The Beats of Your Heart

Chapter 5

"So, how'd it go?" Reiner asks, voice a bit too casual I almost didn't notice it. Almost. 

I take my time writing down on our Attendance sheet. 

Yaquel A. Busa. BSCE 3A. Signature. 

I return the sheet to him. "We'll have a meeting later after class. Tell everyone about it." I say. 

He takes the paper and slips it into a long, brown folder along with some of the others. "Oh, why didn't you just tell the chat directly?" he said. 

I stand up from my seat and roll my neck, bidding for more time.

"Kuya Rein! Kuya Yaquel! Let's go have lunch!" 

Troy bounds inside our classroom, hair wild and rubber shoes squeaking against the tiled floor with every enthusiastic jump. The sound bounces off the walls. 

I duck my head to the side to hide my smirk.

"Whoa, take it easy, kid." Reiner says. "Weren't you with Dom?" 

Troy pouts and stops jumping. "Eunice has cramps." he mutters, looking dejected.

"Ah, all right. Well, come on." I hear Reiner say. I busy myself with fiddling with my keys while looking outside of the room. Clear blue. I walk towards the exit.

"Let's just get Lorraine, then." I say, holding the door open for them. 

A mop of black, shaggy hair shoots out the door and flashes from the room. "Oh yeah! Let's gooooooo!!!" 

· · ·

The three of us start making our way to the third floor stairs. The hallways and landings are populated with students just coming out of their respective rooms for the lunch hour. I tune out the noise as we descend down. 

I keep my eye on Troy's bright, neon green shirt just a few steps ahead of me, ready to grab it and pull him back at any moment before he crashes into someone, or slips. Wouldn't be the first time. 

We arrive at the landing where the Sophomores' classrooms are, and continue down. More students either pass us by going up, or descend along with us. I recognize a few of the Faculty Members going down as well. Oh! There'sー"Sir Yabut!" I shout. 

A clean-cut man turns around and sees me. His glasses flash a little, giving him a sinister look. His lined face crinkles into a wicked smile. "Mr. Busa, funny seeing you here." he says, voice disinterested but face, smiling, as he hefts three thick, encyclopedia-sized modules in his thin arms. 

I quickly go over to him and take the top two of the modules. The other students go around us. "Is Elise sick, sir?" I say with a frown. I minutely look around him for the tall, no-nonsense Student Assistant from 3B. She's usually seen looming over the professor's thin shoulder whenever he's out and about the Department. 

"Ah, no, I asked her to deliver something to the Admin building. She'll be back shortly." Sir says, adjusting his glasses. "Oh, good to see you, Mr. Liego." I turn and see Reiner tugging a fussing Troy by the collar towards us. "And Mister…" The two stops in front of us. Troy finally sees Sir, and I catch the exact moment his eyes widen. "Ah, Mr. Abrigo." Sir finishes. 

Troy freezes momentarily at being addressed. "H-Hello sir." he starts. His eyes flicker from me and then to the modules I'm holding. "Do you want me to carry your book, sir?" he offers, uncertain. 

Sir shakes his head. "No need, Mr. Abrigo, I got it." he says. "Now come on, it's already 11:50 and I have to get these to the EE Department." He starts walking towards the stairs and we follow.