Love Persist

Kabanata 3 - Not every offer should be regarded as a blessing.

I texted Heidi last night and told her I would go with her to university because I couldn't ride my bike yet. Even after I removed the bandage from my foot, it still hurt a bit. Ayaw ko rin makita ni Mama na may injure ako dahil baka mag-alala 'yon. The last thing I wanted was for her to be worried about me. I can tolerate the pain anyway.

Heto kami ngayon ni Heidi sa loob ng jeep at pinag-uusapan ang nangyari gabi.

"Tumayo rin naman ako kahapon pero hindi ako nagpahatid, 'no." Heidi said as she looked at me with downturned lips.

"She's the one who offered me a ride." Pagdedepensa ko sa sarili ko.

"Oh, yeah? You accepted her offer, which means you are not upset with her anymore," she quipped.

"Ewan ko. I think she's guilty."

"'Di tayo sure. By the way," pag-iiba niya sa usapan. "Sabi ng orgmates ko there's a new professor at our university na anak ng university's president at papalit sa position. It must be Professor Gil; even our classmates speculate the same."

"I didn't know that she is related to the president." I said indifferently.

"Me either." Heidi agreed and shrugged afterwards. "But if she were to take the position of president, why is she teaching right now?"

"Dunno. You said it yourself that what you heard was just a rumor."

"I know that right, that's why I don't believe them."

Ang alam ko lang tungkol kay Professor Gil ay isa siyang attorney. Nagtataka nga ako, sa totoo lang. Dapat nasa law firm siya o hindi kaya ay nakikipag-bardagulan sa courtroom. Maiintindihan ko sana kung sa mga law students siya nagtuturo pero hindi, e. Baka ganap siyang attorney at professor at the same time.

At dahil si Professor Gil ang pinag-uusapan namin, naikuwento ko na rin kay Heidi ang unang encounter namin. Nagsisisi nga ako, e, kasi tawang-tawa siya ngayon. Nahihiya ako kay manong driver at sa mga kasamahan namin sa jeep. Pagbaba namin ay humingi ako ng pasensya sa kanilang lahat dahil sa pagbubulabog ng kaibigan ko sa tahimik nilang biyahe.

Heidi kept calling me "stupid," as if I wasn't aware of my own stupidity. Hindi rin ako makapaniwala sa sarili ko na tinakbuhan ko si Professor Gil ng mga sandaling iyon.

"Did you apologize to her?" tanong ni Heidi nang medyo kumalma siya.

I nodded, recalling our conversation last night. "Sinabihan niya lang akong mag-aral ng mabuti para hindi na ako tumayo ulit sa klase niya."

"She is kinda suggesting you to put your nose to the grindstone," she said between her giggles. "She will certainly call you again for recitation so you'd better get your head down and push through."

Her words made me scowl. Nagmadali akong lumakad para marating kaagad ang department namin.

"If I were you, I'd give her a peace offering as a formal apology." Sabi pa niya at saka pinantayan ang bawat hakbang ko.

I looked at Heidi incredulously. "I already apologized to her not just once but twice."

"Okay? But remember she handles one of our majors. Ngayon pa lang magsumikap ka na hindi ka mababagsak sa subject niya, or pray to all the gods that she's not like some other professors in our department who are very hateful to your existence."

Alas otso pa lang ng umaga pero pinag-o-overthink niya na ako. I stomped my feet in frustration. Ngunit ang inis na nararamdaman ko ay napalitan ng sakit dahil sa ginawa ko. I forgot about my injury.

"Heidi! You little evil!"