Chapter 3: First Day High

I’m an incoming freshman at the Saint Peter’s University, home of the Victorious Kings. Actually, second year na dapat ako kaso na-late ako sa pagpasok kasi nag-punta pa ako sa Boston para lang magmove-on sa heartbreak. Kainis, ano? Medyo mababaw ako sa part na iyon pero I was young and naïve, at saka masakit, eh!

Interior Design ang course na kinuha ko kasi I love Chemistry.

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Joke!

Bata pa lang ako, mahilig na akong maglipat-lipat ng mga furniture sa dati naming bahay. Na-inspire rin ako sa mga napapanood kong home makeover shows sa paborito kong lifestyle channel.

Pagdating ko sa dining area, naabutan ko si Mommy na inihahanda ang hapag kainan. Daddy already took his place at the head of the table. Kuya Red sat at Daddy’s left side while Mommy sat at Daddy’s righ. I was about to take my seat next to Kuya Red when I noticed the plate opposite mine.

“Nini, coffee please,” tugon ng isang boses sa aming kasambahay.

I was surprised to hear that calm but authoritative voice that I haven’t heard even once since I came home. When I turned to greet the owner of that voice, he was already inches away from me. He warmly smiled at me and pulled me into a tight embrace.

“Long time no see, sis. Welcome home.”

“Welcome home, too, Kuya Jaden,” biro ko bago ako gumanti ng yakap sa kanya. Ngayon ko lang siya nakita simula noong naka-uwi ako.

“Pwede bang mamaya na kayo mag-reunion? Lorryce, bilisan mo nang kumain. Traffic ngayon baka pareho tayong ma-late,” puna ni Kuya Red habang kumakain ng tinapay.

Kahit kailan talaga panira siya ng moment.

Kuya Jaden and I had to break the embrace. He saw me roll my eyes at Kuya Red which made him chuckle. Then, Kuya Jaden turned to Kuya Red. Mula sa likuran ni Kuya Red, ipinulupot ni Kuya Jaden ang kanyang mga braso sa balikat ni Kuya Red.

“Oi! Ano ba Juancho. Bitawan mo nga ako! Ano bang ginagawa mo?” protesta ni Kuya Red, samantalang abot tainga naman ang ngiti ni Kuya Jaden.

“Huwag ka ng inggitero, Alfonso. Namiss ko lang ‘yong kapatid natin, ikaw naman. Ito na ang yakapsul mo. Huwag ka ng magtampo, my twin brother.”

Natawa na lang kami nina Mommy sa yaoi moment nina Kuya Jaden at Kuya Red. We all know that Kuya Red hates clingy-ness kaya sa ganyang paraan siya palaging iniinis ni Kuya Jaden.

“Leche Juancho, bitawan mo nga ako. Para kang bata. Kilabutan ka nga sa mga pinaggagagawa mo. Ano ba! Bakla ka ba?”

Natatawang bumitaw si Kuya Jaden kay Kuya Red bago siya sumagot ng, “kapag sweet bakla kaagad? Halikan kita diyan, eh.”

“‘Tangna. Tumindig balahibo ko do’n, ah,” kinikilabutang sabi ni Kuya Red.

“Language, Alfonso,” paalala ni Daddy.

“You know Alfonso, you’ll have to learn the art of affection. Toxic masculinity is not cool anymore. Sensitive and charming is in. Hindi lahat nadadaan sa paspasan,” Kuya Jaden said while taking his seat opposite mine and beside Mommy.

Isang nababagot na tango lamang ang sagot ni Kuya Red sa sinabi ni Kuya Jaden. My brothers may be identical twins, but they have totally different ways of dealing with the opposite sex. One is a bad boy who dates a lot but has no plans of taking any relationship seriously.The other is a sweet and expressive guy who has no plans of being in a relationship just for the sake of having one.

“Sandali lang…” Mommy turned to Kuya Jaden.

“Jaden Juancho Manansala Rivera, ka-u-uwi mo pa lang galing medical mission sa Mindoro, ah. Apat na oras ka pa lang nandito sa bahay, magtratrabaho ka nanaman? Natulog ka ba?”

Noon ko lamang napansin ang hitsura ni Kuya Jaden. He is wearing his wrinkle free blue and white checkered polo that fits him perfectly. His polo is tucked in his neatly ironed black slacks. Even his black loafers are polished to the tip. To top that all off was his white doctor’s coat which ‘women dig’ a lot.

He gave Mommy a reassuring smile before answering, “duty calls, Mommy. I heard the charity ward’s full. Kailangan ako roon.”

“Yeah, pero anak naman. You need to rest. Hindi ka immortal, ano ba.”

“I’m okay, Mommy. Don’t worry about me. Saka, we took an oath, remember. ‘I will remember that I remain a special member of the society with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those of sound mind and body, as well as the infirm.’”

Aba, bayani…

Mommy was left speechless. She turned to Daddy as if asking for help.

“Lorenzo,” she called but Daddy simply shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t know, Hon. He’s got point.”

Daddy threw Kuya Jaden a proud smile before sipping from his cup of coffee to avoid looking at Mommy eye to eye. Samantala, napailing-iling na lang si Mommy. She raised both her hands in surrender.

Daddy, Mommy, Kuya Jaden, Kuya Jared and me. After a very long time, ngayon lang ulit kami nakompleto sa dining table. What a great way to start the day, the school year, this chapter of my life. I guess this is a good sign.

Saint Peter University

“Saint Peter University, Home of the Victorious Kings,” I said in my mind as the car approached a towering red and purple steel gate bearing the letters S, P and U.

I grasped as soon as I saw the gate. Halo-halong emosyon ang naramdaman ko, kabado pero excited, masaya pero natatakot. SPU is a well-known educational institution, both within and outside the country. Isa ito sa mga pinakamatatandang eskwelahan sa bansa. The school is very much respected for its academic excellence. Patunay nito ang napakaraming sikat na propesyonal at personalidad na diploma holders ng SPU.

Besides that, SPU is also famous for holding the craziest and most fun parties and socials. Pero hindi lamang sa academic excellence at fabulous parties kilala ang SPU. The campus is also one of the best in Asia. Consistent ranker ito sa mga university campus polls sa kung ano-anong survey lists.

The moment Kuya Jared’s car entered the gate of SPU, I was already overwhelmed. I was looking out the window like a child from the province who’s gone to a city for the first time.

Pagkapasok sa main gate, isang malawak na two-way street ang sumalubong sa amin. Sa kanang bahagi ay may park. May mga estudyante na naglalaro ng friesbie, nag-ca-camping at nag-pi-picnic. May ilan namang nagbabasa o kaya’y nagkwekwentuhan sa ilalim ng mga puno.

Itinuro sa akin ni Kuya Jared ang kaliwang bahagi ng street.

“That’s the Business District. Nandiyan ang karamihan ng mga commercial establishments dito. Parang mini city for the exclusive use of Peterfolks and its alumni.”

Nakahilera roon ang mga sikat na restaurant chains. Namumutiktik sa mga mamahaling kape at tsaa ang area na iyon. Mayroon ring mga burger joints, pizza parlors at shawarma shacks. Mayroon pang vegetarian restaurant at sangyupsal buffet.

Five minutes into the campus and I know I’m going to love this place. I think I just discovered my favorite spot inside the campus already. Ano pa ba ang tatalo dito sa Business District? Grabe, naaamoy ko ang halo-halong aroma ng bagong lutong pizza, shawarma, at beef, pati iyong napakabangong brewd coffee.

“They have their own authentic Japanese restaurant?”

Napabulalas ko nang makita ko ang isang restaurant na dinudumog ng mga estudyante. Sa itaas ng entrance ng restaurant ay mababasa sa karatola ang ‘Nishikawa.’

“Yeah. That’s where I always go everytime I crave for Jap food. Kahit matagal na akong graduate, binabalik-balikan ko iyong sushi nila. You should try it there. Brod ko sa Beta Epsilon ‘yong chef diyan. I’m sure you’ll get the best service.”

Gulat kong itinuro ang isang two-storey shop na may sinage ng Campus Resto Bar sa tabi ng Nishikawa.

“Wait! Is that what I think that is? Kuya, is that a bar inside the school? Wala ba ditong liqueur ban?”

“Most schools ban alchohol but SPU is not like most schools. Ipinatayo ang Campus Resto Bar para maging laboratory ng Hospitality and Tourism Management Department.”

“Tapos na-isipan ng Student Council na magandang pagpraktisan ng mga taga-HTM Dep ang mga Peterfolks kaya ginawang operational for business. Ang profit ng Resto Bar ay ginagamit para mag-sponsor sa mga culinary, bartending, and travel activities ng mga taga-HTM Dep.”

“Wow, that’s nice!”

“Do you know who was the Student Council President who proposed to do that?”

“Who?”

“Doctor Jaden Juancho Manansala Rivera.”

Oh, wow! Alam kong naging President ng Student Council si Kuya Jaden noon pero wala akong kaalam-alam sa mga ginagawa niya.

Natatawa akong bumaling kay Kuya Red, “wait kuya, ibig mong sabihin, noong mga panahon ninyo dito sa SPU, your twin brother was doing great things for the student body, while you—”

“While I enjoy my youth! Jaden might have been the ‘noble one’ but I was the one who came, and saw and conquered.”

Napailing na lang ako sa pagiging sobrang chill ni Kuya Red. Minsan hindi ko mapigil mapa-isip kung papaano ba ito naging engineer.

Saglit na tumigil sa Business District si kuya para bumili ng kape sa drive-thru ng isang coffee shop. Namangha lang ako kasi may mga nakita akong estudyante na pinagtitinginan si kuya habang umo-order siya. Mukha ngang totoo na he came and saw and conquered SPU during his time. Sikat, eh.

Ilang metro mula sa Business District, naroon naman ang football field. Sa entrance ng field matatag na nakatayo ang bandila ng Pilipinas. Sa kanang bahagi ng Philippine Flag, nakahilera ang bandila ng iba pang mga bansa na may affiliation sa SPU. Sa kaliwang bahagi naman, naroon ang flag symbol ng SPU na sinusundan ng mga flag symbols ng iba’t ibang mga departamento nito.

At the sight of that, I saw my brother’s lips twitch into a proud smile. Kung tutuusin, nakaka-proud nga ang view na iyon. What a nice way to show the school’s Spirit.

Sa gitna ng football field, kitang-kita ko kahit malayo ang salitang “KINGS” na printed in big bold letters bearing the the red and purple colors of the school.

Looks like SPU is a great place to be. Ang ganda ng campus at magaan ang pakiramdam ko sa paligid. Feeling ko mag-e-enjoy ako at marami akong matututunan dito.