"Friendship is the
inexpressible comfort of
feeling safe with a person,
having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words."
- George Eliot
...
A
lyana
“How's your new school, sweetie?” Mom asked.
We're in the middle of dinner, kaya nagulat ako sa biglang pagtatanong niya.
My new school is... not great, honestly. I already got into a big argument on the first day and almost got in big trouble because of it.
Luckily, this nice guy helped me got out of the situation. But overall, it's been a tough experience so far, and I'm not really happy being casted there.
As I sat down to dinner with my family, I was nervous to tell them about my day, but I knew I had to be honest.
When my mom asked me how it was, I tried to be vague, but it was clear that I was hiding something.
I smiled shortly and said, "It's good," even though it wasn't.
"Honey, I told you she'd fit right in at that school," Mom exclaimed, beaming with pride. Dad smiled in agreement, sharing her excitement. “Oh, sweetie, did you have any trouble finding your room?”
“Clarkson is big,” segunda pa ni Dad.
They both glanced at me, as if they were waiting for my answer.
I shook my head and smiled
“No,” I replied.
After the major incident and a confrontation with a rude guy, there's a two kind girls came to my aid. “Fellow students helped me. They were nice to me.”
“Oh, so you've already made new friends?” Mom asked, her pride evident in her expression.
She seemed genuinely happy and couldn't hide her excitement. It was as if I made a significant progress or achieved something great. “I see. I know you're going to do great things, sweetie.”
“I'm glad you've found new friends, anak,” dugtong pa ni Dad. “If you have the time, invite them over to our house. I'd love to meet them. They must be incredible for having become friends with my daughter.”
I simply nodded, feeling a bit bored, as I absentmindedly stabbed the meat on my plate with my fork.
“I'll call Maddie to arrange the invitations for our housewarming party,” Mom said, referring to her secretary.
I sighed in relief. I'm glad dahil hindi nila napansin yung pekeng mga ngiti ko. They do really believe na nagustuhan ko ang Clarkson University.
I don't know if I should be proud of myself dahil ang galing ko mag pretend, or should I feel bad dahil nagsisinungaling ako just to conform to their expectations.
But, despite of that rocky start, things started to look up for me. That incident taught me to be cautious and aware of my surroundings.
Specially, kapag nasa loob na ako ng Clarkson University.
But I also realized that not everyone at the school was unfriendly or confrontational.
With a sudden surge of recollection, I remembered a particular moment happened earlier.
In the midst of the bustling hallway, a vivacious and outgoing girl approached me, exuding contagious energy.
Her pretty face lit up with a vibrant smile as she confidently stepped forward, extending her hand in greeting. "Hi there! I'm Shyle," she exclaimed, her voice brimming with lively enthusiasm.
"I couldn't help but notice what happened earlier. Are you okay?" Her genuine concern was unmistakable, yet her spirit remained undimmed.
Standing beside her is a captivating girl, emanating an aura of gentle tranquility that instantly brings to mind a soft-spoken character from an anime.
Behind her stylish big-rimmed eyeglasses, her serene eyes reflect a deep sense of empathy.
"I'm Snow," she chimes in, her voice soft-spoken and soothing.
Shyle, with her contagious energy, wore her warmest smile once again, "We saw what happened, and we wanted to make sure you're alright."
Their kind gestures and genuine empathy touched me deeply, and I appreciated their concern.
However, my impulsive nature and intrusive thoughts made it difficult for me to fully trust them, even though they seemed genuinely kind.
It was a constant battle within myself to balance my wariness with my innate kindness.
With a guarded smile, I shook their hands, acknowledging their introduction. "I'm Alyana," I replied, my voice tinged with gratitude. "Thank you both for your concern. I appreciate it but I'm good. I can handle myself."
Their faces turn sour after I said that.
"We're really worried about you." Snow said, with full of concern.
I mustered a fake smile— not wanting to bother them. "Oh, don't worry about it. Okay lang ako," I replied, attempting to brush off the incident.
But Shyle persisted, “Are you sure? If you ever need tulong or if there's anything we can do, just let us know.”
I nod shortly, as I'm trying to find my way out.
“By the way, what grade are you in right now?” pag-iiba ni Snow sa usapan.
“Clarkson is quite big, and finding your room section might be a challenge.” she mused, as if she was trying to get me wonder or she's just simply trying to pique my interest.
Dahil doon bigla akong nangamba. I need to hurry kasi baka malate ako. I don't really wanna bother them nor asked for their help. Pero napaisip ako sa sinabi niya.
Tama siya, masyadong malaki ang Clarkson University kung kaya't mahihirapan ako kung hindi ko tatanggapin ang inaalok nilang tulong.
“Let us help you.” Shyle said with conviction.
I sighed in defeated as I started showing them my personal student information.
As I shared it to them, their eyes widened in surprise, especially when they saw my room number and section. “No way! That's our room and section too,” Shyle and Snow exclaimed, with mixture of excitement and shocked.
“Really? You're from Class-B too?” Snow exhilarated, confirming what I said.
“Bakit, ayaw niyo ba?”
“No, hindi naman... We just can't believe. But trust me we're really happy to know na classmate ka pala namin. Di ba Shyle?” turan ni Snow.
“Okay.” I answered nonchalantly.
In that moment, a wave of relief washed over me, knowing that I wouldn't be navigating the hallways alone.
“We're so excited to have you join our school as a fellow student. So, let us give you a quick rundown of our campus.” ani ni Snow.
Guided by them, pare-pareho namin tinahak ang daan patungo sa destinasyon namin.
Through the bustling hallways, they led me, pointing out different classrooms and sharing weird anecdotes about teachers and fellow students we encountered.
“As we commence, the first thing you'll notice is the tall structures. You see that enormous building?” ani ni Snow.
Sinundan ko ng tingin ang turo ng daliri niya, I was horrified when I saw how big it is.
“That's where the college department is located. We won't go there, but it's interesting to see that building and the other different areas of study!” Shyle interjects from my side, tucking her arms around mine.
"Now, as we continue walking, right next to the college building is our very own Senior High building, exclusively for us. It's just a step ahead of College building, and the next building is for juniors. We won't spend much time there, but it's good to know where it is," dugtong ni Snow.
"And guess what? Our school has its own dedicated space too!" Shyle uttered cheerfully. "Right next to the Senior High building, there's an annex specifically for us. It's where our classrooms, labs, and other facilities are located. All of our classes will be held there, making it an excellent opportunity to meet new friends."
“So, as a fellow student, you'll be spending most of your time in the annex building, just like us.” Snow explained with a brimming excitement in her face.
“I hope this overview helps you visualize our school layout more clearly. If you have any questions or if you need guidance for exploring, please don't hesitate to ask us. We're here to help.” Snow continued in tone laced with passion.
A bashful smile escaped my lips, “Thank you for helping me.” I mean it.
“You're very much welcome!”
“It's nothing though.”
Sabay na turan nilang dalawa.
They continued guiding me through the school. Shyle effortlessly intertwined informative snippets with lighthearted jokes, to make the atmosphere around us bright.
Their loud banter and laughter echoed in the hallways. Their warm smiles, forged an immediate bond that gradually erased any lingering unease within me.
Shyle's contagious enthusiasm and genuine interest in making me feel at home had an unmistakable impact, turning what could have been a mere tour into an unforgettable experience.
As we finally arrived at our designated section, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards these two kind souls.
Hindi nila ako kilala, and they can ignore like what others students here do, pero mas pinili parin nilang tulungan at samahan ako without asking anything in return.
Thanks to them. They helped me a lot. Kung hindi dahil sa kanila baka naligaw na 'ko. Or maybe I still be searching for my room and section.
Pero hindi ko alam kung paano ko sila totoong pasasalamatan. I'm not good with words.
To be honest, it's a new experience for me to come across such genuinely kind-hearted individuals as strangers. Prior to this, my only friends were Tyler and Matthew, who are now far away from me.
Sigh! I suddenly find myself longing for their company.
Although I may struggle to find the perfect words to express my gratitude, I want to convey my deep appreciation.
My reserved demeanor often makes it challenging for me to articulate my feelings, but I hope that my actions and unwavering gratitude speak volumes than any words I could say.
I might have despised this day initially, as it carried an ominous feeling. However, little did I know that this seemingly bad day would turn out to be a hidden blessing.
~To be Continued...