Change of Fate

Chapter 15

May mga nakapansin sa kasama ko pero hindi naman lagi siya nalalapitan ng mga tao. Tinitingnan lang nila kami habang naglalakad pero ang iba lumalapit para magpa-picture sa kasama, buti na lang hindi masyado marami ang lumapit. Halos mga bata o teenager ang nandito at malamang hindi na nanonood ng TV kaya hindi masyado kilala ang kasama ko pero hindi nakakalagpas sa akin ang tingin nila kay Galen dahil may itsura at matangkad.

Hawak pa rin niya ang kamay ko habang naglalakad kami papunta sa kakainan. Nagutom na rin dahil marami na kami nasakyang rides ngayong umaga. Napag-usapan namin na mag-skill games na muna kami pagkatapos kumain bilang pahinga bago sumakay ng rides ulit.

Ang yabang pa ng isang ito na hindi na daw siya magsusuka! Ipapakain ko sa kanya mamaya sinuka niya kung mangyari 'yon!

Nakarating na kami sa isang kainan. Nag-crave ako sa pizza at pasta kaya naisipan na kumain. Umupo kami sa booth sa gilid lang ng bintana at hinintay ang na-order na pagkain.

"I'm curious." I started. "Diba halos puro babae ang nag-tatake ng journalism sa college? Paano ka napadpad doon?" He looked at me and I waited for his answer.

"Aside from it can improve our communication skills, journalism can also help us be an empath to others. Magiging aware sa mga nangyayari at magkakaroon ng chance na ibahagi sa iba ang mga nalaman. Two birds in one stone. They may think that it is a women's college program, but college programs are always for everyone. They should hold their prejudices, lahat na lang may issue, dadagdag pa ang mga ganon." He said.

There are hearsays that every man who took journalism as their college program are gay or seeking out public validation but I call bullshit on that. Labelling someone as gay as an insult is rampant in the society that it makes me want to punch them so hard for making it an insult. No wonder many people chose to live in the closet and not be proud of who they are.

Journalism is a good program. May naririnig ako na minamaliit nila ang mga nandoon, saying journalism lang at hindi pwedeng mapagmalaki. Eh kung sapakin kita at ipagmalaking kong gago ka?

"Plus..." He stopped and looked outside again before turning to me. "It can also help me find her. I have connections now." He gave me a small smile, and I smiled back at him.

I reached for his hand on the table and looked him in the eyes. "I admire you for not giving up."

Kita ang pamumula niya at dinala ang kamay kong hawak niya sa bibig at hinalikan habang nakatingin sa akin. I smiled at that.

"Ikaw, bakit ka nag engineering?" He asked me. Now, both holding my hands.

"Trip ko lang."

"Akala ko ako lang trip mo."

"Trip kita batukan."

"Seryoso kasi ang tanong. Nalandi tuloy kita."

I laughed. "Well, to be honest, I want to follow in my kuya's footsteps. Sa medical field rin dapat ako but I later decided to pursue engineering para maiba naman. Sabi sayo, trip lang. My parents supported that. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit chemical ang napili ko. Yinaya ko sila Misha and Bella sa engineering, buti na lang sumama sila sa akin."

"Ang dami-daming trip sa mundo, pagdecide sa college program ang inyo?"

"What's wrong with that? Medicine college programs were only a passing fancy to me, wala rin naman napupusuan sila Misha and Bella na ibang program so we tried and look where we are now."

"I've always been proud of you. Kahit noong college pa." He said as he stared at me with adoration.

I snorted. "Sa isang minor class lang tayo naging magkaklase, parang sinabi mo na lagi mo na akong nakikita noon, ang layo ng building ng college of arts sa engineering."