Death University

Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Officer

Lutang ako habang nandito sa cafeteria. Wala akong ganang pumunta sa next class.

How the heck did she know that I have the book? Oo, hindi niya naman sinabi na ang libro ang tinutukoy niya, pero sigurado akong 'yun nga ang tinutukoy niya.

Habang sumisimsim ako ng kape, may biglang umupo sa harapan ko.

Laking gulat ko nang makita 'yung lalake. Bakit siya nandito?

Umiling-iling siya. "You don't learn, aye? Sa lahat na lang ba, dapat kang pangaralan?"

Ang sungit, ah! Sino ba siya rito? Bwesit! Panira ng araw! Eto nga at may malalim akong iniisip, dadagdag pa 'tong isa!

"Sino ka ba ha? Wala kang karapatang kausapin ako." Sabi ko sabay irap sa kanya.

"Sabi ko na nga, it's for you to find out who I am. And I have the right to talk to you because I have a mouth then you have ears. Napapakinggan mo ako, then sinasagot mo pa ako habang kinakausap ka. Oh, try again, who's wrong now?"

Hindi ako nakaimik agad.

"Speechless?" Sarkastiko niyang sabi.

"Just leave me alone!" I said at akmang aalis na ako nang magsalita siya.

"You have violated a rule."

"Rule?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"Yeah, rule. When there is class, go to class. No skipping."

"Well, for your information, I don't care about the rule. I'll die here anyways."

He smirked. "For your punishment, clean the whole Science corner."

Nabigla ako sa sinabi niya. "Kung hindi ko gusto, ano naman ang mangyayari?"

"You will rather clean the whole cafeteria, then."

I looked at the whole cafeteria, and damn it, ang laki-laki ng cafeteria! Halos kalahati lang ang dorm namin ni Julia!

"Sino ka ba para utusan ako?"

"I don't have to tell you who I am. Figure it out by yourself."

"Eh bakit ako susunod sa sinasabi mong parusa, eh hindi naman kita kilala."

"Hmm. Let's say I'm an officer here." Talaga lang, ah? Officer? Seryoso ba siya?

"Show me your ID, then," I demanded.

He showed me an ID that has the label 'OFFICER' on it.

"Okay, fine. But what's your name, officer?" I asked sarcastically and pointed out the word 'officer'.

"That's none of your business, Miss Dawnt." He answered. And heck, he knows me!

"Why do you know me?"

"No time for chitchat. Just clean the science corner, or else you will clean the whole school."

Lintek! Nag-skip lang ng isang klase, whole school na agad ang lilinisin?! Sobra-sobra naman yata 'yon!

"Whole school? Hindi yan makatarungan!" I complained.

"Yeah, right. So pick a punishment. It's either cleaning the Science corner or cleaning the whole school."

"Okay, fine. To the Science corner, I go!" I then stormed off.

*****

Nagpa-alarm ako para sa next class ko dahil ayokong mabigyan ng punishment ulit. Hindi ko pa natatapos linisin ang Science corner. Ang liit-liit naman nitong Sci corner, pero bakit hindi ko pa matapos-tapos? Nag-ring na ang alarm ko at hindi ko pa natatapos itong paglilinis! Damn!

Pinunasan ko ang pawis sa aking nuo gamit ang aking panyo. Paalis na ako nang makita siya na nakahilig sa pintuan. To be honest, he looks good. He has that nice jaw, nice body, and he really looks good. He doesn't look like a full-blooded Filipino... But then, I don't like him. I don't like arrogant men and he is an example of them.

"Not done yet?" He asked.

"Obviously,"

"Ang sungit!" He said with a chuckle.

"Aba't—Hay, I have no time for this. I have a class! I don't want to be late." Kailangan kong magtimpi sa kanya.

"Hindi mo ba tatapusin 'tong paglilinis mo?"

"Pwede ba, mamaya na lang!"

"Okay, fine. Mamaya. Pero make sure na babalik ka cause I'm watching you."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," I said and went to my next class.

*****

Tapos na ang last class ko at dumiretso na kaagad ako sa Sci corner, 'cause I have to finish this now! Ayokong mamroblema.

Nang nakapasok na ako, naglinis na kaagad ako. Natigil ako sa paglilinis nang makita ko si Julia.

"Julia, what are you doing here?"

"Naglalakad kasi ako tapos nakita ko si Kuya rito,"

Huh? Ang President ay pumunta rito?

"Bakit nandito ang Presidente?" Taka kong tanong.

"Sabi niya kasi nag-skip ka ng class kaya ayan ang punishment."

"Ang daldal naman 'nung officer na 'yun. Sinumbong pa ako sa presidente!" I whispered, then rolled my eyes.

"May sinasabi ka?"

"Ah, w-wala, Julia. Sorry pala kanina, ah? Marami kasi akong iniisip."

"Okay lang 'yun. I understand where you're coming from."

"Hala, hihintayin mo 'ko? Huwag na, matatagalan siguro ako rito."

"Hindi. Okay lang. Tulungan na kita?"

"Huwag, Julia. Okay lang. Madali lang naman itong linisin pero matatagalan yata ako. Kakayanin ko."

"Okay, then. Just tell me if you need any help."

Pagkatapos kong maglinis ay pumunta na kami ni Julia sa dorm.

"Hey, nakita ko nga pala si Demi kanina. May pasa siya sa pisngi niya! Sino kaya ang may gawa 'nun, 'no?"

Natigilan ako. I just nodded and continued eating my food.

"Okay ka lang ba?"

"O-Oo naman," Sagot ko at nag-iwas ng tingin. I feel so guilty about what I've done to Demi. I don't understand what happened to me. I don't want to hurt people. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko nagawa iyon.

But here in DU, it's normal for the students to hurt anybody. While me? I don't want to harm people. But I did. I harmed one!

"Nga pala, Zaya, malapit na ang mystery ball. We need to find a gown!" Julia giggled.

"Do I really need to go to the ball?" I said while playing with my food.

"Duh, oo naman! Minsan lang naman 'to. It'll be fun! You need to have fun too, you know!"

Yeah, maybe Julia's right. I need to have... fun. Fun? It's been a while since I even thought of that.

"Okay, fine."

"Yey!" Tili niya at niyakap ako.

I hope this mystery ball will turn out great somehow, and maybe I should forget about the negative thoughts in the meantime...

-