LET LOVE FIND YOU

Chapter 1: AIKA (ay-kha)

The name Aika is of Japanese origin and means "Love Song" or "Love fire".

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"Urgggh!!! I hate waiting in line! Why don't they just open another window for senior students and those who have other concerns?"

I was complaining to my best friend Rina on the other line. Ang aga aga pa, naiirita na ako!

"s**t! and where the hell is my ID?" Dagdag pa sa inis ko na kanina ko pa hinahalungkat ang bitbit kong Goyard Tote bag to look for my old ID na kanina lang ay hawak hawak ko pa habang ang isang kamay ko ay nakahawak sa cellphone.

Eto talaga ang nakakainis pag malaki ang bag. Struggle ang paghahanap ng mga kailangan mo. Grrrr!!!

"Girl, you have no one to blame but yourself. Why ba naman kasi ngayon ka lang magpapa-validate ng ID mo? You should have done it when we enrolled last week. And teka, how did you pass the main entrance for the last 3 days, eh di pa pala validated yang ID mo?" Rina was probably raising her brow and smirking at her phone as she talked to me.

My name is Aika Hirano, 3/4 Japanese and 1/3 Filipino, given that my mom Miyo was also half-breed. I was born in Japan but I was raised and educated here in the Philippines. My father Akiro Hirano is a successful businessman and trader while my mom Miyo owns a chain of pawnshops and luxury shops in Japan. I have an older brother Kenji, who also lives in Japan now, and he helps our Papa sa pagma-manage ng business. I have a younger brother Hiroki, whose a sophomore at the same university that I am into, South Ford University.

I got my petite build from my mom Miyo, while I got my stunning looks (sabi nila) from the good combination of my Otou-san (father) na pure Japanese and my Okaa-san' (mother) na half Pinay while my happy disposition and charm was attributed to being so loved by the people around me at home.

I grew up in a well-off family, wherein halos lahat ng gusto namin ng mga kapatid ko ay napo-provide ng parents namin. I have my own nanny in my younger years, I got my first car when I was in high school (I wasn't allowed to drive then though I already knew how, so I have my own driver), and got my own debit card when I graduated from high school and got my own plush condo unit when I went to university. When Hiroki went to college, he shared the condo with me.

My best friend Rina Rodriguez hailed from the sugar capital of the Philippines, Negros Occidental where their family owns acres and acres of sugarcane fields. They belong to the old rich family in Negros where she was born, but like me, she also grew up and was educated in Manila.

Rina and I have been friends since grade school, along with the two other girls, Sophie San Mateo, the heiress of St. Matthew Development, and Miel Inigo, the only daughter of the Inigo Hotels tsar.

We all came from an exclusive all-girls school and up until we went to college, di na kami naghiwalay pa, except na lang sa kursong kinuha namin. I am now in my 4th year, taking Interior Design together with Sophie, while Rina is taking up Business Administration and Miel, Mass Communication.

"It wasn't really a problem naman talaga sana. Kuya Guard had allowed me for the three past days. But the student council officers are just so ma-epal. Daig pa natin ang high school na ini-inspect ang ID! Grrrr... Who the hell is the president ba? I want to air my complaint!" I couldn’t help my annoyance when I remembered how those officers stopped me from getting in.

"That I don't know. As if we care kung sino man ang mga yun. We didn't vote last year, remember?" Rina reminded her. "We were in Palawan during the election so how would we know kung sino ang mga officers natin? " natatawang sagot ng best friend ko.

I wasn't really paying attention sa sinabi ni Rina and I sighed in frustration nang hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa mahanap hanap ang ID ko. Kailangan ko yatang ilabas lahat ng mga gamit ko sa bag para lang makita ang letseng ID na yan. Nakakawala ng poise! Dagdag pa sa inis ko ang napahabang pila papunta sa window for ID validation!

"Are you still there at the Registrar's Window? I'm at the parking right now. Pupuntahan na kita dyan." She said. I felt relieved. Kanina pa ako anxious.

"Yes, please. Naiinis na ako dito. I'm surrounded by freshmen and my patience is just reaching its limit. Please hurry up."

“Sureness, Luv. Relax ka dyan. I will be there right away. Stay away from trouble, kilala kita. Gotta go!"

I was still rummaging my big tote bag looking for my ID when I heard the voice of one of the student council officers. I knew those guys were officers because they were wearing that stupid shirt that bears their department's color na may school logo sa harap at may naka print sa likod na "OFFICER". Hindi naman stupid na stupid, kaya lang, parang pinagsisigawan nila na officer sila sa laki ng mga letra sa likod ng t-shirt!

"Please stay on this side para hindi po mag cause ng traffic sa mga dadaan." sabi ng isa.

I didn't really mean to ignore their call, pero kasi may hinahanap pa ako sa bag ko. If I move a step or so, malamang malalaglag na ang mga laman nito at ang hawak kong phone.

"I hope you heard the order. Please stay on that side para di kayo nakakaharang sa daan at makakadaan din ang ibang students." a female officer said. "You're blocking the corridor."

I turned my attention sa boses na narinig ko, not sure kung ako ba ang sinasabihan nito or what, but I saw her looking at me.

Ok, so ako nga.

It was Natalie Verano, yung representative ng Mass Com Department na 'Miss-Know-It-All". We used to go to the same school when we were in high school, but we weren’t close. When we were in the third year, lumipat sya sa ibang school sa kadahilanan na di ko alam at wala naman akong pakialam.

I unconsciously rolled my eyes, which by the way, was already a mannerism and my habit, and raised one of my brows. “Are you talking to me?”

“Meron pa bang iba na nakaharang sa daan?” She said.

“Duh, as if kasalanan ko ano? Why don’t you open another window to cater other students' level and other concerns, eh di sana di hahaba ang linya, di ba?"

I said it in a sarcastic way at nakita ko ang inis sa mukha ni Natalie. Hindi sya pwedeng magmaldita sa harap ng ibang students. She is an officer.

Natalie smirked at me. "At kung sana pina validate mo na yang ID mo before, eh di sana di ka na pumipila dyan. Ibang bagay kasi ang inuuna.” She murmured.

I was waiting for her to say it loud when; ”Aika, hi!" It was Robert Villo, ang isa sa mga officers pero at that time, hindi ko maalala ang name nya.

That is one of my problems, hirap ako sa pag remember ng mga names ng tao, specifically those names of people I have met just once or twice. Those so-called Acquaintances.

My memory is so flawed, and I even sometimes think I have a medical condition, anomic aphasia or dysnomia, and for decades it has been the bane of my life, charging every social situation with an electric fence of anxiety because I am bad with names.

I raised one of my brows again kasi di ko matandaan kung kilala ko ba ang lalaking to or not. I knew he was an officer too dahil nakasuot din ito ng t-shirt na uniform nila and probably a representative of "God knows what" department. Kulay orange. Ano bang department ang kulay orange?

That guy gave me and Natalie a strange look and I could sense na ramdam niya na may namumuong tension between me and Natalie. But he ignored Natalie’s snobbish looks and his attention then focused on me. "Uhm...Why are you in a queue? Magpapa-validate ka rin ba ng ID mo?” he asked.

“Yes sana.” I said sheepishly. It is my way to charm people and if this guy could help me skip the line, then so be it.

“Give it to me, ako na bahala. Papasok ako dun sa loob." he offered.

Just then, Rina also arrived in time and she was still panting when she reached us. "Excuse me but no need," Rina said and she probably heard the guy’s offer. Then she turned to me. "Girl, why are you still here? Let's go to Uncle Ted at sya na bahala dyan sa ID mo. I called him already." She said, gently tugging my wrist.

I raised my brows again to Natalie and turned, giving the guy who offered to help, my signature sweet smile. "Oh thank you for the kind offer. You are?” I asked the guy.

“Robert. I am Robert Villo of CAS Department.”

“I will let you know next time I will need your help, Robert. Thank you for the offer." I touched his arms as a kind gesture before we turned our backs and left the guy dumbfounded.

Then Rina and I entered the Student Affairs Adviser’s office.

"Good morning Uncle! Mommy asked me to give you these." Masayang bati ni Rina sa Head Adviser ng Student Affairs na si Teddy Rios at nakakabatang kapatid ng mommy ni Rina.

"Good morning, Tito Teddy." I also greeted him.

“A very good morning indeed sa akin kung ganyan ba naman kagaganda ang unang bisita ko dito." He opened the box of cookies na inabot ni Rina sa kanya. "Hmmmm... I miss Ate Bec's cookies. Sabihin mo kay Ate damihan naman niya next time. Pag-aagawan naman to ng mga bata." Natutuwang sambit ni Tito Teddy sa amin.

"Sure, Uncle! And uhm, by the way, can you help Aika sa pagpapa-validate ng ID niya Uncle? " Rina asked sweetly.

"Yes, please Tito. It was actually my fault din kasi I thought, if I will delay it, mas luluwag ang pila but I didn't know na schedule din pala ng freshmen today. We have class in an hour at nasita na ako kanina ng Student Council officers sa gate. Please..." I said

"Sus, yun lang pala." Sagot ni Mr. Rios at tinawag nya ang isang student assistant para utusang magpa-validate ng ID ko.

"And another thing Uncle," Rina added.

“Hmmm, ano na naman yan? Don’t ask me na pagtatakpan kita sa mga gala mo ha. Hindi pwede yun. Naku kung di lang ikaw ang favorite kung pamangkin, naku!" natatawang sagot ni Mr. Rios.

"I know right? and you are Mommy's favorite too." Rina turned to me. "Sabihin mo na girl." Rina urged me.

"What?" I asked back. Am I lost or what at ngayon ko lang di na gets ang ibig sabihin ng best friend ko?

"Duh, yung kanina… about the window stuff and all?" Rina reminded me.

Naalala ko na. Yung about pala sa kinaiinisan ko kanina.

“Ah, yes, Tito. Suggestion lang naman sana yung akin. Maybe it is possible to open another window for different concerns ng students. Kasi, there was only one window for all our concerns kaya ang haba na po ng pila dun." I said politely.

"It is actually a real nuisance, Uncle. It is not that I'm discriminating those in lower years ha, but they are so maingay na." Dagdag ni Rina.

"And it's really crowding the registrar's office, Tito,” I added. “Specifically, yung hallway. Andun na sila nagkukumpol kumpulan.”

"Oh, I am not aware of that. Wait, sabi nyo isang oras pa naman bago magsi-start ang class ninyo, di ba? I will ask the President of the Student Council to come here para ma-e address nyo ang concerns ninyo directly to him. I wasn't aware of that and it is a good thing that you informed me. We should try to do something to lessen the burden on the students.”

Then, Mr. Rios called another student assistant. "Please tell President Torres to come to my office right now. I believe he is at the SC office at this time.”

“Yes, Sir Rios.”

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