The new semester opens with a bang that shocks the four Houses of QED University, an exclusive school for promising students of the science of deduction and art of detection.
The Holmesian Harriet Harrison never thought that the day would come when...
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HARRIET
TODAY'S THE start of a new era, like a flower blooming at the start of spring. New beginnings. New hope. New experiences.
Nagmadali akong bumaba mula sa second floor ng Holmes Hall, bitbit ang foldover bag ko. Hindi ako late nagising para sa first day namin pero dahil sa sobrang excitement, naunahan ko pa ang pagtilaok ng manok.
"Good morning!" bati ko sa mga nakasasalubong ko sa hagdan.
"Good morning din!" sagot nila sa akin na sinabayan ng malawak na ngiti.
Judging by their faces filled with enthusiasm, I wasn't the only one looking forward to this day. My fellow Housemates also woke up early and started dressing up for the morning classes. May mga nakasabay pa nga ako sa hallway ng first floor na mukhang hindi na natulog dahil sa pagkasabik.
"Good morning, manong guard!" Sumaludo ako sa security personnel na nakaistasyon sa entrance ng hall. He returned my salute, greeted me with a smile and gave words of good luck for the day.
I could feel it! The positive vibes, the scent of the morning dew, the blossoming flowers on the roadside—Simula na nga ng bagong semester!
From where I was walking, tanaw-tanaw ko na ang mga school building na ilang metro mula sa dorm namin. I can't help but notice a sea of blue — the official color of our House — as I got closer to my destination. Like me, they were wearing blue inverness cape that covered about half of our bodies. 'Yon kasi ang prescribed uniform sa amin.
Welcome to Q.E.D. University, the exclusive school for aspiring detectives! Yes, gusto kong maging isang magaling na deductionist kagaya ng greatest fictional detective of all time na si Sherlock Holmes kaya dito ako nag-enroll instead na sa ibang universities.
My dad was against my decision to pursue the science of deduction and art of detection. Mas gusto niya kasing sundan ko ang yapak niya at mag-take up ng law. But I refused to be like him. Ipinaglaban ko na mag-aral sa university na 'to at maging detective balang-araw. He had no choice but to give in to what I really wanted.
All students here are sorted into four Houses, named after four prominent characters in the same detective series. Bago ka officially ma-enroll, kailangan mong dumaan sa isang aptitude test para malaman kung saang House ka bagay. And fortunately, napunta ako sa House Holmes.
Ang tawag sa dormitory namin ay Holmes Hall kung saan tumutuloy ang lahat ng mga Holmesian. Meron ding dorms para sa ibang House na malapit din sa mga school building. Isa sa mga kondisyon bago ka makapag-aral dito'y dapat sa campus premises ka nakatira. We are not allowed to go out during weekdays except if our classes require it. Tuwing weekends, pwede kaming lumabas basta't makapag-secure kami ng permit.
Dahil walking distance ang mga school building, nakarating ako sa harap ng Baker Building in less than five minutes. Dito na naghalo-halo ang mga official color ng bawat house—blue, red, green at yellow. Iba-iba rin ang uniform na suot ng bawat estudyante. May nakapulang blazer, may nakaberdeng sweatshirt at may nakadilaw na vest.
