“Ben Maeve L'Oréal,” the account called my name. Finally! After an hour of waiting, it's finally my turn. 
I've decided to open my own bank account for my savings. Mahirap na at nasa kolehiyo na ako. They always say that, after college, you need to stand on your own. And here in our country, to stand on our own feet, we need money. Kaya mag iipon ako, so that after I graduate, I have money to spend while looking for a job. 
“Bale, Ma'am, need niyo pa rin po kasi ng guardian. Sino po ang ilalagay natin dito?” The beautiful accountant asked. 
I paused for a second, thinking who will I put. Both of my parents are with their own families. Tanging ako na lang ang natira. Even my brother left me after knowing that our parents will go their separate ways. 
“Ah, pwede po bang yung Lola ko na lang?” I asked, a bit hesitant. 
Kahit lagi ako nasesermonan ni Lola, ay mas gugustuhin ko pa rin na tumira sa lumang bahay niya. After my parents had their own lives with their new family, I considered myself an orphan. My Lola Vivian, adopted me. Lola Vivian is my father’s step mother. 
The beautiful lady paused a bit before nodding her head and giving me a warm smile. “Oo naman. Sige na, ilagay mo na rito ang pangalan ng lola mo,” she passed me the pen. “Take your time,” she added. 
Tumango naman ako at mabilis na sinulatan ang papel na binigay niya. Hindi rin naman ako nag tagal at natapos din ako agad. A smile never escaped my lips, even until I walked outside the bank. 
“Thank you po,” the guard said. 
I bowed my head a little and gave him a smile, “Thank you rin po,” I responded before leaving the place. 
Naisipan kong dumaan sa mall bago umuwi. Bibilhin ko sana ng mainit na tinapay si Lola. She liked soft and cheesy bread. I also need to buy a few things for tomorrow’s first day of school. Nakalimutan ko at wala pa pala akong gamit. I only have the bag that Lola gave to me when she went to Bicol last week. Binigyan din ako ng anak ni Lola ng pambili ng gamit para sa pasukan. 
When I thought that life is being cruel to me, naalala ko sila Lola at Tita Lorea na tumutulong sa aking upang ipagpatuloy ang pag aaral at ang buhay kahit na iniwan na ako ng dalawang taong nagbigay sa akin ng buhay dito sa mundong ito. 
Bumili ako ng dalawang pirasong notebook, ballpen at yellow pad na rin. Saka na lang ako bibili ng iba pang kailangan, sa ngayon ay ayos na muna ito. 
Habang nasa linya ako upang magbayad. My heart rate became rapid when I saw someone familiar. Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali, I've seen that face a few times, a few times that I can't forget it. 
I followed the lady, who was the same age as me. Curly hair, pale skin, and tall height, and when I saw who she's with, envy filled my whole system. My mom. The woman who's supposed to be with me, buying stuff for my first day in college. 
They look a like they each other, kahit na hindi naman sila magkadugo. Ang kaninang mabilis na tibok ng puso, ay napilitan nang mabagal at para bang pinipiga sa sakit. I looked away when I saw them smiling at each other while picking pens. Tinignan ko ang tatlong ballpen na nasa aking palad. 
A tear fell from eye. I shouldn't be crying over this. Hindi pa ba ako nasanay, o masasanay pa ba ako? I paid for my things and left the store without looking at them. 
Nang mabili ang tinapay ni Lola ay agad akong pumunta sa terminal kung nasaan ang sakayan ng mga jeep patungo sa amin. And fortunately, isa na lang ang hinihintay at aalis na ito. Hindi naman gaanong kasikip kaya nakaupo pa ako nang maayos, meaning, half of my thighs are still occupying the seat. Okay nang hindi nakasandal ang aking likod, ang mahalaga ay makakauwi na ako. 
“Bayad po,” abot ko sa aking bayad nang umandar ang jeep. Inabot naman iyon ng lalaking nasa aking tabi. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasan na pasadahan siya ng tingin. 
His wearing a university's PE uniform. Balita ko ay mayroon ibang eskwelahan na nagsimula na ang klase. His lace are familiar, but his pin caught my attention. It's a small circle with a familiar sketch. I nearly squinted my eyes when he turned his eyes on me. Mabilis kong iniwas ang aking tingin at hindi na siya nilingon pa. 
His pin, it looks very familiar. I've seen it a lot of times before, but I'm not sure if it's the same.
***
“Ben, bakit hindi ka pa pumasok sa loob? Humahamog na.” 
I reached the house before seven in the evening. Stars are starting to appear in the sky, and so is the moon. 
Lumingon ako sa aking likuran upang makita si Lola. Her white curly hair suits her age very well. And even at night, she looks lovely with her pretty white night dress. 
“Papasok na rin po ako maya-maya. Pinapakain ko pa po si Zim,” my fluffy white dog. It was a gift from my cousin, Kuya Healey. 
Nasa labas kami ng bahay, sa malawak na hardin ni Lola. We often eat here during breakfast o kaya tuwing hapunan, kapag maganda ang gabi. 
Sinundan ko ng tingin si Lola nang dumaan siya mula sa aking gilid. Her scent lingered in my nose. Nakaupo ako sa malinis at tuyong damo nang naglakad siya patungo sa gripo. 
“Napapanot na ang damo ko, wag mong pag diskitahan,” tugon ni Lola nang kuhanin niya ang hose malapit sa gate ng aming bahay. 
Agad ko naman itinigil ang ginagawa. Oo nga, it started to look like a bald, exactly the same as my lolo’s head. 
I walked towards Lola Vivian. Tumayo ako sa kanyang likod. She's cleaning the small basin while I stared right behind her. Napansin niya naman ang paninitig ko, kaya itinigil niya ang kan’yang ginagawa. 
Her newly penned brows furrowdy, “Ano ba at nakatingin ka riyan? May kailangan ka ba?” may kasungitan na tanong ni Lola. 
Intimidate, I shook my head as a response. “Wala po,” I added, sounding defensive. 
But she didn't believe me. So she stop cleaning the basin and put it aside to give a dagger look. 
Some might feel trepidation when Lola gives a dagger look, but I look at them with so much adoration. 
“Anong kalokohan na naman ba ang ginawa mo Ben L’Oréal?” kunot ang noo na tanong nito sa akin.
Agad akong sumimangot. Mapagbintang talaga itong si Lola Viviana. Matanda na nga siya at napakaraming alam na hindi ko alam. 
“Kalokohan ba Lola na ginawa kitang guardian para sa bank account ko?” 
Mas lalong nangunot ang noo ni Lola. “Ano at kailangan mo ng bank account? Mayaman ka na ba at may trabaho?” 
I scratched the tip of my head, “Hindi naman, Lola. Pero kasi diba, may nakuha akong scholarship? At tsaka gusto ko na rin magkaroon ng savings,” not me explaining like a defensive offender. 
Tinitigan ako ni Lola. It seems like she's reading me through my face. She sighed heavily, and turned her face away. 
“Ay bahala ka. Wag mo lang ako madawit sa mga illegal na gawain, Ben, ah,” Lola said that made me giggle. 
***
Monday morning, I was awakened by a loud cluck. What the? Hurriedly, I searched for my phone. Squinting eyes, and furrowed brows, I look for the time. 
“4:00 am? Really?” I groaned loudly as I slammed my body back to bed. 
Dream land, a place where I could live in forever, but the rooster’s cluck ruined it. I gasped loudly and put myself to seat on the bed with my face frowning. I have no choice but to force myself to wake up. 
Magulo pa ang ang buhok at mukhang zombie kung maglakad ay bumaba ako mula sa second floor ng bahay. I heard a loud noice coming from the kitchen. Siguro ay nagising na rin si Lola dahil sa tilaok ng manok. 
“Ben?” Lola called my named as I stepped on the last stair. 
“La,” I said in a very sleepy voice. 
Alas nuebe pa ang pasok ko. I still have hours to prepare. Maybe I'll lay myself to sleep on the couch while waiting for the time to pass by. 
Lola peaked through the kitchen, wearing her floral apron. “Too early for a nine o'clock class. Are you that excited?” asar ni Lola, pero hindi ko iyon masuklian dahil sa sobrang antok. 
Yawning, I walked towards my grandmother. Umupo ako sa bakanteng upuan ng aming lamesa. I rest my head on the table and use both of my arms as a pillow. 
“Naku! Bakit hindi ka matulog sa kwarto?” Lola asked. 
I didn't bother to lift my head because it really feels heavy as of the moment. 
“The chicken won't stop clucking.” 
Narinig ko ang mahinang tawa ni Lola. “Dinamay mo pa ang manok. Bakit kasi hindi ka natulog nang maaga kagabi?” mukha masesermoman pa ako ni Lola. 
“La, I slept early. Mas nauna pa nga po ako sainyo,” which is half true. I slept around 11, and she's still up. 
Lola Vivian hissed, “Roon ka na sa sala matulog at maya-maya ay gigisingin kita para bumili ng mainit na tinapay,” tugon ni Lola. 
True to her words, Lola woke me up 6:30 am, on the couch. The radio’s playing loudly near the kitchen. 
“Nasa TV yung pambayad,” Lola said when I went to the sink to washed my face. 
Wearing my PJs, I went oustide the house while embracing myself because of the cold wind blowing. Wala pa masyadong tao dahil maaga pa. My eyes settles on the sun rising, it's a beautiful sign to start a new day. 
Naglakad ako patungo sa maliit na bakery hindi kalayuan sa bahay. Marami pang bumilbili kaya itinabi ko muna aking sarili upang hindi makaabala sa mga tapos nang bumili. A guy wearing a white uniform stood beside me. Mukhang papasok na rin siya sa eskwelahan. 
I didn't move as I waited for my turn. Pero mukhang mas lalo lang dumarami ang mga bumibili. Napakamot ako ng ulo. 
“Gusto mo isabay na kita?” 
I almost jumped on where I stood. Pati ang ang lalaki na nasa aking tabi ay nagulat dahil sa naging tanong niya. 
“I'm sorry, I didn't mean na gulatin ka,” guilt was all over his place. 
I shook my face to lessen it. “No, okay lang,” ngumiti ako. 
Tumangi siya. His face is still worried though, so I reached out. “Okay lang bang makisabay?” I asked. I didn't know why, but I feel like it will make him feel good, and I was not wrong. 
His face lits up. “Yeah, of course! Sure,” he said. I extended my arms to gave him the money, but he shook his head, “I'll pay first, since I need a change for this,” he lift his big peso bill. 
I shrugged and gave him a nod, “Sure, just
let me know if how much it will cost.” 
He said, ‘Okay’ before putting himself into a bunch of people buying a hot fluffy bread.