The Lady in Shining Armor: Reed University [wip]

II. First Days Really Suck

Strike while the iron is hot daw! Ito na ang pangalawa! Medyo malabo pa ako sa mga names ng characters, pero more or less sila na talaga iyan! hoho! Any guesses kung sino ang kalaban ng ating mga bida dito?

Soundtrack: Dark Horse by Katy Perry (love this vid, btw!)

Media Box: Grey, Uno and Dawn

***Dawn's POV***

Reed University. Ito ang pinaka-malaking University sa bansa. I never expected that I would pass their entrance exam. I was so full of different thoughts then, inisip ko na lang na himalang nakapasa ako. The University was located in a secluded area in the province and the only way to get here's by their shuttle or by a private vehicle. The students lived in apartments located ten minutes outside the campus' gates. They had their community-- aside from the students' and non-students' apartments, may mall, park, stores at maliit na ospital din sila. It's like a little world of their own. To get to the 'real world', you just need to drive fifteen minutes from the Reed Community.

Ayaw nila Mama na dito ako pumasok, but I insisted. I already learned how to be independent when I was in high school, gusto ko lang siya ituloy hanggang makatapos ako ng pag-aaral. They just took it as something that I decided to do dahil nagluluksa pa ako sa mga nangyari noon sa Monte Carlo High. Iniisip ko pa rin ang lahat ng iyon paminsan-minsan, pero bagong buhay na ito. Bagong simula. Hindi ko makakalimutan ang lahat ng pinag-daanan ko. I just thought I might start a new, a clean slate.

***

"You don't need to worry about your niece, Ms. Madriaga. We will take care of her and we'll make sure she'll enjoy her stay here in Reed." The Dean offered his hand to Tita Rika and they shook hands.

"I'm not worried about the university, Dean." She let go of his hand and gave me a knowing look. Ano ba'ng ikina-aalala niya? Hindi na mauulit ang lahat ng nangyari noon-- that I promised her before she drove me here. "I'll go ahead."

"Thank you, Ms. Madriaga. You can go with her, Ms. Dominguez. Just be back here in ten minutes, magsisimula na ang novice orientation." Tumango ako at lumabas na kami ni Tita Rika sa opisina ni Dean Santos.  

"I'm worried."

"Tita Rika, magiging okay lang ang lahat." I pushed her towards her car's door and she gave me one last look.

"Please be safe always, Dawn. 'Wag mong kalimutan ang gamot at vitamins mo. Kumain ka sa tamang oras at matulog ka ng--"

"Tita!" Nakakahiya na 'to. She opened the door of her car and gave me a quick hug before she got in and drove away. And I was on my own again.

***

"Good morning! I'm Uno, Reed University's Novice Leader. You will all be under my supervision for three months until you've been assigned your Camps." Lahat ng Freshman at transfer students ay tinipon sa tapat ng Admin Building ayon na rin sa itinerary na ibinigay sa amin nang matanggap namin ang letter of acceptance namin mula sa Reed. I never knew na may ganito pala dito.

"Camp?" Someone asked.

"Reed University has five Camps-- Austerity, Concord, Forthright, Scholar and Valiant. Lahat ng estudyante dito may kanya-kanyang Camp. Within the three-month period, all of you will be assessed to determine your Camp, details will be discussed in another day. Ang dapat niyo lang malaman sa ngayon, do good in your assessments and get a Camp. Sila na ang makakasama niyo sa buong stay ninyo dito sa Reed University. You cannot change Camps once you've been assigned to one. Your Camp will also tell you your designation in the Reed Community. Pero simula ngayon hanggang matapos ang novice period niyo, you'll stay in the Novice Area."