Chasing Light (Intersex)

Chapter 6

Kabanata 6

Nagising ako ng maaga, dahil ngayon ang unang araw ng klase. Parang ang laki ng university, at hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. Buti na lang may mapa ako. I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me as I realized I had no idea where to go. Thankfully, I had a map clutched in my hand, a lifeline in this unfamiliar territory.

Tumayo ako at nagtungo sa banyo. Kailangan kong maligo at mag-ayos. Nang makapasok ako sa banyo, naalala kong wala akong dalang towel. Mabuti na lang may nakita akong dalawang malinis na tuwalya sa isang drawer.

Nagsimula akong maligo. Ang init ng tubig ay nakakarelaks. Para bang nawawala ang lahat ng kaba at pag-aalala ko. When I stepped out, I slipped into a simple outfit: an oversized black t-shirt with a "A carton" print, my favorite ripped jeans, and my Doc Martens galing pa raw abroad, a gift from a close friend. I topped it off with a red cap, unsure if I was going to a concert or a class.

Lumabas ako ng apartment at naghintay ng taxi. Biglang may humintong taxi sa harap ko.

"Saan po kayo, Ma'am?" tanong ng driver.

Sinabi ko sakanya kung saan ako pupunta at pinapasok niya naman agad ako. Binuksan ko ang pinto sa backseat at naupo.

Tumingin ako sa labas ng bintana. Ang mga gusali, ang mga tao, ang mga sasakyan... Lahat ay bago sa akin. The city whizzed past, a blur of neon signs, honking cars, and bustling crowds. I felt a sense of excitement mixed with a touch of fear. This was a whole new world for me.

Maya-maya pa, huminto na ang taxi sa harap ng university.

"Salamat po," sabi ko rito sabay nagbayad na at bumaba ng taxi.

Tumingin ako sa malaking gate ng university. Ang dami ring estudyante na naglalakad papasok. The campus was a sprawling green oasis in the middle of the city. Students were everywhere, laughing, talking, and rushing to their classes. I felt a sense of belonging, a feeling that I was finally where I was supposed to be.

Lumapit ako sa guard na nakabantay sa gate.

"Magandang umaga po," bati ko sa kanya.

"Ikaw ulit ma'am! Magandang umaga rin, Ma'am," sagot niya.

Kinuha ko ang aking schedule sa aking bag at tinignan ito. Ang unang klase ko ay sa Basic Algebra at kapag sinuswerte kanga naman math pa ang unang subject ko. "Math on the first day? Great," I muttered to myself, a bit of a groan escaping my lips.

Naglakad na ako papunta sa building ng aking unang klase gamit ang mapang hawak.

"Sana mamaya ay may free time ako," sabi ko sa isip ko. "First day palang naman. Balak kong maglibot sa campus para hindi ako ewan na laging may hawak na mapa."

Nang makarating ako sa classroom, nakita kong medyo konti pa lang ang mga nandito. Pumunta ako sa pinakadulong upuan at umupo.

Habang naghihintay, naisip ko ang aking mga finances. Wala na paubos na pala ang pera ko. Kailangan kong maghanap ng trabaho mamaya. "One week in, and my wallet's already empty," I sighed. "The cost of living is crazy. Maybe I should just die? Just kidding!"

Bigla kong narinig ang tunog ng takong na papalapit. Tumingin ako sa harap at nakita ko ang isang babae na naglalakad papasok. Siya ʼyong babae na tinulungan ko last time na ubod ng sama ang ugali. Ano ginagawa niya at talagang nagsulat pa siya sa board? Pagdumating professor namin ewan ko nalang.

May hawak pa siyang mga papel at nagsusulat siya sa board.

"Yuna C. Kim" ang nakasulat sa board.

"Siya pala professor namin? I whispered, feeling a flush of embarrassment. Akala ko estudyante rin. Pahiya ako ro'n bigla.

Narinig kong nagbubulungan ang ibang kaklase ko. "Ang ganda at sexy" sabi ng isa. "Jojowain pre," sagot ng naman ng isa pa.

Ang maingay na bulungan ay nagpatuloy, kaya't bigla akong napatingin sa harap.

"Quiet!" ang malamig na utos ng babae na nakatayo sa harap. Ang kanyang boses ay parang yelo, at agad na huminto ang ingay sa klase.

"I am Yuna C. Kim, your instructor for Basic Algebra. Whether you like it or not, we'll be together for the entire semester. You don't have a choice and please Call me Miss Kim, Understood?"

Her eyes, dark and piercing, scanned the room. There was no emotion on her face, just a cold, intimidating stare. Her presence seemed to chill the air, and the students sat in silence, their eyes fixed on her.

"Are we clear?" she repeated, her voice low and steady.

"Yes, Miss Kim" sabay sabay na sabi nila habang ako ay tumango lang.

Miss Kim then proceeded to lay down her rules for the class. "Now, before we begin," she said, her voice still as cold as ice, "I want each of you to introduce yourselves."

Her gaze landed on me, and she said, "Let's start from the back."

Diba dapat sa una magsisimula at hindi sa dulo.

"You, introduce yourself." sabi nito. Bigla naman akong siniko ng katabi ko.

"Hoy, introduce your self daw," bulong niya, at agad akong tumayo.

I took a deep breath and tried to smile.

"Hello, everyone. I'm, Jaycee Smith and, 19 years old." pagpapakilala ko at uupo na sana ng tanungin ako nito.

"You look familiar," Miss Kim said, her gaze still fixed on me. "Do you have siblings or a twin? Even your surname is familiar."

"None, Miss Kim," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

Miss Kim's gaze shifted to me, and her eyes seemed to bore into my soul. I felt a shiver run down my spine. "Why does my surname sound familiar to her?" I thought. "Did I meet her before? Maybe it's just a coincidence."

She simply nodded, her expression unchanged. "Okay," she said, her voice as cold as ever. "Next."

The girl sitting next to me, with bright pink hair and a nose ring, stood up. "Hi, everyone, I'm Melissa Chiyo, but you can call me Mel," she said, her voice confident and a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "She's a walking rainbow," I thought, "her bright pink hair contrasting with her black leather jacket and ripped jeans. Her nose ring glinted in the sunlight, and a mischievous smile played on her lips."

I raised an eyebrow. This class was getting interesting. I didn't notice na siya pala yong babae na nanglibre sa akin at naghatid sa terminal. Ibang iba kasi ang itsura ngayon kumpara no'ng nakita ko siya.

"So, yeah," Mel continued, as if Miss Kim's reaction was nothing unusual. "I like to draw and paint. I'm also a bit of a fashionista. I design my own clothes."

I couldn't help but smile. This girl had a certain confidence about her. "Fashionista? That's an interesting word," I thought. "I wonder if she's good at it. She seems pretty confident, though."

The introductions continued, each student taking their turn, sharing their names and maybe a brief hobby or two. I found myself listening intently, trying to pick up any clues about their personalities, their hopes, their fears.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the introductions were over.

Miss Kim turned to the board and wrote "Basic Algebra" in bold, white chalk. "Today, we're going to start with the basics of linear equations."

"Si ate talaga kahit kailan walang patawad, first day na first day lesson agad," I heard Mel whisper. Miss Kim heard her, of course.

Miss Kim's gaze snapped to her. "Are you questioning my curriculum, Ms. Chiyo?"

Mel's face flushed a little. "No, Ate, I mean Miss Kim," she said, a nervous laugh escaping her lips.

Miss Kim's gaze then shifted to the board. "As I was saying," she said, her voice regaining its icy tone, "we'll be starting with linear equations."

She began to explain the concept, her voice clear and precise. She used simple examples, drawing diagrams on the board to illustrate her points.

I found myself understanding the concepts easily. It was like she was speaking directly to my brain.

"Magaling pala siyang magturo," I whispered. "Maybe I was wrong about her, or maybe I'm just really smart."

Mel laughed. "Siguro pareho," she replied.

"Pero aminin, nakakatakot siya sa klase," I said.

"Ganyan talaga ʼyan si ate, sanay na kami sakanya," Mel said.

"Ate ka riyan, kapatid mo ba siya? Hindi naman kayo magka apelido," I said.

"Pinsan ko kasi siya," Mel replied, her voice bored. "She's like a queen, ruling over her little kingdom of students. I wonder if she's even capable of smiling."

Before I could respond, Miss Kim said, "Class dismissed."

I was stunned. Pinsan? I couldn't imagine Miss Kim having a bubbly, outgoing cousin like Mel. They were complete opposites.

"Tara, lunch tayo, my treat?" Mel asked with a smile, her bright pink hair bouncing slightly as she tilted her head.

"Sure," I said, not wanting to turn down a free meal. I looked around for Miss Kim, but she was gone.

"Great!" Mel said, grabbing her bag. "Alam mo, may masarap na karinderya malapit dito," Mel said. "Ang sarap ng kare-kare at sinigang nila!"

We walked a few blocks and found the karinderya. The air was filled with the aroma of sizzling garlic and ginger, and the sounds of laughter and chatter. We found a table and Mel called out to the woman behind the counter.

"Manang, dalawang sinigang po, isang order ng kanin," Mel said. "At dalawang baso ng iced tea."

"Sige, hija," the woman said, smiling. "Sandali lang po."

"Ang yaman mo pero mas gusto mo rito kumain," I asked her, curious why she chose this place out of all the restaurants in the area.

"Masarap kasi ang pagkain dito, and you get a lot of food for your money," Mel replied.

"Ang sabihin mo kuripot ka lang!" I teased.

"Oo na, kuripot na kung kuripot," Mel said, laughing. "I'm saving money because I'm grounded. My dad took my card."

"Pasaway ka siguro, buti nga sayo," I said.

"Ah gano'n! I won't treat you nalang pala," Mel said playfully.

"Ano ka ba, I was just kidding," I said, laughing.

A few minutes later, our order arrived. The sinigang bowl steamed, sending up a fragrant cloud of sour and savory smells that made my mouth water. I took a spoonful of the broth, letting the warmth spread through my hands. The tender chunks of pork and fresh vegetables added to the comforting flavor, making me feel a little bit more at home.

"Okay, I'm officially hungry," Mel said, grabbing a spoon.

I took a spoonful of the sinigang and savored the sour and savory flavors. "Wow, this is really good," I said. "I think I'm going to be a regular here."

Mel smiled. "I told you," she said. "The sinigang here is the best."

As we enjoyed our meal, I noticed a familiar figure in the distance. "Diba si ma'am 'yon?" I asked Mel, pointing towards a woman walking with a man. "She's with a guy. I think he's holding her arm."

Mel squinted her eyes, trying to get a better look. "Hmm, yeah, I think you're right," she said. "Actually, I think that's her boyfriend. I heard that she has a boyfriend, but I've never met him, though."

"Wow," I said, surprised. "I never would have guessed. She seems so strict in class."

"Yeah, she's got this whole 'no-nonsense' vibe," Mel said, chuckling. "But I guess everyone has a different side to them."

"I guess so," I said, taking another bite of my sinigang. "I wonder what he's like."

"Actually, I've heard that she's not really happy with him," Mel said. "He's kind of a playboy and cheater, you know, but she just can't seem to leave him. Honestly, I've heard that she's not really in love with him. If it weren't for their parents being business partners, I'm sure she would have left him by now. She's such a good daughter and granddaughter, she hates disappointing anyone, so she's trying her best to be perfect. It's hard to watch her go through this."

I nodded, feeling a sense of sympathy for Miss Kim. It was hard to imagine the strict and composed teacher dealing with such a difficult situation.

"I guess she needs to find someone who appreciates her," I said. "Someone who will treat her right."

Mel nodded in agreement. "Maybe we can help her," she said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She then pretended to pull out a gun from her pocket, pointing it playfully at the air.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of him. I've got my secret weapon."

I burst out laughing, knowing Mel was just joking. "You're going to shoot him with a toy gun? That's not going to work!"

Mel grinned, putting the imaginary gun back in her pocket. "Okay, okay, maybe not that. But I'm sure we can come up with a plan. We'll be ate's secret weapons, no matter what!"

We both laughed, the tension of the conversation dissipating. It was good to have a friend like Mel, someone who could make you laugh even in the midst of a serious situation.

We finished our meal and made our way to our next class.

Our next class was Introduction to Literature, a subject I was actually looking forward to. I'd always loved reading, and I was excited to learn more about different literary styles and movements.

As we entered the classroom, I noticed a group of students gathered around a table, chatting and laughing.

Pagpasok ko sa classroom, pumwesto ako sa likod, sa usual kong spot. Biglang pumasok si miss Addison the girl I encounter last time. Siya siguro ang Professor namin ngayon, nasabi nito sa akin na magiging professor ko siya.

She was smiling and seemed to be talking to a group of students. She looked so different from the girl I met. Her hair was now styled in a sleek ponytail, and she was wearing a simple white blouse and black pants.

"Good morning, class!" she said, her voice warm and welcoming. "I'm Professor Addison Rae Ferrer, and I'll be your instructor for Introduction to Literature. I'm excited to get to know you all!"

"Now, before we begin, I want to know what your favorite books are. I want each of you to introduce yourselves. Tell us your name, a little bit about yourselves, and your favorite book."

Then, you can have the students introduce themselves one by one.

Each student shared their favorite books. Some mentioned classic novels, like "Pride and Prejudice" or "To Kill a Mockingbird," while others talked about more modern reads, like "The Hunger Games" or "The Fault in Our Stars." I was enjoying their stories, and it inspired me to read more books.

Nang ako na ang susunod, inisip ko ang mga aklat na nagmarka sa akin.

"Hi, I'm Jaycee. One of my favorite books is 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. I like it because of the themes of justice and equality. It helped me see the world from a different perspective."

"Good choice, Jaycee!" Professor Addison said. "That book is full of important lessons. Thank you for sharing!"

After the introductions, Professor Addison continued to explain the expectations for the class and the topics that would be covered throughout the semester. It seemed like it would be a fun and engaging class.

A few minutes later, while I was chatting with Mel, I noticed that Professor Addison had stopped teaching and was looking out the window. She had received a call on her cellphone, and her face seemed to be filled with worry.

"Excuse me, class," she said. "It seems I have an emergency to attend to. Please study the materials I'll provide, and I'll get them to you at our next meeting." She then quickly left the room.

"Wow, parang ang daming nangyayari sa araw na ito," Mel said as we packed up our things. "Sana okay lang siya."

"Oo nga, mukhang may mabigat na dinadala," I replied. "Pero sa tingin ko, magiging masaya rin ang klase na ito."

As we walked out of the classroom, I told Mel that I would head home first. But before I could leave, Mel stopped

"Teka lang, Jaycee," Mel said. "May cellphone ka ba? Para ma-contact natin ang isa't isa. Gusto ko ng kasama kapag gagala ako, di ba? Friends na tayo diba?"

I scratched my head. "Wala eh," I replied. "Hindi pa ako nakakabili ng phone."

"Ha? Hindi pwede 'yan!" Mel said. "Paano tayo makakapag-usap kung wala kang phone? Bibilhan kita ng phone! Hindi pwedeng wala tayong contact."

I laughed. "Ang bait mo naman, Mel. Pero okay lang, pwede naman tayo magkita sa school."

"Hindi, hindi. Kailangan mo ng phone," Mel said."Para anytime, pwede tayong mag-chat, mag-usap, mag-share at may kasama akong gumala."

"Sige na nga," I said. "Pero paano mo ako bibilhan ng phone? Wala akong pera."

"Huwag kang mag-alala. May pera ako," Mel said. "At saka, para sa kaibigan, wala 'yan sa pera. Basta, promise me na bibili ka ng phone."

I smiled. "Sige na nga, Mel. Thank you!"

"Saan ka pala niyan uuwi?" Mel asked.

"Sa apartment ko, nag rent ako ng apartment," I replied.

"Saan banda ʼyang apartment mo?" she asked.

"Sa Green Residences, malapit sa Drugstores, alam mo?" I asked.

"Hindi ko alam, ihahatid kita ro'n para alam ko naman kung saan ka nakatira o kung maayos ka ba ro'n," Mel said. "I want to make sure you're safe."

"Mel, umamin ka nga, may gusto ka ba sa'kin? Well I know na pogi ako," I said, trying to tease her.

"Eww, no way! Mandiri ka nga," she said, pushing me playfully. "Gusto ko lang makilala ka. I'm just being a good friend."

"Oo na, binibiro ka lang," I said.

"Okay, tara na," Mel said. "Ihahatid na kita sa apartment mo."

We walked to the parking lot, where her car was parked. It was a sleek black sedan, looking brand new. I remembered she had a silver car the last time I saw her.

"Mel, bagong kotse mo ba ito?" I asked.

"Yup, ʼyong isang kotse ko pinapaayos ko pa. Lasing kasi ako no'ng nag drive ako, ayon, nabangga. Kaya nga grounded ako," she explained, her voice filled with a mixture of regret and amusement.

"Ha?" I said. "Grabe ka naman, Mel. Lasing ka ba talaga?"

"Oo," Mel said, laughing. "Pero okay lang 'yon. Wala namang nasaktan. Maliban sa kotse ko, siyempre. Pero okay lang, may insurance naman."

"Pero nakaka-takot naman 'yon," I said. "Baka next time, wag ka nang mag-drive kung lasing ka."

"Oo na," Mel said. "Pero ang sarap kasi mag-drive pag lasing. Para kang lumilipad. Tapos, nakakatuwa yung mga tao sa daan, parang nag-slow motion. Parang nasa movie ka!"

"Hindi naman ako sigurado kung gusto kong lumipad pag lasing," I said. "Pero okay lang. Mabuti na lang okay ka. At least, hindi ka na-grounded ng matagal."

"Oo nga eh," Mel said. "Pero ang hirap pala mag-grounded. Wala akong magawa kundi mag-aral. Ang boring!"

Mel drove us to Green Residences. As we drove, we talked about our classes, our plans for the day, and our favorite foods. The city lights twinkled outside the windows, casting a warm glow on the bustling streets.

When we arrived at Green Residences, I thanked Mel.

"Salamat sa paghatid," I said. "At salamat rin sa libreng lunch."

"Walang anuman," Mel said. "Una na ako, at may family dinner pa kami."

"Sige, ingat ka," I said.

As Mel drove away, I watched her car disappear into the night. I felt a sense of gratitude for her kindness and a growing excitement for the adventures that awaited me in this new chapter of my life. Would I find my place in this bustling city? Would I make new friends and discover my passions? Or would I just be another lost soul in the crowd?

I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of anticipation and trepidation. It was time to start my new life. And I was ready for whatever came my way.