Aligning the Stars (GXG)

IV - Start

Astrea

'Welcome back to Wesbech, Weschians.
Academic year 2022-2023'

Ayan ang nakasulat sa tarpaulin sa harapan ng Wesbech pagpasok ko pa lang. Tulad ng dati, marami na namang bagong estudyante ngayong taon.

And it's another year of surviving this school year.

It's been two years since I started attending this university, and it's quite fascinating that Fine Arts has been rising to the top as one of the prestige courses in Wesbech. Kaya naman mas dumadami na din ang nag e-enroll dito, it surely helped the University to be known in the country, especially with them winning most of the international contests.

It's still 7:30 am, at mamayang 9 pa naman ang klase ko but I decided to be early for one reason.

"Talagang pinapunta mo ako ng ganito ka aga just so I could bring coffee to Ate Vien?" Aries said with a teasing smile, "Konti nalang talaga at iisipin ko na may gusto—"

"Ibubuhos ko sa'yo 'to." Putol ko sa kung ano man ang sasabihin niya. Tinaas niya ang parehas niyang kamay sabay tawa pa. "I'm serious, Aries."

"Okay, okay. Nagjojoke lang, Ate Astrea."

I rolled my eyes at him before giving the coffee I bought from Cafe D'Bolla, it's the coffee shop that she always go to, lagi ko kasing nakikita sa kanya na ito yung iniinom niya. It wasn't intentional, napadaan lang ako while I was on my way and thought that it would be nice to start the day with a coffee.

Bumili na din ako para sa ibang Professors, I don't want them to misinterpret nor tease her about it. 

"Uy, may note—"

"Don't you ever read that." I glared at him, napatigil naman siya sa pag-abot sa nakadikit na post-it note sa tagong parte ng carton box. "Just go and give it to her."

He just gave me a teasing look before saying goodbye to me as he left. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako dahil maski ako ay hindi alam kung ba't ko ba 'to ginagawa.

Since that night.. I couldn't help but to be worried about her— to look after Professor Del Mundo.

Kahit hindi naman dapat.

Because aside from being a student of her, I'm also a stranger to her.

I'm sure she doesn't even bother to remember who she was that night, she's quite drunk and right after that, she went back to class like she wasn't crying over someone.

I thought it would be over as well— all my confusion.

But it didn't.

Even until now, it's still a question whether I'm doing this for the reason that it only took her a few words to get me wrapped up around her finger, or if it's something more.

Whatever it is— I know I have to stop it at some point.

It's only getting nowhere.

Tinignan ko ang schedule ko sa buong semester and saw that my first class will start at 9:30 am. Kaya naman binalak ko na magpunta nalang sa bloom garden. I just hope na wala masyadong tao do'n.

I went to a secluded area as I lay on my back on the grass, may malaking puno kasi dito kaya natatakpan ako sa sinag ng araw. I closed my eyes as I listened to the humming of the birds, the rustling leaves and the chittering of some students from a distance.

Next year, I'll become a fourth year student. Funny how I was able to survive this degree when I didn't even like it the first time. Talagang suntok sa buwan ang naisip ko nung magsimula na kaming ipa-drawing. The only thing I could properly draw is a stick figure of a man. If I could just dig my own grave and bury myself, I'll certainly do it.