I Can Only Love You Reluctantly (A LIGHT NOVEL)

Chapter 14

Alas dose y media na ng tanghali ngunit may paisa-isa pa ring pumapasok sa cafeteria. Ilan sa mga nauna na tapos nang kumain ang kusang lumabas bilang pagbibigay-daan sa mga kapapasok lang.

Kabilang sa mga ito ang dalawang babaeng hindi nagkakalayo ang height. Ang isa'y nakatirintas ang buhok at naka-suot ng pink dress samantalang naka-uniporme at nakalugay ang mahabang buhok ng isang babae.

Ignoring some curious eyes they get, Yra started their conversation as they exited the cafeteria. "Saang school ka galing?"

"Sa St. Patrick University," answered Diana.

St. Patrick University also known as SPU is one of the best University in their area but it ranked below Malaya University in terms of performance. Of course, Yra feels so proud kahit na wala siyang contribution sa mga achievement ng University nila.

Hindi naman nagkakalayo ang dalawang Unibersidad, nasa magkabilang banda nga lang sila ng bayan kaya hindi masyadong nagko-cross path ang mga estudyante nila.

There is also this one University near SPU, a public University but still a competitive one. 'Yon nga lang, hindi sila nakakasabay sa ibang Unibersidad dahil sa kakulangan sa kanilang imprastraktura.

"So malapit lang kayo sa Unibersidad ng Marilag?"

That University is the oldest and only public University in their town. Dahil doon nanggaling si Camiro ay naging interesado si Yra sa kung anong klaseng Unibersidad ito.

"Yeah, unfortunately." Diana's lazy response made Yra raise her eyebrow.

"Unfortunately?"

"Ah, don't get me wrong," Diana smiled, fixing her reaction. "Some of our student kasi got harassed by them. Ewan ko ba kung bakit puro delinquent ang nag-aaral doon, like, para silang mga gangster."

"And you know what's worst? I got stalked by one of their student lately lang! Fortunately, Camiro came to my rescue."

Seeing the smile on her face, Yra again raised her eyebrows. Hindi niya gusto ang makahulugang ngiti nito. At saka kilala niya si Camiro?

"Yeah, I was talking about Camiro na kasama natin kanina," hindi pa rin mabura-bura ang ngiti nito. "I was lucky enough to ran into him that time. If it wasn't for him, hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari sa akin."

"He is different from other student of that University, as you can see, he has a cold personality and doesn't care much about other people. I suspect nga na hindi niya ako tutulungan kung hindi lang niya ako kilala." She proudly looked at Yra then proceeded, "I am a regular kasi sa milk tea shop where he works part time. Nakilala nga niya ako kaagad kanina."

Patuloy ito sa pagkukuwento tungkol kay Camiro ngunit isa lang ang tumatak sa isipan ni Yra: Nagpa-part time si Camiro?

"I planned to help him financially sa studies niya as a thank you but before I could offer him help, he disappeared. Then I just heard from his co-worker that he transferred here. And I didn't expect to meet my childhood friends here and it's all thanks to Camiro."

Sa madaling salita, si Camiro ang dahilan kaya nag-transfer sa kanila si Diana. So it was all because of him. However, hearing the word 'part time' and 'financial help', realizing what it meant, Yra couldn't bring herself to blame her brother especially that she was one of the reason why Camiro suffered.

"Anong milk tea shop?" she asked. Minabuti niyang kay Diana na siya nagtanong dahil alam niyang wala siyang makukuhang sagot kay Camiro.

"It's Aun-TEA Helen pero umalis na siya doon."

Aun-TEA Helen. Yra knew that shop. Once a week siyang pumupunta roon lalo na kapag nagke-crave siya ng paborito niyang mango shake. Ang ipinagtataka lang niya, sa tinagal-tagal niya sa shop na 'yon hindi man lang niya nakita si Camiro.