[MONA]
A few days ago...
"Hello, Monakidz! Welcome to a new day with me here in my vlog!" Bungad ni Mona sa kanyang vlog pagkababang-pagkababa ng pink Sedan premier sa parking lot ng Montecillo University.
Ngunit hindi pa man din siya nakakalayo mula sa sasakyan ay bigla na lamang siya tinawag ni mang Ruben, "Miss Mona?" na tila bay exaggerated pa ang pagkakatawag nito, dahilan para madistract si Mona sa kanyang sasabihin sa vlog.
Nang mapalingon siya kay mang Ruben ay batid sa mukha ni Mona ang pagtataka bakit bigla na lamang humabol si mang Ruben sa kanya.
Samantala, halos hingal naman si mang Ruben ng sabihin niya kay Mona, "Muntik ko makalimutan, uuwi nga pala ang daddy mo this weekend, for sure hahanapin ka no'n, kaya i-clear mo na sana schedule mo."
Mabilis naman inirapan ni Mona ang sinabi ni mang Ruben sabay papusturang maldita na nakapatong ang kangyang kanang siko sa may likod ng kanyang kaliwang kamay.
"As if that's anything new, mang Ruben. If I know, uuwi lang naman si daddy as usual para sa akin ibato ang problem niya for this poor country." agad din katwiran ni Mona.
Mang Ruben simply shook his head. Alam na niya ang ugaling ito ni Mona, kung kaya alam na rin niya kung papaano sasagutin ang dalaga.
"Still, daddy mo pa rin siya, and minsan na lang din kayo magkita so kailangan mo pa rin umuwi. Hindi ko rin kasi maintindihan bakit kailangan ikulong pa kayo sa university na to on weekdays kung pwede naman kita ihatid-sundo." muling paalala sa kanya ni mang Ruben habang nakatanaw sa mga naglalakihang buildings ng Montecillo University.
"Don't bother, mang Ruben. There are some things that your small head could never understand even if I explained it to you. Masasayang lang oras ko na dapat ginagamit ko for vlogging."
"Oh, basta, umuwi ka this weekend."
Mona just heaved a defeated sigh. She knew that at the end of this discussion ay kailangan pa rin niya makipagkita sa kanyang daddy.
Following this, Mona replied, "Yeah, whatever," sabay hampas sa kanyang mahabang buhok na muntikan ng humampas sa mukha ni mang Ruben.
Rumampa na ang dalaga patungo sa Cafeteria ng Montecillo Univerisity, kung saan ay magkikita-kita silang muli ng mga kaibigan niyang super popular na elite girl group sa buong campus, ang PAKGURLS.
Umpisa rin ngayon ng bagong school year sa Montecillo University kung kaya naman ay hindi pa gano'n kaabala ang mga studyante. Most of them ay abala pang naghahanap ng mga assigned classroom sa mga naglalakihang school buildings ng buong University.
May iba naman ay hindi pa tapos magpaenroll at magdrop ng kani-kanilang subjects. At syempre, meron ang tulad ng grupo nila Mona, na agad tumatambay sa Cafeteria ng school just to show off and make the whole place their glamorous runway.
Sa pagpasok ni Mona sa malaking Cafeteria ng campus ay agad na niyang tinignan ang buong first floor ng Cafeteria. Halo pa ang studyante sa floor na to pero mostly ng andito ay ang mga bronze tiers.
This University is known for having three major tiers for students, known as Gold tiers, Silver tiers, and Bronze tiers. Each tiers comes with different privileges for the students during entire schooling in Montecillo University.
For a gold tier student like Mona, she enjoys the privilege of having a spacious dormitory inside the campus, express lanes and easy access to some establishments that would need VIP passes.
To be able to experience being a gold tier student like her, your family must be able to afford donating at least eight million pesos annually. Something that was like a piece of cake for Mona's family given the way that she came from the rich family of the Nazaretta.
Unica hija lang naman si Marione Olivia Nazaretta Andrade or mas kilala bilang Mona, ni General Arthurio Andrade, the famous Chief of staff ng bansa at ng kanyang yumaong ina na si Monique Nazaretta, who happened to be the owner of the Nazaretta group—a chain of resort and hotel group of companies across the Philippines and some parts of Southeast Asia.
In short, Mona is not just a normal gold tier student but also the heiress of a multi-billion worth of companies. Kaya naman no one could dare question her becoming one of the elite members ng famous Pakgurls.
Nagsimulang rumampa si Mona sa Cafeteria patungo sa elevator. She had the idea of being a little late sa morning routine ng pakgurls, but she didn't mind. Inirampa niya pa rin ang bagong biling designer Jimmy choo heels na kumikinang pa ang gold chain nito habang tinatamaan ng liwanag.
She could see how other studentsespecially from the "slapsoil" bronze tiers looking at her direction. The envy and attraction in their eyes silently flatter her ego. There were some who couldn't even resist to take some candid photos and videos using their cheap smartphones.
And as they did so, Mona tried maintaining a photogenic appearance in all angle habang naglalakad siya. Isa sa kanyang kinatatakutan ang makuhanan ng bad shot that would certainly ruin her reputation as a social media influencer.
Matapos makasakay sa elevator at makarating sa ikalawang palapag ay agad na natanaw ni Mona ang usual spot nilang magkakaibigan.
"Hello, girls!" bati ni Mona sa kanila. Nang maupo siya sa tabi ni Teri ay mabilis siyang napatingin sa leader ng kanilang grupo, the queen bee, Patty. "What's for breakfast?" she added.
Mona took the menu and was scanning what to eat. "Patty, did you get food na ba?" she asked Patty.
"Not yet," sagot ni Patty. "Just get me something, too."
"Sure," Mona agreed. At agad niya naisip na iorder ang french crepe.
Nang makakuha na siya ng pagkain ay doon naman niya nakalimutan ang umorder ng iced coffee. Mona went to the counter para siya makapili ng usual drink na iniinom niya every morning.
However, as she was about to reach the counter, isang pamilyar na boses ang bumati sa kanya. "Oh, if it isn't miss Andrade?"
Mabilis na napalingon si Mona and was surprised to see na it was no other than the NSTP professor, Sir Eve Rey Juan.
"Ah, good morning, sir." Bati naman ni Mona.
"Good morning. I see that mukhang magkikita nanaman tayo araw-araw, miss Andrade." Saad ni Sir Eve Rey.
Napaisip pa si Mona sa sinabi ng instructor sa kanya at medyo naasiwa siya sa biglang sumagi sa kanyang isip. Bigla kasi napaisip si Mona kung ang ibig sabihin ng instructor ay magkita araw-araw as in, 'dating him', which was totally off and against the rules of the university.
Isa pa ay hindi naman lubos akalain ni Mona na maiisip ni Sir Eve Rey Juan ang posibilidad na magkaroon sila ng chance to date. Agad na iwinaksi ni Mona ang nasa isip.
At the back of her head, it was the cringiest thing that would happen to begin her school year at Montecillo University.
Nahimasmasan lang mula sa katotohanan si Mona nang muli magsalita si Sir Eve Rey, "You've retaken my NSTP class. And I'm expecting you've learned a lot from your experience last semester, Miss Andrade."
Mona suddenly despised the fact that Sir Eve Rey Juan had to remind her about how she failed her NSTP class. It was because she actually paid her classmates, para ilagay na present siya sa mga field activities, kahit na asa fan meeting siya.
Sir Eve Rey Juan didn't turn a blind eye. Agad niya ibinagsak si Mona dahilan para maging grounded din siya the entire vacation unless it was for those commitments na napirmahan na niya as an influencer.
Mona had to accept the fact that she would really have to endure another semester with Mr. Eve Rey Juan since kailangan niya rin maipasa ang subject na ito, otherwise, ay di siya makakausad sa mga major subjects niya dahil overload na siya sa mga units for next semester.
"I know it very well, sir." Mona simply replied. Maingat siya sa mga salitang binibitawan niya sa intructor sa takot na baka muli siyang ibagsak nito kahit di pa man din nagsisimula ang klase.
"And I assume that you won't make it a habit to be late in my class like you always do before. Hindi ka Disney Princess para laging agaw attention sa klase ko dahil late kang pumapasok."
Mona was slowly feeling humiliated. Mabuti na lamang at wala masyadong nakakarinig dahil asa may medyo gilid ang kinatatayuan ni Mona. and at the same time, Sir Eve Rey was also making his voice a bit low enough for just the two of them to hear.
Yet, despite it, Mona simply could only hold tight to her pink prada purse to control her emotions. She simply couldn't make a scene here, especially with this person. At the back of her, kailangan niya tiisin ang pangsesermon sa kanya ng instructor.
Mona eventually shook her head. "No, sir. Don't worry, I won't be late."
"Oh, and speaking of class, I will see you in a bit. Classes start in fifteen minutes, Miss Andrade." Paalala ni Sir Eve Rey Juan bago umalis dala ang isang disposable cup ng usual niyang iniinom na Americano.
Nang makalayo na ng tuluyan ang instructor ay siya namang di na mapigilan pa ni Mona ang gigil.
"Urgh! Akala mo kung sino, eh minor subject lang naman! How irritating!" Bulong ni Mona sa sarili. Sa sobrang inis ni Mona ay hindi na siya dumiretso para umorder ng iced coffee.
Agaran na nga siyang bumalik sa table nila at kinuha ang bag. "Kindly tell Patty that I won't be joining for breakfast na?"
"Why?" Tanong ni Teri.
"I'm running late for my first class na kasi. See you later." mabilis namang sabi ni Mona na kela Teri.
"Okay, I'm sure she won't mind. She's still busy with her siblings anyway. Don't worry, we'll tell her." sagot naman ni Danigurl.
"Thanks, girl. Gotta go." Ani ni Mona sabay mabilis na tinangay ang pink prada bag paalis ng table.
Kumaripas na ng lakad si Mona palabas ng Cafetria, kahit na it was the very least thing she wish to do. She had been anticipating the first day of school to be fabulous one with the girls, pero agad naman siya na-stress dahil sa unang subject niya.
Although once a week lang naman niya subject, dahil NSTP class lang ay naiinis pa rin siya dahil aattend nanaman sa isa sa pinakaayaw niyang subject.
At the back of her head, she was still hoping to spend more time with the girls, especially Patty. But she knew she would have to wait for that until magkatugma nanaman ang break nila later.
Si Mona kasi ay iba ang course kela Patty. Mona is currently a third year tourism student. Bilang anak ng may-ari ng chain of resorts and hotels, Mona should be inclined towards the nature of their family business.
However, for a social media influencer like her, having such tough and heavy responsibility was yet her priority. She also excels in performing arts at doon nga sila nagkakilala at nagsimula maging magkaibigan ni Patty na drama club president.
She was hoping to spend more time with the girls, especially after being grounded for the entire vacation; however, as things turned out, she had no choice but to attend that freaking first subject.
Mona knew that if she were to fail this subject again, ay baka tuluyan na nga siyang itakwil ng kanyang batas-militar na ama.
Apparently, things went as usual for Mona during her first few days at Montecillo University. Somehow, she was seeking something more thrilling and a new breeze for the school year. However, Mona couldn't seem to find what she was looking for as the days went by.
She would typically show up for her class, record some vlogs around the campus and classrooms, visit the performing arts theater with Patty, reassemble with the pakgurls in the cafeteria and shopping area, and attract the attention of those Montecillian men who were looking to ask her out.
Ngunit ni isa sa mga ito ay tila hindi na bago kay Mona. She sighed at the thought of how things went as usual, plain and dull, during the school year's first week at Montecillo University. What she failed to know was that something would soon be on her path that would change her student life for the rest of the school year.