After more than twenty minutes of driving, we finally arrive at MIHS High School. And… wow. It's huge.
Students everywhere. Teens like me. So cool! I just want to reach out and touch them, to make sure they're real. They're so cute in their school uniforms. Wouaaaaah… it's busy in every direction. Cars, drivers, noise, laughter. It's like a giant anthill.
Dad: — Kitten?
Me: …
I'm literally speechless. Dad gently closes my mouth for me.
Mom: — Sweetheart, are you stressed? You don't want to be at school?
Me: — No, not at all!!! Okay, bye, I'm going!!
Dad: — No hugs?
Me: — Oh, sorry!
I hug them both before stepping out. And wow… I can't stop looking around. It's my first time seeing so many teenagers in real life.
A girl: — What's with her staring at us like that?
Another girl: — I don't know. She's kinda weird.
Ignore them, Hiyas. You're here to have fun, make friends, and look normal. Definitely don't show that you're sick. Otherwise… pity, just like at home. Worse maybe.
Okay… what do I do now? How do I find my classroom? I should've asked Dad to come with me. No, Hiyas, stop acting like a kid. Breathe. Think.
But no time. Someone bumps into me.
… : — Sorry! Didn't mean to! Are you okay?
Wait… what? Someone other than my parents cares about me? Wow. So cool.
Me: — Kumusta po kayo? (How are you?)
… : — Okay lang ako, thanks! You know, just chill, hindi mo kailangang maging pormal, I got this, magtatanong na lang ako kung okay ka.
Huh? What is she saying? Mixing Tagalog and English… Huhuhu.
Me: — Huh?
… : — You're new here, right?
Me: — Yes. Oh, you speak English too!
… : — Yeah. And it's obvious you're new. And the way you speak Tagalog, you're clearly not from here. And then you don't seem to understand what I'm saying.
Me: — Uh… I'm Aaliyah Hiyas Corazon. I'm originally from here, but I grew up in the USA.
… : — Ahhh, now I get your accent. I'm Tamara Reyes. Nice to meet you, Aaliyah.
Me: — The pleasure is mine.
Tamara: — Cool! You can just call me Tami.
Me: — Okay. And call me Hiyas.
Tamara: — Your "Hiyas"… what does it mean?
Me: — It's Tagalog. It means "Treasure."
Tamara: — So cool! And… do you know where your classroom is?
Me: — No.
Tamara: — Then follow me!!!
Me: — Where are we going?
Tamara: — To the classroom board. That way we'll see where to go.
Me: — Wow, this school is really cool.
Tamara: — You're weird, you know?
We walk to the board. I hold my breath as I look for my name and… yippppeeee! I'm in the same class as Tamara!
Tamara: — Perfect! We're both in D-1.
Me: — Cool!
Tamara: — So neighbor… are we friends?
What??? She said friends. Like F-R-I-E-N-D-S. Amazing! I have a friend. I have a friend! BFF mode activated. I'm sooooo happy!!!
But of course, the other students ruin my moment.
— Woooooo!!!!!
— They're coming!!!!!
— They're so coooool!!!!!
— Take pictures!!!!!
— Wooooooow!!!!!
Me: — But… why are they screaming like that? Is there danger? Did Jesus just come down to Earth and enroll in our school?
Tamara: — No… it's just the basketball team players.
Me: — The basketball players???