CHAPTER 1

A teacher...

It such a noble job. Too respectable for someone like me.

But here I am.

I'm literally in a classroom. I'm standing in front while my students are staring at me.

"Ohayou gozaimasu, minasan or should I say, goodmorning class!" I greeted pleasantly.

"Ohayou gozaimasu, sensei!" Good morning, sensei.

I gestured them to sit down and they all obliged. This is what I like about them. They are very disciplined.

"Jugyō o hajimemashou." Let's start the discussion.

Humarap ako sa white board. Kinuha ang isang marker at sinulat doon ang page ng libro na pag-aaralan namin ngayong araw.

"Open your book on page 42, kindly read it loud. Let's see if your pronounciation gets better." I smiled.

I'm an international teacher here in Japan. I've been working for almost 7 years already. Ang tagal na rin pala simula nang mag-abroad ako at mamuhay mag-isa.

But being alone doesn't mean I'm lonely. I actually enjoyed it.

Once the class dismissed and made sure that there are no students in the classroom, I immediately leave and went to the faculty to gather my things too.

"Uy bebe" Ngumiti ako ng malawak nang makita ang isa sa mga ka-close ko dito and ka-housemate na din.

She's my co teacher Sienna. Pinoy rin siya kagaya ko. May kaedaran siya sa akin pero hindi halata dahil baby face siya.

"Tapos na ang klase mo Sienna?" I asked again when I went into her table.

"Oo. Susunduin ko na si Vienna. Ikaw ba? Sasabay ka na?" nagliligpit na rin siya ng kaniyang gamit.

Vienna is her child. Napaka-cute na bata no'n.

"Hindi. I still have something to do." I paused then I whispered, "Blind date." I winked at her.

It's true. Mayroon talaga akong ka-blind date ngayon. Pinilit lang ako ng isa kong kaibigan. Just to have fun.

Being a teacher doesn't mean I can't date right?

She smiled. "Wow. Sana okay ang maging ka-blind date mo."

"Sana nga." I combed my hair using my fingers. "Ikaw ba? Hindi ka ba lalandi?"

"I'm too old for that."

I rolled my eyes. Sienna is being Sienna. Lagi na lang niya minemention ang edad niya na parang hindi na talaga pwede lumandi.

"Anong too old? Mukha kang bata!"

"40 na ako, Perry."

"So?" Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Sayang ang ganda mo Sienna. Napakabata pa ng iyong itsura. Hindi naman halatang kwarenta ka na."

Sienna respectfully shook her head. "Siguro huwag na. I'm contented with my life."

I shrugged my shoulder. "Ikaw bahala pero daming nagkakagusto sa'yo dito. Si Sir Hinata, may gusto sa'yo 'yon hindi ba?"

"Hindi naman siguro."

"Asus. Sayang 'yon. Matanda pero mayaman naman."

Why not grab the opportunity right?

She chuckled and shook her head. "Mahilig ako sa mas bata sa akin."

"Luh! Walang asenso sa mas bata. Mga immature pa 'yon." umirap ako bago ako tuluyang nagpaalam sa kaniya.

Ang boring talaga ng kaibigan ko na 'yon. Masiyado siyang dedicated sa trabaho niya to the point na hindi na niya na-eenjoy ang single era niya.

Me? Kapag trabaho, trabaho lang. Hindi ko masiyadong iaalay ang buhay para do'n.

Once I'm outside the school, dumiretsyo ako sa mall kung saan kami magkikita no'ng ka-blind date ko.

Pumasok muna ako sa restroom para magpalit ng damit.

I had to change what I'm wearing because it's too conservative for my liking. Makikipagdate ba ako ng mukha akong manang? Hell no! Nakasuot pa naman ako ng long sleeve blouse at pencil skirt.

Buti na lang, lagi ako may dalang pamalit sa mga ganitong sitwasyon. Dala-dala ko ang isang maroon long-sleeve off-shoulder fitted dress na hanggang kalahati ng aking hita. Bumagay naman ang kulay black kong heels sa damit. Pagkatapos kong maayos ang suot ay nilabas ko naman ang aking mga piercings na sinusuot ko lang kapag wala na ako sa school. Pagkatapos kong masuot ang hikaw ay kaagad ko namang nilagyan ng mas matapang na make up ang aking itsura.

I put on my deep red lipstick, put a little blush and made my siren eyes smoky as possible.

Matapos maayos ang sarili ay kaagad akong napangiti.

So pretty!

Expressive. Wild. Young. Free.

After that, iniwan ko muna sa locker ang mga gamit ko bago ako dumiretsyo sa isang ramen house resto kung saan ang meet up namun.

On my way there, I feel that someone is staring at me. Bago pa ako lumingon ay may naramdaman akong kumapit sa kamay ko.

"Perry."

Isang pamilyar na lalaki ang biglang sumulpot sa aking harapan.

I don't know his name-can't remember but I know he's one of the guys I hooked up with.

"What do you need?" I asked before taking my arms back from his hold.

"Please be mine" giit nito bago muling kinapitan ang aking kamay.

"I'm not anyone's property." Kumunot ang noo ko bago ko hinampas ang mga kamay niya. "Let me go."

"I couldn't forget that night. I think I like you." giit ng binata. "Please be with me, again."

This is what I hated about some of the guys I hooked up with. Malinaw kong sinasabi na sigaw lang iyon ng laman. No big deal. No attachments. Just a one night stand.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi nila iyon maintindihan.

Tumawa ako ng sarkisto. "You're ridiculous. You know what is the answer to that. I can't even remember what happened to us. Please leave me alone...sir."

I was about to walk again when he caught my arms again.

I tsked. Aba! Ang kulit-kulit!

I was about to shout when someone poked my shoulder.

"Excuse me." Isang panlalaking boses ang biglang sumingit.

Lumingon ako sa kung sino mang kumulbit sa balikat ko.

Isang lalaking...hanggang leeg ko lang ang height but when I look at his face, he's handsome. Maputi ang lalaki na mayroong dimples sa kanang bahagi ng pisngi. He's wearing a specs but that didn't become a hindrance to see his chinito eyes.

Hala ang cute niya.

"Sumimasen." he spoke. He glanced at me. "Do you know where the ramen resto here?"

I can't help but to smile.

I knew right away what he's doing so I get along.

"Yes! I know!" Kaagad kong tinanggal ang kamay ng bwisit na lalaki sa aking kamay at kinausap ang binatang dumating. "Do you want me to guide you?"

He glanced at the guy beside me. "How about him?"

"Don't worry about him." Ngumiti ako ng mas malawak bago ko hinawakan ang kaniyang pisngi. I didn't hesitate to pinch his cheek right away. "Mas cute ka."

Kita ko saglit ang pag-awang ng kaniyang labi sa ginawa ko.

Oops. I think I went too far.

But he's cute. My type.