Dark Intramurals: Chronicles of the Magic Wielders (On-Going)

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

CILAN'S POV

Mabilis na tinawid ni Prof. Archer ang distansya sa pagitan namin, bago niya hinablot ang kaniyang wallet.

​"I never thought na hindi ka naturuang 'wag makialam ng gamit ng ibang tao," matalim nitong pagalit.

​I was taken aback by his rage, pero agad din akong nakabawi. Ako ang may dapat klaruhin sa kanya.

​"Ang lalaking nasa picture," panimula ko, "...hindi ako 'yan. Sabihin mo, Prof. Archer. Sino siya?"

​Isinilid ng propesor ang wallet sa kanan niyang bulsa. "I'm not obliged to satisfy your curiosity."

​"Kamukha ko siya, Professor!" medyo napalakas kong sigaw. "Bakit ayaw mong sagutin ang tanong ko?"

​Matamang tumitig sa mga mata ko ang propesor, then he did something that caught me off guard.

​A streak of tear escaped his left eye. "He... was the worst thing that happened in my life. Satisfied?"

​Mabilis na tumalikod ang binatang propesor at naglakad palabas ng dorm, leaving me speechless.

​"Prof. Archer..." tangi kong nasambit. Sa mga mata ng lalaki, naramdaman ko ang kanyang matinding paghihirap.

​"Don't worry, Cilan. Hindi galit si Archer. It's just that hindi pa siya handang pag-usapan ang nakaraan niya."

​"Prof. Rohana," bati ko sa dalagang propesora. Kaagad kong nilapitan ang kinaroroonan niya.

​She guided me to sit on the nearest sofa para makapag-usap kaming dalawa nang maayos.

​"Sino siya, Prof. Rohana? Ang lalaking kaakbay ni Prof. Archer sa picture," diretso kong tanong.

​Prof. Rohana sighed before answering my question. "His name is Dylan. He was a freshman when Archer was a senior at Celesticville. Nagkakilala sila sa freshmen's orientation, pero naging talagang malapit sila sa volleyball varsity. Dylan was a promising Open Spiker recruit, and he idolized Archer who was the most prominent UCAAP men's volleyball player of his time. That was how they met."

​Tumango-tango ako. "I see. Pero Prof. Archer said that he was the worst thing that happened to him. Sa paanong paraan?"

​"Well..." nag-aalinlangang panimula ng propesora. "Keep it a secret that I was the one who told you this, understand? Hindi inamin sa'kin ito ni Archer, but I'm pretty sure about it. The two of them used to be a couple back then."

​Namilog ang mga mata ko. I can't imagine someone who looks like me having Prof. Archer as his boyfriend!

​"Alam ko 'yang iniisip mo, Cilan," natatawang saway ni Prof. Rohana. "Archer was not the stone-hard façade that he's sporting right now dati. He was warm and kind. Lagi siyang may ngiti sa mga labi niya. I saw myself how happy and in love both of them were during our college years. They were the sweetest sight the entire school had seen before. But one day, Dylan suddenly dropped school and Archer became how he is right now."

​Napakunot-noo ako. "How come? Nag-away ba sila? Anong pinag-awayan nilang dalawa?"

​Malungkot na umiling si Prof. Rohana. "I have no idea. Up to this day, hindi pa rin nagsasalita si Archer."

​Napatango-tango ako. Judging from the look on his eyes kanina and his hesitation to speak up even to his best friend, marahil napakabigat nga ng dahilan ng kanilang paghihiwalay.

​Matagal nang nakaalis si Prof. Rohana, pero nanatili akong nakatulos sa kinauupuan ko. I was too occupied thinking about Dylan, and that thing that caused his relationship with Prof. Archer to fall apart.