Lies in the Past (Alimentation Series #2)

Chapter 2

I was used to everyone talking about me, but not in my university. When I went to my first morning class, eyes were gathered and stared at me for almost a minute. Some were obviously not expecting to see me in the class, sanay na dahil I was always absent naman talaga due to my busy career.

Minsan naman ay pumapasok talaga ako, pero not my whole daily class ay naaa-tendan ko dahil ang shooting ay tanghali or hapon. It was my manager who has been talking to my professors kaya kahit late, nakakapagpasa pa ako ng activities.

This day will be different. I'd be more active in class, araw-araw na rin akong papasok. But first, I need to make friends! Normal days will start now. Hindi talaga ako nagkaroon ng kaibigan dahil nga lagi akong wala sa school.

May nakakausap naman ako dati pero tuwing bumabalik ako pagkatapos ng medyo mahabang hindi pagpunta sa school, they've turned into strangers again. Lack of communication always has its own way of cutting the line that is not yet starting.

Holding my bag, I pointed the empty table besides a silent woman, she's reading a book. "Excuse me," I softly said and she immediately had her eyes staring back at me. "Is this seat still available?"

I saw her gulp. "Uh, yeah. No one has occupied the chair yet." Hinawi niya ang makapal na bangs. She looks Japanese, lalo na iyong mata niyang singkit. They were pretty.

"Can I?" Tumango lang siya kaya roon na ako naupo.

Nilabas ko ang bond paper sa loob ng folder at tinitigan sandali ang hindi ko pa natatapos na templates. I feel kinda excited, though I'm also nervous even I didn't have to.

Second year na ako pero the feeling is still strange, para kasing ito ang unang araw ko bilang college student. I undoubtedly didn't feel the whole first year dahil bilang lang sa daliri ang araw na nakapasok ako sa klase ko.

I was silent the whole time kasi siyempre nag-a-adjust pa ako. I don't know how am I supposed to talk to my blockmates. Making friends is not as easy as I thought before. Mahirap pala dahil even my seatmate, doesn't want to talk to me either.

Nakasimangot tuloy ako habang kumakain mag-isa sa canteen. I could eat comfortably, hindi naman ako nilalapitan ng kung sino at wala rin tumititig. Of course, I was a celebrity pero hindi hayok ang mga estudyante rito. Studying is what they care the most, and I should too.

Naiisip ko si Harminder, pero malayo ang College of Science kaya hindi ko siya mapupuntahan. Mukhang siya pa lang ang matatawag kong kaibigan. I wonder how hard it is to make friends with the students here. I probably don't know.

Pumasok ako sa afternoon class pagkatapos gumawa ng activity sa canteen. Mukhang kakaiba dahil pagdating ko ay maingay. Doon kaagad ako umupo sa bandang gitna. Ang goal ko sana today ay magkaroon ng kaibigan. Or kahit close pa lang sana. I needed to adjust.

I pulled out my phone from the pocket of my skirt para i-text si Harminder. This is the first time I'm going to communicate with him through text. I got his personal phone number kanina before we separate ways.

Ako:

Hello. Have you eaten yet?

I tried to be more approachable, ngini-ngitian ko rin iyong mga kaklaseng nahuhuli kong tumitingin sa banda ko. Some were smiling back, but most of them are awkward. This is never going to be easy, I guess.

Harminder:

Katatapos lang. How's the half day so far?

Ako:

It wasn't easy, maybe? Hirap ako mag-adjust. I don't have friends yet omg

Harminder:

Friends don't come faster. Just focus on the class, that is what more important.