Paper Planes

Kabanata 1

KABANATA 1

Hingal na hingal ako nang marating ang classroom namin.

That was close! I thought as I paused to catch my breath. And then I took a piece of paper from my pocket to check if I was really at the right place.

Room M2-C.

Great! I'm at the right room! I said to myself, relieved I haven't got lost even after all that running. Inayos ko ang aking sarili bago inilagay ang kamay sa hawakan ng pinto. Muli akong ginapangan ng kaba. Paano kung hindi nila ako magustuhan? Paano kung malaman nila ang tungkol roon?

Mabilis kong iniling ang ulo.

Everything's in the past now. I have a new name... I... I can do this! I encouraged myself as I gripped the handle tighter.

"Excuse me, but will you hurry up so we can pass?"

"Uh, sorry!" Agap ko at mabilis na tumabi nang hindi sila tinitingnan.

"Weird girl," I heard one said as the rest of her group chuckled behind her.

Pumasok sila at inukupahan ang mga upuan malapit sa pinto. Katulad ko, suot din nila ang one-piece, sailor cut, white uniform na may emblem ng university sa bulsa na nasa may gawing kaliwa ng blouse. But I noticed that the length of their skirts were far shorter compared to mine. Lagpas tuhod ang haba nitong akin, habang iyong sa kanila naman ay at least apat na dangkal mula tuhod ang igsi.

I saw one girl glanced back at me. She was wearing her straight, black hair down with a fancy yellow ribbon on top of it. I could see that she was also wearing make-up. She looked so pretty for a second year middle school student. Nang magtaas siya ng isang kilay at pagkatapos ay bumulong sa kanyang mga kasamahan ay agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Are you going to stand there all day, Miss..."

Nanlaki ang mga mata nang may biglang humablot sa aking ID.

"...Moritake?"

"Hey!" Angal ko sabay bawi ng ID ko.

"What's going on, brother?" Isa pang lalaki ang dumating at tumabi sa mapangahas. Kambal?

Napakurap ako nang ilang beses nang mamukhaan ang dalawa.

Where did I see these two again?

Namilog ang mata noong kararating na lalaki at sabay turo sa akin. Kumunot ang noo ko nang bigla na lang tinakpan ang bibig nito noong nauna at saka hinila papasok sa aming classroom.

Okay, that was weird. I thought as I fixed my ID sling.

Nagsisidatingan na ang iba pang mga estudyante at kailangan ko na ring pumasok. I took a deep breath as I gathered all my courage. Kaya ko ito! I gave myself another push before stepping forward.

Agad na nagsitingan ang mga tao sa akong gawi. Iyong iba sa kanila ay tinuturo ako habang kausap ang kanilang mga kaibigan. Iyong iba naman ay tahimik lang na tinitingnan ako mula ulo hanggang paa bago babalik sa kanilang mga ginagawa. The girls from before, especially, took an extra time observing before returning to their circle and giggling.

I took the seat by the window at the very back of the room. I figured I could avoid the unnecessary attention by sitting there. I saw the twins sitting at the middle rows of the room. Panay pa rin ang turo sa akin noong isa habang kinakausap ang kanyang kambal. Pero wala namang pakialam ang kausap nito.

Patuloy pa rin ang bulungan ng mga tao. Kalimitan, nagkukwento sila tungkol sa mga karanasan nila nitong bakasyon. I heard this fellow talking about how much he enjoyed the beaches in Hawaii. There were those who talked about the latest games they've purchased and how they enjoyed playing all summer.