Anya Loris Was Fine That Night

Chapter 7

SABI NILA, MAS MAKIKILALA mo lang nang lubos ang isang tao kapag nakasama mo sa iisang bahay.

There were times that I didn't agree to that saying because I believed I knew my friends or the people I was close with more than anyone else. We didn't need to live under the same roof for me to know them well.

But this time . . . I felt like it was indeed true.

Hindi pa ako sigurado, pero . . . gaano ko nga ba kakilala si Anya? Sapat na ba ang miminsan naming mga pag-uusap para makilala siya nang lubos?

"Ano, Hugh? Tatayo ka na lang d'yan?" natatawang tanong ni Darcy nang matigilan ako sa aking paglalakad papasok sa classroom.

Napakurap ako at doon lang napagtanto na nakatingin na rin pala si Quentin sa akin -- nagtataka kung bakit ako nakatitig sa kaniya. I sighed and just decided to sweep my thoughts away for now. Quentin followed me by his eyes from where he was sitting.

Hindi ko na siya pinansin pa at umupo na sa upuan ko. Hindi na rin naman niya ako tiningnan kaya malaya muli akong tumitig sa kaniya matapos ng ilang sandali.

Quentin Colminares was a transferee last year. Anya transferred here just this school year.

Ni hindi ko inakala na magkakilala na sila noon pa. But it made sense now. They both transferred here from Sorenda Community College. Mas nauna nga lang ng isang taon si Quentin.

One of the things that didn't sit right with me after reading that part in Anya's journal was . . . why did she even transfer here? Her Auntie Tamara was living in Sorenda. Her relatives were there and the first house she rented was in there. She was also doing good in Sorenda Community College. She had friends and she seemed happy. Compared here where almost everyone was bullying her.

Muli akong napatingin kay Quentin na nakikipagtawanan sa mga kaklase namin.

I didn't want to conclude things right away. Lalo na't wala namang nabanggit si Anya sa journal niya tungkol sa rason ng paglipat niya rito.

Unti-unting kumunot ang noo ko habang mas tumatagal ang titig kay Quentin. Muli kong naalala ang mga nabasa ko sa journal ni Anya.

Today, I met Quentin Arron Colminares. He's my seatmate and he's a funny guy. Guwapo rin at medyo mukhang bad boy ang datingan pero mabait naman siyang kausap.

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Day 5 of being Quentin's seatmate. I admit, I really enjoy talking to him! He's such a nice guy. Napakadaldal kaya hindi yata kami nauubusan ng mapagkukuwentuhan araw-araw. I having a little crush on him already, but of course, I won't tell him that! Mukhang hindi rin naman niya ako magugustuhan dahil mukhang puro sosyal at fashionista ang nagugustuhan niya. Mabait lang talaga siya sa akin at magaan kausap. Sana hindi magbago 'yon.

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Can you believe it??!! Quentin just asked me out on a date!!! Noong una, hindi ko talaga alam kung seryoso ba siya noong tinanong niya ako if I want to go on a date with him. Syempre kasi, iniisip ko palagi na mukhang wala naman akong pag-asa sa kaniya. I always thought na kaibigan o seatmate lang ang tingin niya sa akin. Nothing more. Kaya hindi talaga ako makapaniwala na gusto niya akong maka-date, grabe!

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Quentin and I's date went well! It was so fun! Nanood kami ng sine at kumain din sa isang expensive restaurant. He was so generous and very gentlemanly. Bago rin niya ako ihatid sa bahay na inuupahan ko, tinanong niya ako kung puwede raw niya akong i-date pa sa susunod. Of course, I said yes!!