"Dee, can you help me with this? Naguguluhan ako kung paano isolve 'tong load ng Set B." Biglang tanong ni Lawrence habang nakatingin sa problem set na ibinigay ng professor namin kanina sa Strength of Materials.
Nakaupo kaming tatlo ngayon sa isang study table sa loob ng library. Madalas ganito ang ginagawa namin kapag vacant hours naming tatlo.
"Just use this formula," turo ko sa formula na nakasulat sa gilid ng notebook ko. "You need to derive this first before you proceed on this part. Medyo tricky kasi yung problem na binigay ni sir."
Tumango-tango naman si Lawrence habang nagpapaliwanag ako sa kanya. "Thanks, Dee. You're a life saver."
I let out a little chuckle before shaking my head. Lawrence and Veronica never took advantage of me and I'm really grateful for them compared to my classmates during senior high school. I'm starting to get used to their presence and it's a fresh start for me.
I looked at Veronica who's also busy solving the problem set. Veronica is smart and independent, she can handle herself very well. She asks questions sometimes but she already has the answer before she asks. She said that she was just making sure.
Lawrence is the carefree type. He's often unserious in every situation he's in, but he's a curious little puppy when there's a topic that really gets his attention.
Napa-angat ako ng paningin nang may biglang naglapag ng bag sa table namin. Ganoon din sina Veronica at Lawrence.
It was Gabriel. Gulong-gulo ang kanyang buhok at hindi rin nakaayos ang necktie nito. He smiled at me before taking a sit beside me. Roni and Lawrence are aware that I know Gabriel, but they didn't know what happened between us during the family dinner last night.
"Hey, love." Gabriel greeted.
Humarap ako sa kanya saka inayos ang kanyang necktie. Kumunot ang noo ko kasi may gusot pa ang kwelyo ng kanyang uniform.
"Saan ka ba galing?" Tanong ko kay Gabriel. "You're a mess, Gabriel."
Ngumiti lang ito sa akin saka isinandal ang kanyang ulo sa balikat ko. "House. I'm tired, love." Sabi niya saka ipinikit ang kanyang mga mata.
Napatingin ako kay Lawrence at Veronica na ang mga mata ngayon ay nagtatanong. I'll explain later, I mouthed. Gabriel is not okay. This is not like him. Hinayaan ko lamang siyang sumandal sa balikat ko bago nagpatuloy sa pag-solve ng problem set ko.
Ngunit lumipas ang ilang minuto ay nastuck ako sa isang part ng problem dahil hindi ako makafocus. I poked Gabriel's thigh. Umangat naman ang ulo nito mula sa pagkakasandal sa balikat ko. Tumayo ako at sumunod naman agad si Gabriel sa akin.
I walked through the shelve of books until I saw a vacant shelf that's quite and away from students. Gabriel just silently followed me.
"Are you okay?" I asked before facing him.
He flinched. But managed to smile again as he nodded. "Of course, love. Are you worried?"
Tumango ako sa kanya. "I'm not used to it. You can always tell me everything if there's something bothering you." I said looking down.
His face soften. "Thank you for worrying about me, Dee. I had a fight with my dad. I was so pissed that I didn't notice I look like a mess." He chuckled.
Lumapit ako sa kanya saka mahigpit siyang niyakap. I could feel that he froze for a second but he hugged me back eventually. Gabriel's touch is always gentle, I always feel safe around him.
"You're so bad at comforting, love. But I like it." He whispered, I could feel his smile even though I'm not looking at him.
I smiled. "I know, love."
BINABASA MO ANG
That Summer Night of August
Lãng mạnYanez Series #1 Aurelius Dee Yanez stood at a crossroads, uncertain about committing to a Civil Engineering program. Throughout Junior and Senior High, he excelled academically, a straight-A student, yet his journey lacked companionship. A painful p...
