Miles Away (Circle Of Friends #1)

Chapter 36

This morning is extra. I'm ready to face everything I've left.

"Ms. Dyrrovy!" tawag sa 'kin ng freshman. I looked at him, smiling.

"Can... I-I..." He trailed off. I gave him a genuine sincere smile.

"Huwag kang kabahan, Guerrero... Ako lang 'to, ako pa rin 'to." panloloko ko. I'm used to them. I looked at the surname plate on his chest pocket.

As a consistent 1st honor student, sanay na rin talaga 'ko sa mga ganitong scenario.

"K-Kasi po... Mag dedefend po kami ng research, at hindi po ako magaling mag english. Baka po magka-tres ako, pangarap ko pong mai-uno ang thesis... o kahit dos na lang po, gusto ko labg mataas." sabi nito.

Napa-ngiti ako. I was once nervous as him, when I was a freshman.

"Answer in tag-lish, conyo, kumbaga. They might be not comfortable with it but you're the one who's defending the research..." sabi ko. "And don't say anything depending to the papers. The answer might be on your brain."

'Cause I once got an answer from him, but my heart says it all.

He said that I should make it up with her, but it was a nice choice when I chose not to.

Best in research pa nga. I was eager to get that title, bagsak kasi ako sa english noong high school dahil sa research. Inadd ko pa sa Ma'am Katarina sa Facebook para makita niya ang best in research certificate ko.

Also, it made students ask for my advice when it's a thesis week. Ang nakakapag taka nga ay dalawang buwan pa lang ang klase, defense na.

"Ang aga n'yo mag defense," sabi ko kay Guerrero. He then scratched the tip of his nose.

"Uh... Investigatory project po, Miss." sabi nito. Napa-laki ang mata ko.

"Niloloko mo 'ko? IP respresentative ka pala tapos nilalapitan mo 'ko... You won't be there on your spot if you don't deserve it kaya, so strive harder. I love it that you talked to me, because I talked to a powerful person." sabi ko.

Nginitian niya 'ko, his dimples... Nostalgic.

"Leigh?" tanong ko. Malaki ulit itong ngumit.

"Ate Breanna! Akala ko, hindi mo na 'ko makikilala, eh. Uhm..." huminto ito.

Leigh is a very intelligent person. Masipag pa, isipin mo, he was 14 years old back then when we got him as a helper... We paid him extra, deserve naman pala dahil dalawa ang trinabaho sa bahay namin!

"Nakaka hiya, Ate. Pero... Hindi naman talaga ako hihingi ng advice. Lalapitan naman talaga kita. Wala akong maisip sabihin."

Natawa ako. Our conversation is getting longer so we went to the cafeteria.

"So... kamusta kayo ng kapatid ko?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

Oh yes, ang trinabaho niyang isa pa ay si Narrely. I was like 'gago, napaka kapal ng mukha'. Because, duh. Mang liligaw ka tapos nag eexist kayo sa iisang bahay? Baka nais n'yong mabato ng kaldero.

"Foul po..." marahan niyang sabi. He's always like this. Natawa na lang din ako.

"So... I noticed that you're a Guerrero. How did it go?" tanong ko. He has an issue with his brother and he can't afford to have the same surname with him. Ganoon ka-lalim ang tampo niya.

"Oo, Ate. Na-pilit ako ni Papa magpa-Guerrero... Pero... Si Kuya, oo, selfish siya, hinayaan niyang mapadpad ako sa inyo, sa kahirapan... para mailigtas ang sarili niya." sabi niya. He never opened it up to me so I am a kind of interested.