Conquering Territories: Completed

8

I immediately looked up after someone called my name. Aris was now looking straight into my eyes, making me somehow nervous. I haven't noticed that I spaced out while the two of us were talking. Hindi ko man lang narinig na kanina pa pala siya tumatawag.

The both of us were now at a nearby convenience store from our school. Aris told me that he hasn't eaten his breakfast and he wanted some company. Mabuti na lang at wala ang professor ko sa first class. I really wanted to sleep but, I just found myself hanging out with him. Umaga pa lang ay binubulabog ng lalaking 'to.

Aris intently looked at my eyes before a sly grin was plastered on his face. Sigurado akong may iniisip na naman ang lalaking 'to. The way he looked at me, I knew the reporter inside him was about to scare the shit inside me. If I wasn't his bestfriend, iisipin ko na may balak siyang patayin dahil sa mga ngiti niya.

"Natulog ka man lang ba kagabi?" Aris asked with a fake smile plastered on his lips. He clasped his hands in a manner that made him looked like a prosecutor ready to prosecute the accused in front of him. He really looked scary for me.

"Oo, bakit?" I lied. Halos hindi ako nakatulog kagabi dahil sa nabasa ko. Vin's letter somehow made my heart excited and confused at the same time. Excited, because I knew that the letter he sent wasn't the last one. I knew that a surprise was waiting for me. Alam kong may darating pa.

Unconsciously, a smile was formed on my lips after remembering the words he sent me. Something about the promise he wrote made my feelings wild. Ipinangako niyang pupuntahan niya ako bago matapos ang taon. Darating siya.

I want to see you. Looked at the ocean and wait for me. Before this year ends, we'll see each other. I promise that.

His words made my heart palpitate. I still couldn't believe that my dreams and hopes were now starting to manifest. After the years we've spent sending letters, here it comes. Magkikita na kaming dalawa.

"Khaydel, yung totoo, humithit ka ba ng katol kagabi?" My thoughts were interrupted after hearing Aris' voice once again. I forgot that he was still sitting in front of me. Kung ano-ano na naman ang tumatakbo sa isip ko, nakakalimutan ko na may nakaupo pa pala sa harap ko.

"Tinatanong kita kung natulog ka ba kagabi tapos, bigla ka nang ngumiti na parang adik," Aris said before letting out a chuckle. "Tell me, Khaydel. Ano ang magandang nangyari kagabi?" His eyebrows were moving upside down, and a quirky girn were now plastered on his lips. Sigurado ako na kademonyohan na naman ang tumatakbo sa isip ng lalaking 'to.

"Walang nangyari," I said as I averted my gaze. Aris fidgetted his fingers at the table in front of him. I heard him murmuring something before I felt his stare once again. Sigurado akong hindi siya titigil sa pagtatanong. Kung totoong tao lang ang curious cat, Aris would fit the description.

"Bakit pakiramdam ko nagsisinungaling ka? Para naman akong others," Aris pouted. His face somehow made me chuckle. Siraulo talaga. Bigla tuloy akong napaisip kung paano nakakahatak ng babae ang isip bat ana 'to.

"Wala nga talaga. Masama na bang ngumiti ngayon?" I said, trying to hide my lies. Hindi ko naman alam kung paano na lang sasabihin sa kanya na may hinihintay akong dumating, and to think that it was a guy.

"Bakit ka nga ngumingiti? Baliw na lang ang biglang ngingiti nang walang dahilan."

"Naalala ko lang na malapit na magsimula ang training ko for the contest. Ayos na?" I answered. Sinabi ko na nga ba at hindi titigil si Aris sa pagtatanong. Good thing that I remembered the contest our professor wanted me to enter. That should be a valid alibi, I guess.

"Sa lahat ng kilala ko, ikaw lang ang biglang ngingiti dahil sa pressure at stress. Ayos pa ba ang mental health natin dýan?" I couldn't help but to roll my eyes. Tarantado talaga.

"Speaking of that contest," Aris cleared his throat. "Jacob found it out." I looked at him with curiousity present in my eyes. Jacob being Jacob, he would barge to the main office if he found out that it's me, and not him.

"Base sa mga narinig ko, he really went to the office of the department to ask why. Some people told me that he really insisted that he should be the one representing our school, and not you."

"And who are the people you just mentioned?" I creased an eyebrow while straightly looking at him. I really knew that Aris' one of the school's gossip collectors. Minsan tuloy ay napapa-isip ako kung sino nga ba sa aming dalawa ang journalism student.

"Sources." Aris chuckled. "Wag mo na alamin kung sino ang mga 'yon."

"Chismoso."

The two of us went to our respective classes after that little talk. As I took one step inside the classroom, I could already feel burning eyes looking straight on my direction. If looks could really kill, I bet I'm now six feet below the ground. Hindi na ako nag-abalang lumingon pa dahil kilala ko naman kung sino ang tumitingin sa akin.

I immediately approached Ravin who was now also looking at me. I couldn't help to smile to him since he was radiating a much brighter energy. Para siyang maliwanag na bumbilya. I mean literally. He was wearing a bright yellow shirt, causing him to radiate a bright pleasing aura.

"Do you want to take a tour right now?" I asked. Isang oras pa naman ang natitirang oras namin bago ang susunod na class. Hindi ko rin kasi makayanan ang aura sa loob ng room namin. That someone who must not be named was still looking at me. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay may malaking galit talaga sa ain ang lalaking 'to. Good thing that I do have the excuse of having a campus tour. I hoped that time was enough to roam around the whole campus.

"Sure." Ravin stood up, which somehow made me look small. His height was kind of impressive. Akala ko dati ay matangkad na ako, hindi pa pala. Pakiramdam ko ay bigla akong naging duwende.

I let out a sigh after we got out of the classroom. Jacob's stares somehow made me conscious. That man really knew how to make something awkward and weird at the same time. Sino ba naman ang matagal na titignan ng masama ang isang tao? Just him.

"Are you okay?" I immediately turned to Ravin after hearing his question. Napansin siguro niya na kanina pa ako hindi mapakali. "I'm good" I answered before the two of us continued our walk.

"So, our school offers almost all the courses a student dreamed of. May it be in the field of designing, organizing, and even news making." I continued talking as we walked around the campus. Several students looked at him as we enter the other departments. I could literally hear words that were quite vulgar.

"And here," I walked in front of the door ", is the haven of some students like me, the library." Ravin followed me inside the place. As far as I remembered, the both of us met in here. I turned on his direction, only to found out that he was now busy looking for a certain book.

"What are you looking for? Maybe I could help." I should maintain the school buddy thing, mahirap na at baka may professor na makapansin na wala akong ginagawa. Or much worse, Jacob would see me.

"I'm actually looking for a dictionary." He shyly scratched his nape as he focused his attention suddenly focused on the floor. "I do want to know how to speak Filipino, or even how to understand."

I couldn't help but to smile after hearing that. Nawala sa isip ko na galing nga pala sa ibang bansa ang lalaking to. He was still not knowledgeable with Filipino language.

"Follow me," I said before traveling my way towards the language section. I picked a total of 5 books for him to understand it more.

The two of us went towards the farthest table. Hindi ko alam pero nagkasundo na lang kami na sa pinakadulo umupo. Maybe he doesn't want such attention from the public, and me, I want silence and privacy.

"So, what word or phrase do you want to know first?" I asked as I scanned through the pages. Mahirap na at baka may mali akong maituro sa kanya. That would totally reflect on my form.

"I love you."

I choked on my own after hearing what he said. That was unexpected. Hindi ko naman alam na 'yon pala ang una niyang itatanong. I was expecting something like greeting or introducing phrases. I looked at him with a smile plastered on my face. I need to still maintain my "buddy image" on him.

"Mahal kita."