Break Fresh Ground

30: TELLEMENT AMOUREUX

"Bagong taon na, pero hindi pa rin nagbabago si ante sa registrar," inis na sabi ni Eli habang nakaupo sa isa sa mga benches, sa ilalim ng puno ng manga, sa loob ng campus.

Today is the scheduled enrollment day for first-year and third-year students for the second semester. Although we have already completed some steps of the enrollment process through the online portal, the registrar's office will be responsible for finalizing our enrollments.

Hindi pa kami nakakapila - France, Paris, and Ivy - sa registrar dahil anong oras kami nakarating sa Urdaneta.

Natatawang suminghal si Piper. "Nakakaamoy daw kasi ng baho si ante. Eh ang baho mo daw," biro nito.

"Wow, Piper Addison, ang bango mo! Sobra!" Sarkastikong sagot naman ni Eli. "Halika nga at nang magupit ko 'yang bangs mong parang ilang taon ng hindi humahaba! Daig mo pa bangs ni Lisa eh."

"Don't you dare," asik ni Piper. Eli rolled his eyes on her before he pulled her hair, na ginantihan din naman ni Piper ng pagspray ng alcohol sa damit nito.

A group of nearby students were staring at us with a mixture of confusion and amusement. Their eyes were fixed on two of my friends, Piper and Eli, who were engrossed in an animated conversation.

Then, Juliette spoke. "Hindi po namin kilala ang mga ito. Kung may kakilala kayong nawawalan ng mga matsing, pakisabi nandito sila." Her voice is loud enough to make other people laugh and to stop Piper and Eli.

"Hoy!" They both called Juliette with their annoyed faces.

As I looked back at Artemis, I could see that she was still shaking her head, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. It was clear that she appreciated the humor in her friend's behavior, even if she didn't fully approve of it.

"Tumigil na kayo. Tahimik na ang inay," biro ni Violet, tinutukoy ang katabi ko.

I watched as Juliette, Piper, and Eli turned their heads towards Artemis, their expressions suddenly sobering. It was as if they had just been caught misbehaving, and now they were trying to act innocent.

Their reaction was so instantaneous that I couldn't help but snicker at the sight. It was funny to see how quickly they had changed their behavior, like a group of kids who had just been scolded by their parents.

"Bakit nga kayo ulit nandito?" Masungit na tanong ni Juliette kay Artemis at Violet. "Hindi schedule ng year ninyo ngayon ah."

"Ay, ayaw niyo bang nandito kami? Tara, Sienna. Uwi na tayo," Violet said jokingly. She stood up and held Artemis' arm. "Sayang, manlilibre sana ako ng buko juice!"

"Madame Violet, nagbibiro lang eh!" Bawi ni Juliette. So, I gently held Artemis' shirt's hem for her to sit down again. I saw Ivy glancing at me with a teasing look and I just smiled at her.

When Paris announced that she was hungry, we all decided to go and grab some lunch at the nearby eatery in front of the campus.

"Anong gusto mo?" Artemis asked. I looked twice at the rows of chafer pan that is on the long ang big table, that will greet you before entering the eatery.

"I want that, Liempo and Chopsuey," itinuro ko ang dalawa. Then, Artemis ordered what she wanted and what I wanted and paid for it, as our friends.

As we are eating, bibig na naman ni Eli ang nangunguna. Hindi pa rin siya nakakamove on sa pagsusungit sa kaniya sa registrar kanina.

"Ang ganda naman ng mga grades ko tapos kung makapag stamp si ante mo sa pre-enrollment form ko, akala mo parang utang na loob ko sa kaniya 'yong grades na 'yon," inis na sabi nito habang ngumunguya.