When the Stars Lead to You

05

"Congratulations!"

I smiled widely when I get to see our results for the entrance exam that we took from weeks ago. Muntik pa akong maiyak sa saya ko pero pinigilan ko lang ang sarili ko dahil matitirgger nun ang cataplexy ko.

I placed rank 1 on the exam while Devin and Veronika were on the same spot, rank 2. Like tie talaga silang dalawa. They had the same score.

"Thank you, po!" I hugged my parents and then my tita's hugged me too.

They were all here in our house. Sienna, Rain, Veronika, and their parents. Devin, and Devin's mother. Nandito rin sina Ali and his sister and mother. They already met each other before kaya mas lalong naging madalas ang pagpunta dito nina Rain.

"Let's celebrate later! Let's have dinner outside!" Tita Seanna said. "And no one will object!"

Kahit ang liit ng achievements namin, hindi talaga mawawala ang celebration. Lalo na kung nandiyan si Tita Seanna. Kahit walang okasyon, she just randomly says, 'let's celebrate'. Kung tatanungin siya kung anong meron, she will just say that we will celebrate that we're still alive.

"Congrats, Maya." Ali hugged me tightly.

"Sama niyo naman me!" Devin hugged us too.

"Wait... si Ver! She also passed!" tinuro ko si Ver. She got confused at first, but I pulled her for the hug. She was hesitant to hug us back but minutes after, she hugged us too.

"Nasa iisang school na tayo! Ah!" Rain exclaimed and hugged us, but it caused us to stumble back kaya ay natumba kami sa sala. "Hala ka! Sorry!" We just laughed it off except Ali who slightly glared at Rain. The latter just gave him a peace sign.

It was one of the happiest days of my life. That night, we ate in a restaurant with our families. Sobrang saya ko nung gabing iyon na halos hindi ako makatulog but soon enough, my narcolepsy knocked me off to sleep.

The following morning, it was a Monday. I couldn't get out of the house because I wasn't feeling well. Both Ali and Devin weren't here so I got bored. Nanood lang ako ng tv habang balot na balot ng comforter.

"My love, I'm going to work already. Are you okay?" dinig kong tanong ni daddy. Umupo siya sa tabi ko while his white lab coat is hanging on his arm.

"I'm okay, dad. Take care," maikling sabi ko sa kaniya. Bumibigat na ang talukap ng mata ko.

"Okay. Just tell mommy if you need anything, okay? I think she's not going anywhere today," and he kissed me on the forehead before getting out of the house.

I pouted and peaked at the garage. Glass windows lang naman kasi ang pagitan and the big curtains at makikita ko na ang garage where I saw daddy getting inside his car and drove away. I sighed at nahiga nalang sa couch waiting for my narcolepsy to knock me off, but it didn't come.

"Hello!" I pretended to be asleep when I heard Devin's voice. Nagtalukbong ako ng kumot and stopped myself from laughing.

"Why are you so noisy?" asik naman ni Ali.

"Oh come on, we've been together for... 11 years, Laurent. Why are you just telling me that, right now?" Devin replied.

"I've been saying that to you for the past 11 years," I can now imagine Ali, rolling his eyes because of Devin.

Hindi ko na sila marinig na nag uusap pagkatapos so I just assumed that they are already in the living room, sitting silently already. Nasa ganoon akong posisyon when Devin suddenly pulled the comforter and started tickling me.

"S... stop!" tumawa ako ng malakas and he was laughing so much too.

"Hala... stop laughing already!" Devin panicked.

"Tss, get out of my way," nakita kong binatukan ni Ali si Devin. Ali pulled me towards him kaya ay napaupo ako galing sa pagkakahiga. "Drink water," he handed me the glass and I drank it. Dahil doon, napatigil ako sa pagtawa.

"So... do you want to come with us?!" Devin excitedly said. Doon ko lang napansin na nakapangbihis pala sila panglabas.

"Huh? Where?" taka kong tanong.

"To the mall! To buy school supplies! Laurent and I, needs a bag as well!" God, he's so hyper. Halos tumalon talon pa siya dun sa may sala. "With Tita Sora!"

"Okay. I'll just tell mommy," tumango sila sa sinabi ko kaya ay inakyat ko si mommy sa room nila ni daddy. I knocked twice before entering the room. "My, can I go with Ali and Devin to the mall?"

"With whom, Maya?" she gently asked me. Nandoon siya sa may desk nakaupo at parang may ginagawa siyang trabaho sa may lamesa.

"With Tita Sora, My. To buy school supplies."

She smiled and nodded. She gestured me to go near her kaya lumapit naman ako sa kaniya. "I will give you money for the supplies that you need. I will also give you extra money in case you want to eat something at the mall. You need to budget that money. Okay, Maya?"

I nodded. Marunong naman ako mag keep ng money and I know to count naman! Mommy and Daddy taught me on how to budget money. "Okay, mommy. Don't you want to go with us?"

Hinawi niya ang buhok na nasa mukha ko and tucked it behind my ear. "No, Maya. I need to do something for work."

"Okay, Mommy. Take care. I love you, My."

"I love you more, Maya. Huwag kang pupunta sa lugar kung saan wala kang kasama okay?" I nodded sa paalaala ni mommy and went out.

Nilagay ko na ang money na binigay ni mommy sa akin inside the wallet that Tita Seanna. I also put the wallet inside the small sling bag that mommy bought me para hindi ko mawala iyong wallet. Nagbihis na ako to this white flowy dress with sunflower designs that Tita Leona gave me for my birthday. Tinatali ang straps nito sa may shoulders and I love it.

Inipit ko na ang mahaba kong buhok so it doesn't get on my way while walking. I love my hair. It was naturally light brown in color, and I got that from dad. My hair also ends on my waist. Sa ibabaw nito ay straight pa but when it reaches the middle, dito na nagsisimula iyong may pagka wavy niya, which I got from mommy.

"I'm ready!" sabi ko sa dalawa na nasa living room. Naabutan ko pa na Devin turned the aircon off at tinutupi ni Ali iyong comforter na ginamit ko kanina and arranged the throw pillows on the couch.

"Your dress is like the combination of my shirt and Laurent's!" Devin pointed out.

I chuckled at napansin ko nga. Ali was also wearing white, and Devin was wearing yellow. Parang ako nga ang combination.

"Let me," Ali crouched down at sinuot sa akin ang doll shoes ko. Sometimes kasi, kapag nasobrahan ako sa pagyuko, natitrigger nito ang narcolepsy ko and it will end up with my face, colliding with the floor at baka mabagok pa ang ulo ko.

"Thank you!"

Sumakay na kami sa sasakyan nina Ali and we were on the backseat. Para kaming mga batang napagalitan ng parents because of how still we were while sitting. Devin saw me applying the chapstick on my lips kaya ay nacurious siya.

"You want?" alok ko sa kaniya. He nodded and got it from me and applied it to himself. Natawa pa ako kasi he was almost pursing his lip while applying.

While he was done, he gave it back to me. Lumingon naman ako kay Ali who was starign outside the window. Kinalabit ko siya and he instantly looked at me. "What? Is something wrong?" he immediately asked.

My brows furrowed and I shook my head. Pinakita ko sa kaniya ang chapstick and he instantly shook his head like he was scared of it. I laughed at his face at mas lalong inilapit sa kaniya ang chapstick.

"Please?" kinisap kisap ko pa ang mata ko para maawa siya. I just want his lips to be hydrated kaya! Though I think he doesn't need it naman because his lips were pink and looks hydrated masyado. How can he do that?

He sighed. "Fine," aagawin niya sana sa akin ang chapstick pero inalayo ko ito. I glared at him, and he stopped moving. Habang nilalagay ko iyon sa labi niya ay he was pursing his lips too like Devin! Gods, are all guys like that? Or si Ali and Devin lang? His cheeks and ears were also turning pink. Natakot siguro siya sa chapstick kaya tinigilan ko na at baka hindi na siya magpaulit pa.

"Are you ready, kids?" tanong ni Tita Sora. We nodded. Especially Devin, na mukhang ngayon pa nakakita ng mall because of his excitement at halos tumakbo na papasok.

We first went to this bookstore. A big bookstore. It was all glass so the first thing you see are the books. When you enter, the small of the books will enter your nostrils. It was comforting actually. Maybe therefore Veronika loves books. Behind all the shelves, nandoon pala ang complete school's supplies.

I don't know naman how many subjects are there kaya ginaya ko nalang si Ali since he's the one who knows. He only got binders, but I don't like binder's kaya I asked him nalang how many subjects are there.

"Seriously?" me and Devin sighed when Ali said he couldn't remember. Sinuklay ko nalang ang buhok ko using my fingers because of frustration and got ten notebooks. Bahala na kung sobra or kulang.

Bumili lang ako ng notebooks, pens, and highlighters. Hindi ko alam kung magagamit ko ba 'yung highlighters sa pagbabasa oh magagamit iyon kakadoodle ko sa notebooks. Either way, I still bought it. We paid for our things na and we went back to the parking para iwanan sa sasakyan ang pinamili namin then we went back inside to buy Ali's school bag.

"Why are you so maarte ba? You can use your bag last school year," Devin rolled his eyes at Ali.

"Can you just leave me alone and find anyone else to annoy?" The latter glared at Devin and turned to me. Tinaas niya ang dalawang bag at pinakita iyon sa akin.

"Hmm, this one. So that we can match," turo ko sa combination ng brown and black bag na bitbit niya. He nodded at nilagay ulit sa shelf ang isa,

"Give me the black na lang! I want that bag," Devin snatched the bag from the shelf and marched his way to the counter.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Ali and we both grinned. Sinundan na namin iyong isa at binayaran na iyon ni Tita Sora ang mga bag nilang dalawa. We ate lunch after that tapos umuwi na din kami because tapos na rin naman naming bilhin iyong mga kailangan namin.

Every passing day, I got more and more anxious. Mas kinakabahan ako mag high school kaysa maexcite. Does everyone feel this way, or ako lang?

The following week, maaga akong ginising nina mommy and daddy because we're going to school para magpa enroll. Kasama namin sina Ali, Devin, Sienna, Rain, Veronika, and their parents' para sabay sabay na kaming magpa enroll. I just wish na magka klase kami nina Devin and Veronika.

"Are you excited, my love?" tanong ni daddy sa akin. Tinignan niya pa ako sa rearview mirror.

"No. I'm scared, dad," pag amin ko sa kaniya. Totoo naman!

He chuckled. "Don't be. High school is fun."

"Really?"

My mother hummed. "Iba yata ang meaning mo ng fun," mom glared at dad who frowned. "'Wag kang gagaya sa daddy mo, anak ha? Dapat very good ka lang."

"Why, my?"

She clicked her tongue. "Your dad used to beat up guys at school. Mukhang mas takot pa ang teachers sa kaniya!"

"Tss. Still, you had the biggest crush on me," dad fired back. Yep, my parents are high school sweethearts.

"Hindi ko naman tinatanggi kasi pogi ka naman! Pero that doesn't ignore the fact that your classmates are scared of you because you might beat them up!"

"Wife, past is past. Let's not talk about that, okay?" I saw dad wiggling his brows on me. I gave him a thumbs up.

When we arrived at school, there were kids my age with their parents too. Sa sobrang takot ko, hindi na ako bumitaw sa kakahawak sa pantalon ni daddy. He smiled at me and urged me to walk. I pursed my lip and went inside the campus na.

It was big. That was my thought about the school. And it was beside our church. Gate lang ang naghahati nito and the school's waiting area and parking.

When we went to the registrar, I saw my friends and their parents na. Binigyan na lang nila kami nung form na kailangan namin ifill up. It was for both parents and the student's para sa mga bago. They asked us for our personal information, our parents or guardians' information, tapos house sketch. Hindi ko alam para saan iyon pero dinrawing ko nalang.

After that, I was officially enrolled. Officially a high school student in a private catholic school.

After the school, we went to a shop where they make uniforms. Kinuha lang nila ang measurement ko and then sila na ang bahala since alam naman nila iyon because of how many years they were making uniforms for the school daw. Bumili na din kami ng bagong school shoes kasi lumaki iyong paa ko kaya hindi ko na magagamit yung isa.

Weeks passed by it was finally our first day of school. Maaga akong ginising ng parents ko. We weren't required to wear a uniform the first one week of classes kaya ay naka baby blue dress lang ako and then shoes. Sa sobrang kaba ko, my hands were shaking, and they were cold.

"Good luck, my love," Daddy kissed my forehead when I was about to get out of the car.

"Good luck, Maya! Kung kinakabahan ka, 'wag," she laughed.

"Mommy you're weird..." I muttered and she just laughed again and hugged me tight.

She suddenly teared up. "Aw, my baby is not really a baby anymore..."

I heard dad sigh. "You're still my baby." Dad said with finality. "Even though you'll be as old as me, you're still my baby."

I pouted. "I will always be your baby," I said. "I'm going na po! My friends are waiting already," tinuro ko ang mga kaibigan ko sa labas na naghihintay na sa akin.

"Take care, my love." Si daddy.

"Magpaka bait ka anak, ha? Alam ko namang mabait ka kasi mana ka sa akin pero anak ka rin kasi ng tatay mo," mommy joked.

I chuckled at lumabas na ng sasakyan. I inhaled a deep breath and exhaled. Tumabi ako kay Ali at tsaka kay Devin. Kami lang tatlo nina Devin and Veronika ang hindi nakauniform sa amin kasi hindi naman sila transferee or new student.

"Ahhh! Good luck sa first day niyo!" rain exclaimed and clasped her hands. Dahil doon, mas lalo lang akong kinabahan.

"Welcome to your first day of high school, Maya." Ali whispered on my ear before we finally went inside the campus.

Welcome to high school indeed.