C1 CHAPTER 01

College. They say college is where everything starts. The start of the real challenge of being a student. Truth is, Akira is quite nervous on her first day of college life. She's scared of what's to come and what's in store for her.

Around 6 am when Akira's mom came knocking on her bedroom door. You read it right, 6 am even though school really starts around 8:30 am at their in their province's State University. "Moommm~" she complains. "It's still so early,"

Even before, this is how early Akira and her sister ware usually woken up by their mother. because their mother knows for a fact that Akira puts so much time in staring blankly and space out during mornings aside from getting ready. I mean who doesn't? Hello? What kind of person with a straight mind heads on to get ready for the day so early in the morning? Everyone of us has our own moment of spacing out before starting the day.

It didn't take long before Akira heard another yet a much louder knock on her bedroom door. "Akira! Mom told me to tell you to get up!" Her sister Saiko yells at the other side of the door.

"Yeah, I'm up!" she turns to her side where a cat tower is placed beside her bed. With one eye still closed, she can clearly see her peacefully sleeping cat, Yoda. She smiles before approaching to pet her and get up completely.

Lazily, Akira walks to her bathroom to cleanse her face, to also wake herself up completely. she knows that if she didn't show up downstairs for breakfast, her mom would be kicking the door open out of anger. This isn't some stories where your mother would be knocking on your door with a breakfast tray and with a smile on her face just like in the movies, no

Akira was still half asleep when she went downstairs for breakfast, sitting beside her sister who gave her a plate. "Do you have to wake us up this early Ma?" She says while yawning and stretching.

"I have to. Because I know you space out more than you get ready every morning. You can't be late, it's your first day at the University." Their mom speaks while her sister holds in a laughter. Don't try and laugh Saiko Avnee, cause you're one too."

It's also Saiko's first day of school today too. It's her last year of being a Senior in High School, and next year she will be in college too.

College University in their province has free tuition fees since it is a State University which means, no money is needed upon enrollment every semester. Although, students have to maintain a grade within a given range. An advantage of this, since Akira is now enrolled to a University where no tuition is needed, her sister Saiko is the only one their parents think of during tuition payments since she's the only one the left studying in a private school.

"Pick up the pace. Akira, Your Aunt called and told me that you'll be getting your textbooks and other materials at the University Registrar. You just have to show them your enrollment reciept, you have that right?" Her Mom asks while Akira just gave a nod. "Don't lose that, alright?"

She nods once again.

Their aunt, which is basically her mother's best friend in their high school and collage days is the one that helped them with the whole enrollment process under Akira's preferred course. Her aunt works at the university with a high position, that's why Akira got a slot under her preferred course. Slots usually ran out fast during enrollment season.

It was quarter to 7 am and the two were still sitting at the dining table. Akira is just finishing her coffee, while Saiko is scrolling on her phone when she scrolled through an update regarding their most awaited TV series. The next season is almost out look," Bringing the phone closer to her sister who's obviously still spacing out as she finishes her coffee.

With droopy eyes, a timid "oh yeah," was the only response the made.

"Yeah, I am also almost at the verge of hitting you the with this cloth hanger if you two still don't get up and get ready" The two shot both their gaze at their mom who is now sitting comfortably at the living room sofa. "It's past 7 am!" Their mom points at the wall clock inside the Living room.

Saiko was first to go into the Bathroom so Akira went to look for something to wear instead. It took her some time to look for the clothes she had in mind of wearing. She found her stripped cropped polo shirt, paring it with a high waisted jeans and her all white Air Force 1.

Just in time after laying her clothes straight on her bed, Saiko went in and called her as she just got out of the bathroom for her sister's turn.

At exactly 8 am when Akira and Saiko left their house. They may have a father that works abroad, but that doesn't mean that they have a lavish lifestyle. They live just right that lets them get by through everyday of life. That's why commuting to and from their schools is their known way of transportation.

Their Dad has been working in Dubai since Akira was little. Her Dad is an Engineer at a big company in Dubai, which he recently got a promotion on. Their Dad comes home every December of the year to celebrate Christmas and New Year's together with his family.

Between the two girls, Akira was the one that grew up close with her father, while Saiko is more close to their Mom. That's why Akira looks forward to December unlike any other months.

The cold breeze of December gives feel like it's telling her that their father is coming home.

I'll see you later, sis. Take care," Saiko bids farewell to her sister as she gets down from the jeepney they're on. The route they took is the main road, jeepneys and other vehicles always take the same route everyday, that's why commuters don't have any hassle going to and from their destination.

As a response to her sister, Akira waves back to her sister as the jeepney moves on forward.

It took her a few more minutes to get to the University. She heaves a deep sigh, clutching on her requirement-filled clear book before crossing the road.

The university was big. Students were seen everywhere especially at the spacious grounds of the school since there's a few more minutes left before class starts. Akira looks around, remembering every detail of what's surrounding her.

This is it. This is the start of College.

Her attention soon shifted to the girl that approached her that wears the University polo shirt, embracing a pile of paper. "Hi!" The girl greets her with enthusiasm. "Are you a freshman?"

It took Akira a couple of seconds before answering. "Yes," She smiles.

"I'm a Senior, and we're in charge of greeting freshmans to give this..." Handing Akira a pamphlet-like paper.

WELCOME FRESHIES!

WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR TRADITIONAL FRESHMAN WALK TO WELCOME EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU!

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE GYMNASIUM FOR A WARM WELCOME FROM OUR STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT BEFORE STARTING THE WALK!

SEE YOU THERE!

Akira silently reads what was written on the paper given to her when the Senior started to say something once again. "The Freshman Walk is a kind of tradition every start of the school year. It is the way of the Seniors to welcome freshies that will be joining this year. Come, I'll walk you to the Gymnasium."

"That would be nice, Thank you!"

Breathe, breathe. You can't keep living like you're going to run out of breath, mygod Akira!

On their way to the Gymnasium, there were a lot more students from where they came from. Akira grew a lot more nervous than before. How she wish that during this time there was at least a familiar face that could show up so she wouldn't have any problem coping up. Having to not know someone in an unfamiliar crowd is not easy. It somehow could feel like you have no where else to go if ever something occured.

As they enter the Gymnasium, the Senior she's with asked a favor to a co-officer that is also one to take part in the small event to guide Akira where she should go. She was then assisted immediately.

Akira once again scanned the place she's in. It's a thing she does in an unfamiliar place, she looks at every detail, everything that her eyes can see, remembering it for situational purposes. The students were lined up, stretching on both sides of the gymnasium. Obviously, there's a lot of Freshman this year compared to the previous school year.

Akira was just about to pull her phone out from her pocket to at least save her from boredom and akwardness when a familiar voice called her from the other line of students. "Kira!" The voice calls. She furrowed her brows at the way the voice called her. There's only one person she knows that calls her by that nickname.

"Hey, Kira! I was calling you," A pair of hands landed on her shoulders from the back. An act of instinct, she moves away from the person. Leaving her surprised at who it was.

"Jayden?!" She was suprised, her voice raised a little. It was as if she can breathe fine now that she finally saw a familiar face that she knows.

She hugged her, after asking to switch place with one of the students so that they can be in one aisle together, so they would not go through the hassle of talking with students in between them. "How have you been? Who would've thought that we would cross paths here of all places,"

"Jayden Kade Almario and Akira Venn Buenesco met during their Junior High School days. It was in 7th grade when Akira transferred to the school where Jayden is, being an introverted anti-social, she found it hard to make friends. Jayden was the first to approach her and show her around. Little did they know that it was the start of a long-term friendship with each other.

Akira may not be social with their other classmates, but Jayden helped her out with it. During their 4 years of friendship during Junior High School days, Akira did not graduate alone. Akira did not finish Junior year alone. She passed High School with someone to call a friend. She thought that she would never get along with anyone, given that she just transferred there and she barely knew anyone, but she was wrong. If Jayden didn't came along, she probably would end up alone in every cafeteria table, every hallway, and every waiting time for their service came to pick them up.

However, when they stepped into Senior High School Akira had to transfer schools. And that means Bye-bye Jayden. But they do still talk, seldomly that is.

"I'm doing good, how about you? How have you been?" Akira asks back, still dazed at what was happening.

The joy visible on their tone of speaking cannot be contained as they clearly have a lot to catch up on. "I'm okay too! By the way, what's your program? What course did you take?"

"I'm taking Business Administration, how about you?"

"I'm taking Civil Engineering. Man, I still can't believe we've crossed paths again!" Jayden was obviously happy about that.

There were a lot of things Jayden still wants to ask, although their 'mini catch-up' was cut short when the Student Body President steps onto the podium to officially start the welcoming. The both of them decided to continue where they left off later after the welcoming.

It's nice to see a familiar face around.