LOVE IN PARADOX

Chapter 1

"Excuse me!" Someone yells and I instantly look around to see who owns that voice.

Why are they so loud? Mga college na ito at hindi  high schooler. Bigla  kung  na alala, this is a private institution, maybe public and private behavior of students  differ since the social status is not the same.

A chinky and petite woman  with her gentle woman totebag approach another woman.

I wish I have that kind of voice. I mean matagal  na talaga  akong  insecure sa boses  ko. Sabi ng step sister ko  hindi  naman  pangit boses ko, pero hindi ito kasing  pabebe ng sumigaw kanina. 

Bumalik ako sa pag yuko sa armchair ng aking  upuan. 

I'm still sleepy. I did not get my eight-hour of sleep in my new apartment.  Namamahay lang  siguro  ako.

"Wow, dumami  ata  tayo ngayung taon  sa department na ito." I heard a girl from my back.

"Mas okay kaya, para madami  na tayung  sasali sa mga events." Someone added.

"Aria, patingin nga ng study load mo." It's the same voice who yelled earlier.

"We're not on the same major, Eisen. Hindi mabat ng major course ay tugma ng sa iyo."

If cotton can speak, it is as soft as her voice. Babaeng  babae kung  magsalita. As if she can't afford to break a plate. 

"Wow! Iba talaga kapag English major! Breakfast for today is English!" Tukso ng sumigaw na babae  kanina.

Everyone is laughing at the girl's remarks.

Nag angat ako ng ulo at tinignan sila, nasa right side kulang  pala  sila  naka  upo.

So her name is Eisen, the girl that yelled  EXCUSE ME earlier.

And the other one is Aria. I assume they are friends.

They look at my direction so I diverted my gaze on the board in front of us. My former classmates were also jolly kaya medyo  nasanay  nadin. Medyo malakas lang  talaga ang boses nitong isang singkit na babae.

Their eyes screams curiosity. Ganon  din ang iba  naming  kaklasi  na naka  tingin sa direction ko. A sudden discomfort itch my body. Why am I sitting in front? I hastily stand up and grab my bag to find another seat at the back but a girl suddenly seat beside me.

Well, kahit noon paman ay sa harap na talaga ako umuupo  kaya bakit ako lilipat. 

I put my bag again and went outside  the room. I want to pee, I think any minute from now, my bladder will explode.

"Our adviser is coming!" Someone announced.

I shrugged it off, I really need to pee as soon as possible.

I lean on the classroom's door as I wipe my sweat with a tissue. I surveyed the entire campus to find a cr that is not occupied.

Mahigit kalahating oras akong nawala dahil  sa kakahanap  ng cr.

Bukas ang pintuan kaya pumasok na lang ako, not knowing na andito na pala ang Teacher namin. 

I bow my head as I make my way to my seat. All of my classmates group themselves with 5.

May activity naba  agad?

I am the one who don't have a group.  I scanned my classmates pero lahat  na talaga  sila may ka groupo na.

Nawala  din iyong  babaeng  biglang  tumabi sa akin  kanina.

I don't have a choice. "Good morning,  miss. What activity did you task us for today?" I asked using my mid tone voice. 

"Excited naman niyan! Walang activity sa unang araw, miss." That girl Eisen answers instead of our teacher.

I did not give them a bit of attention  as I am waiting for our teacher's reply.

Now the teacher's full attention is directed to me. She put her phone down and check her laptop that placed on her table.

" Not graded related, Miss? —"

She asked gazing down on my ID.

"Charlotte, miss" I said kasi  obviously she's asking about my name.

"Join a group miss Charlotte, and introduce yourselves later along with your chosen group." She instructed.

"Miss K, we need one in our group." Eisen added looking at me and to our teacher. The girl Aira is smiling timidly beside her.

"Group with them, Miss Charlotte."

Ten minutes had passed and others starts introducing themselves. Some show their talents and sing.

"I'm Nicole Roque or you can call me Nicks."

"Kyrl  Jay Osmos, or Kyle."

Sunod na pakilala  nila.

"I don't have a name so feel free to call me baby." Sabay hawi ng kanyang buhok. Halos lahat sila ay natawa sa sinabi  ng isang lalaki.

"Cringe..."Eisen  unbelievably whisperes beside me.

"So here's the catch, tayu  ang huli  kaya  we should make our introduction catchy  and hindi  boring." Eisen suggested.

"Aarte sa harap, ganon  ba?" Malumanay na tanong  ni Aria kay Eisen.

Eisen  rolled her eyes. "Kahit kailan  napaka  general mo talaga  mag isip, Ai."

"Linawin  mo kasi.." si Aria

"Ahmm... meron kang idea papano ito?"
Nahihiyang  tanong ni Aria sa akin.

Why are they stressing  with this introduction thing? This is not graded, yet they act like it is our finals.

Sasagot na sana  ako ng biglang  natahimik  ang lahat.  Akala  ko tapos na ang oras as di kami naka pag pakilala.

A woman, with her light blue uniform and a pencil skirt is making her way to the center.

She looks so serious, her eyes is sleepy but the seriousness of it is evident.  Behind those lenses, I could tell that she is sleepy. 

"I am Hannah Estrada, 21 years old taking up BSED ENGLISH 3. I came from  University of San Jose Recoletos and I am a transferre student. "

Her voice and diction  is as dark as her aura. Aside the fact that she is the only one that is wearing the departmental uniform, she is also annoyed by the fact that she needs to stand in front.

The girl that I'm going to sit beside the whole year is Hannah.

"Namatayan  ba siya?" Pabiro  ngunit curious na tanong  ni Eisen sa akin.

"Bat kayo natahimik? Dahil ba bago siya kaha curios ang lahat  sa kaniya? Pero oy, USJR?"

"Alam  mo ang USJR?" Si Aria na tanong  ng tanong  sa akin.

I shrugged my shoulder 'cause I don't have an idea what school is that.

I stared at Hannah and I scanned her. My brows frowned, she is also looking  at me.

One..

Two...

Three....

Four...

Fiv-

Okay enough, mukhang wala siyang  planong  mag bitaw  ng tingin.  I diverted my gaze and stared at my phone.

Kahit kailan  creepy talaga kapag nakasalamin.