Time Will Tell...

CHAPTER 1

University of the Philippines, College of Law

It was the first day of the first semester. The room was filled with noisy students trying to catch up with everyone. Kim was happily talking with her best friends, Madge, Gel and Kath, when three unfamiliar guys came inside the classroom.

" You will stand up when you hear your name, ok" Mr Manahan said, as he entered the room holding a folder with the registered students in the pilot section. "You will be seated alphabetically" he added.

Tumingin si Kim sa direction ng professor na kasunod pumasok nila Sam, John at Enrique, kaya hindi sinasadya na magtama ang tingin nila ni Sam. Pero madali ring bumawi ng tingin si Kim at naghanda ng lumipat ng upuan, habang ang tatlong lalaki ay dumiretso sa likod kung saan may mga bakanteng upuan. As always, hiwalay na naman si Kim sa mga kaibigan nya whenever alphabetical ang seating arrangement nila sa class, while the three girls sat together in the third row.

Kim, Kat, Madge and Gel were friends since first year college. Hanggang ngayon iniisip pa rin nila minsan kung paano nga ba sila nag-click. Hindi na maalala ni Kim kung paano sya napalapit sa mga kaibigan. Si Kat, Madge and Gel kasi ay magkakatabi palagi on their first year, having Reyes, Rigos and Rivera, respectively as their surname, one reason that made them very close since then. Si Kat, madaldal, kalog at laging game, walang kyeme, 'what you see is what you get' kung baga. Very close silang dalawa ni Kim, siguro dahil madaldal din naman si Kim when you get to know her and she's very bubbly. too. Si Madge naman, matured, quiet, serious and very dedicated. Magkasundo naman sila ni Kim pagdating sa pag-aaral, They were both focused on their studies and have the passion to succeed. Si Gel, quiet din and reserved, pero gaya ni Kat, she's in a long time relationship. The only thing they shared together as a group is their common goal, that is to finish their studies. Another thing is they were all clever, kaya siguro talagang nagkasundo sila. Pero among them, si Kim ang pinaka bright student.

"Miss" bulong ni Sam sa bandang tagiliran ni Kim habang hawak ang pen na ipinaabot ni Kat na naiwan nya sa desk nito. Sam was seating behind Kim.

"Thanks", lumingon ng kaunti si Kim nang hindi tumitingin sa kanya, instead ngumiti ito sa direction ni Kat na nasa likod naman ni Sam dahil na-realised na nya na naiwan nya ito doon nang magsusulat na sya ng instructions and requirements na binibigay ng professor para sa next meeting nila.

Sam just smiled, staring at her while she gave a sweet smile to Kat. Sam was thinking, she's pretty and her face is sweet and angelic pero suplada yata, hindi man lang ngumiti sa akin.

Sam, together with his friends were irregular students, kaya ngayon lang nila naging classmates ang mga ito.

"Pwede pa-share ng table" Sam and his friends approached Kim and her friends on their table sa school canteen nila during lunch time.

"Sure" Kat smiled without asking her friends kung okey lang sa kanila.

So, nagkwentuhan sila while enjoying their food. Si Madge tahimik lang na nakikinig sa kanila. Si Gel, now and again ay nakikipag-usap sa kanila, pero it's only Kat who was happy chatting with them. Parang matagal na silang magkakakilala the way they exchanged words, kahit one week pa lang naman ang nakalipas since nang magpasukan. Si Sam and Enrique ay madalas na sumusulyap kay Kim na patango-tango at pangiti-ngiti lang sa kwentuhan nila.

Lumipas pa ang ilang araw, ilang linggo. Lahat ay busy sa mga schoolwork. Ang iba, busy sa homework na hindi ginawa sa bahay. Ang karamihan sa mga girls in their class busy naman sa chikahan. Isa lang naman ang topic nila since their first day, the three new guys, whom they called "gwapings". Si Sam ang pinaka popular sa kanilang tatlo. The girls were obviously flirting with him whenever he's around, na obvious din na ine-enjoy ni Sam.

"Nagawa mo ba yong homework natin sa Law and Taxation?" Narinig ni Kim sa likod nya.

"Kim?" Hindi kasi sumagot si Kim dahil hindi sya sure kung sya ang kinakausap.

"Ay ako ba, sorry. Oo, tapos ko na." maikling sagot nya na hindi lumilingon kay Sam.

"Patingin naman, check ko lang kung tama yong ginawa ko." sa mga nagdaang linggo, alam na ni Sam na isa si Kim sa pinaka magaling sa klase nila kung hindi man sya ang pinaka.

Inabot naman ni Kim. After a few minutes, binalik din ni Sam, "Thanks Kim ha, tama naman pala yong ginawa ko." Nagtataka nga si Kim dahil pansin din naman nya na matalino rin si Sam.

Dumating na ang Prof.nila kaya kahit gusto pa sana ni Sam na mag-open ng conversation kay Kim eh hindi na nya nagawa. The students were all attentive and focused sa discussions, afterall, they were now in their 3rd year in Bachelor of Law, kaya critical na ito for them. Just like any ordinary day, mabilis na lumipas ang buong umaga.

"Alam mo may napapansin ako dyan kay Sam" Kat said while they were sitting outside the chapel, their favourite place in school to hang-out.

Tumingin lang silang tatlo kay Kat, pero si Madge at Gel ay nakangiti na parang alam na ang sasabihin ni Kat.

"May crush sayo yon" ubod ng tamis na nakangiti kay Kim, teasing her.

Umirap lang si Kim sa kaibigan habang nakangiti din sa kanya si Gel at nagtanong para lang ma-confirm ang nasa isip din nya, "bakit mo naman nasabi, Kat".

"Cute naman sya ah" sabi uli ni Kat. "in fact crush na nga sya ng bayan", still teasing Kim bago sinagot si Gel.

"Bench model pa" Gel added. Bench kasi ang laging suot nito from head to toe, kaya binansagan na ng mga classmates nila.

"Eh kasi naman very obvious na nagpa-pacute sya kay Kim, di nyo ba napapansin?!"

"Eh talaga namang pa-cute sya, hindi sa akin kundi sa lahat, feeling nya ang gwapo nya." annoyed Kim.

"Pa-cute nga sya talaga, pero iba yong sayo, papansin masyado. Everytime na may chance kang tabihan, eh tatabihan ka and trying so hard to make conversation kasi di mo pinapansin, hahaha." tumatawang sabi ni Kat.

"Naku, mag-review na nga tayo at may exam pa tayo mamaya" Kim was trying to ignore what her friends were trying to say, but she knew that those were all true dahil ramdam din naman nya, hindi naman sya manhid and she cant help thinking about that instance when Sam touched her hair.

"Ang ganda ng buhok mo at ang bango pa", naramdaman ni Kim na may naglalaro ng dulo ng straight, mahaba at itim na itim nyang buhok. Lumingon sya dito pero walang salita at sabay hila sa buhok nya at inilagay nya sa isang side ng shoulder nya at nakalugay sa harap ng kanang dibdib nya. She's now getting annoyed. Kasi feeling nya papansin itong si Sam. Lagi kasi syang kinukulit nito. Madalas ay nagpapatawa pa, "hindi naman sya nakakatawa" sabi ni Kim sa sarili, pero tumatawa naman ang mga katabi nila sa mga joke nya. Sya lang yata ang di nakaka-appreciate o talagang wala na syang sense of humor.

Hindi makita ni Kim ang nakikita ng lahat kay Sam, mapalalaki man o mapababae. Matangkad si Sam, medyo moreno at very charming, pero para kay Kim, he's full of himself - pa-cute at mayabang. Hindi alam ni Kim kung masyado lang ba syang focus o talagang walang kadating-dating sa kanya si Sam. Kahit nga iyong mga babae sa ibang class obvious na may crush sa kanya kasi everytime dadaan sya sa classroom ng mga ito, ay maghahagikgikan at magbubulungan na sa kilig. Saka talagang usap-usapan na rin talaga dahil may mga kaibigan din naman sila sa ibang class.

Everyday, gumagawa si Sam ng effort to get her attention, but luck was with him if he even gets a slight grin from her. Pero hindi talaga sumuko si Sam. Alam naman kasi nyang mabait si Kim, very aloof lang talaga sya sa boys especially sa kanya.

Kat and John's friendship helped Sam to slowly get closer to Kim's group of friends. It wasn't easy for him at first because they were reserve and conservative, except Kat who is one of the boys din kung kumilos minsan. So, doon na nag-umpisa na magkaroon ng chance si Sam na laging makalapit kay Kim, kwento-kwentuhan habang nag-iintay sa Prof. or during break.

"Crush mo is Kim, no." Kat teased Sam one day in front of Kim, Madge and Gel.

To Kim's surprise, Sam hold her hand and said "yes".

Kim felt her face went all red. She didn't know if she was embarrassed with what her friend did or the fact that Sam admitted it and everyone heard not only her friends but her classmates sitting close to them.

*** Hope you like it!!! Your comments and suggestions are welcome...Thank you.