Unto the Next

Chapter 3: Co-atenean

"Guys hindi daw papasok si Atty. dahil may kailangan siyang tapusin, let's take this time nalang to discuss who will replace Isha, she's still at the hospital pa daw" anunsyo ng Class president namin

"Si Kathness" Yuree teased, I rolled my eyes on her

"Host na ako, kinuha me ni Romel" I said "Si Yuree nalang total crush niya yung Ambassador" tinampal niya yung balikat ko dahil inaasar na siya ng buong klase ngayon, I sticked my tongue and she flickered her middle finger. The discussion went on and on until Yuree was forced to say yes dahil sa plus points na sabi ni Ma'am Rachel

"Okay na, si Yuree na atin, may practice kayo later sa 4rth floor sa Martin" bilin ng class president bago kami mag silabasan sa classroom

"Saan tayo?" Leila asked

Ito nanaman kami sa tanungan kung saan kakain

"Caf?" I asked

"Madami na tao, baka wala na chair" ceresse replied

"Migpro nalang?" Yuree suggested

"Hindi tayo makakakain doon" Leila

In the end we all agreed to eat at the café near our school since me and Yuree needs to go back to campus since we have a practice to attend.

"Gwapo niya masyado no?" Yuree complimented her crush na feeling kpop Idol kung manumit

"Amoy redflag sis" I commented, she turned at me

"Yan ang nais ko para challenging" dagdag niya bago magpaalam at umakyat na sa backstage

I went to see Romel dahil siya yung ka partner ko as tambayan host, we're just here to practice our lines and saan and kalian kami papasok.

"What if sabunutan kita" bungad agad nito ng makalapit at malapag ko ang gamit ko

"Bakla ka anong problema mo" I greeted everyone first before asking Romel

"Ba't ang fresh mo masyado nakatingin tuloy sayo yung mga crush ko" sinundan ko yung tinitingnan niya, a group of guys playing basketball sa kabilang side ng gym

Inirapan ko siya "Iyong iyo nayan, ayoko sa basketball players"

We took some groufie habang hinintay yung ibang participants bago tuluyang mag simula yung practice. Papasok lang kami after ma introduce ng mga judges. Tambayan hosts are like advertisement kung sa TV. Ang rule lang namin ay aliwin yung audience habang nag p-prepare pa yung contestants sa susunod na segment.

"Sayo naka assign yung interview the judges, madam" anito, I nodded and delivered my lines.

We were doing our last take when a basketball ball hit my right shoulder rason kung bat natapon yung mic na hawak ko

"Hey sorry, are you okay?" rinig kong sabi nung tao sa likod ko

I turned to see who it was. My eyes widened so is his.

Nakita kong nagtatawanan yung mga kasama sa likod niya. Hindi ko alam bakit nairita ako. Alam kong matagal na simula nung di na kami nagkikibuan because of what he did tapos makikita ko ulit siya dito looking arrogant and tryna be cool

"Okay lang yun Evans, diba Kath?" singit ni Romel na ang bilis napunta sa tabi ko

The beef between me and this Evans who apparently a varsity player at our university was a secret. The time we spent before was a secret too because he has a 'name' at our school, kala mo naman talaga UAAP player but tanga din ako kasi pumayag naman akong ganunin lang. BUT that was before, the moment I knew he's seeing someone while courting me, I didn't bothered to listen to his excuses, I sent him my final say and then blocked him after that.

"Hindi, ang lakas kaya" I replied touching my shoulder. Pinandilatan ako ni Romel, I just shrugged kasi totoo naman! Ang lakas kaya nun!

"Oh tara samahan kita sa clinic" anito

"No, thank you" I said before turning my back on him and started walking to where my things were. Nag excuse nalang ako kina Ate Chin, tinanong nila kung okay lang ba ako, tumango nalang ako at nagpaalam na aalis na total tapos nadin naman na.

Ang lala na siguro ng anger issues ko no. Pag nairita sa isa, damay lahat. Naiirita talaga agad ako when I see people who harmed the other party show no remorse. Like hindi ka ba nag grade 7? Parang walang GMRC nung elementary.

Narinig ko pang tinawag yung pangalan ko pero tuloy-tuloy lang yung lakad ko hanggang sa makarating sa elevator. Nung bumukas, agad akong sumakay kasama ng iba pang studyante. I got my phone in my bag and texted Yuree and Romel na uuwi na ako.

"Hey Kathness" I lifted my head and saw a sweaty Evans wearing a jersey that says Engineering and Architecture he probably ran from stairs wala siya kanina sa elevator. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay

"Bakit?"

"Okay ka lang ba? Umalis ka agad" he said wiping his sweats while looking at the surroundings, I rolled my eyes, di na nagbago

"Look I don't know if you forgave me already but that was a long time ago, I hope you healed na from it" he shamelessly started

Kapal talaga ng mukha nito

"Ano pala gina mean mo?" patay malisya kong sagot, his mouth formed an O and then later he pursed his lips and slowly nodded like an idiot

"Oh I was gonna invite you to dinner to talk about it and clear—" I did not let him finish his sentence as I called someone I'm not really close with just to get away from this guy

"Oy friend!" I shouted while waiving my hand at the guy who I thought was my grab driver the other week, I still don't know his name tho. He looked at me and Evans without expression on his face, I clung unto his right arm before walking away

"Mauna na ako bye" I said as I completely left Evans dumbfounded

"I'm sorry for touching you without consent but can you just walk with me for a minute until he cannot see us" I said while looking straight at our way

He remained silent, I did not bother to look up. We walked until we reached Roxas gate. I said goodbye to the guards when we passed by.

"Bye din po Ma'am, ingat kayo pa uwi" reply nila

Nang makalabas na, bumitaw na ako sa pagkakahawak. I lifted my head, mygod ang gwapo niya talaga. He's wearing a jersey with Business and Management print on it, I smiled, we're both from SBG.

"Thanks, for the second time around" I said still smiling, he nodded. I started walking but the back of my mind says tanungin ko pangalan niya so bumalik ako at sinabayan siya sa paglalakad

"Wait" gulat siyang napatingin saakin pero agad din namang bumalik yung walang ekpresyon niyang mukha "Anong name mo hehe"

I saw him exhaling "Haniel" he said extending his right arms motioning a shakehands. Omygod!

Agad ko yung tinanggap habang nakangiti "Nice to meet you! I'm Kathness, Kath nalang for short" I cheerfully said, tumango lang siya. Sabay kaming naglalakad ng bigla lang siyang lumipat sa left side ko. As a bare minimum enjoyer, kiinilig agad ang gaga. Nakita niya siguro yung mga nababangga kong mga tao, andami naman kasing tao sa Roxas jusko!

"That's your way, right?" tanong niya ng makarating na kami sa may hagdan. Pa kaliwa yung daan patungo sa place ko pag galling dito sa school. I nodded.

"Yes yes, thank you ulit, ingat ka" I said and waived my hand

I was waiting for more people to cross the pedestrian lane para may kasama akong tatawid. Pero wala, lahat yata sila na nandito naghihintay ng masasakyan, rush hour na din kasi. Nagulat nalang ako ng may magsalita sa tabi ko.

"Let's go"