Deceret Series #1: His Lips On My Neck

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

"All freshmen are required to join a club. Again, all freshmen are required to join a club."

I sighed. Naiirita na ako sa paulit-ulit na announcement sa speakers. Kanina pa iyan. Habang naglalakad ako sa hallway ay yan lang palagi ang naririnig ko hanggang sa makapasok na ako classroom namin.

I stretched my legs under the white desk. Sta. Veronica College may not be a university, but the facilities are luxurious. Halatang pinaggastusan talaga para sa mga estyudante. I wonder why Shantel chose this school? She could've studied in a prestigious university at the heart of town. O puwede siyang lumuwas ng Maynila. I don't know if it'll make such an impact on her resume having been graduated here.

"—gaga! Hindi kaya. Mas gwapo pa rin si Hanz sa paningin ko. Tsaka, may utak yun. Eh si Blast puro lang naman yan pagwapo eh."

Napalingon ako nang umingay bigla ang classroom. Ako pa lang kasi mag-isa ang narito. Three girls entered the class. Busy sila sa pakikipagkuwentuhan sa isa't isa kaya't hindi na rin nila ako napansin.

"Diba may kapatid si Blast? Dito ba yun nag-aaral?"

"Malanding 'to!" sinapak ng isang babae ang kasama niya at humalakhak. "Fourth year high school pa yun, pagdidiskitahan mo na?"

Nalunod ang usapan nila nang ipasak ko ang puting earpods sa tainga. Humalumbaba ako at hinintay ang pagdami ng mga tao sa una kong klase. I glanced outside. Malalaki din ang bintana sa silid-aralang ito kaya tanaw na tanaw ang mga nasa labas.

The gloomy skies filling the vastness formed and came the rumble of the thunder. Minutes later, it started raining. Kaniya-kaniyang takbuhan ang mga estyudante palayo sa quadrangle at open field.

I sighed. I wonder why people always associate rain with sadness? Because when asked, for me, it is actually the complete opposite. Rain is nourishing. Rain is magic. Rain brings hope and rain helps to calm a chaotic mind. I'd rather be soaked in the rain than to be under the scorching heat of the sun.

I was starting to enjoy the music and the sound of the rain when our professor finally came. Her sharp heels stabbed the floor loudly, and for a moment, it reminded me of my mother. I immediately pulled my earpods out of my ears and slid my phone inside the pockets of my jeans.

Even her cat-like eyes delivers the image of my mom inside of my head. Napabuntong-hininga ako. Constantly thinking about her is becoming unhealthy.

"Stormie!"

Nagulat ako nang bigla akong tabihan ni Dominick. He smiled genuinely at me, placing his textbooks on the desk. Ngiti din ang iginanti ko sa kaniya at ibinaling ang tingin sa aming professor sa harapan.

"Kanina ka pa?"

I nodded.

"Wow. Ang aga, ah?" he continued.

Nang hindi ako sumagot, bahagya niya akong siniko. Tuluyan na akong napatingin sa kaniya.

"Sabay tayo mag-lunch?"

Leaving me no choice, I nodded again.

The professor introduced herself and told us that we're going to do the same afterwards. My anxiety decided to pick on me today as we were called to stand one by one in front of everybody. Kahit pa ilang taon ko na itong ginagawa sa tuwing nagsisimula ang klase ay kinakabahan pa rin ako.

"Good morning. I am Stormie Iona Roman. I'm 19." Tipid kong wika. Magpapatuloy pa sana ako sa pagsasalita nang may biglang magtaas ng kamay.

"Excuse me, kaanu-ano mo si Shantel Iona Roman? Yung Ms. Intramurals last year?"