Chapter 2

"Ano 'yan?" Somebody asked and I hurriedly hid my things inside my bag. It was Clarisse. "Para ka namang nakakita ng magandang multo. Ano bang nagyayari sa 'yo?" She asked. She sat beside me while fixing her brown hair into a bun. Mahaba rin kasi buhok niya kaya madali lang i-bun, which reminds me I should also do mine.

"Wala," I answered and she just arched a brow at me. I pretended to clean the case of my ukulele para sana ay hindi niya na ako guluhin but she's just so persistent.

"Talaga?" She murmured, her voice laced with confidence. She knows me so well.

"Fine. I'll tell you," I surrendered. Para namang makakatakas ako sa kanya. Sooner or later she'll know anyway. Lahat ata walang lusot sa kanya eh.

"Go ahead," she said with a grin. Gusto lang talaga nito ng chismis.

And so I told her my story... From the moment I entered the room, to me playing the ukulele and singing, to Sir Troy hearing me sing, up to the syllabus thingy.

"Hala, talaga? Patingin nga," she mumbled after I told her everything. Siya na mismo ang kumuha ng bag ko at naghanap sa syllabus na sinabi ko. She then found it and her brows met. Kinuha niya naman 'yong kanya sa bag niya and amusement was written all over her face the moment she compared the two.

"Hala, oo. 'Yong copy mo lang nga ang may smiley," she grumbled. She looked up at me and gave me a teasing grin. "Looks like someone's having a crush on you," she teased. And my heart began drumming inside my chest again. Ugh. Parang tanga.

"Wala lang siguro 'yan," I muttered as I grabbed my syllabus from her and kept it inside my bag. "Baka naaliw lang si Sir sa katangahan ko kanina."

"Pero napansin ko rin kasi 'yong kakaibang ngiti niya kanina eh. Lalo na 'nong tinawag ka niya kasi bigla kang umiling," she said chuckling. "Ang tanga mo nga." This time ay lumakas na iyong tawa niya. 

"Clarisse naman eh. You're making me feel uneasy," reklamo ko.

"Kanina ka pa feeling uneasy, girl. Pagkapasok ko pa nga kanina eh mukha ka nang wala sa sarili. Baliw lang? Pero seryoso, affected ka masyado sa nangyari sa 'yo kanina," she stated. Of course, sino ba namang hindi maapektuhan kung tatanga-tanga ka sa harapan ng instructor mo? I even talked to him informally! Hindi ata ako makakatulog nito.

"Maipapasa ko kaya ang subject niya?" I suddenly blurted out na ikinatawa pa lalo ni Clarisse. Baliw 'to.

"Oh my God! Nakakatawa ka!"

"Hindi nakakatawa," I said seriously but it didn't stop her from laughing so hard.

"Beh, bakit ka nga ba biglang naging ganoon katanga?" She asked. At talagang aliw na aliw siya sa nangyari sa akin ha? Ang saya.

"Hindi ko alam."

"Eh kasi crush mo siya!"

"Anong crush? Hindi ko siya crush 'no. Hindi ko siya type!"

"Sige lang. Sooner you'll know. Nasa in denial stage ka pa for now," she murmured. "What we should do now is prepare. Kasi may klase pa tayo. Tara!" She mumbled. Nauna pa siyang maglakad sa akin papuntang parking.

Mamaya pa naman next class namin. 3 hours kasi dapat lecture namin under Sir Troy. But since first day pa naman, usually introduction and all about the syllabus lang dini-discuss.

Why am I overthinking again? Kasi naman binibigyan ko agad ng meaning when I shouldn't.

Pero kasi he's giving me reasons to! Ugh.

-

"May bagong poging faculty raw sa department niyo?" Love asked the moment she entered the car. Now this ride is going to be noisy since andito sina Clarisse and Love, who are both so talkative.

Tapos na ang mga klase namin ngayong araw. Pero kahit ganoon, si Sir pa rin ang pinag-uusapan.

"Yep. And Hope's having a crush on him," Clarisse hurriedly replied. Agad ko siyang pinanlakihan ng mga mata for spreading such rumor. Fake news talaga itong si Clarisse. Mamaya niyan may iba pang makaalam. Edi mas lalong wala na akong mukhang ihaharap sa klase ni Sir Troy.

"Oh talaga?" Love asked amusingly. "Ikaw Hope ah. Instructor pala bet mo ha," she teased.

"Shut up. Wala akong sinasabi," I replied. I knew this would happen.

"Defensive," Clarisse said mockingly.

"I heard marami ring may crush sa kanya. Kahit nga from other departments ay may crush sa kanya. In demand, huh?" Love stated. Oh well, by his looks, no doubt he already captured a lot of hearts, plus matalino pa siya. One look and you'll know he's really something.

And why am I even thinking about this?

"Eh ikaw kaya makakita ng ganoon kapogi at ka-yummy?" Clarisse commented. The two laughed and it's making me cringe.

Hindi ko na sila pinansin, although I'm still listening to them. I just focused on driving. Hindi ko pa sila kayang sabayan for now. Maybe next time masasakyan ko na sila sa mga trip nila about Sir Troy. I just need to get over what happened earlier para hindi na ako kainin ng hiya.

Few moments and we reached Clarisse's dorm to drop her. Hindi naman gaanong malayo from school at kaya lang lakarin but this girl here just loves availing free ride. What can I do?

"Bye, girls! Bye, Hope! Think of Sir Troy!"

"Shut up! Marinig ka pa ng iba diyan!"

"So what?" She replied and laughed. "Oh sige na. Thanks for the ride!" She waved bye and finally went inside the dormitory. Agad namang bumaba si Love from the back seat para lumipat sa harap sa tabi ko.

"At least may inspiration ka na," Love teased. I glared at her but it didn't stop her. "Oh come on. Wala namang masama sa pagkakaroon ng crush 'no. It's not as if you committed a crime," she stated. Why do they keep on insisting I have a crush on him? Buti pa sila alam nila kasi ako, I have no idea.

"Which café is Faith at?" I just asked to change the topic. She texted me earlier to fetch her somewhere but I still asked just to stop the topic about Sir Troy.

"The usual, Hope. Kunwari ka pa ha," Love answered.

We dropped by the café where Faith is at - Café Feliz, where we usually hang out. Good thing when she entered the car ay siya agad ang pinag-usapan. I can now breathe freely.

I turned to look at the road so we can finally go home. But when I glanced at my left side, I saw Sir Troy going out of his car. From the side mirror, I saw him opened the other door of his car and a girl went out. I don't know who the girl is kasi medyo malayo na kami from them but I'm sure he's with a girl and the two of them went inside the café.

I don't know why but as soon as I laid my eyes back at the road, I got disappointed. Silly. But why the hell am I feeling this way?