I STILL REMEMBER

Chapter 2:

MAX'S POV

A wayfaring stranger in my life. Agad kong nilabas ang libro ko pagkarating ko sa klase. Kapag malapit na ang exam ay wala na akong kinakausap, just got pressured all the time. Well, indeed, every night I review all my notes and lecture. But the art of mastering is different from all.

Dumating si Eris sabay bato ng kanyang bag sa mesa niya. "Can I borrow this?"

"Yes." Kinuha niya ang mga nakapatong na libro na hindi ko pa nabubuksan.

"Ang seryoso mo palagi kahit alam mo naman talaga ang lahat ng napag-aralan," she said, acknowledging my achievements in class.

"Ganun ba? How about yung araw-araw kang seryoso, Eris?" I still focused on reading the book.

She chuckled, and that was the first time I heard her being like this—mischievous. "Can we hang out?" she asked just like other girls out there.

"My apologies, but I have no time for that right now."

"Hindi naman ngayon. Siguro sa gym ulit kung saan pwede tayong magsuntukan. Or kahit sa ibang training area," she suggested.

I noticed, she loves getting in trouble. "Let me see." Our professor arrived to rush through the lesson that I had read last time. Most of the class kept up, but for those questions in the lesson, he just gave us very brief answers.

Pagkalabas ko ng university, may umakbay sa'kin. "Marco, what's up!" I greeted nonchalantly.

"Kumusta naman sa bago mong tirahan. Gusto mo talaga nag-iisa ka, ayaw mo ba sa fried rice namin?" he jested, "oh ng kiss ko?"

"I just need to move for some reasons."

"And that reason us what, just kidding, see you around."

Nagtungo ako sa malapit na coffee shop, where I also tasted their special pastries and freebies. Cassy Lamberto and her friends came into the coffee shop, but I acted as if I was reading at my desk. I also wore wireless earphones and displayed my iPad.

Using multitasking, I read and jotted down all the important notes. Sa hindi sinasadya, kalapit ko pa sila. Still chatting with her friends. I intentionally avoided her. That night, after I finished my laundry and my coffee, she said something that ruined everything. Do I really remember clearly that she is the girl or she's not?

Inayos ko na ang mga gamit ko when I felt that kind of stare from her, without being noticeable that I was keeping my distance. I didn't need to rush just to disappear; I gently stood up and left peacefully. Nagpunta ako sa mall just to amuse myself in the National bookstore, where I went around looking for the best book I could buy.

I never expected to see Eris there. "Oh, hi!" I initiated. Hindi ko alam bakit ako ang unang pumansin sa kaniya. Hindi ko rin magawang iwasan.

"Hey, libre kita ng ballpen," she said while testing various colors.

"Sure, no problem, yung fountain pen nalang," I sarcastically said. Napatingin siya sa'kin ngunit walang gulat sa mukha na mababakas. She just smirked at me.

A long silence settled between us as we kept staring at each other. That glistening darkest skies of her eyes and her small, lifted nose. I wasn't sure, but she had a heart-shaped face.

Biglang natawa si Eris at nagtungo kung nasaan ang mga fountain pen na binabantayan ng isang staff.

"I'm just joking..." pahabol ko pero hindi siya lumingon.