Nyctophilia

Chapter 1

"My uncle gave me stocks as a Christmas gift."

"I only received a Gucci belt and Balenciaga tote bag."

Christmas break is over at halos lahat ng estudyante ay pinaguusapan ang mga natanggap nila sa pasko. Some are unsatisfied after receiving unnecessary expensive gifts and some are ecstatic about it. Wala naman akong pakealam sa usapan nila kaya pinagpatuloy ko na lang ang pagbabasa ng notes ko para sa exam mamaya. Cute mag welcome ng professors namin, halatang namiss kami.

Crowded sa library kaya dito ako sa coffee shop sa loob ng academy nag aaral. Ilang beses ko na 'tong nabasa kaya halos kabisado ko na lahat ng nakasulat. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at tumingin sa labas. I can't seem to find him anywhere so I'm assuming that he's absent. Grabe bungad niya sa bagong taon, absent agad.

20 minutes pa bago mag bell pero niligpit ko na ang mga gamit ko para pumunta sa next class ko. On my way, there are students from other orgs that I know kaya bago pa 'ko makarating sa classroom ay pagod na ang pisngi ko at labi sa kakangiti.

"Hi, Cyndy."

I smiled at Von when she greeted me. I sat beside her and fetch my notes again from my bag.

"How was your Holiday?"

Nag kwentuhan kami ni Von habang wala pa ang next prof. Von and I are in the same age. She started modelling since she was 10, we're 18 now. She is rich and famous pero hindi siya mahirap pakisamahan. Isa siya sa mga taong pinakaclose ko rito sa MA since high school. She's half Filipina and Spanish kaya naman nagka sundo kami. My father is Korean while my mother is half Filipina and Spanish. That explains my fair skin and green eyes.

My parents died when I was young from a plane crash. My father's bestfriend, tito Mark, is the acting CEO hangga't wala pa 'ko sa tamang edad na mamahala ng kumpanya.

Hindi nag tagal ay pumasok na rin ang professor at nag bigay ng exam. Mabilis kong natapos ito dahil halos lahat naman ay nadiscuss and may notes kami. This is my last class for today and after passing our test papers, she told us that we can do whatever we want until the dismissal.

Nilipigpit ko ang mga gamit ko at inilabas ang sketchpad and drawing materials. I'm taking Business Management but I'm good at arts. Hindi ko lang pinursue kasi kailangan may mag manage ng negosyo na iniwan ng parents ko at wala naman akong kapatid.

Sa first page ng sketchpad ko ay may naka calligraphy na letter Z.

Nasa kalahati na ang may sketches ko pero iisa lang ang subject. I just like drawing his perfect jawline, his pair of cold blue eyes, pointed nose, and luscious lips. He looks like a god from Mt. Olympus.

Sketching him is so natural that I didn't even noticed I am done with his eyes. I haven't seen and talked to him since the last day of school last year. May communication naman kami pero hindi lang talaga siya pala reply at hindi rin naman ako nag iinitiate ng usapan.

What if this is one of his new year's resolution? Palagi niyang sinasabi sakin na kailangan kong umiwas sa kanya. I was offended by it at first because I thought he sees me as a person who's lower than him so I avoided him. Kinabukasan naman nilapitan niya rin ako at inayang kumain.

"Cyndy, let's go?"

I look at Kira and smile at her. Iniligpit ko na ang gamit ko at sumabay sa kanya.

"Let's go."

Ngayon ko lang napansin na konti na lang pala ang nasa room. Kahit si Von ay nakaalis na. Sabay kaming lumabas ng building ni Kira pero huminto kami sa may tapat ng library.

"Hatid na kita?"

I offered her. Kira is a scholar here in Mathson Academy. She is smart and pretty. Mabait din siya pero mahiyain. She doesn't have that much friend but she seems comfortable with me. On the way lang din naman yung bahay nila kaya minsan ay sinasabay ko na siya pauwi. Hassle kasi pag nag commute siya dahil malayo talaga ang MA tapos sayang pa sa pamasahe.

"Thank you pero wag na muna. Manghihiram pa 'ko ng libro rito."

Tinuro niya ang library. Pumasok siya sa loob at ako naman ay dumiretso sa parking lot. Naisip kong dumaan muna sa mall para mamili ng school supplies kasi naubos na fillers and highlighters ko last year.

Pagkarating sa mall ay dumiretso ako sa NBS at kinuha lahat ng kailangan ko. After paying ay bumalik na 'ko sa parking space. I tried starting the engine but it won't work. Napatampal na lang ako sa noo dahil sa frustration. May sira na 'tong sasakyan ko pero di ko pa rin napaayos sa sobrang busy.

I fetched my phone out of my bag and dialed Von's number. Wala akong choice kung hindi mag pasundo. Sa dami ng dala 'ko ay di ko kakayaning mag commute. Wala namang grab dito sa Tuerra.

"Hello Cyndy?"

Von's voice is calm and it seems like she is driving.

"Hey. I'm sorry to bother you, do you have plans right now?"

I bit my lower lip and crossed my fingers.

"I'm on my way to Baguio eh. Susunduin ko si mommy. Why?"

Napapikit na lang ako ng mariin habang nag iisip kung paano ako makakauwi.

"Cyndy? Is there something wrong?"

She sounds worried but I don't want to bother her since may lakad pala siya ngayon.

"Yeah. Nasa mall kasi ako and ayaw na naman mag start ng sasakyan ko. But don't worry, I'll ask someone to pick me up na lang."

She said sorry and refer some cars name to me before hanging up. I scrolled through my contacts to see kung sino ang pwede kong tawagan. I can't bother tito Mark kasi busy siya ngayon panigurado, same with Kian, his son.

I don't have that much saved contacts kaya naman nakarating kaagad ako sa letter Z. Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago ko pinindot ang dial. After two rings ay sinagot niya na agad pero hindi siya nag salita.

"Hello?"

He didn't reply but I know that he is listening.

"I'm at the mall tapos nag loko na naman yung sasakyan ko."

I let out a nervous laugh.

"Ahm pwedeng pasundo?"

Seconds had passed and still no response from him. Napairip na lang ako sa inis. So he's really avoiding me na ha. He shouldn't have answered my call if that was it.

"Nevermind. Magcocomute na–."

"I'm on my way."

I pursed my lips to prevent myself from smiling. I just called Zyn Wilson.