Sadyang Mapaglaro Ang Tadhana (Feeble Love #2)

Kabanata 1

Booth

"I would probably never see him again!"

I honestly don't know how to comfort her. She was being hysterical! I opened the room and placed her on the bed. She was so drunk. I got a warm towel from the restroom so I can wipe her face. Nakita ko lang siya sa labas ng pinto. Damn. She's wasted.

"Enough Sofia. Don't lose yourself for someone like him." I mumbled, in doubt if I said the right words to calm her.

Psychology major pa naman ako. Nakakahiya ka Therese! Acceptable naman siguro na wala akong masabi dahil wala pa namang tinuturo na concept sa amin. Nonetheless, it's not just about the concept, it's finding the exact words. Truth is... words can be comforting at the same time can hurt a person.

Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari sa kanila ni Jason. I just know, they broke up. Ayoko muna siyang tanungin dahil baka masama pa rin ang loob niya at ayaw kong madagdagan pa iyon. After an hour of crying, mabuti na lang ay nakatulog na siya! Agad na rin akong umalis pagkatapos ko siyang bihisan.

Magkatabi lang ang condo unit namin kaya wala akong naging problema. Nang makita na okay naman na ang lagay niya, umalis na ako para makapagpahinga na rin.

I did my usual routine. I took a half bath, do my skincare and wear my pj's. Mabilis akong nakatulog dahil na rin siguro sa pagod. Kinabukasan nagising ako sa sikat ng araw. The view here was always beautiful and calming. The sunrise in the whole Manila Bay was my favorite.

Tiningnan ko ang phone. May mga message roon.

From Mark:

Good morning! Can you do me a favor? Come early today. I'm going to be late.

From Sofia:

Thereeeese.

Thank you kagabi hah! Promise okay na ako ngayon :) I'll see later. May dadaanan lang ako.

Napasinghap ako sa text ni Sofia. Seriously? Okay na agad siya?? Pero kung totoo nga, mabuti naman.

Its Saturday today. Gaganapin ngayon ang freshman party at bloc namin ang napiling mag organize. Naisipan ko munang itext si Mark bago tuluyang umalis.

To Mark:

Papunta na.

Mark is an old friend. He's been always good to me. Mabuti na lang sa Arison International din pala siya nag-enroll kaya kahit papaano may kakilala na ako.

My Dad wanted me to study at UST but I declined. I heard Arison offers a better and expanded curriculum in Psychology. Well, it's true. I choose Psychology for some reasons. I've seen my friends struggle, but I know their feelings are valid. That's why I want to understand the reason behind it. Hindi lang iyon. I've constantly wondered why some mendicants in the streets end up losing themselves. In the future, I want to hold a hand for someone like them. That there is still hope.

From the Psychology Book, Psychology has given us many ideas that have changed our ways of thinking, and that has also helped us to understand ourselves, other people and the world we live in.

It has always been excited me to learn and examine the mysterious world of the human mind.

After I park my BMW, mabilis akong lumabas ng sasakyan. Madadaanan ko ang mgs booth sa field kaya titingnan ko na rin kung naka settle na ba lahat. I wear my ID so they can recognise me as one of the organizers of this event.

"Hi! Is everything okay?"  I asked when I saw some students of my age panicking. Tumingin ako sa shirt nila. They are probably from the Economics department.

As an organizer, we are advised to assess all the clubs here on campus. If there are problems, we need to offer them alternatives to fix their situations.

"Napagkasunduan na sa La Panda ang pagkain pero due on demand nagkulang na daw ang supply nila. Ngayon lang kasi nakapag-order yung isang officer namin. We don't have time. Magkukulang ang pagkain kung ganoon." Aniya. She was pretty, maikli lang ang buhok. Pabalik balik lang siyang naglakad sa harapan ko.

Kumunot ang noo ko. La Panda. I opened my phone and checked something on it. Tumingin ulit ako sa babae na kanina pa sinisigawan ang ibamg members.

"Calm down. I have a solution." Mahinang ani ko kaya mabilis siyang napabaling sa akin. She sighed heavily before she slowly leaned on the chair.

Hiningi ko sa kanya ang order receipt nila at tiningnan na nagkulang nga sila ng halos bente na orders.

"Coincidentally, our club also ordered on La Panda. We can lend you almost twenty packs of foods that you're lacking. Parehas lang ang orders natin. And as an exchange, pwede niyo iyong palitan na lang ng drinks. Water would do."

Napahinga siya ng maluwag ng marinig iyon sa akin. This kind of situation often happened. Its inevitable, thus a backup plan is exceptionally important. Mabuti na lang ay sinadya talaga namin na mag order ng madami at nagkataon na parehas ang orders at nagkulang kami sa drinks.

"Ate, Thank you po talaga!" Nakangiti na siya ngayon at kanina pa rin siya nag t-thank you sa akin. Natawa ako dahil binigyan niya pa ako ng cookies na naroon sa booth nila.

"No problem. Ah what's your name? Naomi?" I asked. Binasa ang name tag sa gilid ng shirt niya.

Tumango siya at masayang nagkwento kung bakit ganoon ang nangyari. I understand her rants, as I've said its inevitable.  Nagtagal pa ako roon ng ilang sandali dahil humingi pa ako sa kanila ng contact at receipt para walang nang problema. Sinabihan ko rin na after one hour, pwede na nila akong tawagan at kunin iyon sa akin.

Mabilis ang mga hakbang ko patungo ng booth namin, dala iyong binigay ni Naomi na cookies. Hindi pa man ako nakakalapit ay nakita ko nang madami na rin ang tao roon.

"Therese! What took you so long? Mabuti nandito ka na." Jessa excitedly clasped my hand. She pulled me closer so I can see the group of guy. Nasa harap na ako ngayon ng mga lalaki na ngayon ay nakatingin sa akin. Napansin ko na sinisiko nila ang lalaking naka white shirt.

"Tsk." I heard the guy murmured something but not enough for me to understand what he was implying.

They all seemed old... I meant matured. Approximately 5 years older than me?

Pinagmasdan ko ang lalaki na nakakunot ang noo. Mukhang naiirita at pikon na sa mga kaibigan. He was wearing ripped jeans black pants, a gold rolex on his left hand, a white clean shirt and white adidas sneakers. Napansin ko rin na may hikaw siya sa kaliwang tenga.

"Tanungin mo na! Kanina pa ako nahihirapan kausapin. Hirap magtago ng kilig eh!" Hagikhik ni Jessa sa gilid ko. I gave her a look as a warning but she just shrugged. Sa huli ay napailing na lang ako.

Huminga ako ng maluwag bago tinuon ang pansin sa mga lalaki. Based on my judgment, hindi sila mukhang freshmen. Napaawang ang bibig ko ng mabasa ang nakasulat sa ID laced nila.

College of Law.

"Hi! Welcome to the Psychology department's booth!" I formally said then I smiled.

Nagbulong-bulongan pa sila sa harap ko bago ako tuluyang hinarap.

"Wow. This is all impressive!" Ani ng isang may dimples.

Tiningnan ko lang siya habang kinuha at binasa ang mga nakasulat sa bookmarks at keychain. Gumaya rin ang iba niyang kasama maliban lang doon sa nakaputi na tahimik lang na naghihintay. We also exhibit some of our paintings and our pamphlet about our mental health advocacy. Tiningnan din nila iyon. 

"Ah Miss, pwede ba i-refer itong kaibigan namin dito. He needs advice kasi."

His friends smirked more as they watch how the man reacted. His forehead creased while he squeezed his nose, preventing his eyes to met mine.

~~