Deja Vu

CHAPTER NINE

ARCHELLA'S POV

"Did you guys hear na moved ulit yung ball?" Mia started when we were on our way to our table. Nasa dining kami ngayon to eat dinner. "Yeah, heard about it." I said, completely distracted.

Madaming tanong sa isip ko na hindi nasasagot. It's like, I need answers from ate Archilles yet I don't know how to explain it. Kaninang 5 PM lang kami nakauwi sa university ko kasama si Aeros kaya halos naskip namin ang buong school day. When we arrived, our last class of the day was still ongoing pero we decided to not attend nalang.

Our teacher on that subject is extremely strict kasi when it comes to being late. Plus, it's not that important to me naman since hindi ko naman major subject yun. "Where do you and Aeros go anyway? Lagi kayong magkasama and I saw him na hinatid ka sa dorm mo nung may kinuha ako from my dorm." Tanong ni Mia. We didn't tell anyone about our case kanina at ang tanging nakakaalam lang maliban sa mga involved dun ay ang pamilya ni Lilia.

"Baka may something na kayo ha?"

I was shocked with Lilia's thought about me and Aeros. "We don't." I answered directly. "Come on, Archella. Joke and laugh naman. Not everything is needed to be treated seriously. Enjoy your freedom dahil it won't last for long."

"What if I don't want to?"

"Wag ka ngang KJ. Lilia's right, enjoy your freedom from your toxic family dahil hindi yan tatagal. Remember: Our university doesn't allow students inside the campus on Chrismas and New Years."

"Kakasimula lang ng school year." I told them. "Kahit na!" Sabay naman nilang sabi. Huminga ako ng malalim which made them smile wider. "How about this, I go to a party with you guys, except the ball and titigil niyo na ako sa mga party na yan?" Mas lumawak ang kanilang mga ngiti nung narinig ang salitang party mula sa bunganga ko.

"Deal!"

***

"Save them. Save your loved ones. This world will collapse sooner than expected and your past will be the one to save it." Sabi ng isang misteryosong babae habang nasa comfort room ang isang dalaga. "Ano pong sinasabi niyo?" Tanong naman ng dalaga. "Tumakbo ka! Ilayo mo sila habang maaga pa! Protektahan mo sila!"

"Alalahanin mo ang iyong nakaraan, iyon ang makakatulong sa iyo!" Isang matanda ang biglang lumitaw.

"Traydor sila. Huwag kang magtiwala jan!" Biglang lumitaw ang isang matandang lalaki na may sunog ang damit. "Hindi, iha. Magtiwala ka samin. Magtiwala ka sa diyos." Sabi naman nung isang matanda. Tumingin ang dalaga sa matandang lalaki at unti unting nasusunog ang damit niya. "Huwag! Maniwala ka sakin, sila ang traydor!" Sigaw ng matandang lalaki sa dalaga bago unti unting naging abo. 

"Lumapit ka dito, iha! Wag kang magpapakuha sa dilim!" Sabi ng matanda bago hinablot ang dalaga papalayo sa matandang lalaki. "HINDI MAAARI! SUMAMA KA SAKIN AT MAGREREBELDE TAYO SA KANILA!" Sigaw ng matandang lalaki bago tuluyang naging abo at hinangin...

Napabalikwas at hinihingal akong nagmulat ng aking mata. Tumingin ako sa aking orasan sa bed table ko at nakitang 9 AM na. "Shit, late na ako!" Agad akong tumakbo papuntang cr para mabilis na maligo at agad na nagtoothbrush. Hinablot ko ang aking bag bago tumakbo palabas ng dorm ko.

"Ate, palock nalang muna ng dorm ko! Thank you!" 

Tumakbo ako palabas ng dorm building at dumiretso sa class building ko. Hinihingal akong nakaabot sa classroom namin at buti nalang mabait yung professor namin doon yet of course, I was scolded a little pero di ako nagpa-epekto doon. "Ms. Minorda, you're late 30 minutes. I will let this slide now and just let you off with a warning pero I will just remind you that this subject is a your major subject kaya avoid being late. You may sit down."

Umupo ako sa nag-iisang bakanteng upuan, beside Aeros. Is today really not my day? Mabuti nalang at naging mabilis ang pagtakbo ng oras dahil kalauna'y natapos din ang klase. Mia and Lilia weren't in the same class as mine today because our dean decided to let their course to go on a field trip. JUST THEIR COURSE.

I mean- students on my course needed some enjoyable time too!

If you guys didn't know kasi, yung university namin is pinagsasama ang mga course na may parehas na subject or lesson. Hindi naman ito maglalast for long kasi may ginagawang bagong building yung school namin that is assured to contain 16 rooms with 4 floors and a bathroom in each floor. Kailangan lang magtiis ng ilang course dahil makikishare muna sila sa proffesors and classes ng ibang course handling the same subject and lesson.

I may be a woman who focuses on her studies pero these passing days have been exhausting, I promise. Tambak kami sa assignments, and researchs plus the cases that has been filling up! Buti nalang, Atty. Kelle and Officer Reyes handles most of them and every few weeks lang sila nag-ooffer na samahan sila. 

Inaayos ko yung mga gamit ko nung bigla kong narinig ang boses ng katabi ko. "Someone's having a bad day." Agad naman akong tumingin sakanya ng masama. "Shut up."

"Let me cure that bad mood of yours. Akin na yang bag mo, ako na magbibitbit." Kinuha niya sakin yung bag ko kaya hinayaan ko nalang siya. Sinundan ko lang siya hanggang sa makalabas kami ng gate ng school at nagtungo sa isang ice cream shop. "Just because tambak tayo sa gawain doesn't mean na hindi tayo magpapahinga. Pick anything you like, ako na magbabayad."

Tumango nalang ako sakanya at naghanap ng mauupuan. I didn't feel alot of eyes looking at me kahit nakauniform ako ng school namin dahil isa naman itong popular na tambayan ng mga estudyanteng katulad ko. Many were from my university since malapit lang din ito samin. 

I looked up to see Aeros holding a tray of ice cream that I assume is our orders. "Bakit ang bait mo today?" Napatingin naman siya sakin. "Masama ba? I felt like you needed a small break from acads so I brought you here. This is my comfort spot, so welcome." He softly flashed a soft smile at me and I immedietly felt comfort. 

You effect me differently, Aeros La Sena. Is this what they call love?

***

I am sori for this late and short updateee!!! I was just so busy sa school kaya hindi ko natutukan ng maayos ito. Due to personal life events, baka mas malate ang mga updates ko. I'll try to make longer updates and rushed din kasi ito. Goodluck to this quarter's grades everybodyyy!!!