𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚 | ✔

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞

~10 years ago

"Mama! I'm not yet ready to go to school!"

"Vent, Anak, you have to go to school, para marami kang matutunan, always remember that wisdom is the key to success" Her voice was gentle yet demanding.

My mom was always pushing me to go to school kahit na ayaw ko! Matalino naman ako, kaya kong mag-aral mag-isa kaya bakit pa kailangan ako pumasok sa school!

Iba 'yung amoy doon. 

Halo halo ang masasang-sang na amoy! 

Nakakasuka!

I could smell my classmates who did not bathe for 2 days straight; they smelled like somebody vomited on them and didn't care enough to shower.

The ones who smelled like rotten fish, were some of those who did not bother to brush their teeth, releasing every scent of their decaying cavity.

Don't get me started about the ones who farts and then deny it. Amoy patay na daga!

"Pero mama!" suway ko sa kanya.

"Alam natin anak na matalas ang pangamoy mo! But please do not go to each of your classmates again and declare how they smell like" kalmado ngunit galit na sumbat naman ni mama.

It's not my fault na mabaho sila. Bakit ba kasi hindi man lang asikasuhin ng mga magulang nila ang kanilang mga anak. Diba dapat bago pumasok, nakaligo at nakasipilyo na. Hindi 'yung kung ano 'yung suot kahapon, 'yun din ang isusuot nila kinabukasan? Pati mga underwear nila hindi manlang palitan.

"We've been to 4 schools for the last 2 years, at paulit ulit tayong lilipat if you keep on doing that" nakapamewang na si mama at tumataas na rin ang kanyang boses.

"Yes mama" 'Yun nalang ang isinagot ko kay mama. I had no choice.

I just have to distance myself from them.

I don't need friends. All I need is to control this heightened sense of smell.

I was 8 years old when I was diagnosed with HYPEROSMIA, a condition where someone experiences a strong sense of smell compared to the average person. 

It was the reason why I was always brought to the hospital several times because of severe coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.

Akala noon ng mga doctor asthma ang nararamdaman kong sakit, pero after isolating myself from others and smelling something relaxing like lavenders, gumagaling ako bigla. Hindi ko kailangan ng nebulizer or anything na gamot for asthma.

My only medication was to use a certain type of face mask na wala akong ibang maaamoy kundi ang bawat paghinga ko lamang.

But eventually, I got used to certain smells. And I could distinguish people just by their scents.

I learned to control myself from getting overwhelmed by disgusting smells to enjoying the amazing ones instead.

***

#VSAPrologue