Wishing, Alois |√

The 1st Bloom

"Lian, mauna na kami ha, just pm us kung kailangan pa ng other revisions, we gotta go. Bye." I chuckled when my groupmates panically leaving me for their classes.

"Bye! Baka sisihin niyo pa'ko sa pagkalate niyo." I chuckled once again as I bid them goodbye.

So here I am, nag-iisa na naman sa bakanteng lamesa na kaookupa lang din ng mga kasama ko kanina habang  binabasa ang makapal na libro about this particular disease which seems to capture my curiousity.

I admit, it isn't even related on my said course nor with the project we did a while ago. I am a Business Administration student, yet here I am, nagbabasa ng medical book.

Kung sinong kakilala kong makakita sa'kin sinasabing ako na ang matalino, well not for me, it's the other way around.

I don't know when or how did I end up being interested with it. Maybe the time when my life turned upside down?

~

"Reading about me? Aww, how flattering."

Nagulat ako ng may isang lalakeng nagsalita sa likod ko. He confidently sat beside me habang ako naman ay hinahagod siya ng tingin.

He was just staring at me smiling, hangang sa sinisilip na rin nito ang librong binabasa ko. That's when I came back to reality saka iniwas ang libro sa kanya with confusions all over my face.

"Do I know you?" Prente kong tugon.

He just chuckled na para bang close na kami buong buhay niya. "Nah... I was just overwhelmed on how a Bussiness Ad student like you, reading about me."then he chuckled again.

Mas lalo tuloy akong naguluhan sa sinabi niya. "Baliw ba siya?"

"Hindi ako baliw. I'm just stating the fact." siya na wari'y nabasa ang naisip ko. That's when I ask him frantically.

"Alzheimer." pagbasa ko sa topic ng libro sabay tingin ulit sa kanya. "And how was this even related to you? Si Alzheimer ka ba?"

Pero imbes na maasar sa sarkastiko kong pahayag, mas natawa pa ata siya. "Well, partly maybe? My parents named me after the name of  Aloysius "Alois" Alzheimer, which I believe you knew.

I was about to answer him back na akala ko tapos na siya sa kanyang sasabihin pero imbes ay bigla na lamang nitong inilapit ang mukha sa tenga ko, reason for me to get startled.

"They were a fan by the way." at bago ko pa siya masaway, siya na rin ang kusang lumayo. Laking pasalamat ko na lamang din.

"Who am I to care about your name or whoever you are. The fact is, I don't even know yo— Alois. My name is Alois, Aloysius Kristoffer Benzon, but you can call me Alois, pleasure to meet you Ms.?..."

Kulang nalang ipagsigawan ang sariling pangalan sa kakaulit dito, sabay lahad pa ng kamay na di ko rin naman tinanggap.

"So, who are you for me to give my name to you Mister? It doesn't change the fact that I still don't know you. So if you'll excuse me, I gotta go on my next class." sinimulan ko na lang tuloy ligpitin ang mga gamit ko, at kahit maaga pa sa susunod na klase ay ginawa ko ng umalis. Makaiwas lamang sa weirdong kausap ko.

"Well then, see you next time flower."

Natigilan ako sa pagtawag niya sa'kin, reason for me para balingan ko tuloy siya ng tingin. Nakita ko nga siyang sobra makangiti habang kumakaway pa sa gawi ko. But then, I decided na magpatuloy na lang ulit sa paglalakad kesa pansinin ang isang psychong ni hindi ko naman nakilala buong buhay ko.