Back To The Night We Met

Chapter 1 : That Night

Auria

"Sigurado ka ba? Ang init mo kaya, papasok ka pa rin? I-eexcuse na lang kita kay prof," Amelie kindly volunteered in which I had to refuse.

"You know how that prof hates students na hindi complete attendance, parang hindi tayo winarningan ng seniors, baka ibagsak pa ako no'n," I disagreed.

"Eh kaysa naman inuubo't sinisipon ka sa klase niya?"

As tempting as it sounds, no, I can't miss his class. No!!!

Kahit mai-ubo ko pa ang lungs ko, no!

She stared at me with an indefinite look on her face, but I was firm on my decision.

"Oh sige na, ikukuha na lang kita ng meds sa clinic. Mauna ka na sa room."

I'm touched! My best friend would really do anything for me!

As she was walking away, I heard her whispering a few words. "Inuubo na, nagn-night classes pa. Kung ako 'yan, naghihilik na ako sa bahay."

That somehow made me laugh. We're really two different persons, but we clicked. Thank goodness!

It's dark from where I'm walking at. 8 PM na rin kasi. Ewan ko ba kung bakit may night classes, when it's supposed to be the students' time to rest their body and minds from a day of learning.

The walkway only had a few lit lampposts that's why I'm walking quickly. May mga students pa naman na mahilig mangtrip kapag night time. I so hate them! Favorite pa nilang pagtripan ang mga nag-aaral ng maayos!

Thankfully, I made it to the classroom safely. There are only a few of our blockmates because almost 40 percent of the class don't even attend night classes. Either nagc-cut or skip talaga.

Hay, it's their loss.

***
My nose is awfully clogged and I'm still keeping in my cough so I won't be the center of attention in class. Pakiramdam ko, sobrang pula na ng ilong ko. Kating kati na ang lalamunan ko para umubo! 

Arrghh! Kung hindi lang mahalaga ang subject na ito, talagang aabsent ako, kaso ayaw kong maka-miss ng kahit isang lesson. Every lecture is important!

Beside me is the snoring Amelie. Kanina pa nakayuko at mukhang nananaginip na. She strictly forbid me to not wake her up if she falls asleep kaya ayan, I can't do anything.

I couldn't hold my cough in any longer so I tightly covered my mouth with my handkerchief, and I let out the scratchiness of my throat.

"Ms. Fuego?" Prof Javier called me.

I cleared my throat first before responding. "Yes, Sir?"

He picked up the stack of papers on his desk and tapped them altogether on the table to even them out. "Bring this to my office," he commanded.

Ugh! Ako pa talaga!

Ginusto mo ito, Auria. You could have been resting at home, but you chose this. Ikaw ngayon ang nautusan.

My gosh, his office is way over to the locker area! Ang layo no'n! I'll have to go down two empty floors dahil nasa third floor kami at wala namang nagkaklase sa una at pangalawa.

Kahit labag sa loob, tumayo na lang ako at kinuha ang mga papel na inabot niya, saka sumunod sa inuutos niya.

It was eerily silent along the hallways, making me so vigilant of my surroundings. May iilang rooms na ginagamit ng ibang class, but most of them are empty. Nadaanan ko ang lahat dahil nasa dulo ang classroom namin, on the opposite side from where the staircase is.