| Chanter University |
MOM AND DAD decided to drop me off at Chanter University. Two days from now, it will already be the first day of the first semester. I hope I'll get along with my co-students. I didn't take the college entrance exam because I was immediately selected by the administrator as part of their scholarship program.Mom and Dad don't have a high source of income, and that scholarship was a big help for us, financially. We just have a simple life. Planting some grains and crops, pasturing cows and goats. We're a typical below-average family in our village.Getting into college wasn't an easy one, particularly it needs lots of savings and money to start with. That scholarship was not enough for me to get a living during my college times. I had to apply for a job to sustain and have a better living. Possibly, I should apply as a waitress at a fine dining restaurant near the school. As much as possible, I don't want to rely on my financial stuff to my parents.I want to be a working student. My father doesn't like my idea but, in the end, after a long-sugarcoated word, he agreed."Let's pick Reina too, dad," I said as I buckled up. Reina was my first cousin on the mother's side. She will take up BS Psychology and I take up Business Administration.Reina and I graduated with flying colors. Both of us got a scholarship and were given the privilege to enter the prestigious and international school in town, miles away from home."Girls, always remember what we've told you, okay?" mom said as we get off the truck.We both nodded. I kissed mom on her cheeks and waved to dad. "Bye, you guys feed my nana on time okay?" I'm referring to my cat. I wish I could bring an animal here, but it is stated on the student handbook, no pets are allowed.They both smiled and nodded. I waved one more time as dad drive the truck away from us. I will miss both of them.But I have Reina with me. So, I guess, I won't get bored or homesick, after all."You know what, Brent doesn't want me to get in here," Reina started. She was implying to his damn of a shit boyfriend."For what reason?""He said that there are lots of handsome and rich men here. That he was frightened that I might look for a new one.""Geez, he was so fortunate that he has you, if I'm at your place, I'll break up with him. Like who the hell is he, to bridle you, he fooled you twice. So... you should leave him and look for a new one.""But I love him.""Don't be a martyr. There's a lot of good men there. Don't get stuck with that dimwit."Reina heaved a deep sigh. "He promised me that he will never do it again.""Promises are meant to be broken. You see, he cheated on you not once but twice. I'm just giving you one hell of a knock. Speculate wisely, gal."Reina didn't answer.We climbed upstairs as we enter the girl's dormitory. The old lady at the entrance lends us our keys. She has lists, anyway. There were three types of dorms in C.U. For scholars, for regular students—the one who pays their tuition, and the international students. For us, we're in the lowest. Because we're only the lucky people who were selected by the administration.We stopped at room 28. The dorm has four floors and consists of ten rooms on each floor. Chanter University doesn't have too many students correlated to other universities. As stated in the handbook, they only have 1050 students at the moment. 50 international students and 1000 local students.Is it good enough if I consider what mom said about having a boyfriend? We can do a boy hunting and rating after we drop off our items of luggage. Just kidding.I put the key on the keyhole and twirled the doorknob. "Woah, the room was pretty cool," Reina yelled in surprise."Is this your first time seeing a room like this?" I asked and rolled my eyes."Shut up!" she said, seems irritated."Chill, I'm just trying to lighten the mood."She just rolled her eyes. Mimicking me."Wait, I'll stay here," I said, standing beside the left corner."Whatever," She replied and moved to the other side of the room.I chuckled.There were two beds inside, two tables, two cabinets of course. Where are we gonna eat? Well, the school has a cafeteria. I know it because I've read the whole student handbook the other day.I toss myself on the bed. "Hmmm…" it was kinda relaxing. The bed was so soft. My back loves it."I'll just take a nap. I'll organize my kinds of stuff when I woke up," I said and grabbed some pillow and let myself be drenched in darkness.| Ruthless Jerk | "OH, thank God, you're awake," Reina vented out. She's squatting on the floor near my bed. I bet, she's been gawking at me 'til I waked. She knows that I hate being hindered when I'm in a deep sleep. Because I slap or tread whoever the person who tries to wake me up, even if she's my mom or dad. I don't know, but it seems like it's a mannerism. I gently rubbed my eyes and pulled the pillow below my knee. Hmm... I still want to sleep. "Hey," Reina called out and snatched my pillow offhand. "Don't you dare?" She frowned at me.I smiled. "Five more minutes... please." "No. You've been sleeping for five hours and I didn't have my lunch because I've been waiting for you, and it's already afternoon." I lifted my left wrist right in front of my eyes. My watch says it's four o'clock. My eyes widened. "Why didn't you wake me up?" I got up. Ugh! I still feel so dazed and vague to stand up.
| Conceited Lady | AFTER WE eat, we decided to have a walk along. I need to find a job ASAP. We're about to cross when a fast car passed by. Damn! I almost got hit. "Like who the hell it is?" Reina asked, seems angry. "Can't he see people were about to cross?" I arched my eyebrow. "How do you know that it was a he?" I asked. "I saw the driver, of course. You almost got hit. What if that car hit you? You might be dead by now," she said. She put her right hand in her waist and bite her thumb because of frustration. I put my hand above my chest, clutching my dress, acting like I'm hurting. "Ouch, dead? I'm a cat you know, I got nine lives," I joke. "Your joke was so funny. Tell me if you want to be dead. I'll be the one to kill you. I almost got a heart attack and you have time to drop a joke up? Geez," she said and walked fast, leaving me behind. She's angry. Really. I chuc
| Part-time Job | THE NEXT morning, I woke up early. Reina went out to grab our breakfast, and I stayed because I was busy typing and filling up my biodata. I've decided to find a part-time job before the school year starts. When I'm done, the next I did was fix myself. Doing my daily routine—bathing, changing clothes, caressing my face with a powder, and apply a lip tint on my lips. I put the paper inside the brown envelope. I will try to pass this in the restaurant we've been to yesterday. I bet they're hiring because I only saw three employees working—one cashier and two waitresses. I'll just try my luck, who knows? I'm about to close my bag when Reina opened the door, holding the plastic in her left hand and two plastic cups in the other one. "There are so many students in the cafeteria, it's just seven in the morning," she mumbled and placed the plastic and cups above the coffee table. "Is
| First Day | COLLEGE IS way too different from high school. College is not high school. Professor will foresee you to be more independent, adventurous, and responsible than your high school teachers presumed. I grew in a family where positive thoughts always overcome negativity and have all the enthusiasm that I needed to face a new reality. I always believe to myself that nothing is difficult when you put your heart into it. But who wouldn’t feel jitters when you’re on your first time? No one. No matter how optimistic you are, you will still feel nervous—like your palms sweat, fast heartbeat, and more so. But it’s all-natural. I and Reina don’t have the same schedule as we differ in courses. But still, we reside on the same roof. I have a part-time job while Reina doesn’t. My classes start at eight, ending at three, while Reina starts at ten, and ends at five. “You’re an hour early, Becca,” Reina said as
| The Encounter | TIME PASSED by without you even knowing it. The more you ignore the time, the faster it ticks. First day in College gone better as I expected. No hassle at all. I even meet new girlfriends which share the same interests as mine—Nena, a black American girl who loves coffee and books, Trix, a foodie blonde girl, and Evette, the fashionista. Though I was a bit left behind by being a sassy lady like Evette, still we share the same interests when it comes to putting light retouches on our faces. The day ends gracefully that I didn't even notice that my shift at the café was done. While talking to Kara my phone beeps, and Reina's name was evident on the screen.“I get going,” shifting away from Kara, pulled the door, I answered the call. “I'm on my way home,” not bothering what Reina wants to say, I talked first. “Okay. I get you dinner. Vegetable salads and burger steak, is it okay with you?”
| Strange Feeling | COLLEGE IS hard, particularly when you don’t belong in the world of a wealthy family. You can’t convey to their discussions. Like, they talk about the enormous dishes they ate in a fancy restaurant, their trips abroad, models and celebrities whom they met, and more so. Those topics that you can only see on television. Tackling about it, you seem like a display around that is meaningless. I hope Reina and I are just on the same course. With her, your day wouldn’t boring, because she will educate you with all the things she knew like you just want to stay away if you can’t hold how intensifying the topic. But of course, being with Reina always makes my day. I got used to it. Not until this moment—entering College. I sighed and rested my chin on top of my palm. Eyes on the clean, glossy whiteboard that I can almost see my mood—plain and boring. Fortunately, there seems to be no complacency here. Though
| Linus | DAYS, COME and go, but this feeling within me, keeps ongoing and growing. I just want to ignore this. I want to consider this as a normal feeling, but I know that it’s not. How can this feeling stop, when I always see his deep and mysterious eyes? I know it’s crazy but I’m just being honest to myself, that I never felt this before. Come on, Becca, you’re just getting curious, I mumbled to myself. “Before we have our first test on this subject, I want you to work on a reaction paper about the Sonnets of Shakespeare,” said, Mrs. Ether. I’m not into poetry, but I know Shakespeare. “And it will be by partner,” she added. Nena, beside me, poked and smiled at me, “hope we’ll gonna be partners,” she said. I’m about to reply when our prof says my name. “Rebecca and Linus.” “Linus?” I know this sounds ridiculous, but I don’t know the names of my clas
| One Fine Day | WEEKEND AND I just want to sleep all day but the fact that I mumbled something last night that may provoke me to spill what I’m thinking, I decided to get off bed early. I need to stay away from Reina’s curiosity. Besides, I have work to do. I need to fill in Bill’s place. The golden rays of the shining sun greeted the beautiful land of Chanter University. Birds chirping, telling us that another wonderful blessing was given to us. The greens give hope that no matter how cruel humans will be, God can give us all the beautiful things that we deserve. “Good morning, Becca,” Mrs. Dory greeted and sipped on her cup of coffee. “Good day, Mrs. Dory,” I greeted back. I walked towards the locker room and fixed my hair in a bun and put my apron on. Kara is still not here, well, it’s just 7 in the morning. On Saturday, we need to spend our time in the café for eight hours. Sundays will be our day off.