K-12 War Series #1: Academic Season

Chapter 1: SHS Outbreak

In the back of my head, I also chanted his phrase and added a cuss in the last part.

"Why are you insisting that strand?" Biglang gumalaw ang dila ko nang hindi ko inaasahan. It sounded argumentative opposing to the subject. Hindi ko ugali ang makipag-debate sa kaniya.

My father sensed it.

"I thought you were aiming high this time. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) strand has a lot of offers and opportunities when you go to college."

Pangmatalino lang ang STEM and I only have surface level of knowledge. Puro math lang sa strand na iyon, samantalang bobo lang ako.

"And besides, it is more convenient and safe for you to be among the top."

Nanlumo ako sa sinabi niya. This is his usual phrase when he's presuming that I am not interested in honorable achievements which I really do not still comprehend what it meant. Not stepping on the top place is a sin for his ideology. He consistently injected me to this kind of mindset that I should reach high places among others. Elementary pa lang ako ito na ang patakaran niya sa akin. Delikado raw kapag hindi ako naging top sa klase. My shoulders always flinching when I remembered his phrase every time. Ewan ko kay Papa. Ang weird niya.

"You got that?!" Paglilinaw niya. I was startled at his bark while I'm still reminiscing.

"Y-Yes, Pa. I'll make sure that I am going to be the top student...again."

"Great, I am looking forward to that. Have a good day of schooling."

"Don't worry, Pa. I will do my very own best...just like I did last junior high." I said confidently and headed to the door to exit.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ko nakuhang sabihin iyon na kahit sa sarili ko nag-aalangan pa rin ako. I didn't get the chance to say what I needed to say earlier. Nag-effort pa ako kagabi kung paano ko sasabihin sa kaniya 'yung problema ko but my mouth betrayed me. I slid back my NCAE form in my envelope at the same time I sighed restlessly.

Bagsak ako sa STEM.

__(=_=)__

I STOOD in front of our gate to wait for a tricycle passing by. Nagse-cellphone ako ngayon para itanong kung nasaan na ba 'yung mga ka-batches ko baka hinahanap na nila ako roon. Sabay-sabay kasi kaming mag-e-enroll sa ZSU.

In this new stage of basic education, I started to feel it will be going to mess up my senior high life as much as likely when I was in junior high. Just to think of it, I should be in college by now taking tertiary classes but we are all caught up by this new called...

"mandatory curriculum that will help students to choose their specialized profession which is also going to be the same in college."

Like what the heck, right?!

Sa tagal kong nakatayo rito, nagpasiya na lang ako na maglakad papunta sa kanto. Nahahalata ko na ayaw akong pasakayin ng mga nagta-tricycle na sinesenyasan ko. Nilalagpasan nila ako na parang wala ako sa paningin nila. I know there's something wrong. Hindi ko mawari kung sinasadya ba nila ito sa akin o hindi. Habang naglalakad ako, may binunggo ako na taga-CIF student. Sinadya ko talaga iyon. Kaklase ko siya dati at muntik niya na akong ilaglag sa top honors last school year kaya ang kapal naman ng mukha niya para magpakita ulit sa akin. Syempre, nagalit 'yung babae sa tinuran ko.

"Ang kapal talaga ng balat mo! Ganyan kayong mga ZSU eh, mayayabang! Akala mo na kung sino."

"Nakaapak lang sa private school, feeling famous na!" Epal nung kasama niya.