Jump From the Air (Erudite Series #5)

Kapitulo 27

Nang dumating ang panibagong linggo, may pasok na si Kalon, kaya sa Vito Cruz na kami ulit palaging kumakain. Next week, finals ko na, kaya naman natatanggihan ko si Kalon tuwing mag-aaya siyang mag-call sa gabi. Recently kasi, nawala ang discipline ko sa schedule ko, I was trying to bring it back para consistent ako. Nag-binge watch kasi ako ng isang series, kaya hindi ko nasunod ang dalawang araw na schedules ko.

"Do you want more? You can have mine," Kalon said when he saw me finish my tacos in minutes.

We were in El Poco right now. He finished his classes early today, and he waited for me for an hour. Gumawa muna siya ng schoolworks sa condo niya.

"No, I'm busog na," sagot ko.

"Sure? You seem hungry, you can have mine naman," inusog niya ang plate niyang may isa pang taco.

Tiningnan ko siya at nahihiyang tinanong, "sure ka?"

Tumango siya at ngumiti bago isubo ang maliit na hawak niyang taco. I indulged myself and took his taco.

I really was hungry. Kaninang umaga pa kasi 'yong huling kain ko, brunch. It was not a good choice when I knew I had three classes after that. Dapat kumain ako no'ng 30-minute vacant ko bago 'yong huling class. Bad choice today.

"Thank you," I told Kalon as I dipped the taco in the white sauce.

Kumuha siya ng tissue at pinunasan ang sauce na nasa itaas ng labi ko bago sabihing, "happy to give."

"How has school been so far?" I asked.

Ikatlong araw niya pa lang sa sophomore year, pero nakatatlong quiz na siya agad. Ang lala ng puyat niya kagabi para sa biglaang quiz na in-announce sa e-mail niya. Fortunately, he passed. 'Tsaka, may paper na rin siyang sinimulang isulat kanina, aniya nang magkita kami ngayon.

"Busy, a bit nervous for some recitations that will happen," he answered.

"How do recits work for you guys?" kumagat ako matapos kuwestiyonin 'yon.

"They give us cases, patient cases, then, the professor asks us the facts and what intervention we should do."

"Parang law school!"

"Yeah, medyo socratic method, pero hindi naman mahirap aralin—it's just, you never know what the prof will ask, which makes it challenging. Kaya, lahat ng cases, dapat alam mo."

"Hindi lang isa 'yong case?" gulat kong sabi.

"Marami, pero hindi naman sa lahat ng subjects, gano'n. Starting pa lang kami, so we're also still learning some foundational courses."

I bit his taco as I nodded. Napangiti si Kalon sa akin.

"Cute mo naman," anas niya.

We finished eating and went out of El Poco. Hinatid niya ako sa train station. Nang magpaalaam ako ay hinawakan niya bigla ang kamay ko. Umusog kami sa gilid para hindi maharangan ang aakyat ng Vito Cruz station.

"Why?" I asked him.

"Can I change my wallpaper with... your photo?"

I blinked twice before nodding.

"Sure," sabi ko.

"But I don't have a photo of you... Can you send a selfie later?"

"Ohh, yeah, sure."

Akala ko kung ano'ng sasabihin niya. Seryoso kasi 'yong mukha niya no'ng hilingin niya ang picture ko. Akala ko may sikreto na naman siyang ibubunyag, e.

Grinning, he said, "thank you, baby."

Nginisian ko rin siya at hinila na ang kamay ko paalis.

"Ingat," aniya bago ako tuluyang mawala sa tabi niya.