Conquering Territories: Completed

9

That was weird. I mean, really weird.

Things passed by like it was nothing after that moment. Halos hindi ko man lang naramdaman ang morning classes ko. I just found myself walking towards the cafeteria with my mind still floating in the air. What happened inside the library somehow made my mind blown.

Ravin's sudden word translation made my mind malfunctioned. I would understand if he said it in a casual manner but, why did he stare at me like that? Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay may ibang kahulugan ang sinabi niya. Or maybe it was just me thinking that there was something behind those words. Nakakailang.

The thought of Ravin having some hidden agenda suddenly entered my mind. Maybe I am delusional or something similar. I'm thinking about the possibilities of Ravin being the Vin I'm exchanging letters with, which is really imposible. Dahil sa mga sinabi niya kanina, mas tumaas ang hinala ko na siya nga si Vin.

I shrugged those thoughts away as I continued my way. Imposible. It wasn't him. Maybe I'm just overreacting over a simple thing. Siguro naman ay may gusto lang siyang sabihan no'n kaya niya natanong. Yep, that's it.

"Sigurado ka talagang hindi ka nagkatol kagabi?" I felt an arm on my shoulder which caused me to turn at my side. I wasn't surprised to see Aris with his guitar and wicked smile. I bet this guy was really a mushroom during his past life. Bigla na lang sumusulpot.

"Mukha ba akong nagkakatol?" I asked at him. The two of us continued walking towards the canteen. After that weird encounter with Ravin, I need some breather."I'm just thinking about things."

"Really? Tell me about it." I held out a deep sigh after realizing that Aris won't let go of me if I didn't speak. Being my best friend, he knew that I won't walk with my mind floating if it wasn't for nothing.

"Jacob stared at me like he really wants to slaughter me," I lied, again. Well, that thing was still true. If looks could really kill, kanina pa ako patay. While we were inside the classroom, Jacob stared at me like I'm the evillest thing on earth.

"See-" Aris removed his arm from my shoulder "-that man would really do everything for the sake of that position."

"Bahala na siya."

The loud crowd welcomed us as we reached the canteen. Hindi na ako nagtaka dahil sabay-sabay talaga ang mga estudyante sa pagpunta rito. Kahit wala naman silang bibilihin, tumatambay pa rin rito.

"Seryoso, ang gwapo ng exchange student."

That was the first thing I heard as we reached our usual spot. Blake and Clarisse were already there, and I bet, Clarisse was busy fantasizing Ravin.

"Exchange student na naman. Gwapo ba talaga 'yan ha? Baka naman mukha lang siopao kapag itinabi sa akin," Aris commented before he sat down. I just shrugged my shoulders as I positioned myself. I guess this lunch would really cause me a lot of stress. It was a total mess if Aris and Clarisse made such kind of interaction.

"Mukha ka lang bangaw kapag itinabi doon." I chuckled as I heard those words from Blake. Siraulo talaga. Well, he was right. Aris was kind of different compared to Vin. Vin do have something different that made him stood out from the crowd. He was different.

I suddenly remembered the things that Vin wrote on his letter. He told me that he was coming for me. Then, a Vin appeared out of nowhere telling that he was a transferee from China. It really wasn't a coincidence. Hindi talaga kapani-paniwala na bigla na lang may magpapakilalang Vin sa harap ng klase. It was too unreal.

"Hey, Khay," I turned at the three of them. Tatlo silang nakatingin sa akin na para bang may ginawa akong masama. I bet the three of them were thinking about something once again.

"Hindi ako nag-iisip ng babae. Unahan ko na kayo," I said while rolling my eyes. The three of them smirked as they heard those words from me. Mga tarantado talaga. Wala na talaga silang ibang maisip maliban sa babae.

"Then, it must be a boy?"

My eyes widened after hearing those words. Bigla na lang akong nasamid sa sarili kong laway dahil sa sinabi ni Aris. Was I too obvious?

"Tang...ina mo," I said while I'm catching my breath. Halos na mula na ang mukha ko dahil muntik na akong maubusan ng hininga. Aris' words strucked something inside me.

"Ano nga kasi?"

"Nothing," I said before returning my gaze to my food. I don't want to say out loud that I'm thinking about Vin. The two of them might think the other way if I confessed about my adoration for my penpal. Isa pa, siguradong hindi nila ako titigilan hanggat hindi nila nalalaman ang lahat.

Was the man I encountered and toured around the campus awhile ago was really the Vin I exchanged letters with? Hindi na talaga maalis sa isip ko kung siya ba talaga 'yon o hindi. If I proved that it was him, I won't hesitate on telling it on these three people in front of me. They deserve to know things about me after all yet, I still don't know if it was really him. Baka umaasa lang ako.

"Khaydel, are you really sure that you are okay? Kanina ka pa parang wala sa sarili mo."

"I'm definitely okay. Wala naman akong problema. Hindi ako humithit kagabi at hindi rin babae ang iniisip. At hindi rin lalaki, if that matters," I said.

"Are you really sure about that?"

"I am"

"Then why is pen on your soup?"

I immediately looked to my food, only to found out that my pen was now on the soup. I thought it was just the spoon that I placed on the bowl. My mind really malfunctioned because of what Ravin said awhile ago.

"Hindi pala sabog," Clarisse commented while chuckling. "Collect yourself first, Khay. You're acting weird. Baka masampal kita para magisig ka."

I smiled at them before I stood up. Kailangan ko pa tuloy bumili ng bago dahil sa pagkalutang ko. Also, I really need to collect myself and forget that thing about Ravin. That man really knew how to flip my mind. That was just nothing, I thought. Maybe I was just overwhelmed with that sudden word. Nagulat lang talaga siguro ako.

My thoughts were interrupted as I bumped into something. My eyes widened in shock after realizing what just happened. Because of my mind floating, I bumped onto Ravin, causing the soup to spill on his shirt.

"What- Sorry!"