Simula ng pumasok ako kaninang umaga, hindi pa rin nawawala ang tinginan at bulungan ng mga estudyanteng nakakita at nakakasalubong ko, maging sa loob ng klase, iilan lang ang nagtatangkang magsalita o magtanong sa akin na para bang ingat na ingat sila sa ikinikilos nila.
I knew that the news already exploded, spreading inside the campus at paniguradong nanggaling iyun sa mga professors. People doesn't really know how to keep something unsaid. Now, my secret has been revealed.
"So totoo nga? Ikaw ang tagapagmana ng Ilarde College???"
Kung may ilang mga ilag man sa'kin, mayroon rin namang mga malalakas ang loob para lumapit at direktang magtanong.
"Yeah, got a problem?" Mapaklang tanong ko. Who wouldn't feel pissed when you're being disturbed from having a peaceful meal at lunch?
Mabuti naman at marunong makatunog ang mga babaeng 'yun, na ayaw kong magpaistorbo. They say sorry but their giggles after saying it and leaving got me irritated. I don't have any choice. Gustuhin ko mang sa rooftop kumain, may bagay naman akong ayaw maalala sa lugar na 'yun.
Inside the cafeteria, nakaupo ako sa isa sa mga mesang nasa likuran. I'm facing the food counter and I saw Darlene, dala ang tray ng pagkain niya at naghahanap na ng mauupuan. She's dull, I can notice that she's not getting enough sleep dahil sa pangingitim ng ilalim ng mata niya na bahagya pang namamaga. Ang tamlay ng mga kilos niya.
In an instant that I saw her, my heart swayed and ached. I wanna call her name and ask if she's okay and ask what's bothering her, pull her and let her eat beside me so I can watch her finish off what she ordered... But before I could do that, I saw her with someone else. Iginiya at inalalayan na siya ng lalaking iyun sa napili nitong mesa. She smiled at him, which was supposed to be for me.
It seemed that the air around me changed and I felt irritated for just a few second. Umalis na ako ng cafeteria kahit hindi pa nauubos ang pagkain ko. Worrying about her will be worthless because there's that person now who's always beside her.
Habang naglalakad, nakasalubong ko sa corridor si Ms. Mendivel na may dala-dalang mga folders. Agad niya akong napansin.
"Mr. Meneses, kumain ka na ba?" tanong niya.
"Already done." I shortly replied without stopping from walking.
"Hey, are you sleep-deprived? Mas lalo ka yatang namumutla. Did you visit your doctor?" sunod-sunod na tanong niya na ikinahinto ko. I chuckle in disbelief and shook my head.
"I'm fine."
Sa unahan naman ay nakasunod sa kaniya si Sir Jed na may dalang malaking kahon. Hindi ko na lang rin sana iimikin at lalagpasan na lamang ng magsalita siya.
"There's something important that I want to talk to you..." diretsahan niyang pagkakasabi ng magpantay kami sa daan.
"May lakad ako ngayon..." I said without looking.
"Babantayan kita, Eve..." napahinto ako sa sinabi niyang iyun.
"No one told you to..." I feel more pissed after what he said. I left the campus kahit maaga pa para sa lakad ko.
Nang dumating sa apartment building, I saw that thing again. Nasa tapat na naman ito ng pinto ng apartment ko, at dahil sa parehong kadahilanan, itinapon ko uli ang supot na may lamang baunan sa katapat na trash bin. I can't guarantee it the food is still in good shape.
Bago ko matakpan ang basurahan ay napansin kong may maliit na papel sa loob ng supot, but I ignored it and just leave it.
Things that had happened some hours that passes were never been anticipated. Currently at the orphanage building entrance, I'm watching the kids playing at their vast playground. The talk with the head of the orphanage and the two foreigners is already done. Ngayon ay inaasikaso nila sa loob ng office ang mga mahahalagang dokumento para sa pormalidad ng pag-aampon.
BINABASA MO ANG
𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬✓
Teen Fiction[Soon to be Published] BLURB Eve I. Meneses, a principled fourth year Architecture student and an artist who started hating people after what happened two years ago which changed his outlooks in life. The loathing in his heart created an overwhelm...
