4
My last class for the day just ended. We were dismissed earlier than usual so I immediately messaged Atien.
Magkikita kami ngayon para gawin ang paired work sa math subject namin. Simple lang naman iyon ngunit maraming items. He also insisted that we work on it simultaneously. Mas gusto ko nga rin iyon dahil mas madaling mag-usap nang harap-harapan kaysa sa chat.
Bago ko pa ma-send ang message ay nakita ko siya sa Bloemen. I don't think I can consider Bloemen a cafeteria nor a canteen. But it has several food stalls and a few tables where students eat.
I saw him take his order, about to walk away. But when he saw me, he switched directions and walked towards me.
"Oh? Akin 'yan? Gusto ko rice meal, eh..." nagbibiro kong bati.
"Can I have my yogurt bowl? I'm starving na talaga, Atien," anang bagong dating na si Vixen.
She took the carton bowl from Atien before looking up to him with a smile. "Let's go na. I don't want to be late."
She held on to his arms and finally turned to me. She forced a smile and took a spoonful of her food. Pasimple niya ring hinahatak si Atien, parang atat na atat na talagang umalis.
"I'll walk her to her class first. I'll see you at the lib," ani Atien sabay kaway.
I waved back and went to the escalator. Palaging mahaba ang pila sa elevators at baka matagalan pa ako.
It took me several minutes to find a good spot. Saktong naglilibot ako ay may umalis kaya agad akong pumwesto roon.
The table I found was at a secluded corner. Mabuti na rin ito para walang may nagbubulong-bulungan habang gumagawa kami.
Atien arrived after a few minutes. Saang building niya ba hinatid si Vixen at bakit natagalan siya?
He dropped his designer backpack on the table and took a brown paper-bag out. "You said you wanted rice. I got us Mongolian."
Nilibot ko ang mga mata, nag-aalala na baka may makakita sa amin. "Not here! Bawal dito!"
He grinned at me before returning the paper-bag inside his bag. "I know! I just wanted to show you that I got us lunch!"
We spent the first hour working on the problem set. Nang hindi na talaga makayanan ang gutom ay lumipat kami sa ibang floor kung saan pwede kumain.
I took a photo of our table with our notebooks, pens, iPads, and laptops. It looks so messy but still aesthetically-pleasing. Feeling ko tuloy ay napakasipag ko nang mag-aral.
"Get another one with our drinks," ani Atien at nilapag na ang mga inumin namin.
I took another photo as he suggested. Sinama ko na ang inumin at pagkain namin.
He transferred to the seat in front of me since we kept hitting each other's elbow while eating. Simula kanina ay magkatabi kaming dalawa kaya ngayong nasa harapan ko na siya ay saka ko lang napansin ang kaniyang damit.
He's wearing his uniform—a polo shirt that's usually Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, or Tommy Hilfiger. And just like always, the sleeves hug his arms perfectly.
Kung kanina ay puro math equations ang iniisip ko, ngayon naman ay hindi maalis sa isipan ko kung gaano kabagay ang ganitong polo sa kaniya.
Ang swerte ng damit niya, nakayakap lagi sa kaniya!
No wonder he looks like this... may-ari ng gym, eh!
Atien cleared his throat. Tinaas ko ang tingin sa kaniya at nakitang nakatingin na siya sa akin.
