Fragmented Rhapsody

Fragment 24

24
Memory

"Tara lunch?"

Tilting my head from my desk, I looked at Caitlyn and approved her idea. I saw how she pursed her lips in hesitation like she's stopping herself from speaking more. 

Isinara ko ang aking notebook at inayos ang mga gamit. Sunod kong isinukbit ang aking bag sa balikat at pinulot ang hoodie mula sa sandalan ng upuan.

"Let's go?" I asked, my hands full of my stuff.

Tumango siya at nauna nang lumabas ng class room. We still have our 1 to 5 PM class and we need to have our lunch now. Late rin kasi nag-dismiss ang prof namin sa Theology kaya limitado na ang oras namin bago magsimula ang susunod na klase.

Nagsimula na kaming maglakad palabas nang agad kong maramdaman ang tingin ng iba naming block mates. I silently hoped and prayed the attention would end but even when we got outside, students are also looking towards us. Some have concerned eyes, while others are just utterly curious.

Huminga ako nang malalim at hindi na sila binigyang-pansin habang patuloy pa rin sa paglalakad. Nilapat ko ang notebook na hawak sa aking dibdib at yinakap ito. I cannot blame them even if I wanted their stares to at least rest for a while. Gustuhin ko man na ilipat nila ang kanilang atensyon sa ibang bagay ay hindi ko magawa dahil wala akong karapatan dito.

People choose who they want to talk about and we're beyond that choice. The best thing we can do is to mind our own business.

"I want beef," Caitlyn huffed beside me while looking up at the menu choice when we entered the café.

We're currently in line and the whole area's buzzing with students inside. Tinignan ko siya at nakitang wala ring pakialam sa mga titig sa aming direksyon. I'm quite thankful that I have been blessed with a friend who doesn't give a fuck to most people around most of the time.

I seriously don't know what to do without her – having Caitlyn around made everything bearable for the past 3 months.

"I'll order beef too."

After ordering, we tried to look for a table at nahirapan pa kami dahil wala na kaming mahagilap na bakanteng upuan at lamesa. Swerte lang namin dahil may dalawang estudyanteng tumayo malapit sa glass wall sa may bandang gilid.

Pati sa paglalakad ay panay ang reklamo ni Caitlyn dahil kulang talaga ngayon ng upuan. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nabawasan but I think it's because they needed a few tables and chairs for the upcoming Intramurals.

SLU's going to hold its annual sports fest and that means we will have no official classes for more than a week, starting next week. That gives a breather for us – having some time to rest in between our hectic schedules. 

We're still trying to endure third year and we're not even halfway done. I almost got lost during the past 3 months and I actually consider myself lucky that I didn't lose my sanity in the process.

Muntik lang. But I don't think I'd let things that way.

"You finally agreed to be the representative?" tanong ni Caitlyn bago sumubo ng kanin.

I sighed and nodded. "Got no choice. Our professors were pestering me..."

"That's because you didn't agree to run for VP last election," she chuckled. "They wanted you to join the student council so bad."

Umirap ako at sinimulan na ring kumain. She's talking about how some of my professors wanted me to run for that position. But of course, I didn't agree at the start of 3rd year. I surely think I can pull the role off, but I chose not to burden myself with extra responsibilities.