[Andrei's POV]
Months passed. Start na ng new semester dito sa campus and it means new students and new lectures and more headaches.
Farrah and I are still going out. We have this date night every Friday, minsan kumakain kami sa labas or movies pero madalas nasa apartment lang kami.
Yun lang kasi din yung time na nakakapagkwentuhan kami ng matagal dahil pareho kaming busy sa work.
Separate rooms pa din kami matulog, pero minsan hindi namin napapansin na nakakatulog kami sa sofa, pero nothing happens.
She allows me to kiss her but with limitations and I understand her. I like that part of her and I can wait until the day that she says that it's okay.
The past few months have been great. I hope that it stays that way.
Nasa university ako ngayon, checking up on room assignments.
"Andrei?? I mean Professor Andrei?" Hinanap ko kung sino yung tumawag sa akin.
"Abby?"
"Yeah! It's so nice to see you here."
"Yeah! Where are you heading?"
"Uhm. I don't know actually. Can you help me with these room assignments??"
Tinuro ko naman sa kanya kung saan located yung mga rooms na pupuntahan niya.
"Look, you're in my class every Friday. That's my last class." Sabi ko habang tinuturo ko yung schedule niya.
"That's awesome!"
"So study hard. I fail students." Biro ko sa kanya.
"Anyway, I met Farrah the other day. She apologized about what happened last NYE party and we said that it was totally cool and she shouldn't worry about it."
"Oh. Really? That's good news." Sabi ko, natuwa naman ako sa ginawa ni Farrah. That's a very kind thing, she did.
"The second we saw that you were with her we realized that it's our fault she acted that way. Of course she was your girlfriend and so it was really rude for us to go and flirt with you." Paliwanag ni Abby.
"Don't worry. It's alright. But she's not yet my girlfriend."
"Oh... Is that so.."
*bell rings
"Again, we're very sorry."
"It's okay. Now go to your class. You're late."
Napatingin siya sa watch niya at nagmadali naman na tumakbo.
"Farrah's so lucky to have you!" Pahabol niya at tumakbo na ulit.
"No. I'm lucky to be with Farrah." Sabi ko sa sarili ko.
Hindi pa naman ako nag-start ng lectures today kaya maaga ko dinismiss yung mga class ko. Maaga din ako nakauwi.
Nauna ako makauwi kay Farrah kaya nagtrabaho muna ako habang wala pa siya.
After an hour nakauwi na din siya, naabutan niya akong nagttrabaho.
"Ang busy mo naman Professor Lacson." Bati niya sa akin habang yakap niya ako from behind.
"Hello, Nurse Farrah. How's your day." Bati ko sa kanya as I kiss her cheek.
"It was okay. Pagod, as usual." Pumunta naman siya ng kitchen para magtimpla ng coffee.
"Hmm. Nakita ko si Abby kanina sa campus."
"Talaga? What happened?"
"Tinulungan ko lang siya sa schedule and room assignments niya. Nasa class ko siya every Friday."
"Really?? That's nice."
"Sabi niya nagkita daw kayo dati. Nag-sorry ka daw sa kabaliwan na ginawa mo last NYE." Sabi ko sa kanya.
"Yeah. Since nakakahiya yung ginawa ko last NYE party I had to apologize." Sabi niya.
"Well, what you did was very nice." Sabi ko sa kanya. She gave me this wonderful smile.
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<few days later>
"Study for yor exams. It will not be easy this time... Are there any questions?" Tanong ko sa class. Wala namang nagtaas ng kamay kaya I dismissed the class.
It's Friday. Walang duty si Farrah ngayon kaya sabi niya mag peprepare daw siya ng dinner para sa date night namin.
"Sir Andrei, do you have time?" Tanong ni Abby pagkalapit niya sa desk ko.
"Yeah, sure. What's this about?"
"I didn't understand some parts of the lecture and I really want to know and be prepared for our exams."
"Why didn't you raise your hand earlier?"
"I really want to! But I was so shy to ask it in front of the whole class...I was just wondering if you could teach me the parts that I don't understand."
"Sure but not today. I have a dinner with Farrah tonight, it's Friday. It's our date night." Paliwanag ko sa kanya.
"The exam is on Monday! There's no class tomorrow and I know you're not free tomorrow. I'm begging you...I really need this!"
"I'm sorry, I can't.."
"It will not take long, I promise! You won't be late for your date with Farrah, or if you're late I know she'll understand. Besides, you live in the same house. It's no problem." Pilit niya sa akin.
"Fine. But I can't stay long." Sabi ko sa kanya. Since maaga naman ako nag-dismiss ng class, siguro naman dapat i-maximize ko yung time ko to help my students.
Sabi niya sa library ko daw siya turuan kasi nandoon yung mga libro na kailangan niya. Sumunod naman ako.
"I have this private cubicle reserved for the whole sem, let's go there." Hila niya sa akin papunta sa room.
As soon as we arrived tinuruan ko na siya about sa mga topic na hindi niya naiintindihan. Nakikinig naman siya mabuti pero hindi pa din daw niya maintindihan.
Pinaliwanag ko naman maigi. Tinignan ko yung oras, 7pm na.
"Abby, I'm sorry but I need to go." Sabi ko sa kanya.
"Sir! I still don't understand these parts." Pigil niya sa akin.
"But I really need to go. Farrah's waiting for me." Sabi ko.
"Just text her that you'll be late. Please..." Pagpupumilit niya.
"But—"
"I'm asking you to help me not as a student but as a friend." Sabi niya. I looked at her and I felt sorry.
"Okay. Fine. I'll just text Farrah and I will stay until you learn that topic." Sabi ko.
I tried to call Farrah pero walang signal dito sa room. Sinubukan ko na lang na i-text siya at umasa na marecieve niya.
Bumalik naman ako sa pagtuturo kay Abby.
"Sir, I actually studied these topics last week and I understood it all." Sabi niya.
"Then why are we still here?" Tanong ko sa kanya. Nagsasayang lang pala kami ng oras.
"Because...I just want to be alone with you." Sabi niya, lumapit siya sa akin pero lumayo naman ako.
"Abby, if we're done here. I need to go." Sabi ko. Tinulak naman niya ako sa upuan at umupo sa harap ko.
"Farrah's not yet your girlfriend, right?"
"Not yet, but I am courting her and we are very exclusive. So if you can stop this, please." Pigil ko sa kanya.
"Then let me change your mind." Sabi niya then she kissed me. Tinulak ko naman siya palayo.
"I'm sorry Abby. I was wrong for helping you. For the record, I love Farrah and I wouldn't change my mind for any girl, not even for you."
Agad-agad akong lumabas ng room.
Pagkauwi ko naabutan ko yung hinanda ni Farrah na dinner para sa amin. Hinanap ko siya, pero natutulog na.
BINABASA MO ANG
Secretly In Love
عاطفيةFarrah accidentally meets Andrei, her long time college crush! But it's been years and now they're both professional. She's been in love with him for years but will she stay secretly in love forever??
