Too Flawed To Fix

EPILOGUE

Kanina pa ako nakatitig sa screen ng cellphone ko. Nakatigil iyon sa profile ng isang babae at kanina ko pa tinitignan ang asul na message button.

Hindi ko alam kung pipindutin ko ba. I was hesitant. Hindi ko alam kung mababasa niya lalo pa't hindi naman kami friends sa facebook.

Hindi ko siya kilala. Hindi ko siya nakakasalamuha o nakikita sa canteen. O baka hindi ko lang talaga siya napapansin.

She didn't look too approachable. Judging her profile, which was kept private, she seemed like she doesn't talk much. But I can't really judge a book by its cover, can I?

Paano ko malalaman kung hindi niya makikita ang mensahe ko kung hindi ko susubukan? Isa pa, I need to do it. It's important for the regional's exams.

"Hey, I was told you got the key for the faculty room? I have to take some reviewers tomorrow so I'm asking if you can, perhaps, be early?"

Tinitigan ko ang tinipang mensahe at ilang sandali pang nag-isip kung okay na ba iyon. I don't message people randomly so this is taking my time.

I'm not asking too much, right? Kailangan lang namang mas maaga siyang pumunta. Or I can just treat her for breakfast as a compensation.

Nagulat ako nang ilang minuto pa lang ay nakita niya na ang mensahe ko. She accepted my request and was immediately typing a response.

"Yeah. Okay."

Maikli lang din ang sagot niya.

"Thanks! I'll see you, then," sagot ko na hindi niya na ni-reply-an pa.

I did my best to wake up early than usual. Hindi naman puwedeng siya pa ang paghintayin ko since I was the one to ask a favor. Mag-a-alas siyete pa lang, nasa biyahe na ako papuntang university.

But I think, I underestimated her. Nauna pa siya sa akin. Nandoon na siya sa labas ng faculty room nang umakyat ako.

"Kanina ka pa?" Gulantang kong tanong nang makalapit sa kaniya.

Tumayo siya at ngumiti. "Hindi naman."

"Aling reviewers ang kailangan mo?" She was immediately down to business.

I puckered my lips then went inside with her.

"'Yong para sa regionals sana," tugon ko.

Tumango siya at lumapit sa isa sa mga drawer at naghanap doon.

"Wala namang sinabi sa akin na reviewers." I heard her mumble to herself as she open all the drawers.

Pinanood ko siyang hanapin iyon. She was not tall nor petite. Sakto lang ang tangkad niya. But I was still taller than her. Siguro hanggang leeg ko siya.

Her waist-length hair was wavy. She's got curtain bangs, as well. Maputi siya pero natural ang kulay ng manipis na labi. Her eye color was like a dark peanut shell. Matangos din ang ilong niya pero hindi sobra.

"You work here?" I tried to start a conversation while she was busy looking.

Lumapit na rin ako para tulungan siya sa paghahanap ng mga kailangan ko.

"I guess?" She replied without giving me much attention.

Napatingin ako sa kaniya dahil sa kaniyang sagot.

"You guess?"

Nilingon niya ako saglit bago siya tumango.

"Palagi akong tumatambay sa labas ng faculty room noon dahil maaga akong pumupunta sa university. I don't wanna get stuck into traffic, that's why. Napansin ako ng faculty na palaging late dumating at hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip niya at sa akin ipinagkatiwala ang susi para sa kuwarto," kuwento niya.