Pagbalik ko ng campus ay nakasalubong ko si Rafus sa corridor. Our eyes met, and instead of stopping from my tracks, I walked past him.After a few steps, I felt a hand grip my wrist, and I was lightly pulled backward. I grunted overactingly and made a fake, annoyed face."What?"His lips were pursed, and his stares were calm and serious like he's studying me. Eventually, I felt the grip loosen, and the next thing I knew, his hand was on mine. I felt shiver in my body, and when his hand slowly moved on my palm, I felt like I was being electrocuted by a thousand volts.I took my hand from him as I drew backward. Seeing him right now only makes the conversation of Dani and Carys echoed in my mind. I slightly felt a pang on my chest. My vision was a bit blurry, so I tilted my head sideward."What's the problem? Is there anything wrong, hmm?" He asked in a calm voice, but I can almost hear the concern in it.Wipe my eyes, then simply

Starting from that day, I started avoiding Rafus because every time I saw him, the scene in the library was always replaying at the back of my mind. How I was slapped hard by the reality that I won't be chosen by him. I bet Rafus felt relieved since there's no nuisance leeching around him anymore.Ibinuhos ko ang lahat ng atensyon ko sa work immersion. I sometimes help Dani when there's no available bagger. Hindi ko pa masiguro ang rating ko. Mrs. Cattaneo's a hard to impress. One time, when she's simply observing one of us, she wears that intimidating and stoical expression. Her lips were in straight line, and arms were crossed above her bosom.Good thing that happened when I was here in Cattaneo's Enterprise was that I didn't encounter shallow minded people and didn't see Rafus in my working hours.It's already last week of November, a week where our work immersion will come to an end. I could say that I've learned so much during my overall work immersio

The food came, and all of us were already here in the room, including Rafus' mom. She gave a brief speech, and Rafus was standing beside her. Nagsimula na kami sa pagkuha ng pagkain at hindi lang ako ang napadami ng kuha kundi pati rin ang mga kasamahan pa namin.Sa bandang gilid kami umupo ni Dani at tahimik na nilalasap ang sarap ng pagkain. Inabutan na kami kanina ni Sy ng soft drinks."Ano'ng rating mo, Slaine?" Tanong ni Dani sa gitna ng pagkain namin. Hindi ko pa siya masagot dahil ngumunguya pa ako. "Ninety-four din ba? 'Yan kasi ang nakuha ko maging ang ilan at ninety three naman ang nakuha ng iba."Natigilan ako at napatingin kay Dani pero hindi niya ata napansin ang pagkabigla ko. How come I receive a ninety-six when it's just ninety three to ninety four on my co-workmates. I find it suspicious yet... I'm afraid to tell Dani. Hindi ko alam ang takbo ng isip niya at sa tingin ko ay baka may mali lang sa rating ko."Uhm, ano kasi Dani-""Is this seat taken?"Hindi ko natuloy a

We almost finished our food when the commotion occurred, and it made us seven to lift our heads. My eyes widened and can't take it off to those people."Oh? That's Sienna Gallegos," Helen said in wonder while her forefinger was pointing in Sienna's direction."And that's Shantal Salazar," Jangkit sighed."Namantsahan mo ang sapatos ko!" Pahisteryang sigaw ni Shantal at bahagya pang napapadyak.Nanatili akong nanonood sa kanila habang nakunot ang noo. Lumapit si Carys sa tabi ni Sienna para kampihan siya."Shantal, hindi ka naman siguro color blind, ano? Paano namantsahan ng color orange ang sapatos mo eh tubig naman ang binili ni Sienna? Isa pa, paano mamantsahan 'yan eh hindi pa nabubuksan ang bote ng tubig niya?" Matapos sabihin ni Carys iyon ay humagalpak sila sa katatawa ni Avianna at nahawa si Sienna."Ops, bobo spotted." Bungisngis ni Crezst sa tabi ko. Nakita ko rin na nagpipigil sa tawa sila Helen habang sina Dom at Lowel

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Moceano!"Bigla kaming nataranta at walang sa huwisyong napatayo. Damn, hindi namin namalayan na nagbell! Matapos sabihin ni Mrs. Moceano na pwede na kaming umupo ay inayos namin ang silya sa tamang ayos.I can't focus on what Mrs. Moceano's discussing because I'm too preoccupied with what we have talked about earlier. What kind of event may it be? Who were invited? Does it have a connection with their family business?That night, when I was in my part-time job, I wanted to ask Ate Reive if she knew something about that event being held on Cattaneo's property, but I'm too embarrassed to bring that topic. Kuya might also know something about it, but he seems to be in a bad mood. Mula palang sa labas ng convenience store ay nakita ko na nakabusangot ang mukha niya kaya kinakabahan akong kausapin siya. He might burst his frustrations on me.Sa sumunod na araw ay sinamantala ko ang pagkakataon para tanungin uli si Dani kung alam