Thorns in the roses

1. Enigma

"Sigurado ka ba, Tori? Puwede naman kitang ihatid araw araw."

Kanina pa si kuya Tristan sa ganyan niya. Akala mo naman maga asawa na ako. Magdo-dorm lang naman para sa college, eh.

"Kuya, ilagay mo nalang yung mga bag ko sa kotse."

Wala rin siyang nagawa. After all, this was really the plan. Medyo malayo rin kasi ang school ko even though nasa Manila rin naman ako.

"Hoy, Oli, tumulong ka nga," sabi ni kuya Tristan kay kuya Oli.

"I don't want to."

"Tsk! 'Wag mo 'kong papansinin sa school, ah!" Biro ko.

Ganyan siya. Cold pero alam ko namang he cares. We're in the same school this year pero ayaw niyang mag dorm. I don't know why.

"Aalis na ako, kuya," sabi ko at pumasok sa kotse. "Paalam mo nalang kay mama."

Tumango siya. "Alright. Take care, Tori. Keep in touch."

Smooth ang byahe ko papuntang dorm. Natuwa ako dahil walking distance lang talaga siya sa school. Dapat lang, 'no.

Inakyat ko ang mga gamit ko. Nagpa tulong nalang ako sa driver.

Binuksan ko ang pinto at nakitang wala pa pala ang roommate ko. I don't know anything about her, sana lang ay maayos siya.

While I was arranging my things, I received a call from Tina. My bestfriend.

"Hello?"

"Nasa dorm ka na?"

"Yeah."

"Nice! Let's go out tonight. May dinner mga freshman."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Saan naman? You sure dinner lang 'yan?"

She chuckled. "Depends. But please! Pumunta ka. It's time to make more friends, oki?!"

"Oo na." I sighed. "Text me the details."

"Sige, byee!" She hung up.

I'm no extrovert. I barely had friends in my senior year, because everyone sees me as the quite introvert smart girl. Si Tina lang ang hindi na intimidate sa 'kin. But who knows?

Maybe I can be extrovert tonight. I must recharge my social battery, I guess.

When 7pm came, umalis na ako ng dorm para i meet si Tina. She knows i'm not good with this so she'll come with me.

I just wore a white tshirt and tucked it in my jeans.

"Stop looking nervous, Tori. Be natural lang!" She said before we go in.

"I'm trying, Tina. Halika na, pumasok na tayo."

She smirked. "Alright! Make friends and make out-"

"Tina."

"Kimi lang!"

Pumasok kami at marami ng tao rito. I don't even know if by majors ba ang upo rito. Fuck. Saan ako pu-pwesto?

"Are the seats random lang?" I asked.

"Huh? Hindi ka ba na inform magkakasama by class?"

I didn't know, of course! Hindi ako nagsi seen sa gc.

"Aria?"

Napatingin kami sa tumawag sa "kin. She has a sticker name on her shirt. It says Paula.

"Do i know you?" I tried to ask nicely.

She smiled. "I'm Pau! Roommate? Magka class din tayo, I recognized you from your profile. Hehe."

Thank you, Lord.