Suspicious

Chapter 5: The Art of Questioning

Tori's Point of view

Engk! Engk! Engk!

Ang ingay! Ano ba yan inaantok pa ko eh.

"Kuya, your alarm please..." Shit! Natitimang nako...Phone ko pala ung nagaalarm.
Kahit 3 years na si kuya sa States at 3 years na din akong nagiisa sa bahay, di nako nasanay.

Kinuha ko ang aking phone at pinatigil ang pagtunog nito. My screen flashed,

7:28

My ghad Tori! Mag thithirty minutes na akong late. Dali-dali akong bumangon, at naligo ng mabilisan, as-in mabilis.  Ayoko namang hindi pumasok ng dahil sa nalate ako, I mean its better late than never.

***

Pagkapasok ko sa campus ay dumeretso na ako agad sa harap ng aming kwarto, syempre magpapaligoy-ligoy pa ba ako. Papasok na sana ako ng nakita ko si Maggie, who's face is erratically worried. While motioning her hands from left to right in front of her neck. At sabay turo sa aming Prof na si Ms. Adelaila Samonte sa harap. Dead! I'm so dead.

Oo nga pala! First bell namin siya ngayon. Si Ma'am Adelaila ay kilala bilang isang terror dito sa Del Ferrer University (DFU) back at the year, 6 years from now. Siya ay nasa mga 40's, but still looking young and fresh. Epekto siguro ng pagiging single for life. Wala daw kasi siyang anak and wala rin siyang asawa, she's all living alone.

I don't know why, but her presence gives me uneasiness. Same to her, my presence makes her blood bring it to boil. Hindi ko naman kasalanan na single parin siya hanggang ngayon noh.

Naalala ko noong first time ko siyang naencounter, first year college palang ako ay pinagiinitan na niya ko, i didn't even do anything wrong in the first place.

I decided not to go in her class. Dahil kung pumasok ako ay makakahanap siya nang butas sakin para pag-initan ako. At for sure na pinagsamang sermon, galit at apoy ang ibabato niya sakin and I don't want to see that, no way!

Dumiretso nalang ako sa library habang hinihintay ang last subject. I prefer going to libraries and cafe's than elsewhere. Medyo hilig ko din kasi and pagbabasa and ang pagsulat ng mga stories at mga articles, like my father who was... was a famous journalist as a news writer. I miss him... I miss him so dearly.

Pumunta ako sa ---mystery/thriller--- section, para maghanap ng babasahin. I walked, as I glide my fingers to the books -then stopped. Another finger touched the same book that I want to read. Great timing! Among of all the people siya pa talaga?

"Oh hey, Astraea. What a pleasant surprise?" Hailee said while giving me an over confidence smile.

It's the famous Hailee Hollister, who is admired for her fine qualities. I didn't say that we are rivals, but konting-konti nalang. Mapupunta na kami sa point na yon kung hindi siya titigil. I don't want any competition, but she keeps on acting like we are really in a competition. Kung nasan ako nandon din siya, kung anong gagawin ko, gagawin din niya. It totally irritates me.

"You don't even looked surprised." I said shortly, habang binitawan ko ang libro at naghanap ng iba.

"Go take it."