Chapter 3

Sinubukan kong huwag isipin iyong nakita ko. Kasi ano naman kung may kasama si Sir na babae? Ano namang pakialam ko doon?

"Kunot na kunot ata ang kilay mo?" I heard Love ask. Hindi ko alam kung sinong sinabihan niya nun kaya nilingon ko siya, only to find her looking at me.

"Ako? Nakakunot ba kilay ko?" Patay-malisyang tanong ko.

"Opo," she replied.

"May nangyari bang hindi ko alam?" Singit naman ni Faith.

"Kami dapat nagtatanong niyan eh. May nangyari bang hindi namin alam at bakit ka napadpad sa cafe? Did you meet anyone?" Parang nanay na tanong ni Love. I was finally able to breathe when she's no longer talking to me.

"Something just came up," Faith just said coolly. I looked at her through the rearview mirror and she's just looking outside through the window. I know something happened. She's very transparent. Sa aming tatlo, she's the worst liar. She just can't lie because in the first place, she doesn't know how to. It's like whenever she lies, you'll know she's lying. And I don't know if that's a good thing.

"Something just came up ka diyan. Come on, I know something happened. Spill," sabi naman ni Love. I heard Faith took a sigh. Minsan lang 'yan mamroblema so whenever she's like that, it's a big deal and it bothers her for sure.

Wala na siyang nagawa kundi magkwento. What we did is just listen intently. Hinintay pa namin siyang matapos sa pagkukwento before we made our comments. Of course, it was Love who has a lot to say.

"I don't know what to say," iyon lang ang nasabi ko because honestly, I can't think of any words to say. It's like something's blocking my mind to think about something else.

Whatever it is, I wish it will be gone by tomorrow.

-

The next day came and I was able to breathe freely after looking at my schedule. Thank God I don't have any other subjects under Sir Troy. Kasi kung meron man, hindi ko alam kung paano ko makakaya ang halos araw-araw na makita siya. Buti na lang we only have to meet twice a week. Kaya ko naman sigurong tiisin 'yon.

And why am I thinking about it again?

Masasabunutan ko na talaga ang sarili ko nito eh.

I hurriedly went to our classroom but nobody's around yet. It's almost 10 am and it's time for our first class pero ako pa lang ang nandito. I'd like to think I'm too early, but well, they're just late. I just came on time though.

This time, I didn't bring my ukulele. Baka kasi ma-tempt na naman akong tumugtog at magmukha na naman akong tanga. I've learned my lesson. I'll never play ukulele inside the school again.

Minutes later ay isa-isa nang nagdatingan ang mga kaklase ko. Nang lingunin ko ang pinto para makita kung sinong papasok, I saw Clarisse and Lio running towards me. Nag-unahan pa ang dalawa sa pag-upo sa bakanteng upuan sa bandang kanan ko, and Clarisse is the first one to sit. She laughed at him.

"Pwede naman kasing kumuha ng chair. May space pa naman," I said. There was still a space beside me, on my left side. "Ba't kasi late," I mocked. These two are always late. Last sem, laging pinagtatawanan si Lio kasi ilang minuto na lang at matatapos na ang klase ay saka pa siya dumadating. Si Clarisse naman, minsan sakto lang ang pagdating, minsan maaga, madalas late.

"Sorry naman. Traffic kasi. Besides, the instructor's still not around," he replied. I arched a brow at him.

"Anong traffic? Traffic ba papunta dito from your dorm? Nahiya naman ako," Clarisse mumbled.

"Oo. Traffic. Pagkababa ko ng tricycle, di agad ako nakausad sa paglalakad kasi kasisimula pa lang ng klase, ang rami na atang nagpapa-consult dun sa bagong instructor. Ayun, di ako agad nakadaan sa dami ng estudyante sa may entrance," Lio stated.

I saw on my peripheral vision how Clarissed glanced at me with a grin.

"Uso naman kasi mag-'excuse me'," I hurriedly said. Umayos na ako sa pagkakaupo at humarap na sa harapan kahit wala pa namang instructor.

"Ba't ba ang sungit-sungit mo ha?" He laughingly asked as he put his arms around my neck, which he always does.

"Ano ba! Papatayin mo ba ako?!" Halos pasigaw na sabi ko. I was slapping his arms when he finally let go. Napansin ko ring bigla nang tumahimik.

And when I looked in front, I saw Sir Troy. Biglang nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Why is he here?! He's not supposed to be here!

"Hi. I know you're suprised to see me. But Ma'am Gel asked me to attend your class today on her behalf," he said and the class said "oh" in chorus. Well, except me.

"May kailangan kasi siyang gawin. But this is just for today," he added and the class said "awww" in chorus. Well, except me again. "I'll just check the attendance and try to talk something about this subject."

He began checking the attendance and when it was my turn ay itinaas ko lang ang kamay ko while looking at Lio. Naweirduhan ata siya sa akin kaya he mouthed 'what?' Which I replied with a fake smile.

Gumawa na naman ako ng kahihiyan. And I feel like I want to bury myself alive. Nakakailan na ako eh. Baka naka-quota na ako sa kanya.

When he finished checking the attendance, he started talking about the subject while I felt Lio moving closer towards me.

Later he whispered, "anong meron?"

I realized that he doesn't know. Wala nga pala siya kahapon. The reason? I don't know.

I can't answer him for now kasi ayaw kong mahuli akong dumadaldal so I just shrugged. But he kept poking me so I looked at him with a blank face. Nakakaasar talaga minsan ang kakulitan niya.

"Later, okay?" I said, almost in a whisper. He just smiled sheepishly. But this time, it was Clarisse who poked me.

"Ano?" Baling ko sa kanya. She's grinning at me.

"Ang gwapo-gwapo talaga ni Sir. Swerte mo," she said. Napailing na lang ako sa sinabi niya. Because in the first place, bakit ako maswerte? As if he likes me.

Good thing, sandali lang nagsalita si Sir and hurriedly dismissed us. Agad akong tumayo and the two followed. Lio draped an arm over my shoulders.

"So ano 'yon? Something happened?" He asked.

"Huy tsansing!" Clarisse commented. Lio glared at him. He later removed his arm around me.

"Ang gulo mo talaga," Lio replied. Ginulo niya ang buhok ni Clarisse which made her mad.

"I told you, not my hair!"

"Sorry," Lio laughingly said as he began to run for his life. These two are like Tom and Jerry. They keep on fighting. Naiiwan na naman tuloy ako. So I have to run.

But a classmate called me so I have to turn.

And I regret turning because right in front of me is Sir Troy.