Nagising ako dahil kumikirot-kirot ang aking ulo. I should really stop drinking. Sinubukan kong kapain ang kama at ang nightstand para hanapin ang phone at i-check kung anong oras na dahil alam kong may pasok pa.
"It's 4 in the morning," agad akong napabangon nang may nagsalita. Nakalimutan kong dito rin pala natulog si Professor De Veres—ay Miss Harriet na pala. Pasimple kong tinignan ang sarili ko kung may damit pa ako.
"Relax, we didn't do anything." Nakahinga naman ako nang maluwag. Pag uwi namin sa bahay kagabi ay kumuha ako ulit ng alak tapos uminom ulit kami sa may pool area. Hindi ko alam paano pa kami nakapunta ng kwarto dahil ang huling tanda ko ay pareho kaming nakahiga sa sahig sa tabi ng swimming pool.
"I hope you don't mind that I borrowed some clothes from your walk-in closet." Ayan nanaman siya sa English niya. tinignan ko siya at mukhang kakagaling niya lang sa banyo. Bagong ligo na siya at nakasuot na siya ng white loose pants and a striped black-and-white blouse.
"Are you sure that's mine?" I asked because I have never seen nor worn those clothes; besides, it's not even my style.
"I think so since I found it there." I just nodded and stood up from bed to look for something to wear.
"Aren't you going to wear your uniform?"
"No," I replied and grabbed a black hoodie and loose jeans.
"Do you have a blow dryer?" She asked.
"It's in here, sa may vanity table," I said, pointing to the vanity table inside the walk-in closet.
"I used your shower gel pala," she said while blow-drying her hair.
"Kaya pala ang bango mo na," pabiro kong sabi.
"You're right, your shower gel smells really good, but it's mas mabango when it's on you." Inirapan ko lang siya at pumasok na sa banyo. Ang aga-aga lumandi ng kasama ko.
Pagkatapos kong maligo, lumabas na ako at nakita kong hindi pa tapos si Professor De Veres sa paggamit ng blower. Pumunta muna ako sa kama ko para kunin ang cellphone at i-check ito. May mga missed calls ako mula sa parents ko at isang message mula kay Hailee na nangangamusta.
I replied to her message and even sent one to my parents para hindi na sila mag-worry. They told me they'll just visit me at school later, which made me relieved dahil baka maabutan nila si Professor kapag pumunta sila ngayon sa bahay.
"Come here. I'll dry your hair." She gestured for me to sit on the chair. I hesitantly walked towards her and sat. She stood behind me and started drying my hair. This feels awkward.
"I didn't know you liked the color green," she said. She's talking about my room because it's a mix of sage green and cream.
"I don't. Pang aesthetic look lang 'yan."
"Oh well, it looks really aesthetic," she commented. Nang matapos na siya sa pag-blow dry ng buhok ko, niyaya ko na siyang bumaba para kumain. May dalawang oras pa kami bago magsimula ang klase.
Habang naglalakad kami, tumitingin-tingin siya sa paligid at sa mga pictures na nakasabit sa aming wall.
"You have a beautiful family," she said while staring at our big family picture na nakasabit sa staircase.
"Thanks,"
"You don't really look Chinese at all, unlike your siblings."
"Kay dad kasi ako nagmana," I said, at hinila ko na siya papuntang hapagkainan dahil kanina pa siya nakatitig sa picture at baka ma-late pa kami.
BINABASA MO ANG
Academic Temptations
Romantik"I thought I had it all figured out-a perfect life with a planned future. Then you came along, adding colors to my black-and-white existence. Now, I'm ready to take chances, and embrace the unknown because being with you is a perfection I never knew...
