She's wearing a blue shirt and pants tsaka umupo sa akin. 

"Thank Gods! Akala ko ako lang ang babae sa class na ito. Hi, I'm Simoune Athena Valdez, nice to meet you!" She extended her hand towards me. 

Pinagmasdan ko muna iyon bago tinanggap. I smiled at her as well. 

"Olivia Vilaformosa." sagot ko sa kanya. 

She sighed and smiled bago bitawan ang kamay ko tsaka lumingon sa group of men.  "Grabe! Ang daming jowabels dito. Sana namin bago tayo maka-graduate ay may jowa na tayo. Wala ka naman planong mag-drop out di ba?" sunod-sunod na sabi ni Simoune pagharap sa akin. 

Hindi ko tuloy alam ang tamang isagot sa kanya. Medyo nabigla ako sa pagiging maingay niya. I was used to Chari's loud noise pero I didn't know na I would meet another Chari here in city. 

I nodded at her dahil nakatingin siyang mabuti sa akin. "Ang tahimik mo naman. Ano ka ba? Dapat sanayin na natin ang bawat isa. We are going to become a best of friend!" Masaya niyang sabi sa akin. 

Tahimik akong tumango sa kanya, "Yeah...right." I whispered. 

She's too straight forward. Hindi ko alam na magkakaroon ako ng kaibigan dito sa Manila, and what? Best friend?

The thought excites me dahil wala naman akong ibang matuturing na kaibigan except Kuya Seb, Chari, and Mica...of course, Sancho. They were the first set of people in my life. Sa kanila ako naliliwanagan sa mga bagay na hirap ako. 

Attempting to have a new friend was my struggle kaya nag-settle na ako na sila na lang ang friends ko. 

"Tahimik ka talaga? Sorry, ang ingay ko. Pero curious lang may boyfriend ka na ba?" usisa pa niya sa akin. 

I turned to her and nodded. Hindi ko naman i-de-deny si Sancho sa kanya dahil masyado kong mahal yung isa para i-deny ko lamang. He don't deserve to be denied at all. 

"Talaga? Wow! Ang galing naman. Prayer reveal naman sa pagkakaroon ng boyfriend. Paano ba yun?" tanong niya pa sa akin. 

"Ha?" Iyon na lang ang nasabi ko sa kanya. 

"Ilang taon ka na ba? Ako seventeen, ikaw?" tanong niya pa sa akin. 

"Sixteen." sagot ko sa kanya. 

Tumango-tango siya. "Ang taray naman. Sixteen pa lang pero taken na. Sana all!" Masayang sabi ni Simoune sa akin bago nilingon ang mga boys na nasa likod namin. "Sorry classmates! Pero this girl na katabi ko kung bet niyo siya, back-off na! She's taken na. Ako single pa kaya pwede niyo akong ligawan!" Malakas na sabi niya sa lahat. 

I heat of flush filled my face. She's too vulgar!

The boys at the back sighed disappointedly  some screamed so loud, I wonder why?

"Grabe naman kayo! Andito naman ako. Hi! I'm Simoune Athena Valdez, nice to meet you all. I'm seventeen from Bulacan, living at the nearest dorm here, and I'm single!" Malakas na sabi ulit ni Simoune. 

Some of the boys laughed at her. Mabuti pa siya ay mayroong lakad ng loob na magpakilala samantalang ako ay wala. Nahihiya ako. This ism't the first time na napalibutan ako ng boys but these boys are not just an ordinary boys, some of them were surely from rich families. 

The noise subtle down when our male professor came in class. Isa-isa rin kaming nagpakilala sa klase. We're thirty in class but we're only two girls. Mabuti na nga lang at hindi lang ako ang girl kundi awkward para sa akin ang class ko. I might opt to shift a course, I'm so glad na nandito si Simoune for me. 

"Saan yung school mo?" tanong niya sa akin. 

We decided to eat in one of the food establishment inside the university. Sa dami ng tao ay hindi ko na alam kung saan kami dapat pumuwesto dahil na rin  occupied na yung iba ng mga old students. 

"Sa Velasquez Academy, that's actually a school from our province." sagot ko sa kanya. 

Kinain ko yung pagkain na inihanda sa akin para ni Sancho. Of course, I won't waste the food he prepared for me. This means a lot for me. 

"Never heard of that school pero I assume na maganda yung school mo. Tama ba ako?" tanong niya sa akin. 

The thought of Velasquez Academy and Trinidad made me smile. I'm missing the gentle breeze, fresh fruits and vegetables, the unpolluted air that I can breathe without any worries, and the people of Trinidad. 

Homesick was hitting me. Miss na miss ko na pero nandito na ang buhay ko sa ngayon. 

Tumango ako sa sinabi ni Simoune sa akin. 

"At ang ganda-ganda mo talaga. Mayroon kang lahi?" tanong niya sa akin. 

"My father was a Spanish decent, my mom has a German, Spanish and Filipino blood." sagot ko sa kanya. 

"May kuya ka ba? Baka naman pwede mo akong ipakilala," sabi pa niya sa akin. 

"He's taken by my bestfriend already. I'm sorry." Nakangiting sabi ko sa kanya. 

Simoune pouted her lips, "Wala ka na bang kapatid?" tanong niya sa akin. 

Umiling ako sa kanya. "I only have one brother and he's taken na and so is my male cousin from my mother's side. I don't have cousin naman sa paternal side because my father was the only child of the family." paliwanag ko sa kanya. 

Mas humaba ang nguso ni Simoune sa sinabi ko. "Sayang naman ang genes! Bakit hindi kayo nagparami?!" sabi niya sa akin. 

I shrugged my shoulder, that was my family's decision naman and I don't have any holds onto that.  Maybe to preserve the family's inheritance and so on. 

Kuya Leon will surely inherit majority of our business and some of our properties, he could also have a higher percentage of shares compared to me someday, and it's more than fine with me. He worked for it. Kahit nga ngayon he's living in Spain just to study how to manage our business. 

I'm so lucky that we grew up in an environment wherein there's no greedy moments among us. 

"Eh yung boyfriend mo? Anong year na siya tsaka saan siya nag-aaral?" tanong ulit ni Simoune sa akin. 

I was taken a back on her question. Why would she asked that?

I smiled gently to her. Hangga't maaari kasi ay ayokong pag-usapan ang relasyon namin ni Sancho. I want it to become the most private thing about me. 

"Can we not talk about him? I'm not yet ready to share our story..." Tsaka kakakilala pa lang naming dalawa. Parang hindi ata magandang pakinggan na dinetalye ko na yung buhay ko sa kanya. 

We just met today. 

Simoune fell silent for a second bago tumango sa akin. "Sorry...Masyado lang talaga akong curious sa lahat ng bagay. Please don't be offended," sabi niya sa akin. 

"None taken." Sagot ko sa kanya. 

She's a good person naman and I can see that pero hindi ako ganun kahilig mag-kwento ng buhay ko sa taong kakikilala ko lang ngayong araw.

Maybe kapag pwede na akong mag-kwento sa strangers but for now...no. 

Sabay kaming pumunta sa next class namin. She's telling me the story of her separated parents and how come na dito siya nag-aral sa Ateneo kahit hindi alam ng magulang niya. Basta binibigyan lang daw siya ng pambayad sa tuition niya mula noong high school siya. 

Malaki ang nakukuha niyang pera kaya dito siya sa Ateneo nagtatapon ng pera. Her parents still didn't know na dito siya nag-aaral. She's living with her grandmother in Bulacan at uuwi siya tuwing weekend, for now, she's staying at one of the dorm near the university. 

"You are awesome, Simoune. I can't do that.  Your parents literally leave you alone. Where are they anyway?" tanong ko sa kanya. 

"Si Mama may asawa ng iba, Japanese tapos may dalawa na silang anak. Si Papa naman ganun din may asawa na ring iba, mas matanda ng eight years sa kanya yung girl tapos mayaman din." Kwento niya sa akin. 

I feel bad for her. Her parents are strange to her now, they were living their own life without thinking of her. 

"Do you missed them?" tanong ko sa kanya. 

She pouted her lips before answering, "Minsan lalo na kapag birthday ko. Hindi naman na kasi sila tumatawag sa akin. Sanayan lang siguro talaga." sagot niya sa akin. 

I grew up with my parents around me, I was showered with love and attention while growing up. Kaya I feel bad for her. Paano nakayanan ng mga magulang niya na kalimutan na mayroon silang anak?

How irresponsible. 

"I have a secret to share with you," sabi ko sa kanya. 

We were on our way to our building kaya napahinto siya pagkasabi ko nun. 

"Ready ka bang i-share yang secret mo sa akin?" tanong niya sa akin. 

I nodded at her. "You can tell it to anyone if you want but I trust that you would keep it on your own." sabi ko sa kanya. 

Simoune tapped my back, "Safe yang secret mo sa akin. Spill." sabi niya sa akin.

"I had a brain tumor when I was young and had to undergo brain surgery when I was ten. I never had a wonderful childhood because of that." sabi ko sa kanya. 

Hindi naman makapaniwala si Simoune na nakatingin sa akin. Nanlalaki ang mga mata niyang nakatingin sa akin. 

"You had what?" tanong niya sa akin. 

"Brain tumor," sagot ko sa kanya. 

"Seryoso ba yan? Baka joke yan ah."  sabi niya pa sa akin. 

I shook my head. Why would I make a joke about my condition. I didn't apply for a pity party para mag-tell sa kanya ng ganun. 

"You can even ask my parents," Nakangiting sabi ko sa kanya. Yumuko pa ako sa kanya para ipakita ang stitches na nasa top of my head. "See those stitches? Eighteen stitches in total, my skull has a metal screw on it. So I literally have a turnilyo in my head." sabi ko sa kanya bago umayos ng pagkakaangat ng ulo. 

Only few knows what happened to me. 

"Oh my Gosh, Olivia. Ang tapang mo!" malakas na sabi niya sabay hampas sa braso ko. 

I winced when her hand hit me. 

"Sorry! Habit ko lang talaga na manakit kapag close ko na yung tao! Sorry!" sabi pa niya sa akin. 

I touched my forearm where she hit me. Tumango na lang ako sa kanya bilang sagot. 

"Let's go to our next class?" tanong ko sakanya. 

Tumango siya sa akin kaya sabay na kaming pumasok sa klase. We had a good time together. May mga lists na rin na kailangan naming bilhin for our subject, books that we have to buy, and set of school uniforms that we need to have. 

Mabuti na lang at wala si Sancho ngayon. Sa susunod na araw pa ulit ang uwi niya kaya nakapamili ako. Kasama ko si Simoune sa malapit na bookstore to buy our supplies. 

I'm using my own credit card habang cash naman kay Simoune. Hindi namin kailangan mag-rush since malapit lang ang places namin. 

"Let's grab a food? My treat." imbita ko sa kanya. 

"Sure! Sumasama ako kaagad kapag mga ganyang libre. Alam mo bang magical word yan?" She clung onto me pa habang naglalakad kami papunta sa malapit na fast food. 

We bought so many things kaya tingin ko hindi na siya fit sa bag ko. I have to buy another bag which has a bigger capacity than this one that I'm using. For the mean time, I'm going to use muna this habang hinihintay ko yung bibilhin ko. 

Simoune ordered for us. I can see faces of other Ateneo students, they were also eating at the same fast food chain. 

This was the start of my college life and I know that sooner it will become a hard path. I have to ready myself for it. 

Andyan naman si Sancho to guide and help me. Mabuti na nga lang at wala siya kaya I don't need to rush home.  I didn't text him pala for today! I forgot!

Agad kong kinuha ang cellphone sa bag ko. And tama nga ang hunch ko. He had at least five text messages sent to me. 

I opened each of his messages. 

How are you? Did you have fun today? I love you. 

How's your first day, babe? I hope you're not smiling too much to men. I love you.

Did you make friends already?  I love you.

Call me when you're no longer busy.  I love you.

I have a scoop for today. I'm in Batangas right now. I missed you so much, Olivia. I'll see you soon. I love you.

 My heart flutters sa sinabi niya.  I wonder kung paano ko nadeserve ang taong katulad niya. I will call him later after the news na lang siguro. Ayoko siyang tawagan during this time. 

I looked at my wrist watch, five in the afternoon. Maaga kasi ang dismissal namin kapag M-W-F, until 2 in the afternoon lang kami. Kapag T-Th naman ay hanggang five in the afternoon kami. 

Simoune came back with a tray on her hand. Nakangiti akong tumingin sa kanya. She handed me the change for our food. Siya kasi ang nag-present na bumili dahil hindi siya makapili. I told her na okay lang kung mas expensive yung gusto niyang food for herself. 

We ate in peace while talking about what happened today. Pati na rin yung mga na-meet naming professors. 

"Tingin ko si Dean Gonzales ang pinaka-strict sa lahat ng magiging professors natin," She said. 

I looked up at her, "You think so?" tanong ko sa kanya. 

Dean Leo Gonzales never smiled while talking about class syllabus compared to our other professors who we met today, they were all smiling and welcomed us warmly. 

"Oo! Nakakatakot nga. Malas lang natin at three hours ang klase natin sa kanya at major subject pa. Makita ko nga lang siya ay natatakot na ako kaagad." sabi niya sa akin. 

"He could be nice to us. Maybe because he needs to make an impression to us."  sagot ko sa kanya. 

Nagkibit balikat si Simoune sa sinabi ko. 

We talked about more things while eating. I find her comfortable. Nakikita ko sa kanya yung mga kaibigan na naiwan ko sa Trinidad. I wonder kung kumusta na silang dalawa? 

It's been months since I last saw Chari and weeks for Micaela. 

After eating we decided to separate paths. Dumiretso na ako sa unit namin ni Sancho, sakto lang sa pagsisimula ng balita. I took a shower first while waiting for his part. 

I covered my books while waiting for him. I texted mommy as well na I need a new bag. She didn't reply yet baka busy pa sa ginagawa sa bahay. 

We bought so many things for today. Na-o-overwhelm ako sa dami and of course sa ginastos ko. I would text my mommy and daddy later about what I spend today, baka magulat na lang kasi sila sa babayaran. 

My eyes widen, heart fluttered, when I saw Sancho on T.V. He looks natural while wearing the networks uniform. He's so fit for it. Live news iyon kaya kailangan niyang sagutin ang mga tanong ng news anchor. 

At lahat naman ng mga tanong sa kanya ay nasasagot  niya. 

"Yes, Mel, sa kasalukuyan ay nasa ospital na ang mga biktima ng nangyaring malagim na trahedya na ito sa Batangas." sagot niya sa news anchor. 

Hindi siya mukhang kinakabahan habang nagsasalita and I admire him for that. I was falling for him even more. 

Hindi na ako makapaghintay na tumawag sa kanya. I waited until the news ended bago ko siya tinawagan. 

"Babe!" masayang tawag ko sa kanya. 

"Hey." His husky voice greeted me. "How's first day?" tanong niya sa akin.

"It was fun. Wait, I called you to greet you. You look great and awesome! Ang galing mo talaga," sabi ko sa kanya. 

Sancho chuckled on the other line. My heart swell, I missed him so much. "I miss you," Mahinang sabi ko. 

I heard his deep sigh, "I miss you too, babe. Tell me about your day." He said. 

And so I mentioned him about my newly found friend for today.  He's listening carefully to me habang binabanggit ko ang nangyari ngayong araw pati kung ano ang mga binili at kinain ko. 

"Sorry...your ear must be flaming hot na because I'm talking non-stop. Eat your dinner, babe." I told him. 

They were eating kasi when I called him. Sancho released another sigh on the other line. "I wish I could hug you right now. I'll see you on Wednesday, babe. I love you." He said.

"I love you too. Take care, babe." sagot ko sa kanya. 

Ako na ang nag-end ng call naming dalawa so he could eat again. 

I really missed him so much. I can't wait to see him and hugged him again.