to the lakes with you

2: the drawer

"if lost, please contact scarlett daisy gil, 0939777-beep. please get your 'they did not end up together' draft in my office or else i'll plagiarize this. A-S-A-P."

okay. first of, what? second, did i just lose an important file of mine and when? third, why did he have to speak using that tone? sounds... odd.

"who is this?"

"UPD, College of Fine Arts, Slater Skye Dy, 2018-five digits."

"i didn't ask for your complete information though."

"feels like i had to say it. especially the ID number after i said i'm from UPD," he said in an 'stating-the-obvious' voice.

the way he talks to me is really weird and creepy considering that i do not know him and we're just talking on the phone. shouldn't he be a little formal or friendly at least?

and also, bakit ang tanga ko sa part na naiwala ko pala 'yung folder ko and hindi man lang ako nagmamalay? like what is this peak dumb energy of mine today?

"anyway, meet me in the university library. it seems like you're from UPD as well given that you're applying in this new writers org. 5PM, goods?"

iiyak pa ako. pwedeng bukas na?

"sure. 5PM," i agreed even though i do not really want to do it because i do think i'm exhausted for the day and i just want to sleep to replenish my energy.

"okay then! see you! it's okay to be late, btw."

"btw?" i asked, confused.

"btw... by the way. sorry, habit of mine. anyway, 5PM. not sharp."

before i can say more, to my surprise, he ended the call.

and i am so fucking confused. like what the hell is that?

Lord, sa dinami-rami ng araw sa buhay ko, bakit naman pinagkasya mo sa isang araw ang ganito karaming stress?

pero sige, wala naman akong magagawa. let me just endure these stresses for a while. this, too, shall pass. if not, then i shall pass away. no kidding.

"tita, balik lang ako sa UP," i told my aunt.

"bakit? may nakalimutan ka nanaman 'no? hay nako, ang bata-bata pa, ulyanin na. kaka-selpon mo 'yan!" she replied– half jokingly, half not with the kaka-selpon mo 'yan part.

i do know she meant it... like really really meant it.

my aunt gave me some extra money and told me to eat outside nalang because i might not like the dinner later. i gladly accepted it and after, i immediately commuted my way to UP. dalawang sakay pa naman ako and recently, nagtaas na ng pamasahe. i could have saved these 22 pesos, to be honest.

bakit ko ba kasi naiwala ang manuscript ko out of all things? it was not even a compilation of poems! it was a whole frreaking novel i wrote with my rusty writing skills.

gosh, i should eat more healthy food at this point. 'yung maganda sa memory. lahat ng importante, nakakalimutan ko tapos sama ng loob, tandang-tanda ko. talk about priorities in your own selective memory.

once i arrived in UP, bumaba ako sa may sunken garden. it was traffic sa may SMNE so it took me a while to arrive and medyo hassle and tiring din. i was getting hungry dahil hindi naman rice meal ang kinain ko kaninang lunch so napaisip akong kumain muna ng pancit canton at tinapay.

kaso... it's 4:45 na. what if nandun na siya sa library? from sunken, it will take me a couple of minutes to walk towards the library. then lulutuin pa pancit canton ko and also, i'd like to enjoy and savour the taste of pancit canton. i don't think 15 minutes is enough...