Lincoln Eunice
"HOY, Lincoln Eunice! NAPAKATAGAL MO NAMAN!"
Boses pa lang ni Cardozo, parang mababasag na ang salamin ko. I adjusted my glasses at mabilis na isinukbit ang backpack ko.
"Ano na, Lincoln the nerd? Wala pa bang mas may itatagal 'yang kilos mo? Nakakahiya naman sa 'yo na pinag-aantay mo kami rito. You're acting like a diva, and honey, you're not," dagdag pa ni Cardozo habang nakapamewang sa may pintuan ng classroom.
Sobrang OA talaga ng baklang 'to.
"Ano? Titignan mo na lang ba kami? Nakakainis talaga 'yang kabagalan mo, para kang pagong na may rayuma," mataray na sabi pa niya habang tinitignan ang kaniyang manicure.
"GUTOM NA GUTOM NA AKO!" malakas na sigaw naman ni Julius. Ang tangang ito, pagdating sa pag-ibig ay talo, pero pagdating sa pagkain, daig pa ang may marathon. Napakunot ang noo ko at sinaway siya.
"Julius, shut up."
"DALIII NA KASIIIII!"
"Mauna na muna kayo, mga bebe ko," biro ko, trying to lighten the mood. "Ibibigay ko lang muna itong mga activity papers na pinagawa sa atin ni Miss Veronica. I don't want to carry these around the food court."
Kita ko ang inis na pag-irap ni Julius, but he eventually nodded. Alam niyang kapag si Miss Veronica ang pinag-uusapan, seryoso ang usapan. Gusto ko sana siyang tawanan dahil mukha talaga siyang batang hindi napakain ng tatlong araw, pero pinigilan ko na lang.
"Okay, bilisan mo na lang, ha? We'll wait for you at the food court, sa usual spot natin. Don't make us wait for another century," sabi ni Cardozo bago sila tuluyang naglakad papalayo.
Sabay-sabay kaming lumabas ng room, pero naghiwalay kami sa may hallway. Sila, piniling maghagdan pababa, habang ako naman ay dumeretso sa elevator area. I was headed to the 5th floor. I asked Miss Veronica earlier where her office was, and she said she'd be staying there for the afternoon.
Actually, bawal ang students sa elevator. It’s a privilege reserved for professors, officers, and those with high status in this university. So unfair, right? Pero dahil siguro sa kapal ng salamin ko o sa pagiging good student image ko, pinayagan ako ni Kuyang guard kanina. Or maybe, let's just say, my charm works in mysterious ways.
Ganda at talino ang puhunan, 'ika nga.
Eme.
Pagpasok ko sa elevator mula sa 2nd floor, mag-isa lang ako. I looked at my reflection in the metallic walls. I looked like the typical nerd, braided hair, oversized sweater, and these thick glasses. I looked harmless. But inside, my heart was doing somersaults thinking about seeing her again.
Huminto ang elevator sa 3rd floor. Agad akong yumuko, nagkunwaring busy sa pagbabasa ng mga papel na hawak ko. The doors opened, and a swarm of people entered. Rinig ko ang ingay nila, mukhang mga student officers na galing sa isang meeting.
"Move back, move back!" sigaw ng isa.
I was pushed further into the corner. Inis na napasinghal ako nang mahina. I felt someone stand directly in front of me. The elevator was so cramped now that I could feel the heat radiating from the people around me.
But the person in front of me... she was different.
I felt a soft, firm pressure against my chest. Since I was looking down, the first thing I noticed was the scent. Expensive lilies. My breath hitched. It was a woman, and because of the height difference, my face was almost buried in her chest.
And my God, it was soft. Malaki. Mainit.
Naramdaman kong mas lalong sumisikip sa loob. Someone from the back pushed further, and I lost my balance for a split second. Instinctively, I reached out to steady myself.
