The MACHINES (Identity Provers Book 1)

Chapter 2 (I'm M.E.)

Mono

"It's very satisfying to see your things actually built and working."
-Alex Burkat
Principal Mechanical Engineer
Disney Imagineering, Glendale CA

"If it needs engineering but it doesn't involve electrons, chemical reactions, arrangement of molecules, life forms, isn't a structure and doesn't fly, a mechanical engineering will take care of it. And, if it is concerned with the principle of force, energy and motion and if it is involved something that moves or uses energy, mechanical engineering may handle it." Proffesor Complex Minifred Bold said these while giving his overview what an ME is. And also, he is the Chairperson of this Department.
Describing him is a much difficult, baka kasi makagamit ako ng description na subra. But I would try.
He's small though his age atleast at 40. And tama ang apelyedo nya, for he lost his hair at makikita na ang makintab na scalp nya. Lagi rin syang nakasuot ng big eye glasses na minsan hindi na nakalagay sa tamang posisyon. In short, he's a weird proffesor. Pero sana man lang maging mabait ito sa amin. Mukha kasi syang mabait.
"But students, did you really done the right decision? Of choosing this course? I mean, pursuing this course would be very difficult especially when you just like mathematics." Then giving his eyes to everyone. Just like testing us whether we fit this course or not. "Well, we couldn't tell someone if he or she deserves an award if he or she doesn't proceed a test. Five years is the least." Then he pause. "So much for today. I hope by this now, you're sure of what you've been getting along. Enjoy the rest of your free time. I'm giving you enough time to mingle with others, especially those who doesn't have friends yet." As he said these, everyone in the room freeing themselves from the tension that Prof. Bold gave.
'Well, he quite right. We should done some evaluation before taking a risk of getting this course.' I said to myself while facing the window just by the side of me. I'm now sitting in the left corner of the room and in the last row.
Dumungaw rin ako sa labas na tanging nakikita ko lang ay ang langit dahil nasa second floor ang room namin.
After that ay nilaru-laro ko ang hawak kong ballpen na hindi ko pa nagagamit

But as time passes by, I could hear some of my coursemates chattering to each other. Siguro they came in the same school or baka nagsisimula lang silang humanap ng kaibigan but neither of those I care less.
"Hi, would you like to get along with us? Seems you're lonely there." Offered one of my classmate just sitting near to me.
Napatingin naman ako sa kanya. "No thanks, I don't use to mingle with others. I'm fine here, don't bother inviting me." I frankly said him. Sana lang at hindi na mangulit.
"Oh, huwag ng pakipot miss, we're just giving you uhmm... maybe a friendly request." Sabi nung isa na mukhang kaibigan nung lalaking nauna.
I just roll my eyes then grab my things. Kailangan ko pa bang pagtakhan yun? Maybe nature na talaga ng tao ang maging stubborn, telling them not to but they do. So annoying.
Nung palabas na ako ng room ay di ko napansin na may babaeng paparating. Bigla-bigla na lang kasi akong lumabas. So we end up colliding to each other that causes my things and her to scattered at the hallway. So clumsy me!
"Jezz! I'm sorry, hindi ko napansin na nadyan ka pala. Nabangga tuloy kita." Paumanhin nya sabay pulut nung mga gamit.
"No, I should be the one telling that to you. It is me who suddenly appear at the hallway." Sabi ko rin at tinulungan syang kunin ang mga nagkalat na gamit namin. "Here, I think it's yours." While handling the girl's things.
"Thank you. By the way I'm Axiom and you are?"
"I'm Mono."
Then she smile at me, a sweet smile. At tanging tipid na ngiti lang ang naibigay ko sa kanya.
"Sige, mauna na ako sa iyo." Sabay iwas sa kanya. Hindi ko kasi gustong mapansin nya ang biglang pagkamanhid ng katawan ko. The fear start to cover me and I need to get out bago pa may mangyaring masama sa akin.
Hindi ko na sya hinintay na makasagot at umalis na kaagad sa lugar habang nakayuko.

Hanggang sa nakarating ako sa isang lugar na kanina ko pa hinahanap.
The Library.
'Finally I found you.' By saying that I started pulling the glass doors of the library and entered to the unfamiliar place.
I look around and I notice that every shelves contains different genres  of books. By examining of it, I've noticed that this place had more space than to  my senior high library.
Well I shouldn't shock by that, this is one of the biggest university in the country so expected to have this facility.
I'm quite fascinated by the books around me. Every books I touched, it seems that I wanted to read them all, but I know to myself that it is not the right time.
Hindi ko na rin namamalayan na sa subrang aliw ko ay napunta ako sa isang sulok ng library na hindi na gaanong pinupuntahan ng mga studyante dahil ang mga shelves dito contained old books pero ewan ko ba kung bakit nandito ako. But to my surprise, hindi ko napansin na may dalawang tao pala sa corner na ito. And they seems enjoying what they've been doing! Jezz!
I immediately turn my back to them. Sa lahat ng lugar, dito pa sa library? Grabe naman!
I'm about to escape from their scene but someone grab my hand. By that it stop me from moving and caused me to face the person who is responsible of dragging me.
"Get your hand out of me. Pwede ba?" I told him as I face him as lower as I could. This must be a silent area so I wouldn't dare to make some disturbing noise. Pero mas nabigla ako ng makilala kung sino ang pumigil sa akin.
"Ellipsoid?"
"Surprise?" Sabay ngiti.
Agad namang bumalik ang composure sa sarili ko and faced this man with confidence.
"Hindi na ako magtataka kung hanggang dito sa library ginagawa mong parang motel. You must get a proper place while making out with your girl." I told him habang nakatingin sa babaeng kasama ng lalaking kaharap ko. At napansin kong mukhang hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin maka-get over sa nangyari.
"Don't told me the things na dapat at hindi ko dapat gawin Mono. This is how I enjoy my life so wala ka na roon. I do the things you don't do. And I'll do it again and again." Galit nyang sabi.
Effects siguro dahil hindi natuloy ang dapat na matuloy. "Why wouldn't try it? Kaysa magmukmuk ka sa kwarto mo the whole of your life?" Suggestion nya.
"I'm fine with what my life is getting along Ellipsoid. And as what you said, gagawin ko rin ang gusto kong gawin. Whatever, Ellipsoid. I mustn't explaining it to you. Sige bahala na kayo sa buhay nyo. Goodluck na lang!" Sabay alis.
Dali-dali naman akong pumunta sa other side ng library at naghanap ng pwedeng pagtambayan. May ilang minutes pa naman akong natitira before my second subject will start.
Tumingin rin ako ng mga libro na pwede kong pagkaabalahan. Pero nung kukunin ko na sana yung isang libro na mukhang kakaiba ang itsura or baka namali lang pagkalagay dito ay may biglang nagsalita. "Good choice, Mono."
Bigla ko nalang nabitawan ang libro dahil sa pagkarinig sa tinig nung lalaki. His voice filled with mistery. At agad akong tumingin sa kanya.
"Sino kayo? Bakit nyo ako kilala?" Sunud-sunod kong tanong.

Hindi nya ako sinagot at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad patungo sa kinalalagyan ko at nung nakalapit na sya sa akin ay kinuha nya yung libro na nabitawan ko kanina. "Nagulat ba kita? I hope I didn't. You know what, I love books just like you. Every time pumapasok ako sa library or anywhere that contains books I felt in love with the place." Then he look at me. "This." Bringing the book at my eye level. "is one of my favorite books."

Nung tiningnan ko ang title ng book "Trigonometry?"
"Yes, the branch of mathematics that deals with the relationships between the sides and the angles of triangles and the calculations based on them, particularly the trigonometric functions."
I counted from one to ten wishing this old guy would be disappear after ten. But nothing happen.
Ngumiti naman sya sa akin. "The old guy you're referring had his name little girl."
'Is he a psychic? He knows what's on my mind?' I ask myself while still in my shock figure.
"I am Mr. Pytha Goras, nice to finally meet you Mono Maxine Bulk. The M of the group." He smiled again. Ngiting hindi mo alam kung may pinaplano bang masama or he's just a mad man.
"Don't worry, masasanay ka rin sa akin, kayo ng mga kasama mo." After that he left me hanging.
'Ano daw? Minumulto na ba ako?'
Hindi naman sya gaanong nakakatakot pero hindi ko ma-gets ang mukha nya. His one eye covered something na parang isang magnifying glass. And basta! Let me describe him later. Nakaka.shock ang itsura nya pati yung mga pinagsasabi nya.