Where Do Broken Hearts Go?

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"Is that the Marina Bay Sands?"

Agad kong naitaklob ang notebook ko nang may magsalita sa likod ko. Of course, it's Nash Dillion. He grabbed my notebook. Hinayaan ko na lang siya kasi wala naman siyang makikita do'n kung hindi ang mga balak kong puntahan.

"So, your dream destination is Singapore?" Binalik niya ulit sa akin ang notebook ko. "Nakakasawa sa Singapore."

Gusto kong sagutin na syempre, galing siya ro'n kaya nakakasawa, pero hindi ko magawa kasi hindi naman kami gan'on ka-close sa isa't isa. I refused to answer him, instead, I focused on our topic.

"Hindi ka ba nasasawa mag-aral? Palagi kitang nakikitang nag-aaral." Umupo pa ito sa lamesa namin saka tiningnan ang binabasa ko. "Management Science?"

"Mind your business, would you?" He chuckled before tapping the table.

I never thought he was smart. No, I hate to admit but he's intelligent. But he often sleeps! How the hell is that happening? Ako, nagpupuyat pa para lang maka-angat sa klase, but him? He'll just sleep during his vacancies yet he can answer everything! My ego's hurt, to be honest.

"You're too old to sit on that table, don't you think?"

"I never knew that students here had this attitude. O baka ikaw lang?" I looked at him. His smirk is still on his face. I scoffed.

"I never read that I have to be good every time in the manual they gave me when I enrolled here," I answered full of sarcasm.

"But a businessman must have an approachable attitude. How can people buy your products if you're this rude?" Bumaba pa siya sa lamesa saka naupo sa tabi ko. Bakit ko ba kasi 'to naging katabi. "Am I wrong, Mr. Addison?"

"But a business man shouldn't always be good. Everyone can fool us in the business world. Being rude is just a defense mechanism." I fought back. Tama naman ang sinabi ko. Sa mundo ng business, kapag palagi kang mabait, maraming aabuso roon. And business is about development, not fooling around.

"You think so?" I wanted to brush away his smirk. Masyado siyang mayabang para sa 'kin. Tapos magtataka pa siya kung bakit ang sama ko sa kaniya. "Okay. I respect your beliefs."

At katulad ng lagi niyang ginagawa, matutulog na naman siya. Dumukdok siya sa mesa kaya siniko ko ang siko niya dahil humaharang sa lamesa ko.

"Wake me up when the teacher arrives, hmm?" He said in a sleepy voice. "Or just wake me up minutes before the teacher arrives."

I remained silent. Why would I? He's not my responsibility to take care of. If he's been caught sleeping, then it's his fault.

Pinagpatuloy ko na lang ang pagtitingin sa mga lugar sa Singapore. Ever since my dream has been to go there. To see Merlion Park which is very famous in Singapore. I also wanted to go to Gardens by the Bay. The photo is amazing.

I also wanted to go to the Botanic Gardens. Weird it is, but I wanted to experience how Singapore feels. Is it like in the Philippines? The government? Laws? The people? I wanted to experience those that's why I am working hard and maybe, I can get a job there. I will surely stay there for good.

Singapore is breath.

"Nandito na si Ma'am?" Napatingin ako sa katabi ko nang mag-inat ito at humikab. Nang mapansing nakatingin ako sa kaniya, ngumiti pa ito saka tumutok sa notebook niya. "Where are we again in Elective?"

"Three," I answered before keeping my notebook in my bag. From my peripheral vision, I saw him nod his head before glancing back at his notes. "Where did I put my pen again?"

"You need a pen? I have an extra-,"

"No need. I have mine." Sinabi kong meron ako pero hindi ko makita kung saan ko nailagay 'yon. I am organized person but when it comes to my pen - nevermind.

"Yeah, you have yours." He chuckled before he held my hand, offering his extra pen. "You can have that if you want. I don't need pens that much."

"No thanks. I can buy my own. I'll just give it to you later," I said.

"You can just throw it, if you want. I don't need that, anyways. That's old," He simply said. I didn't answer him. Wala naman akong sasabihin. "Or you can keep it para kapag nawalan ka ulit ng ballpen, 'yan na lang ang gamitin mo."

I just shrugged, not taking him seriously. Kayang-kaya kong palitan 'tong binigay niyang ballpen. I can buy two and give him the other one if he wants.

The whole morning session is kind of boring. Or was it just me? I really don't feel the morning classes. I found those boring. Naiinis pa ako sa katabi ko kasi panay ang hikab. Hindi niya ba alam na nakakahawa ang paghikab niya?

Lumabas na lang ako ng classroom kasama ang mga kaibigan ko. In the circle, karamihan ay babae kasi sa Business Ad Department, mas hardworking ang babae. Hindi ako masyadong nakiki-catch up sa mga lalaki ng department namin dahil puro kagaguhan lang ang alam. They are not taking the course seriously. Baka katulad ni Kyla, pinilit lang din sila ng magulang nila.

Siguro ang swerte ko lang kasi kasi napilit ko ang magulang ko na hayaan akong i-take ang course na gusto ko.

"Kumusta maging seatmate si Dillion? Is he smart? I mean, yeah, I see, he is. Paano kaya 'yon 'no? Alam niyo, sa Business Dep, kayong dalawa ang matinik na magkalaban. Ako, suko na agad ako. Alam kong wala na akong laban. Pero kayo? Grabe, dikitan ah." Of course, Kyla won't shut her mouth.

"Kung hindi lang 'yon Papi, baka tinumba na namin 'yon. 'Di ba, Kyla?" They both laughed at their own jokes. Humiwalay sa amin ang iba naming kasamahan dahil makikipag-usap daw sa mga kaibigan nilang taga-ibang department. Kaming tatlo naman ay walang kaibigan sa ibang building kaya naiwan kaming magkakasama. "And speaking of the angel."

"Dito ba makiki-upo 'yan? Kasi kung oo, Carleen, itabi mo, ako na." Nagtulakan pa sila sa upuan na akala mo naman, dito rin uupo 'yong si Lincoln. I mean, there's so many vacant seats and tables everywhere.

"Hi, can I join?"

"Yes. Of course. Wait, lilipat lang ako."

"Ah, no need. I can sit here."

Bago pa ako maka-angal ay umupo na agad ito sa tabi ko. He didn't even ask me if I'd let him sit with us! He smiled at my friends. The two look so disappointed but they can't do anything.

Really, what did they find with this guy attractive? I mean, yes, may maipagmamalaki siyang mukha at utak but his attitude screams arrogance.

Tahimik lang ako habang pinapakinggan silang mag-usap tatlo. I usually don't mind these two if they're talking but now, I am interested with their conversation. I am conscious as hell. Baka mamaya ako na ang i-topic nila.

"How about him? How is he in the class?"

Sige, magbulungan lang kayo.

"Oh, you see, he's a great wall of China! He is the favorite of our professor when it comes to everything. May plano kaming itumba 'yan. Wanna join?" Alam kong sinadya niyang iparinig sa'kin 'yon kaya hindi ko maiwasang magkunot ng noo habang nakatingin sa kinakain ko. "Nagtatagalog ka naman, 'di ba? Saka ano palang nationality mo? Saka bakit ka nandito?"

"Girl, may borderline, gaga ka ba? Kung ano lang ang maitanong mo e," sita sa kaniya ni Carleen. Narinig ko naman ang pagtawa ni Dillion.

"I am Half Filipino - Singaporean. My mom is Singaporean and I am here because my father decided to just stay here-,"

"For good?" Hindi pa man tapos ay nagsalita na agad si Kyla. Hindi talaga mapakali ang bibig.

"No. It depends. But they are planning on staying here for good." He looked at me before glancing back at my friends. "And I don't have plans on going back there."

Before Kyla could speak more, the bell rang. Thankfully. Nauna na agad akong tumayo sa kanila. Humabol naman kaagad ang dalawa. Akala ko sasabay pa sila kay Dillion e. Mukhang gustong-gusto naman nilang kasama.

"It seems that you hated me." Nagulat ako nang may bumulong sa akin. Kahit hindi ko tingnan, alam ko sa boses nito kung sino.

I was about to explain to him but my tongue seemed cut off. I can't utter a word because I feel uncomfortable with our distance.

"I didn't even do anything for you to treat me like this. What did I ever do to you?"