A Love so Red

CHAPTER 01: investor

CATALINA

Tahimik kong hinahalo ang agar solution sa isang beaker, I waited until it fully dissolved, it was completely clear when I decided to pour it slowly into the petri dish. I saw a bunch of agar plates in front of me as I gently put the beaker down' it is a layer of agarose gel that contains every nutrient an organism needs, such as carbohydrates and stuff.

dahan-dahan kong nilagay ang takip ay nilinis ang pinag gawaan ko, medyo makalat at magulo. 

kailangan namin ng agar para sa activity namin mamaya, I volunteer to do this since, my other classmates are busy with their other stuff, I mean I am busy too but if I can do it, then I will do it, I love being in workstations. 

As I throw the tissue into the trash can, i was about to take off my laboratory gown when a friend of mine, Diasy walk towards me, and stand across me making me stop from what I am doing and just stare at her in confussion. 

"aren't you supposed in the  computer lab making presentations? teacher Daisy?" I asked her with a slight tease. she then roll her eyes as she tries to put her hands on the petridish. "nagawa ka pa slime-" She answered teasing me back, I immedietely hold her wrist before she could even touch the lid. 

"hey! try not to touch it? I made it perfect, we have to wait until it sets, I dont want any imperfections when it comes to the agar plate." i cut her off by yanking her hands. 

"and it's not a slime, it's for bacterias, may enough na nutrients yung agar para sa kanila, and it's a polysaccharide derived from agarophyte algae cell walls. basically ginagamit namin to para tulungan or to obderve bacteria, to see them make their colony. agar only allow specific bacteria, this is to prevent any other inhibitor" i said while gently taping my finger on one of the lid cheking its temparature. 

"tibay mo talaga Catalina" sabi niya, habang tumatawa. "anyway, have you heard about the rumors?" biglang sabi nito.  Agad akong napakunot-noo at natatawang tumingin sa kanya.

"hindi ako interesado, alam mo naman na hindi ko gusto na pinag uusapan natin yung ibang tao diba?" sagot ko, kumuha pa ako ng tissue nang napansin kong kailangan din linisan ng mga microscope.

Nabalot ng katahimikan ang paligid, parang gusto niyang sabihin pero pinipilit niya ang sarili niyang huwag.

"hindi ko lang maintindihan kung bakit kailangan natin gawin yon—" tumingin ako sa kaniya, habang maingat na pinupunasan ang mga lens gamit ang malambot na tela.

"hindi to puchu-puchu lang! This is a very interesting matter" hindi na niya ako pinatapos, at dali-daling pinutol ang sinasabi ko.

Huminga ako nang malalim ang tumingin ulit sa kaniya. "Daisy, ayaw ko na pinag-uusapan—" hindi niya ulit ako pibatapos at biglang nag salita.

"nag transfer dito si Inigo, anak ng founder ng school, nasa engineering department, matangkad—nakasalami-tapos yung mga mata niya..." nahinto siya kaka-kwento nang napansin niyang hindi ako nakikinig sa kaniya.

"come on Catalina, life doesn't revolve around cell and bacteria" napahinto ako sa ginagawa ko nang sinabi niya yon, mahina akong tumawa at tumingin sa kaniya na kunot ang noo.

"naririnig mo ba yang sinasabi mo." sabay tawa. bakit naman niya iisipin na hindi sa cell at bacteria umiikot ang buhay. isnt it a bit ironic. 

"what I mean is, 21 ka na, you need a man-" before she could even finished I immediately cut her off. 

who said i need a man. 

"I have never look anyone romantically, I am still young you know, 21 barely an adult, I will not settle for less knowing how much I can give. lets just wait for the right time"