My name is Astrid.
And i am the most pretentious girl you will ever meet.
Para sa akin, first impressions lasts. The way people see me will make or break my entire stay in this university.
Yes, college na ako! And i intend to make the most out of it. Kaya matagal pa pinlano ko na kung anong klaseng Astrid ang makikilala sa bago kong school.
Its like creating a persona and maintaining it.
The reason for all of this is that i had a tough high school. Punong puno ng drama at problema. Maraming heartaches caused by bad choices and unsolicited loyalty with wrong people. And the people i expected to be with me all throughout, my family, dont believe anything i say and do.
And here i am about to start a completely different life.
The pretentious Astrid is an achiever. Naka set na sa utak ko na magiging sikat ako dahil sa taglay kong utak. Matalino naman talaga ako, tinamad lang mag pursige dahil sa kabi kabilang pang aalipusta sa kakayahan ko. Dahil iyon ang ini expect sa akin ng pamilya namin, hindi ko pinag igehan just to spite them. Pero ngayon, i promised myself that i will graduate with flying colors. The least maybe is cum laude.
The pretentious Astrid is a trendsetter. I am already fashionable. But i want to influence others with mine. I promised myself that i will be popular in school because of how i look.
The pretentious Astrid has money. My allowance is minimal but i can work for my whims and fashion. I can do that.
The pretentious Astrid is high and mighty. I intend to be a leader. On how to get it, i have many things on my mind already. I will start with the school paper and the rest will be history. I will bear the attitude of an independent and confident girl.
But the real Astrid is just a little of this and that. Ang totoo hindi kami mayaman. Isang kahig isang tuka kami na nangungupahan sa squatters area sa likod ng isang exclusive subdivision. Ang crowd sa lugar na iyon ay karamihan bisaya na walang ginawa kundi mag inuman araw at gabi.
Ang pinang aaral sa akin ay kita ng nanay ko mula sa pananahi. At ang mga luho ko sa katawan ay kinikita ko sa pamamagitan ng pagtulong tulong sa shop nila tulad ng paglalagay ng butones, lilip at pagpaplantsa ng mga patahi.
At ang totoong Astrid, iyakin at mahina ang loob. Madaling madala ng mga problema at sinasabi ng iba. Hindi man obvious na maipapakita ang tunay kong iniisip at nararamdaman, deep inside it can break me. Just like it broke me before.
Hindi na ngayon.
Here comes the first day of class.
Nine o'clock ang oras ng una kong subject. I took BS Computer Science at napasama ako sa block A. Ini expect ko na marami sa mga kaklase ko ang magagaling din dahil hindi naman basta basta ang course ko.
I timed myself in. I was 5 minutes late pero alam kong parte pa ng grace period. As expected, nakaupo na sa harap ang professor namin. At lahat ng kaklase ko ay nasa loob na.
They all looked at me when i went inside.
I was wearing a maxi denim skirt and lacy tank top. Naka rubber shoes lang ako dahil hindi naman kita. My accessories include a cute necklace na bagay sa damit ko at dangling earrings. My nail polish matched with the color of my tank top and designed with small butterflies on it.
My makeup is almost a no-makeup look. Except for raging red lipstick.
I looked like i came out from a teen magazine alam ko yun. Kahit si Mommy nagandahan din sa akin kanina bago ako umalis.
At dahil typical sa mga katulad namin na pag ganitong simula ng klase ayaw maupo sa harap. May ilang bakante nga katulad ng inaasahan ko.
I confidently take one seat sa front row. Halos magkaharap na kami ng professor.
"Are you from this class?" Tanong niya sa akin.
"Yes maam." Magaan kong sabi. "Astrid Montemayor, maam."
She checked the list and nod.
I looked around and see a bunch of different faces. Mukha namang ok sila.
"Lets start the class with your introduction." Sabi ng professor at doon na umikot ang unang araw ko.
