XIV
NOW I know that being a Journalist isn't easy. You need to attend seminars or activities every last weekend of the month, starting July.
That's why you need to wake up three o'clock in the morning because the call time is four thirty.
You need to smile even though you're pissed because there are some lower years who observe.
You need to control yourself because of flirts who laugh like dwarves and continuously hitting the guys who are sitting next to them.
And you need to stop yourself from talking because the guy beside you doesn't know that word. He only knows reading. And fixing his glasses every damn minute.
"Kung nakakapunit lang 'yong tingin mo, pira-piraso na libro ko." My glaring eyes diverted to Kriho's face from his book. I feel more irritated when his expression showed amusement.
"'Wag mo sabihin sa'king babasahin mo 'yan buong oras na nandito tayo?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.
He fixed his glasses then put his attention back to his book. "Pwede."
"What the hell?" My brows narrowed. "Talk to me or that book would be seen outside this bus."
"Joshan."
"Ano?" I snapped.
"Profanities." Madiing saway niya.
Napakagat-labi ako at natahimik.
Kahit na kulong ako sa bahay, I learned how to cuss. Maybe because of books I've read, or movies I've watched. Pero hindi ko 'yon madalas magamit, pwera na lang kung nasa bahay si Harold. I never used profanities towards Sydney, nor my father. Never.
I'm not ashamed of using it, either. Cussing doesn't define your personality, that's what I've learned. Taking my dad's business acquaintances as an example. They all look respectable, formal, and proper— people who look like they never uttered a single cuss. However, some of them are worst than people who couldn't finish high school.
But this guy— this geek— his tone made me feel a little, just a little, embarrassed by cussing.
He sighed and closed the book before turning his head on me. "What do you want to talk about?"
"Uhh..."
Now, what? Pinatigil mo sa pagbabasa para makausap mo, ta's wala kang masabi?!
"See? That's the reason why books are better than humans. They have sense." He calmly stated and was about to open his book again, but I took it harshly. "Careful!" He panicked.
"Geek." I uttered because of his reaction. He just arched his brow at me. I arched mine back. Huh. "Are you saying that I'm senseless? Because of this fucking book?" I gritted my teeth, stopping myself from hitting him. "Try me, Herreria." I dared.
"Joshan." He stared at me for seconds. "We'll work on your profanities next time." He nodded, more to himself, before fixing his glasses. Then, he smirked. "Now. Why do people yawn?"
I blinked, and blinked, and blinked again.
What?
"Is that how you measure sense?" I sarcastically asked. "Your question itself has no sense at all."
"Because I'm a human."
"And?"
"And I belong to the 'humans' I was talking about."
