First day of school. Excited ako today. I don’t usually look forward to it dahil sa mga sinasabi ng mga tao about me.

. Snob. Maganda pero masungit. 

As if naman. If anything, little Kiri is the pretty one. 

You’d think after two years, they’d die down. They have, for the most part. 

Pero hindi pa rin talaga mawawala yung mga “whispers.” Wala na akong magagawa. I just mind my own business.

I usually let those words go in one ear and out the other. They don’t know me so I don’t let it bother me…usually. 

But today is an exception. Kahit yata they will say those things to my face, I wouldn’t care (maybe). 

I’m just excited today. 

Maaga akong nagising. Actually, I woke up so early with a smile on my face. Six pa lang yata ay nakaligo na ako, dried my hair, and ate my breakfast. 

Any other time, I would’ve hated it pero today is somewhat special. 

First day of university kasi ni Yuyu and finally after two years of not being in the same school, magkakasama ulit kami. Parang ako nga ang mas excited sa amin dalawa pero, I don’t care. 

Kahit naman kasama ko mga kaibigan ko sa uni the first two years, I feel better when she’s in the same school as me. 

So, wala pang seven, I drove straight to her house to pick her up. 

Eto din kung bakit excited ako: we get to go to school and go home together. 

I pulled up to her house and excitedly walked from my car to their front door with a skip in my step. Masyado yata akong masaya today. 

“Good morning!” I greeted the whole house as soon as I entered. 

“Morning, Yuyu!” I smiled when I heard the busy footsteps sa kusina. 

As usual, nagmamadali siya. Kahit kailan, hindi talaga siya advanced magprepare sa mga gamit niya. 

Pagpasok ko sa kusina, I found her twisting the lid on the tumbler before walking towards me and giving me a hug. 

“Your morning barley tea, miss.” Natawa ako when she bowed after handing me the tumbler. 

Favourite ko ang barley tea and I usually have it in the morning and afternoon. Parang hindi kompleto ang araw ko pag walang tea sa tiyan ko.

“Thanks, beb. Namiss ko to. For two years, ako gumagawa ng tea ko. Your brew is still the best, Yuyu.” 

“Ako pa.” She winked. Kinuha na niya mga gamit niya and pushed me out of the kitchen. 

“Alis na kami, ma!” She called out to no one in particular but I assumed naririnig siya kasi someone replied back ng “Ingat!” before kami makalabas ng bahay. 

***

I can’t stop smiling. I’m excited. Sue me. 

I think si Yuyu naweweirduhan na sa itsura ko kasi kanina pa ako tingin ng tingin sa kanya while driving.

“Ang pula na ng tenga mo.” Her hand reached for my ear and she laughed when she felt how hot it was. Dapat pala naglugay lang ako ng hair today. My ears are a dead giveaway whenever I'm excited or embarrassed. “Mas excited ka yata sa akin eh!”

“So?” Sabi ko, in defense. “I’m just happy you’re finally in uni. Di ka ba excited makasama ako?” Tumingin ako sa kanya and pouted ng pabiro. 

“Hindi masyado,” she giggled in her seat. Hinampas ko arm niya pero umilag siya. “Joke lang! Eto naman di mabiro. Kahit pa naman araw-araw tayong nagkita this whole summer, excited ako! May driver ulit ako eh.” Hampas ulit and this time, natamaan ko arm niya. “Joke lang!” 

“You’re driving tomorrow,” sabi ko ng padabog. 

“Oo na po.”

“Do you know your schedule na ba?” I asked and she nodded. She took out a piece of paper in her bag and started reciting her schedule. “We should take turns driving.”

“Sure, beb,” she answered while unfolding the paper. “I have Intro to business first, Accounting, then lunch at 1pm.”

“Oh, we have the same lunch break!” I think this school year will be a good one. 

***

I turned off the engine and looked at her, smiling.

“Ready?” I asked. 

Kinuha ko na ang bag ko sa likod. I fixed the collar of my uniform first and straightened my tie. 

I turned towards her and scanned her uniform. Kailangan ko i-double check kasi minsan ang dugyot niya. Mukha naman walang gusot. Her face is also free of crumbs. 

“Yup.” 

Aware ako that when we come out of this car, people will be talking. Pero, like I said, deadma. 

So, before I opened the door, napabuntung hininga ako and readied myself. 

And as soon as I got out, tiningnan ako kaagad – or more like, tiningnan yung taong kasama ko na lumabas sa car.  

Si Karina yan diba?

Sino kasama nya?

Mukhang freshie yung kasama niya.

Hoy bakit may pag-akbay!?

Ang ganda ng kasama ni Karina in fairness ha.

Bakit akbay-akbay niya ang freshie? 

Hoy bakit may paghawak sa bewang si freshie?

It makes me uncomfortable pero sa two years ko dito sa school, I kind of got used to it. Di nila ako kilala, I always remind myself that. 

I circled the car and threw my arm around her shoulder while her arm immediately wrapped around my waist. 

We made our way to her building. 

Sabi ko sa kanya na I would drop her off since it’s her first day of school. At hindi pa rin niya kabisado ang school. There’s still a bit of time left before my first class. It should be fine. 

We passed by some students and alam ko naririnig ni Yuyu ang mga pinagsasabi nila kasi humigpit ang hawak niya sa bewang ko. 

I don’t even think these students try to be quiet about what they think about me. Feel ko naman di nila alam na alam ko kung anong pinagsasabi nila. 

But when half of the population in the school ay may pagka-Marites, you are bound to know the rumours that go around in this tiny university. 

Alam naman ni Yuyu about my so-called “reputation” in this school. We don’t keep any secrets. Ever since I entered this university as a freshman, it’s like everyone has decided who I was. 

They took a look at me and said “Yeah, she’s a total .” 

As if naman may nagawa ako sa kanila. 

As a matter of fact, I don’t talk to anyone nor have I made any friends that I could call as a close friend in the two years I’ve been here. Di ko alam na required pala ang makipagusap sa buong school. It’s totally out of my control what they think of me. 

So, I try to just go on my way. I’ve ranted about this to Yuyu so many times in the past and she said the same thing everyone else did: “Ignore them.” 

And I do just that. 

Basta my conscience is clear and I’m not hurting anyone. So, between the two of us, we really don’t care. I just held her closer and continued walking to her class. 

At least Yuyu will make the last two years here a little bit more bearable.

Nang malapit na kami sa classroom niya, she suddenly stopped and squeezed my waist. 

“Kinakabahan ako,