Ludic Selcouth #4: Panacea

Chapter 5

After four days, I finally had the chance to ask about Castrielʼs class schedule. It was so hard but luckily, I spotted Tase Mortell again. Nasa likod kasi siya ng Nursing building at may kasama na namang ibang babae, nursing student din siguro. Nag-uusap lang naman sila habang may nakasabit na sigarilyo sa labi niya. Pwede bang manigarilyo rito?

Saglit ko muna silang pinagmasdan. Will he tell me Castrielʼs schedule? He should. Isa pa ay siya ang kasama ni Casti sa brotherhood na sinasabi ni Lola Eleonora. Itʼs better na siya ang lapitan ko. I want to know if Castrielʼs life is really going south. Hindi ako naniniwala, ayokong maniwala. He was a good boy when he was in Laguna, hindi siya palabati pero alam ko namang mabait siya. Tinatanggap niya ang mga binibigay ko sa kaniya dati para lang hindi ako mapahiya.

Kahit na alam kong ayaw niya sa 'kin dahil harapan niyang sinabi sa 'kin 'yon.

I just donʼt know what happened to him here.

Ilang minuto akong nakatayo roʼn pero hindi na ako nakatiis nang magsimula nang hawak-hawakan noong babae si Tase. Kailangan ko na siyang makausap bago pa kung saan sila mapunta. Kailangan ko na rin kasing umuwi agad dahil may mga assignments pa ako.

If this is my senior high school self, I wonʼt go home early just to make my homeworks. Mas pipiliin ko pang maggala o kaya ay makipag-inuman kina Pressy. Pero hindi na nila ako kaibigan ngayon kaya wala na akong sasamahan. May mga sariling mundo rin ang mga ka-blockmates ko rito, parang ramdam nila kapag hindi ka nila ka-lebel dahil para lang akong hangin. I havenʼt made friends with other student yet.

“Tase Mortell,” tawag ko. Sumulyap siya sa 'kin at bahagyang kumunot ang noo. He puffed on his cigarette one more time before he threw it to the ground and step on it.

“Itʼs you again,” aniya. Tumaas ang kilay ko, naaalala niya pa ako?

“What are you doing? Umalis ka nga, he doesnʼt have any time for a fan right now.” here we go again. Binalingan ko ang babae at nginitian siya. Magiging mabait muna ako ngayon dahil ayokong kumalat agad dito sa department namin na may isang warfreak na babaeng nananampal ng babaeng sabat nang sabat.

“Hindi ako fan. I just need to talk to him, can you give us a minute?” I asked nicely. Pinagkrus niya ang braso at mataray akong pinagmasdan.

“Sino ka ba?”

“Iʼm his relative,” pagsisinungaling ko. Alangan namang sabihin kong friend? Hindi naman ata uso ang friend dito kay Tase. Baka friends with benefits pwede pa. Napakurap-kurap naman ang babae at pinasadahan ng tingin ang kabuuan ko.

“Fine. Tase... Iʼll wait for you on the oval.” napangisi naman ako. Mas okay palang maging relative ni Tase Mortell. Wala nang tanong-tanong.

“When did you become my relative? I donʼt even know you,” aniya nang tuluyang makaalis ang babae. Inayos ko ang buhok at pinakatitigan siya. Ang alam ko ay same year lang sila ni Castriel pero magkaiba sila ng course. Marami akong naririnig sa paligid kaya alam ko.

“Kailangan kong malaman ang class schedule ni Castriel.” napabuntong hininga siya at bored na kinamot ang pisngi.

“First, a random girl approached me and demanded that I take her to Castriel, and now sheʼs asking me to give his class schedule. Arenʼt you too suspicious? It also seems that you know where to find me. So, who are you stalking? Me or Castriel?” I snickered. Stalker...

“First din, hindi kita type para i-stalk-in. I also wouldnʼt call this stalking just because I want to know Castrielʼs schedule. Meron akong personal reasons—”

“This is stalking. You want to know his schedule so you can tail him. Weʼve been encountering people like you so I know what kind of tactics you are pulling. Stop approaching me just to ask about him. Youʼre pretty but this kind of stance is a major turn off. He wouldnʼt like you, even a little,” tuloy-tuloy niyang sabi. I secretly gritted my teeth.