CLEO
"Earth to Cleo? Hello? Nasobrahan ka ba sa helium at lutang ka na naman?" Nabalik ako sa katinuan nang mapansin si Zyche na winawagayway ang magkabilang kamay niya sa harapan ko.
She grimaced. She stared at me as if she's regretting her choice of being my apprentice. Natawa na lang ako nang makita ang reaksyon niya. She's shorter than me, her cheeks are puffed red and I could seriously vision smokes coming out in every whole of her face.
Angry bird.
"Nakikinig ka ba?" I cleared my throat and composed myself.
"Muntik ka na hindi makaabot sa speech mo kanina. Hindi ka naman nag bar kagabi 'di ba pero bakit late ka na naman ng gising?" Tinalikuran ko siya at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.
Sino ba may sabing natulog ako?
Mariin ko na lang pinikit ang mga mata ko nang makaramdam ng kirot sa ulo ko. This is probably migraine, which is nothing new to me. Dahil sa pagiging competitive ko nakipag-contest pa ako sa pagpupuyat. And I hate to admit it but for the first time in my life, I lost. I probably slept first around 9 o'clock in the morning.
Hindi ko alam kung tulog ba ang tawag doon dahil nagising din ako kaagad para um-attend ng event sa NSRC Museum. Mabuti nakaabot pa ako sa speech ko kun'di bubungangaan na naman ako ng head.
"Miss Linares?" Napalingon ako nang may tumawag sa akin. It was a woman in her middle age together with three youngsters behind her.
I wasn't able to greet and address her properly due to my poor eyesight, but when she was only a few meters away from me, I was able to identify her.
"It's good to you again, Mrs. Samaniego." She gave me a genuine smile as she reached out her hand for a handshake.
"Likewise, Miss Linares." Napatingin naman ako sa tatlong na estudyanteng kasama niya.
"Oh, I would like to formally introduce the students who will be having their on-the-job training in NSRC Museum." Nagsingitian naman ang mga ito.
From the looks of it, they look like bright and outstanding students. Now that she mentioned it, I remembered signing an approval communication sheet accepting undergraduate students major in animal biology as their field of experience.
"This is Mira Gonzales, a third year student. She's interested in reptiles, specifically snakes." The student named Mira gave me a shy yet warm smile. She's short, but taller than Zyche. Maikli ang buhok niya at may dimples sa magkabilang pisngi.
"This is-"
"Hi, Miss ma'am Linares! I'm Vanilla Ortega! I'm interested in you po—lalo na if may kapatid kang lalaki! Charaught!" Magiliw itong tumawa bago ipagpatuloy ang sasabihin niya.
"I'm interested in butterflies po ma'am kasi they're pretty. And btw, I'm single po!" Nakita ko ang pagkamot ng ulo ni Mrs. Samaniego dahil sa naging turan ni Vanilla kaya naman natawa na lang ako sa isipan ko.
"How about this young man?" Tanong ko roon sa isang lalaking kanina pa nakayuko at hindi makatingin sa akin.
"I—I'm Rence Delgado. You can call me Ren, m-ma'am." I raised an eyebrow when I noticed him stuttering. He awkwardly scratch his nape as if he was uncomfortable.
"I'm interested in termites po." He bowed his head politely.
He got social anxiety, I see.
"The three of them will be under your supervision. Please take care of them, Miss Linares." Tumango na lang ako.
"Kailan magsisimula ang duty nila Zyche?" Saglit naman itong nag-isip.
BINABASA MO ANG
Until We Collide Again
RomanceWhat if you're just good enough to mess around, but not better to get invested with? How much can you risk to play a game knowing that you will lose in the end? **** Cleo Charmaine Linares is a walking karmic red flag. She lies, gaslights, and manip...
