Dreams and Wonders

Chapter 8

[Sydney Paralejo's POV]

Luckily, we did not introduce ourselves during the second subject. Instead, orientation lamang ang ginawa ng aming guro buong session, the same as with our third subject.

"Good morning, class! Welcome! This subject is called Personal Development," said our teacher.

Inayos niya ang kanyang mga gamit sa kanyang mesa habang nagsasalita, "I assume you already know each other since third period niyo naman itong Personal Development?" tanong niya.

"Opo, sir," sagot naman ng mga kaklase ko.

Tumango naman ang guro namin saka nagsalita, "Okay. Ako na lang magpapakilala sa sarili ko. My name is Alan Dave Deocampo and you can call me Sir Alan or Sir Dave for short."

Once again, I can hear murmurs just right behind me and I was ready to throw hands when I heard them talking about someone else and not me. Instead, they were giggling after talking about our teacher in the front.

"Huy, Angel. Gwapo ni sir, no? Tapos feeling ko bata pa siya like parang fresh graduate gano'n," bulong ng isang babae na hindi naman parang bulong kasi naririnig ko at alam ko naririnig rin ng mga katabi ko.

"Oo nga, Kelsey. Kanina pa nga ako nakatutok sa kanya tapos paminsan minsan ay nagtatama ang mga paningin namin kaya yuyuko kaagad ako para kunwari nahihiya ako," sagot naman ni Angel.

Para akong nahilo sa mga sinabi ng babae sa likod ko. I felt relieved that they weren't talking about me but I think it's better to not listen to what they were talking about because I feel like throwing up.

"Luh? Para-paraan ka rin eh, no? Paunahan na lang tayo mapansin ni sir," hinamon naman ni Kelsey si Angel.

"Game. Huwag ka maiinggit kapag ako pinansin ha? Ikaw ang unang nanghamon sa akin," sagot naman ni Angel pabalik.

"As if naman papansinin ka niya. Duh," sambit naman ni Angel.

Biglang nagkaroon ng tensyon sa kanilang dalawa at napahawak na lamang ako sa noo ko nang bigla silang nagbangayan para sa atensyon ni sir. Nag-uunahan silang magtaas ng kamay para kunwari may itatanong tapos paunahan lang naman pala kung sino unang tawagin ni sir.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako at hindi na pinansin ang pinagsasasabi nila.

"Orientation muna tayo ngayong araw na 'to sa subject natin ha? Para maka-relax naman kayo sa first day of class niyo," sabi naman ni sir Dave.

"Salamat po, sir! Sana hanggang last quarter ay orientation pa rin," biro ng isa naming kaklase.

He chuckled in response, "Kayo talaga, ha. Ngayong araw lang ang orientation kaya simulan na natin para hindi maubos ang oras," pagpapatuloy niya, "So basically, in this subject, Personal Development, we will talk about yourselves. Your personality, interests, dislikes, and each of your attitudes towards certain things."

Personal Development? The subject title itself most likely pertains to each of our development as individuals, as sons or daughters, as students, as citizens, and as rational human beings. If I were to reflect on my past character development, I am proud to say that I have gone through hardships, and because of that, I was able to impose my own principles which I believe is the greatest character development I had. Although, I still have fragments of my personality and attitude that I still have to work on and that's okay.

At least, as an individual, I am able to learn to respect those people who respect me as an individual as well. I know how to reflect on my actions and to see whether I was at fault or night because we aren't perfect. We make mistakes and what we should do is learn from those mistakes and never do them again.

As a daughter, I am able to be of help to my mother in times of trouble, in times of need, o kung kailangan niya ng masasandalan. Since we only have each other, I have to do my part as well. Nagkaroon ako ng summer jobs para may makain kami at makaahon kami para sa susunod na araw.

As a student, I can say that I have proved not only to myself but also to my classmates back then how hardworking and smart I am. I don't boast of my achievements unless people make my blood boil. I study hard to maintain good grades since I aspire to be a scholar someday para naman makaiwas kami sa bayarin sa tuition the moment I enter college. Iyon ang pinakamalaking tulong na maibibigay ko kay Mama habang ngayon ay estudyante pa lamang ako.

As a citizen, I also practice my right to vote for those who I think are the best leaders who will soon lead our country. Every vote counts and I will not waste my vote on someone who is incompetent in managing the country for quite a few years. Because in reality, our government's justice system is anti-poor. Lucky are the rich for they can pay off their way out of jail but being among the poor is just unfortunate. The rich became richer and the poor only became poorer and so I want to vote for someone who can turn the tables around and establish a righteous justice system.

As a rational being, I uphold honesty and integrity in everything I do because I believe that karma is only around the corner. If I will do something bad, I am sure that most likely what I did will happen back to me. And considering my and my mother's situation at the moment, I most definitely do not want any inconveniences to enter into our lives. Our lives are already hard so it's the least I could do. I also think a thousand times in decision-making since I do not want to be impulsive, especially in money. Even if I only get a small amount of money, I still learned how to spend it wisely, not buy things for short-term use, and prioritize needs rather than wants.

All of which are the things that I am currently proud of. Hopefully, in this subject, I get to learn more things about myself such as my own interests, dislikes, and my passion in life.

Lumipas pa ang ilang mga minuto at nag-discuss lamang si sir ng mga topics an aming tatalakayin. Medyo ginaganahan ako sa subject na ito dahil marami akong bala about life experiences kaya pwedeng pwede kong gamitin iyon sa mga essays.

Tumunog na ang bell ng aming eskelahan, senyales na oras na para sa lunch break.

Pinutol naman ni sir ang kanyang pag-di-discuss at saka nagpaalam na, "Okay, class. See you again tomorrow and enjoy your lunch break."

"Salamat po, sir. Ikaw rin po," sambit naming lahat habang nag-aayos ng gamit at bag.

Lunchtime came and we all went outside our classroom to go to the canteen.

Habang sabay-sabay silang naglakad papunta sa canteen, nagpahuli ako since I don't want to walk beside them. Nagsilabasan na rin ang mga students na taga ibang section sa kabilang mga room. They were all smiling while walking alongside each other while shaking hands. Hindi ko na sila binigyan pa ng pansin at patuloy na naglakad patungo sa canteen.

Nang makarating ako doon, I bought a cup of rice worth 10 pesos and a single serve of pansit which is worth 20 pesos. I also carried a water bottle with me so that I won't have to buy it at the canteen anymore. All in all, my lunch only costs me 30 pesos and this has been my usual lunch since then. Sometimes, when they run out of pansit, I would go for bean soup or munggo since it's good to have vegetables for lunch.

After buying those, I made my way out of the canteen at naglakad patungo sa harap ng hallway. It's not that far from the canteen, probably only a hundred steps away or so since doon ako palagi kumakain. I made my way to my usual spot at pagkakita ko sa puno na kung saan doon ako always kumakain during lunch, napangiti ako nang makitang walang tao sa paligid nito. I sat down under the shade of the tree at sinalubong naman ako ng sariwang hangin. I closed my eyes for a moment as I let the wind tough my face. It's good to be back at this spot. Just me, this tree, and the wind.

Habang kumakain ay napatutok ako sa kawalan. It's the first day of class and it was almost ruined by that girl. I can sense that this is just the first of their pranks on me and I have to be prepared at all times. Dapat habang nag-iisip pa lamang sila ng mga gagawin nila sa akin ay dapat alam ko na ang mga ito. I have to pretend that I do not know, of course, so that I can catch them off-guard.

So much for all that thinking, tinapos ko na ang aking lunch at inubos ang tubig sa aking water bottle. Sinigurado ko na walang kanin na natira because my mother would always remind me to finish everything in the plate. Since nakalagay sa aking schedule na after lunch ay vacant time namin, I still have time para bisitahin ang matagal ko nang gustong puntahan, ang library. Tumayo na ako at itinapon ang aking basura sa tamang lalagyan. Pinagpagan ko ang aking palda because of the dirt at nagsimula nang maglakad.

I made my way to the library. It's been like this since junior high school every lunchtime. Ang tahimik dahil halos lahat ay nasa canteen kapag lunchtime. As for me, I prefer not to eat at the tables in the canteen since I don't want to deal with drama because for sure someone will make fun of me again and I don't want to deal with any of that nonsense. Lalo na ngayon ay ayaw kong makita ang aking mga kaklase, most especially that new girl. Ang hindi ko lamang maintidihan ay hindi naman kami magkakilala. She transferred here only this school year so why does she act like she knows everything about me? That's just plain weird and suspicious.