Chapter 6

Ilang segundo pa bago ako naka-recover mula sa pagkabigla. It was like the moment I heard Sir spoke, my brain and whole body stopped functioning.

Are his words laced with magic?

Bumalik lang kasi ako sa katinuan when Love poked me.

"Nakaalis na, Hope," she murmured while smiling.

"Ha?" I asked, confused. Nakatayo pa rin ako roon at hindi man lang nakagalaw agad.

"Umalis na sila Sir. Tama na 'yan. Isa ka ring obvious eh," she mumbled. Nakita ko pa siyang umiling saka sumakay na sa sasakyan. Nilingon ko naman si Faith and she just gave me a meaningful smile before entering the car.

When I looked at where Sir parked his car ay wala na ito doon.

God, did I space out that much?

Napailing na lang ako saka nagmadaling sumakay ng sasakyan. Baliw rin ako eh.

"He really cares for you that much 'no?" Love said.

"Ha?" Parang tanga na tanong ko ulit. I don't know. Naiwan ata ang utak ko sa café.

O baka naman sumama kay Sir?

Ugh, mind! Behave!

"Si Sir Troy. Ganoon ba talaga siya ka-caring sa students niya? Kasi kung ganoon nga siya, aba lahat ata ng students niya mai-in love talaga sa kanya," she replied.

"Di ko alam," I answered as I started the engine.

"But it was like... there's something in his voice when he said it. Di ako sure, ha? Parang he really cares for you," Faith butted in.

"Oo! Akala ko ako lang," Love said hurriedly. "Omg."

"And the way he behaved earlier, his words towards you... it's different," dagdag pa ni Faith.

I'd like to think there really is something with the way he talks to me and even the way he glances at me. But no, ayaw kong mag-assume tapos masasaktan lang.

"Feel ko talaga crush ka niya," Love said with a big smile on her face.

"Wag niyo ngang bigyan ng meaning. Baka naman mabuti lang talaga siyang tao," I replied. "And please, stop talking about it. I can't concentrate on driving. Gusto niyo bang mabangga tayo?"

"Oh... so you're affected?" Love teased. Narinig ko pang tumawa si Faith. Pinagkakaisahan talaga nila ako.

"Oh please. Stop it," sabi ko na lang at pilit nag-concentrate sa pagda-drive. I just wish they'll stop b

ecause I can't afford to crash the car.

-

Kinaumagahan ay maaga akong nagising to prepare for school. Since wala pa si Manang ay ako na muna ang naghanda ng breakfast. That's one of my responsibilities as the eldest.

As soon as I wake up ay naghilamos agad ako and went to the kitchen to check if we have enough ingredients. Good thing Manang did the grocery kaya may enough supply pa kami.

I just made some omelettes and cooked some hotdogs. Hindi ko naman kailangan magluto nang marami since Love is claiming she's on a diet and Faith usually wakes up a bit late kaya konti lang rin nakakain niya. Minsan pa nga ay pumapasok na lang siya ng school without eating and ends up grabbing some food for brunch kapag may vacant time siya. Madalas rin kasi 'yong matulog nang late kakaaral, which I admire of her. Sana lang ay on the same level ang kasipagan namin. Too bad my laziness always wins.

After preparing the food ay isa-isa ko nang ginising sina Love and Faith bago ako naligo at mag-ayos. Besides, I still have two hours before my class so I have enough time to fix myself.

I just put on some powder and some lip tint, no need to fix my brows because they're already okay, which I got from my Mom. Thanks for her and Dad's genes.

"Love, pa-braid naman," I asked Love. She's done eating. Nakaayos na rin siya at ready to go to school na. Hinihintay na lang namin si Faith na naliligo pa.

"Himala at nagpaayos ka ata," she mumbled. She looked at me meaningfully.

"Madalas naman akong nagpapaayos sa 'yo ah?" I replied. Kapag marami pang time ay nagpapaayos talaga ako ng buhok kay Love. I like my hair in braids kasi di na kailangan ng constant care the entire day. I'll just leave it as it is.

"I mean, look at you," she said while looking at me from head to toe. "You hardly wear skirts but you wore one today. And it's not paired with a t-shirt."

Napatingin ako sa suot ko. Oo, hindi ako madalas magsuot ng skirt but this time I decided to wear one kasi mas bagay i-pair ang new blouse ko sa denim skirt na about 5 inches above the knee. And besides, ang init ng panahon.

"Because it matches my blouse better than pants," I said. She just looked at me with a grin.

"Okay. Sabi mo eh," she just said and then began doing my braids.

I just sat there quietly and waited for Love to finish. Iyon nga lang ay biglang pumasok sa isip ko na magkikita na naman kami ni Sir Troy since we're going to meet for our Laboratory class later. Kaya ayun at nakaramdam ako ng kaba. I just wish it'll be quick.

Just when Love finished braiding my hair, Faith came, her hair's still damp.

"Baka naman gusto mo munang mag-hair dry diyan," Love suggested but Faith just shook her head.

"Wag na. Baka ma-traffic tayo," she said saka nauna nang pumunta sa labas.

"Anong oras na naman kaya natulog 'yan kagabi?" Love asked, na sinagot ko lang ng kibit-balikat kasi wala naman talaga akong idea.

We went to School and luckily, hindi kami na-traffic so we just arrived on time. I just dropped them off at the Student Center so I can go straight to the Science and Math building. Pareho kasi silang nasa Humanities and Social Sciences building ang unang klase.

Iyon nga lang, I somehow regret going to School at this hour. Kahit kasi on time lang ang dating ko ay mukhang wala pang tao sa room. I even checked the whole space when I arrived and I was right, ako pa lang ang student.

Kaya sa takot kong maabutan ako ni Sir Troy ay agad akong umalis doon at naisipang magpapalipas muna nang ilang minuto sa may canteen. Ang awkward naman kasi kung kami lang ulit ni Sir ang tao sa classroom. Naalala ko tuloy 'yong nangyari sa akin last time, which is really not a good memory for me.

As I was walking away from the room ay naging mapagmatyag ako sa paligid at todo tingin sa kanan, kaliwa, harap at likod kasi baka makita ako ni Sir Troy. And I don't want it to happen so I have to be careful.

Dahan-dahan pa akong naglakad na para bang kriminal na may pinagtataguan.

Kaso when I was near the entrance ay halos ma-estatwa ako when I heard someone spoke.

"Where are you going, Miss Rivera?" Sir Troy asked, my back facing him.

Oh no. Oh no.