His Runaway Bride

Chapter 6: Degree Bago T*t*

Jillian Klairo

"Nerdy!" malakas na bati ni Del Russo habang naglalakad ako palapit sa kanya. Kasalukuyan siyang nakaupo sa spot namin sa student center. Hindi ko naman maiwasang mahiya dahil napatingin sa akin ang halos lahat ng estudyante na naroon.

"Tumahimik ka nga, umagang-umaga," singhal ko sa kanya at sumalampak ng upo sa katapat niyang upuan. Alas-diyes na ng umaga, katatapos lang ng dalawang period namin. Anatomy and Pathology, walang lecture pero nag-quiz kami. I was just so thankful that we studied last night because if we didn't, I would've failed that test. Sa tatlong beses kong break ay nag-stay si Del Russo doon at sabay kaming nag-aaral.

"Kape oh, pampalakas sa third period."

Hindi na ako sumagot at kinuha iyon na lamang iyon.

"Wala bang 'Thank you, napakaguwapo na Del Russo sa kape'?" Nang-aasar na naman na banat niya.

Inirapan ko ang may ngisi niyang mukha.

"Gosh, imagine the god complex that you would have once you're a doctor," sarkastiko kong sagot.

"Speaking of, hindi dapat ako magdo-doctor," sabi niya habang nakatingin sa akin, as if waiting for me to respond. Which I wouldn't do, and so, Hindi ako sumagot at ininom lang ang kape ko. Ngayon ay banat na ang kanyang itim na slacks dahil nakapatong ang ankle niya sa dulo ng kanyang hita. Kita ko din ang kanyang black shoes na paniguradong mas mahal pa sa tatlong buwan na renta ko.

He dramatically sighs.

"Dito 'yong part na magpe-pretend na may pake ka, Nerdy, you know." He tilted his head. Dahan-dahan akong tumango at nilagok ang kape. Ngumising aso ako sa kanya.

"Oh, really? What was your alternative choice?" My tone was too attentive and sweet to be real.

Bahagya naman siyang tumawa at sandali na pinaraan ang kanyang kamay sa kanyang nakalugay na buhok.

"Biochemistry ang pre-med ko . . . so, I was gonna pursue biochemical engineering, but I didn't."

"Oh, ba't di ka nag-engineer?" Ngumisi naman siya.

"Wala e, mas panghatak sa chicks 'yong Dr. na title e." He clicked his tongue and winked at me. I rolled my eyes.

"Ang landi-landi mo talaga," iiling-iling kong sagot at lumagok muli ng kape. He chuckled lightly.

"Joke lang . . . gusto ko talaga mag-medicine . . . saka kung nag-engineer ako, edi hindi mo ako makilala at hindi mo makikita ang guwapo kong mukha." He even caressed his chin.

I scoffed.

"Wala ka pang god complex sa lagay na 'yan ha?" Ngumuso siya.

"Just stating the facts that you're not ready to face yet," he replied and winked.

Napapading na lamang ako. He stretched his arm to reach for his cup, and hindi ko naman napigilan ang mga pasaway kong mga mata na dumapo sa kanyang braso. He looks like he works out a lot because there are cords of muscles in his biceps and strings of veins in his forearm . . . I also can't help but notice how long his fingers are. Tumikhim ako. Nope, I shouldn't be thinking about that.

"Ikaw naman, bakit ka nag-med?" tanong niya matapos niyang sumimsim sa kanyang kape.

Lumunok ako at nag-isip sandali kung sasabihin ko ba sa kanya o hindi, but before I even contemplated deeper, I opened my mouth.

"My father died because of a sudden stroke . . . and at that moment, I just wished I could've done something to prevent it . . . and save him somehow . . ." I paused and swallowed the thorns around my throat. "But he's gone now . . . and if not him, then I'll help other people who still have a shot in life," pagpapatuloy ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit basta basta ko na lang nasabi iyon sa kanya. Maybe because, whether I like to admit it or not, komportable akong kasama si Del Russo.