"Ma!" I shouted while holding the box containing a new cellphone. I opened it to check if it wasn't a fake phone inside. "Kanino pong cellphone ito?" I exclaimed while examining the cellphone closely. I had just finished taking a shower dahil medjo late na akong nagasing kanina dahil gabing-gabi na rin kami nakauwi kagabi galing sa party ng mga Montebello, and as I exited the bathroom, I immediately saw a box of a cellphone on my bed.

"Para sayo yan anak," Papa replied with a smile as he entered my room.

"Really, Pa?" I asked with joy.

"Oo, alam kung importante yan sayo nyayon at mag co-college kana," Papa answered.

"Thank you po, Pa!" I jumped down from my bed and hugged Papa.

As I released my embrace, papa patted my back gently. "Deserve mo yan, Rosie anak. Alam kung nagsisipag ka sa pag aaral, proud na proud kami ng mama mo sayo." Niyakap ko pa ng mas mahigpit si papa.

"Mag-aaral ako ng mabuti papa," pangako ko kay papa.

After that, Papa and I headed downstair together to have breakfast since I needed to return to school to complete the enrollment process, as classes were starting next week.

Nga pala, Ma, Pa babalik ko ako sa school ngayon dahil tatapusin ko na po lahat ng dapat aasikasuhin sa enrollment since malapit na naman po ang pasukan" I informed my parents.

"Sige anak, Isama mo na si Moon para maasikaso na rin nya ang kanyang enrollment" Sagot ni mama. "Nga, pala. Moon anak hali ka na rito kakain na!" Tawag ni mama kay Moon na nasa labas nagpapakain ng mga alaga naming aso at manok.

Moon quickly came inside.

"Moon anak, samahan mo si ate mo sa paaralan upang maasikaso mo na rin ang iyong enrollment" Mama added.

"Eh ma, matagal pa naman ang deadline ng enrollment e" Moon tried to reason.

Before my mother could respond, Papa interjected, "Asikasohin mo na, pasukan na sa susunod na linggo." mariing sagot ni papa.

Moon pouted, glancing at Mom, who shrugged.  "Sige pa." Moon reluctantly agreed. I couldn't help but tease him, and he rolled his eyes.

"Ate, bilisan mo naman ang paglalakad ang init na oh" iritang sigaw ng kapatid ko. Naglalakad lang kami papuntang paaralan dahil malapit lang naman ito sa amin.

"Mauna ka na akala mo naman hindi nya alam ang daan papuntang school"  I retorted, matching his irritation.

While walking, I saw Andrea. "Andeng!" I shouted to Andrea, who I spotted crossing the street. She immediately noticed me.

"Rosie!" Andrea happily exclaimed, waving and coming towards me. Her gaze shifted to Moon, na nakabusangot ang mukha habang nakatingin sa amin. Andrea suddenly felt embarrassed and blushed. In all the time we've been friends, this was the first time I saw her get embarrassed like this. I just shrugged, thinking maybe she was embarrassed because she called me loudly.

"Ah, hello Rosie, kasama mo pala si M-Moon," Andrea nervously responded. I raised an eyebrow, as if asking "why?"

"Hey, I-I didn't expect to raise my voice calling out to you," Andrea explained, feeling embarrassed.

I looked at her, a bit puzzled, about to say something, but she interrupted me.

"Hali ka na nga" she abruptly said.

"Ano na? dito na lang tayo?" inip na sigaw ng kapatid ko

"Sinabi ko bang hintayin mo kami?" sigaw ko pabalik sa kanya, handang makipagsagutan sa demonyo kung kapatid.

"Hali kana kasi Rosietta Solace Madrigal" Andrea pulled me towards her. I couldn't do anything, so I just shrugged my shoulders.

Habang naglalakad kami ni Andrea kasunod ng kapatid ko nakita ko si Andrea na parang hindi mapakali, hanggang sa makarating na kami sa paaralan.

"Dito nalang tayo sa gate magkita mamaya ate hintayan nalang tayo" Paalam ni Moon.

I simply nodded. Andrea and I exchanged glances as he walked towards the senior high school department.

I faced Andrea. "Are you okay, Deng?" I asked her with concern.

She nodded "Ah, eh, siguro kinakabahan lang ako sa enrollment" sagot nya.

I looked at her, a bit puzzled. Why would she be nervous about enrollment? I wondered. I decided to dismiss it and moved on.

While we were walking towards the registrar's office, we ran into our former classmate.

"Rosie, Andrea tapos na kayo?" she asked about the enrollment process.

"Ah hindi pa kakarating lang namin" I answered.

She nodded "Ganon ba, dumiretso na kayo sa department office nyo dahil doon lang din naman kayo papapuntahin ng registrar upang tapusin ang enrollment, bibigyan na din kayo ng block section" She informed us.

"Got it. We'll head there directly then," Andrea responded. I also nodded in agreement.

"Sige, una na ako" Paalam nya.

"Sige, ingat" I said to her, and Andrea waved goodbye as she left.

Dumiretso na kami ni Andrea sa Culinary Department. Pagkadating namin doon ay inasikaso na namin lahat. Kagaya ng sabi ng ka-klase namin kanina ay binigyan na nga kami kaagad ng block section, at ang saya namin ni Andrea dahil magka-klase na naman uli kami.

After completing all the necessary tasks, we quickly made our way to the gate, knowing that Moon was waiting there.

"Andeng, susunduin ka ba ng daddy mo?" tanong ko sa kaibigan ko.

"Ah, no, Rosie. I'm heading straight to the restaurant." she replied.

Andeng's family owns a restaurant here in Embera, one of the popular eateries in the area.

"Ah ganon ba, sige sabay nalang uli tayo maglakad hanggang sa tapat ng restaurant nyo" I said with a smile.

"Sure thing," Andeng happily agreed.

"O sya, hali ka na at alam kung naghihintay na doon si Moon, mainipin pa naman yun," I said, thinking about how impatient my brother can be, as if he's always in a hurry.

I noticed Andrea looking flustered and nervous. I brushed it off and took out the folder I was carrying.

"Higit isang oras na ako dito ate" Salubong ni Moon sa amin habang nakabusangot. Tiningnan nya si Andrea at ngumiti ng bahagya, "Hi, ate Andeng sasabay ka ulit sa amin?" Tanong ng kapatid ko.

Andrea blushed and seemed a bit embarrassed by my brother's question. ""Ah, yes, Moon. Just to the restaurant," nahihiyang sagot ni Andeng. My brother nodded in response.

Umalis na kaagad kami.

As we walked away, the excitement of reuniting with Andrea and the anticipation of the new school year lingered in the air. Little did we know that this chapter of our journey was just the beginning, full of friendships, challenges, and surprises waiting to unfold.