For every person who just can't fit anywhere, the doors of the eccentrics will always be there to greet you wide open. Welcome, to the home of the elective scholars, The Bellatrix Irregulars.
As continuing education becomes a challenge to the Grade...
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• PROLOGUE •
Do you know the worst feeling to have as a student? Having to desperately try to grip on scholarships just to pursue your dream.
"STUDENT NUMBER NINE? Please proceed to counter po! Student Number Nine? Number Nine!"
Napaangat ang mga balikat ko mula sa boses na galing sa speaker. Number nine na raw! Teka, ako 'yun!
"Y-yes po, Ma'am! I'm so sorry!" Bati ko nang makarating sa counter two. Sumalubong sa akin ang nakabusangot na mukha ng babae na kanina pa ako tinatawag. As far as I know, masusungit at matataray ang mga tao rito sa Office of Student Affairs - Scholarship Department. You can see it in their kilays, parang pirming nakataas palagi.
Mabilis niyang hinablot ang mga documents na pinasa ko sa counter at isa-isa itong binasa. I can't help but yawn and rub my eyes as I wait for her to finish assessing my documents. Ito na yata ang pangatlong scholarship application na pinilahan ko ngayong araw, kanina pa akong alas-kwatro ng umaga nakaupo at nag-a-apply sa iba't ibang scholarship department ng school.
Kung hindi ako magtitiyagang pumila, mahihirapan akong pumasok. I can walk out here today and ask my parents to pay for my tuition, but I don't ever want to always look back at my dream course with heavy regrets in my heart. What's the point of having a care-free student life if you're not pursuing the thing you love?
One thing is sure: If I fail to independently support myself now and get a free college scholarship in the future, I would be doomed to take the course I don't want to pursue.
"Sorry iha, I can't let it proceed sa head office. Hindi pasok sa maximum wage required ang income statement ng family mo,"
"Ano ho?"
Mabilis niyang ibinalik sa'kin ang folder na laman ang documents na ipinasa at magdamag kong trinabaho. Parang pabalik niyang itinapon sa'kin ang mga 'yon kaya nahirapan akong ayusin.
"Hindi kami madamot sa scholarship grant, ngunit talagang nirereserba namin ang limitadong slots doon sa talagang nangangailangan," Paliwanag ng babae, diretso niyang inihulog sa basurahan ang blankong assessment form kung saan naka-stapler ang student record at transcript of grades ko.
What in the actual heck?
"Pero Ma'am, pasok naman ho ang grades ko sa—"
"Next student please! STUDENT NUMBER TEN? STUDENT NUMBER TEN!"
Hindi ko na natuloy pa ang pag-apila nang pindutin niya ang speaker at magsalita. Ayoko pang umalis sa pwesto na iyon pero dumating na 'yung kasunod kong estudyante. When I was walking back towards the door, saka ko lamang napansin kung gaano pa pala karaming estudyante ang naghihintay para makapag-apply sa scholarship.
This is a high end school we're in. A school with high-end facilities and with great education quality. Syempre normal na maraming estudyante ang gustong makapag-aral dito ng libre. Not every student here can afford it after all.
