Where The Story Ends

Chapter Two

I enrolled myself.
Kung ako ang tatanungin I'd rather look for a job, than finish my studies. Isang taon lang naman ang kulang ko. But then, Tita and Cel insists they said my parents would be happy if they know I manage to finish college.

But really though, what's the guarantee that the people in that sacred place are happy?

Sumulyap ulit sa akin ang babae na nagbigay ng exam. She eyed me again. Again. Dahil nang malamang twenty four na ako ay sinulyapan n'ya na ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Is it weird that I'm twenty four already but here I am, enrolling myself as a fourth year business administration student?

"You passed the exam. Here's your schedule and room assigned. You can take a look around since you're new. You also have two back up subject, but you're qualified to be a fourth year student." Iniabot n'ya sa akin ang isang papel.

I thanked her after that, and left.

Mukhang tama s'ya. I need to look around para narin 'di ako mahirapan sa unang araw ng klase. Plus, I'm all alone here. Celestine already finished her studies, here.

And speaking...she's calling.

"Hello?" Sinagot ko ang tawag at nagsimula nang maglakad.
"Moira! Kamusta?"
"I got my sched now. I just want to look around,"

Sumalubong sa akin ang naglalakad na tao paglabas ng building. Some are with their friends, holding the same kind of paper in my hands. Some are just like me, alone and lost?

"Ha? Sigurado ka? I can just help you look around tomorrow."
I laughed. "You're creepy. Stop being overprotective. I'm going to be fine. This is going to be my school, I should get used to this place."
I can almost imagine her rolling her eyes.

"Basta ha, umuwi ka! Naku, Moira!"
"Chill. I wont passed out again. Kumain naman ako, eh."
"Fine! Fine, just beep me if something happens!" Finally, she gave up.

Two days ago, I passed out. Cel rushed me to the hospital. At kung di ako nagising agad ay baka nagkareunion na ang buong pamilya sa hospital. It's just a normal faint. I was exhausted, the doctor said.

But I know another reason.

Napapitlag ako nang may tumamang bola sa paanan ko. It's a soccer ball.

"Miss!" I heard someone said.

Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin sakanya ay humahangos s'yang papunta sa kinatatayuan ko. He's wearing a normal soccer uniform, all sweaty.

Pinulot ko ang bola at hinintay s'yang makalapit sa pwesto ko. And when he did, I extend my hands, holding the ball so he could get it.

"T-thanks," he breathed hard.
"You fine?" he added.

Tumango naman ako at inilapit pa ng maigi ang bola sakanya. Kinuha n'ya yon at ngumiti.

"Sa paa lang naman tumama. I'm fine, so..." I shrugged. I decided to turn my back at him.

Mabilis akong naglakad palayo at nagpatuloy sa paghahanap ng building at room assigned ko. It was a bit easy, since the buildings have their own name. The hard thing was, to use the stairs at all time. Ang pinakamababang floor na papasukan ko ay third, the rest were either in fifth or sixth floor.

It was pass three in the afternoon when I decided to look for a cafeteria. Ayoko narin kasing malipasan ng gutom. Mas lalong nakakastress isipin na nag-aalala masyado si Cel kapag may ganoong nangyayari.

Nang makapasok ako ay kaunti lang ang tao. Ang iba ay kagaya ko na pagkain ang dahilan kung ba't nandito, ang iba naman ay nagsusulat sa lamesa.

Mabilis akong nag-order at naupo sa pinakamalapit na upuan. Malinis ang lamesa at tahimik. This is a nice school, I must say. I couldn't compare it to the school I went before because simply I couldn't remember it.

Kumain ako nang tahimik at isiningit narin ang isang text kay Cel na malapit na akong makauwi.

It was when I finished eating...umingay ang pintuan ng cafeteria. The..well I guess it's the soccer team. Magulo at maingay. Ngunit ang sumunod na pumasok ang kumuha sa atensyon ko. Saglit n'ya akong tinapunan ng tingin bago naupo. Ngunit ang saglit na 'yon...nakita ko...

It was her.

Namula ang pisngi n'ya nang maramdaman ang paghawak sa kanyang kamay. Nakaramdam s'ya ng kaba ngunit may saya. Hindi n'ya ito kayang itago sa kanyang katabi.

"You look happy, huh." He said.
"Ikaw 'di ka ba masaya?" She asked.

Instead of answering that. He kissed her. And she kissed back.

But what happens next startled her.

"Dude, you did great!"
"Oh man, I lost!"

No, it was her who felt so lost.

"W-what's the meaning of t-this?" She asked.

"Well-"

Napapitlag ako nang may marinig ako na kalabog ng mesa. Nang hinanap ko 'yon ay nanggaling sa lamesa ng mga soccer players. A bunch of boys but I found his eyes. He was looking directly at me.

"Sin, calm down."
"I am,"

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. Nasa harapan ko pala ang babaeng kanina lang ay nakita kong masaya ngunit kalaunan ay nadurog din. I think, I get it now. But why am I seeing this? Why is it I have to know about it?

My phone beeped. It was Celestine.

Cel:
Shopping tayo! You want me to pick you up?

Maybe, I'm just imagining things. Maybe, I'm just exhausted. Naglipit ako ng gamit at tumayo na. It's nothing. I shouldn't let corrupt my mind.

Nang papalabas sa cafeteria ay may nakasabay ako...at tila tumigil ang oras.

The only thing I heard was a sound of a heartbeat. Nang lingunin ko ito, ay nakapasok na ito at nakasama na sa dagat ng tao.

Ngunit hindi nakatakas sa akin ang mga matang 'yon.