Hey, It's Me, Karma (Manileño Series #1)

Chapter 34

Hey, It's Me, Karma

Focus

I remembered where I first saw him. Seeing him in the same place where I also had a first close interaction with him reminded me of it.

Noong mga nakaraang araw lang ay nagkabanggaan kami malapit sa hagdan. He had a book that time that fell because of the impact of our collision. That must be the reason why these past few days, he had been looking at me with grim expressions!

We immediately started when they settled down. Ivan sat parallel to my seat. Katabi ko pa rin ngayon iyong lalaking hindi ko man lang matandaan ang pangalan. Ivan was sitting beside the guy he came along with. Parating ang dalawa ang nagsasalita sa group study na ito. I am guessing they're close friends as well. Mukhang importante dahil hinintay pa ng lahat kahit dalawa naman na lang silang hindi pa dumadating.

"Look at your book in page 173..." Ivan ordered. Sumunod naman ang mga kasama ko at inilipatang libro nila sa pahinang sinabi niya. Ganoon din ang ginawa ko at tamad na bumaba ang paningin sa libro. I've already scanned this lesson. Hindi ko masusing inaral pero may ideya na ako dahil natignan ko na.

He started discussing. Tahimik lang ang mga kasama kong nakikinig sa kaniya at paminsan-minsan ay may tanong para sa klaripikasyon. I was just watching him and observing every movements he made instead of focusing on the discussion.

Hawak ng malaki niyang kamay ang libro. Inisang kamay niya lamang iyon, gamit ang kaliwa habang may hawak siyang ballpen sa kanan. Sometimes when his hand was weary, he would put the book down. Tinignan niya sa mesa ang libro at dahil sa tangkad niya ay niyuyuko niya iyon. His back was slightly bent, his hands rested on the table. Pinapagitnaan ng mga ito ang libro. He was talking incessantly like it was his field of expertise. Nahinto lamang siya nang mapadpad ang mata niya sa akin.

"Miss, are you listening?" he asked sharply.

Napaayos ako ng upo at tinigilan ang paglalaro sa ballpen. Napatingin din sa akin ang iba naming mga kasama.

"I am listening," sagot ko sa kaniya nang walang takot sa naging tono niya kanina.

Hindi siya nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita. Mukhang hindi pa naniniwala at tinitimbang ang sinabi ko. My eyebrow rose.

"Kung ganoon, bakit hindi ako ang magsalita ngayon?"

His forehead creased even more, now to silently question what I just said.

"You'll be the judge whether I am indeed paying attention to your discussion or not. I accept any sort of punishment, if it is necessary." Ngumisi ako sa kaniya.

Hindi mawala-wala ang sama ng tingin niya sa akin. He nodded without a word and faced he rest of the group.

"Then, we should listen to her this time," aniya sa mga kasama ko, hindi man lang ako nililingon ulit. Ang damot-damot naman nito sa atensyon.

I stood up and took my book. I carried it mid-height for me to see without bending down. I started discussing what I learned from the lessons I scanned. Wala naman siyang naging imik doon, ganoon din ang mga kasama kong taimtim na nakikinig. Just like when Ivan and the other guy was discussing, they would ask questions to the parts they failed to understand. Nakatitig lamang si Ivan sa akin na blanko ang mukha.

"How about you, Mister? Are you paying attention to my discussion?" I asked him with the intention of teasing him. Alam ko malabo iyon. He was probably paying so much attention to look for something to criticize. Be it with his personal grudge against me or I am just plainly wrong and he can't bear to miss mistakes in this lecture.