Between Hate and Love

Chapter 34

College was a rollercoaster ride. I did not expect anything, but a lot of studying and working my ass off to get my degree. But I didn’t expect that college would bring you to a more chaotic journey beyond academics.

“Ayos na ba ang mga gamit mo?” mama asked. Ito ang unang beses na mapapalayo ako sa kanila. One State Univerity was far from Valenzuela so I had to stay in the dormitory. Sabi niya’y umuwi ako tuwing biyernes, pero nang makita ko ang schedule ko ay mukhang imposible ‘yon.

“Opo, aalis na po ako,” wika ko. Kinuha ko ang mga gamit ko. Kailangan ko ng makaalis nang maaga dahil may pasok na bukas. I still have to arrange my things and familiarize myself in the school, para na rin hindi ako maligaw.

“Sigurado ka ba na hindi ka na magpapahatid?” tanong ni mama. Allison and Atticus were looking at me, not wanting me to leave. Ngayon lamang kami magkakahiwa-hiwalay ng matagal.

Tumango ako. “Yes ma, see you na lang po next week. Puwede niyo rin naman ako’ng tawagan,” pag-aalo ko sa kanya. I hugged her tightly and kissed both Atticus and Alllison’s head.

“Hayaan mo na ‘yung anak mo, malaki na ‘yan. Kaya na niya ang sarili niya,” Gio interrupted. Galing siya sa labas, at sa tikas niya, halatang galing na nama siya sa inuman.

“Alis na po ako. Less away sana tito,” pagbibiro ko.

Gio smirked and crossed his hands as he leaned at the door. “Nanay mo lang naman ang madaldal, siya ang pagsabihan mo,” depensa niya.

I sighed. I softly pressed mom’s arms and smiled at her. “Please ma, less away,” pakiusap ko.

Dala ko ang dalawang maleta at isang malaking gym bag. Puno ‘yon ng mga damit, mga supply ng pagkain, hygiene stuff, and my school stuff. Hindi ako sigurado kung anu-anong mga gamit ang kailangan ko, but I made sure I would have pen and paper.

Tatlong oras ang biyahe pero dalawang sakay lamang naman ako kaya’t hindi ako masyadong nahirapan. First, a bus, then a tricycle.

I reached the schol past lunch and I couldn’t help but be amazed by the buildings before me. The arch was at the main entrance, a tangible symbol that I was at One State University already.

Everywhere I look, the building were the same. Lahat ay hanggang third floor at napipinturahan ng maputlang kahel, dilaw, at brown. The road was made from asphalt at ang bawat sulok ay may nakalagay na street sign. Para ako’ng nasa loob ng isang malawak na subdivision.

Matapos ang paglalakad ng ilang minuto, I finally reached the dorm area of the school. It was two buildings, one for men and one for women. Like the usual buildings, it was up to third floor.

Bumungad sa akin ang isang babae, sa suot niyang sash ay nalaman ko na mula siya sa Univeristy Student Council at nag-aasikaso sila ng mg a dumadatung pa na dormers.

“Your name?” tanong niya sa akin.

“Angel Reyes,” I answered with a nervous smile.

The woman checked her tablet and then nodded. She walked towards the front desk and then took a key. “Let’s go,” pag-anyaya niya.

Kaagad ako’ng sumunod sa kanya. Ang dami ko’ng dala at halos hindi ako magkanda-ugaga. I tried my best to keep up with her pace, pero naiiwan talaga ako. Mukhang sa third floor kami papunta!

Matapos ang ilang minuto ng paghihirap, we finally reached the dorm room.

Room 304

“Here’s the key, nandiyan na rin ‘yung mga kasama mo. You’re six in the room, you have your personal kitchen, and personal bathroom inside. May washing area rin within the room. You can use everything. Nabasa mo naman na siguro ‘yung contract na sinend sa’yo ng school?” she asked.

I nodded. I actually applied for the dorm, and luckily, I got accepted. Sabi sa kontrata, wala kami’ng babayaran sa room. The electric bill and water bill is also shouldered by the school, pero may limit ‘yon. Kung lalagpas kami sa limit nila, maghahati-hati kami sa room para bayaran ‘yung sobra.

Well, it was better than nothing. Kaysa maghanap pa ako ng apartment o di kaya ay bumiyahe araw-araw ng tatlong oras.

The woman left and there I was, standing in front of the door, with my cold feet and hands.

Lagi ko’ng naririnig na iba ang kolehiyo. Sa kolehiyo mo raw mas makikilala ang sarili mo, sa kolehiyo mo raw mas maiintindihan ang buhay. And I was scared to face life. I was scared to know more what pain this world has to offer. Naniniwala kasi ako na naramdaman ko na lahat ng sakit, so kung meron pa, parang grabeng parusa naman yata ‘yon?

I knocked a few time before opening the door.

“Hi, I’m Angel Reyes, kasama niyo sa room na ‘to,” I greeted the five girls that were inside the room with a smile.

Ang dalawa sa kanila ay kumakain, ‘yung dalawa ay nakatutol sa laptop nila, ‘yung isa naman ay tulog.

“Hi, come in,” bati sa akin nu’ng isa na kumakain. “I’m Trisha.”

All the other ignored me, but Trisha welcomed me with a tight hug and then accompanied me to where my space was.

“Hayaan mo sila, mga stressed na third and fourth year na ang mga ‘yan,” bulong niya sa akin. I just found out that most of them were third and fourth year, si Trisha lamang ang second year, and I was the only first year.

I thanked Trisha and started unpacking my staff. We had drawers where we could put our stuff. Inayos ko rin ang kama ko. When I was settled, tinawagan ko sina mama para hindi sila mag-alala sa’kin.

Tahimik ang loob ng room, at mukhang hindi pa ako sanay makihalubilo sa kanila. I decided to walk around the campus so I could finally familiarize myself. Hinahanap ko rin ang building ng department ko para na rin hindi ako mahirapan kinabukasan.

Lahat talaga ng building pare-pareho, and I was really amused by it. But the heat was scorching, and pakiramdam ko mali yata ang desisyon ko na tamarin sa pagdadala ng payong.

So, I rested nearby a fountain where there were benches with umbrellas in the middle of them. Para iyong park sa gitna mismo ng school.

I was watching all the people that were walking around when my phone rang. It was V.

“V! Hello! Where are you?!” tanong ko sa kanya.

Ang totoo, kaya ako napadpad sa One State University ay dahil kay Venera. She encouraged me, and because of the situation at home, I agreed. She was also enrolled in the university, pero ang sbai niya kasi sa akin ay mamayang hapon pa siya pupunta kaya’t nauna na ako.

“I’m here! Hinatid ako! Napilit ko parents ko na papuntahin na ako, kaysa naman mamayang hapon pa,” she informed me.

“Where are you?”

“Just at the entrance of the school. Salubungin mo na ako, dali!”

I was so excited. So I ran as fast as I could back to the main gate of the university.

It took me five minutes and I was sweating when I finally reached the gate. From there, I saw Venera standing with her stuff and she was with a guy.

“V!” I exclaimed and hugged her tightly, kahit pa pawis na pawis ako.

“Angel! It’s nice to see you again!” bati niya.

As usual, we talked a lot kaagad at nakalimutan namin na nasa harapan kami ng gate. Ang ingay namin pareho, and I alreaday told her everything about the dorm room I was in. Natigilan lamang kami nang tumikhim ang lalaki na kasama niya.

Venera immediately apologized. “Oh, gosh! Sorry. Angel, this is River. River, meet the Angel,” V introduced us to one another. Hinigit pa niya ang kamay namin at saka ‘yon iginaya sa isang handshake. “Hindi ako pinayagan na umalis kaagad kasi walang maghahatid, so ‘yung friend ni kuya nagsuggest na ihatid ako,” Venera explained.

River smiled at me. My hands were sweaty so I was embarrassed by it. Kaaagad ko’ng kinuha ‘yung kamay ko and then I akwardly smiled at him. “Hi…”