Waking up in Another World

Chapter 1: Waking up in Another World (I)

Celine's POV

I stared at the blank paper in front of me. It's not actually blank, though. It has few words in it which is the question itself and there are lines below the question, which is where should I put my answer.

I stared at the question itself as I analyzed it carefully. I focused my attention at the last sentence which is the question that I should answer in essay form.

'As an advocate of a well known group which preserves the Philippines' cultural heritages, how can you help in preserving and promoting the Philippines' cultural heritages and artifacts?'

What the hell? di ko din alam... di naman to tinuro samin. If I'm not mistaken, ang tinuro lang samin eh yung mga cultural heritages sa Pilipinas but I don't have any idea how to preserve it. Should I keep it? or what? I've never been part of an organization like that so how the hell would I know?

It's been 47 minutes since the exam started but I still have to answer two essays. This one and the one on the back which is about projects to be implemented, kung ano daw ang magagawa kong proyekto kung ako daw ay isang presidente... take note, di lang isa, dapat daw tatlo.

I don't know why but for me, it feels pointless. I'm not planning on involving myself in running as a candidate for the election so why are they asking these type of questions?

I just have 13 minutes left before the examination ends that's why I just formulated a simple answer, ayos na yon basta may maipasa.

My thinking capacity doesn't really work well with these types of questions... I don't have any idea since I haven't tried it even once before.

*KRIIIINNGGGG!!!*

After a few minutes, the bell rang loudly that's why I stood up and gave my paper to the professor. I inhaled first before giving it because I'm quite nervous. What if my answer is wrong? what if I failed? strict pa man din tong prof namin especially on essays. Mababa siyang magbigay ng grade pag di niya nagets yung point eh halos binasta ko lang naman yung sagot ko.

I returned back to my seat and grabbed my backpack then I immediately left the room.

I went to the female's restroom and I removed my eyeglasses to wash my face. I stared at the huge mirror that is adhered at the restroom's wall.

My reflection flashed before me and I smiled at the thought on why are they calling me a nerd.

I'm not a subject of bullying but it happens in some circumstances. Medyo makapal kasi ang kilay ko tapos naka-salamin din ako pero di naman siya masyadong makapal. But it's bigger than the normal size of eyeglasses, basta in between ng pang-nerd na salamin at yung normal na size ng salamin.

Di lang talaga ako mahilig mag-ayos sa sarili ko kaya medyo buhaghag ang buhok ko, pero straight pa din naman kahit papaano, gets? tapos yung sa kilay ko eh lampas lampas yung iba kasi di naman ako nag-aahit ng kilay. My lips are also quite pale because I'm not into liptints or lipsticks.

But I think the most prominent reason on why I'm called a nerd is because of this slightly thick eyeglasses but to be honest, my vision is actually not that blurry, siguro slight lang but even without it, I can see normally. The other reason why I'm wearing this eyeglasses is also because I'm already used to it. Na-weweird-an din kasi ako pag di ko to suot eh, parang ang uncomfortable.

"Sis, natapos niyo yung exam natin kanina?"

"Patapos na ako pero si sir napaka-bobo sinabi ba namang i-pass na eh di pa ako tapos"

"Same, nakakabwisit talaga yung teacher na yon!"

I looked at the mirror to see what's happening behind me. There are three girls talking about our pre-finals exam earlier. They're not my classmate, that's why I don't know who's that professor that they're talking about.

"Oh?! hoy ikaw, anong tinitingin tingin mo diyan?!" the girl asked while looking at the mirror. Bale nagkatinginan kami pero sa salamin kami nakatingin. I immediately averted my gaze and wore my eyeglasses.

"Huh? nakikinig ka talaga sa usapan namin ano?!"

My eyebrows furrowed as I turned my body towards them. Even though, I look like a nerd, I'm not actually that kind. Siguro nababasa niyo na yung mga nerd ay humble, or napaka-bait but I'm not that type of person. I may be a nerd pero pilosopo din ako kahit papaano.

"Mukha ba akong interesado sa usapan niyo?"

"Maybe you're planning on sumbong us to the professors!" conyo na sabi nung isa.

"And why would I? I'm not interested and I don't have time to even say that to your professors"

"As you should be!" sabi nung isa pa na tinuro pa ako gamit ang index finger niya. Bakit naman may pa turo-turo pa to? mukha ba akong streetfood vendor tas tinuturo niya yung mga kwek-kwek?

I just walked past them but someone grabbed my hair. "Ewwww!!! that's gross, nagco-conditioner ka ba? antigas ng buhok mo, kadiri"

Napakunot ang noo ko at saka ako napaharap, "That's none of your business... why would you even touch it in the first place?"

"I'm just going to make sure that you would tell no one about that, pero nagulat ako kasi antigas ng buhok mo, kadiri" sabi pa niya na inilabas pa ang alcohol sa maliit na bag niya at saka ibinuhos iyon sa kamay niya.

Grabe naman, ganon ba ako nakakadiri? ang OA naman neto.

"Mas kadiri yang mukha mo, mukha kang plais" sabi ko pa saka naglakad na paalis. Nagsisigaw pa sila pero di ko na sila pinansin at nagdere-deretso nalang ako papunta sa gate.

I walked past the guard in the gate and I just thought of eating on a nearby restaurant since I'm hungry.

Pumasok na ako sa resto at saka umorder ng burger steak at tsaka drinks. Di naman kase ako mayaman that's why I can't afford going into fancy restaurants... this is just an ordinary resto along the highway.

After a few minutes of waiting, the food arrived and I ate silently.

I thought of bringing something for Cain, but I don't have any money left. I guess I'll just cook some for dinner tas bibigyan ko nalang siya.

By the way, tanghali lang ngayon kasi ang pre-finals namin ay laging half-day. That's why I have plenty of time to atleast rest for now since this is also the last day of our examination. Weekends bukas kaya sa monday na ulit ang pasok namin.

Pagkatapos kong kumain ay tumayo na ako at saka umalis sa restaurant, actually gutom pa ako but I don't have any choice... I don't have any money left hehe.

Pumara na ako ng jeep at saka sumakay doon. I also handed my p*****t to the driver and then I told him my location.

I stared outside as the jeepney drove past off the buildings.

I'm living in an apartment here in the city. Dito nako nag-stay kasi malapit lapit nga kahit papaano itong apartment na to sa Meridian High, kaya madali lang sakin mag-commute.

"Para po..." I said after reaching my destination. The jeepney stopped slowly kaya bumaba na ako.

My apartment is actually not that big, because just like what I said earlier, I'm not rich. Dalawang floor siya tapos may kapitbahay kang room din, bale parang naka-compound yung bawat room sa isang apartment.

I inserted the key on the keyhole and I'm about to open the door but I saw Cain.

"Hi, goodmorning... kumain ka na?" I asked. Goodmorning sinabi ko kasi 11: 28 am palang naman, so counted as umaga pa rin.

He fixed his eyeglasses and then he smiled at me, "Hmmm, kakakain ko lang... ikaw?" he asked.

Don't get me wrong... he's not my boyfriend or something. He's just my neighbor. Bale siya yung katabi kong room dito sa apartment at medyo close naman kami kahit papaano.

To describe him, he actually looks good. Siguro kung di ko siya cinoconsider na friend, baka nacrush-an ko na siya.

His hair is color white and he has this eyeglasses that looks really cool on him. Matangkad din siya tapos matalino, at of course mabait din. He also goes to the same school as me and I can say that he's quite popular with the girls. But I rarely see him in the campus kasi nga magkaiba kami ng strand tapos magkalayo pa yung building namin.

"I just ate earlier... dadalhan nga sana kita kaso wala nako pera" sabi ko pa saka kumamot ng ulo.

He just smiled at me shyly and said, "Hehe, actually you don't have to bother yourself bringing something for me... but anyway, thank you for it"

Shocks, napaka-bait talaga neto. Nakakainis, charot. Pero seryoso, nahiya pa siya eh kapag siya nga nalabas lagi siyang may dala sakin tapos ako naman di ko siya nabibigyan.

"If you're feeling embarassed for not bringing something for me when sometimes I'm bringing something for you, don't be. Hehe, I'm not actually bringing something for you so that you owe me something, I'm giving it to you because I want to..." nagkakamot pa sa ulong sabi niya.

I smiled and then I thanked him. He's so adorable especially when he's shy.

I then bade him goodbye kasi mukhang aalis pa siya and he just waved his hand.

He's really smart... he can read my mind just base on my facial expressions. I don't know if I'm just like an open book or what but yeah, I'm pretty impressed when he always read my facial expressions. Ang galing lang...

I opened the door at saka ko ihinagis ang bag ko sa may couch. Chubby went to me when he noticed my presence and then he rubbed his fur on my leg.

Kinuha ko siya at saka itinaas... this one is also adorable.

Chubby is a cat that I adopted. I can't really say if I really adopted him but I found him on the streets, and I also fed him.

Actually, I don't really want to pet a cat but he's an exemption. Nung pinakain ko siya eh nabalik siya ng nabalik sakin, and besides he's too adorable that's why I decided to keep him.

He's also quite smart for a cat, because he's well disciplined. Di naman kasing talino ng tao ang ibig kong sabihin pero, alam niyo yun? unlike other cats, he knows how to behave and that's a plus point for me.

I can't think of any name that's why I called him Chubby. Though, di naman siya mataba.

Inilapag ko na si Chubby sa baba at saka ako nagpunta sa kwarto ko. I changed my clothes and I also prepare a food for Chubby then I went on with my normal routine, cleaning.

It took me until afternoon to clean my room, and I must say that it's really exhausting.

I grabbed a pitcher of cold water and a glass then I poured some of it and drank it straight.

It's already 4:23 pm in the afternoon kaya nagluto na din ako ng kakainin ko and I also prepared Chubby's dinner.

Nagluto nalang ako ng adobo and I thought of giving some to Cain that's why I knocked into his door three times.

"Cain?!?!"

No response... weird. "Cain, papasok nako ah?" I said as I opened the door.

Wait lang? bakit ko nabuksan ang pinto? di ba isinara niya to kanina nung umalis siya?

Maybe, bumalik na siya tas umalis ulit, tas nakalimutan niya isara?

I wandered into his room and I shouted his name to call his attention, "Cain?!"

Still, there's no response. Ipinatong ko nalang yung ulam na niluto ko sa lamesa niya kasi baka di pa siya nakakauwi. I also decided to lock the door kasi maggagabi na din atsaka lagi naman niyang dala ang susi niya kaya mabubuksan pa rin niya ang pinto kahit isara ko.

I ate silently with Chubby and then i also washed the dishes. I browsed the internet for some time then I decided to sleep, kasi napagod din ako.

I covered my body with a blanket as I slowly drifted into deep slumber...

⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫

My eyebrows creased when I heard noises around me. That's weird? as far as I know I'm the only one inside my room

Medyo di ko mamulat ang mata ko kasi parang mamuta-muta pa, charot.

Pero bakit parang anliwanag? may bubong naman ako sa apartment ah? nasira ba?

And why does my bed feels quite hard and hot? that's weird.

The murmurs around me loudened that's why I slowly opened my eyes. Kinuskos ko din ang mata ko kasi baka may muta pa akong natira.

My vision started to become clear and... WHAT THE HELL??!!!

Napalingon ako sa paligid ko at andaming tao sobra. Tas may mga nagtitinda pa ng kung ano-anong merchandise sa gilid. Tapos nakahiga ako sa semento? sa sahig? at talagang higang higa ako ah? ng walang kahit anong kumot o unan, the f**k?!

I covered my face in embarassment as I muttered...

"PUTANGINA?! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS PLACE?!"