When the Dust Lies

Chapter 7

Do you believe that you can fall for someone just because people tease you about them?

For me, that’s not how it works. Sure, for a lot of people, it’s possible—you get teased, you laugh it off, and suddenly you start feeling something different.

It's possible they say... But not to me. I won't let myself fall just because of some teasing, especially not for someone who spends all his time getting on my nerves.
 
Sa katunayan ay para pa kaming bersiyon ni Tom at Jerry—hindi laging magkasundo... laging nag-aasaran.  Hindi ako mahuhulog sa kaniya. Hindi posible. Sigurado ako. Hindi ko siya nakikita sa ganoong paraan, at hindi ko hahayaang mapunta sa puntong ‘yon.

Finally, after three weeks of not being around, our professor in Rizal attended the class. Our professor had something he attended to, he said.

Kilala naman namin ang professor namin dahil minsan na rin naming naging professor noon sa ibang course.

“Lazarte,” Sir Torres called, holding the official class list while checking the attendance.

Humiyaw ang lahat. Nagbulungan ang mga ito, nagbabatuhan ng mga biro.

“Present, sir.” I responded.

Muli silang humagikhik. Pansin na pansin pa ang pag gulo nila kay Dustine. I sighed. This has been happening since we got called to the office of student affairs. Pag may pagkakataon, hindi nila pinapalagpas na tuksuhin kami. Kaya ang mga walang alam, nakakaalam sa kung anong meron kami!

You chose this, Fiorisce. Wala kang karapatan mag reklamo. I rolled my eyes, not minding their noise.

But when Sir Torres called Dustine's last name and everyone made noise again, he shot up his brow, getting curious.

“Valencia,” Pag tawag ulit ni Sir nang hindi nakasagot si Dustine dahil sa panggugulo ng iba.

That's why people shouldn't think that because we're college students, we're prim, proper, and mature, because clearly, they're not.

“Present, sir.”

Siniko ako ni Cassandra na katabi ko na naman, kaya kinuotan ko siya ng noo. Nakikisabay rin ‘to, e! Actually, parang nangunguna pa ang mga kaibigan namin sa tuksuhan kahit alam naman nila ang totoong relasyon namin ni Dustine!

Sir Torres loudly cleared his throat, making everyone silent after checking the attendance. May napapansin man, pero hindi ito nagsalita sa mga naging asal ng mga kaklase ko. Napansin ko lang ang huling pag sulyap niya sa amin ni Dustine bago nagpatuloy.

“Some of you know me, and I know some of you too. May mga familiar. That's why I want you guys to stand up one by one to introduce yourself, your year level and department, and your expectations in my class.”

Unti unting bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Para bang nagsimulang tumakbo dahil sa narinig. Speaking in front of the class is not really my thing.

Nagsimulang nagsalita ang nasa pinakadulo sa harap. Pasunod sunod iyon hanggang pinakalikod. Habang nakikinig sa mga sagot nila, nagsimula akong manglumo. Ang galing nilang sumagot! Parang nasa pageant! At pakiramdam ko, naubusan agad ako ng pwedeng sabihin pag ako na ang magsasalita!

While waiting for my turn, my mind became chaotic. I started rehearsing in my mind and formulated a sentence that I should say.

Cassandra sat down, so I stood up. It's my turn now. Hindi ko pinansin ang ginawang ingay ng ilan dahil sa kaba ko at pokus sa sasabihin.

“I’m Fiorisce Lazarte, a 3rd year financial management student. Honestly, I have had my expectations since first year. My friend from another school, which is a year ahead of me, told me that the Rizal course is interesting. As someone who easily gets bored listening to history, I know Rizal will get interesting once it is taught properly. That's why I'm expecting that our professor will teach us in many ways so the class will be fun, interesting, and less pressuring.”