Professor Zyon (SPG)

27

It was seven in the evening when Sakura woke up from her long nap. The cans of beer were still on the ground, next to where her feet dangled as she failed to fully position herself on the bed.

The throbbing pain in her head was enough. She swore to never even look in the way of alcohol. It's like her eyebrows were being ripped off her face, splitting her whole cranium in half. She groaned, trying to compose herself as she sat up.

"What the heck," she whispered, combing her hair with her fingers. "Anong nangyari?"

Inalog-alog pa niya ang sarili bago tuluyang tumayo dahil nanunuyo na ang lalamunan niya. Saktong paglabas niya sa silid ay nakita niyang nanonood si Zyon sa sala.

The man turned to look at her. As soon as their eyes met, Sakura immediately turned away to grab herself a cold bottle of water.

"Sakura..." the man called, obviously brewing a good nag. "Halika rito."

"Papagalitan mo lang ako, no thanks."

"Hindi kita papagalitan, halika na," he responded.

"Ay, echos ka naman. Ang seryoso kaya ng mukha mo."

"No, come here," he calmly called.

Dahan-dahan na sumunod ang dalaga habang umiinom. She winced at the pain before settling on the couch.

"Drink this," he ordered, handing her a tablet. "Sanay ka ba na uminom? 'Di ba hindi naman?"

"Hindi nga," sagot nito.

"Bakit muntik mo na maubos ang beer?"

"Hayaan mo, papalitan ko."

"It's not about that, Sakura. You know."

"Ay, sorry, may nagawa ba akong mali?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng lalaki, "You don't remember? Kanina lang 'yon—-"

"Ah!" Sakura smiled. "Sorry, nag-ingay ba ako sa meeting mo?"

"Nag–Huh?" napakamot sa noo si Zyon. "Hindi mo maalala? Seriously?"

"Ano ba kasi?"

"Hay," Zyon sat back and sighed. "Hayaan mo na nga."

"Oh, bat ka nakanguso?"

"Tinulugan mo kasi ako."

"Ha?"

"Wala," iling ni Zyon. "Tara na, kumain na tayo."

"Hala, bakit hindi ka pa nauna?"

"Then you won't have anyone to eat with."

"Zyon, okay lang naman."

"I want us to eat together," he simply replied. "I'd enjoy it better."

"Bakit ka muna nagpapa-cute?"

"Who? Ako?"

"Ay hindi, sige ako na," Sakura chuckled. "Maliligo muna sana ako, amoy alak eh."

"Ligo ka na, tapos iinitin ko lang no'n ang food natin."

"Heh, edi mas lalo kang nagutom." Sakura held his hand and pulled him to the kitchen. "Tara, kain muna tayo. Mamaya na maligo."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Sakura nang bigla siyang lapagan ng beef broccoli at beef caldereta ni Zyon sa lamesa.

"In-order mo?" she pointed at the dishes, with a weak smile, hoping to hear that he did.

"Niluto ko."

"Ito lahat? May mushroom soup pa!"

"Cooking calms me down."

"Bakit? Anong nangyari? Stressed ka kanina?" lumapit ang babae na para bang gustong makarinig ng ibubulong ni Zyon. "Chika mo, sino umaway sayo? Kasama mo ba sa faculty? Gagantihan ko, sisiw lang sa akin 'yan."