Chapter 5
Agad nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Kasi naman, sa dami ng pwedeng kainan, bakit andito kami sa iisang cafe? Paano ako makakakain nang matiwasay ngayon?
Agad akong napayuko at mabilis na nagsimulang kumain. Naramdaman ko namang napatingin sa akin ang apat and it's making me feel uncomfortable.
"Wag nga kayong tumingin nang ganyan," bulong ko pero nakita ko lang napangisi si Clarisse.
"Uyyyyyy," she teased. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin to shut her up. Pero nginisihan lang niya ulit ako.
"Hi sir," rinig kong bati ni Clarisse kay Sir 'nong nasa malapit na siya.
Bigla ay naramdaman ko ang matinding pagkabog ng dibdib ko. Bakit naman kasi?
"Oh hi, Miss... Abarquez. Am I right?" I heard him said.
"Yes, sir," sagot naman ni Clarisse. I could tell she's smiling now kahit hindi ko nakikita ang mukha niya. Nakayuko pa rin kasi ako because I don't want to be noticed. Ayaw kong maging awkward.
"Hi there too, Miss Rivera," narinig kong bati ni Sir. Hindi ko inasahan 'yon kaya the moment na narinig ko 'yon ay parang bigla na lang may humarang sa lalamunan ko saka ako napaubo.
Tahimik lang akong kumakain dito eh!
Agad akong inabutan ni Lio ng isang baso ng tubig and I hurriedly drank it. Binagalan ko pa ang pag-inom para hindi agad mabaling ang atensyon ko sa kanila na ngayon ay todo tingin sa akin.
But all good things must come to an end. Matapos kong uminom ng tubig ay dahan-dahan kong inilibot ang mga mata ko, only to see Sir Troy looking at me.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Ahh.. Y-yes po, Sir. I'm okay," I replied softly.
"No, you're not," narinig kong bulong ni Clarisse. I glared at her but she just kept on grinning.
"Good," he said then smiled. "By the way this is Tracy," pakilala ni Sir Troy sa kasama niya.
Why is he even introducing her to us? Di naman kami close.
I should remind myself to slap myself later.
"My sister," he continued.
Ohh. It's his sister.
And why the heck am I feeling relieved? Anong problema sa akin?
"Hi. Are you all his students?" Tanong 'nong magandang babaeng kasama niya na kapatid niya pala. I can see how good their genes are.
"Hindi po, hindi po. Silang tatlo lang po," narinig kong sagot ni Love as she pointed Clarisse, Lio, and me. "Kapatid po kami ni Hope," she added as she pointed me.
Nakita kong napakunot-noo iyong Tracy while looking at us.
"If you're wondering po how is it possible we're in the same university at the same time, 'yon po ay dahil triplets kami. Not identical, but yeah, we're triplets," Love added. She was even smiling while saying it at nakatingin pa kay Sir Troy. Ang daldal niya talaga!
"Oh my gosh, that's cool!" Tracy commented. "By the way, is it okay if we sit right next to you?"
Oh no.
Paano ako lalamon ngayon?
"No problem po!" Masiglang sagot ni Clarisse.
Sir Troy and her sister then took the table at my right. Malas ko pa kasi ako ang nasa gilid kaya ako ang pinakamalapit sa kanila.
"Mabait naman ba 'tong si Troy as an instructor?" Tanong ni Tracy after taking her seat. Siya 'yong nakaupo malapit sa akin while si Sir Troy ay nakaupo sa harapan niya, which is somehow ay harapan ko rin. I could see all his moves which is so uncomfortable for me.
