Winner
Parang nanadya ang DJ naging slow bigla ang tugtog, dinig ko ang mga dismayadong reaksyon ng mga sumasayaw. Habang bumubulong ang iba pang nagsasayaw ng "Corny."
Zee looked at me with those deep eyes again, I found myself enticed. Ngayon na nasisinagan ng LED lights ang mukha niya masasabi kong wala talaga siyang open pores. Grabe, siguro no'ng ginagawa siya sobrang tagal, he was sculpted perfectly.
Drowning in the Blue Nile
He sent me 'Downtown Lights'
I hadn't heard it in a while
My boredom's bone deep
This cage was once just fine
Am I allowed to cry?
I dream of cracking locks
Throwing my life to the wolves
Or the ocean rocks
Crashing into him tonight
He's a paradox
I'm seeing visions, am I bad?
Or mad? Or wise?
Tila may sinasabi siya ngunit hindi ko marinig. Dahil matangkad siya he leaned towards me ramdam ko ang dibdib niya sa balikat ko.
"Saan ang table niyo, ihahatid na kita. Kailangan ko ng umalis. Baka bumalik." Tipid niyang sabi, alam kong tinutukoy niya, si Jake. Ayoko na din makipagusap pa sa isang iyon kaya tumango ako. He placed a hand on my shoulder and gently turned me around so he could guide me through the crowd, staying close behind me and keeping his grip firm.
Nakarating din kami sa table at kita ko ang mga nakaawang na labi ng mga kaibigan ko, namimilog ang mga mata nila. Sa tabas ng mga dila nila alam kong gusto pa nila magtanong, siguro ay hindi nila mahanap ang tamang salita dahil narin sa gulat.
"Good evening." Tipid at pormal niyang bati sa kanila. Ngumuso ako upang pigilan ang mga ngiti, that's right, I get to dance with him plus he walked me to my table.
"Good evening, Zee!" James, the best at hospitality in our group, greeted him enthusiastically.
"Are you alone? Sit with us!" Dagdag pa niya, sinamaan ko siya ng tingin para tumahimik siya.
"Sorry I have to go, practice, hinatid ko lang siya," tumikhim siya at tumingin sa akin, "una na 'ko, Nunew."
Tumango ako, "Ingat ka. Salamat ulit!" Ilang segundo pa kami nagtinginan, nagpaalam na rin siya kila Yim bago umalis.
Nang mawala siya sa paningin ko agad kong niyugyog si Yim sa kilig. Napuno ang gabi ng pangaasar nila.
A month went passed by, ganoon kabilis, nastress ako sa plates at mga minor subs na nagfe-feeling major. Bumuntong hininga ako at napatitig sa makalat kong kuwarto, every single day feels like a marathon of endless tasks, projects, and assignments. It's like the professors think we're robots or something. First, there's the never-ending pile of design drafts. Just when I think I've nailed it, I get hit with a dozen revisions. And don't get me started on the model-making – my room looks like a workshop, and I've lost count of how many times I've cut myself with a scalpel.
Idagdag pa ang theory classes. I love architecture, I really do, but how am I supposed to remember all these historical details and architectural styles? It's like cramming a whole library into my brain. Mahilig ako mag-aral pero hindi ko alam na ganoon kalala ang lahat sa college. And the drawing assignments? I've pulled more all-nighters this semester than I ever thought possible.
Ginulo ko ang buhok ko ng makita ang pile ng folder na katatapos ko lang irevise. Group projects are a whole other nightmare. Coordinating with classmates who have different schedules and working styles is like herding cats. And guess who always ends up doing most of the work because they care too much about the grade? Yep, me.
