VIEWPOINT

Chapter Twelve

     Before daybreak I witness Ria alone, in the entrance of De La Salle University. The scenery around me feels like its moving so fast, I am looking at her carefully and I can feel my heart beat. This is a feeling I never felt before. Is this what they call lo--, no this can’t be. I am dead if it is true. I shall not allow this to continue. I walk towards her, but in order for this weird feeling to discontinue, I shall not talk. I walk, the steps that I am taking seems to be very slow, slower than snail, slower than a broken spinner. Her eyes cross paths into mine, now there is no chance for me to avoid her. I look at her. Her eyes reflect the blazing sun and its yellow-orange ray. Her hair is striking me as the sun reflects into it. I don’t know what I am doing now.

     “Aste, Hi!” She greets.

     I must respond, I need something to say, as fast as I could, my mind processes something.

     “Hi, what are you doing? Are you waiting for someone?” I tell her.

     Tears fall of from her eyes to her smooth cheeks. What is it now? I give her a confused look. She closes her eyes for a bit, and then rubs her eyes shortly.

     “How I missed your smile.” She says.

     Did she just say that I smiled, if that is true, then if a PSS member is nearby, I will be dead by now. I look around, nothing came, no threat. I breathe lightly, learning that there are no PSS members around.

     “I didn’t smile, you must be imagining things.” I tell her.

     She presses her hands towards her bag. She checks her cellphone and presses a button. The sound is something like the one you hear when someone is taking a photo. This girl, I think, just took a photo of me.

     “Weren’t you waiting for someone?” I ask.

     “Yes, but unfortunately, I received a message telling that I should go home now alone.” She says.

     The sun finally sets, turning the crimson sky into a cold and dark night. The sky is dark blue in color; you can see the airplanes in the night sky and their lights blinking by the atmosphere. The moon is also shining bright. I don’t know why but I think I would like to accompany her to the terminal, because since November started, public utility vehicles are not allowed to go near the entrance of De La Salle University, as they block the way of the students and also causes for them to be trapped, causing massive traffic jams. The terminals are four blocks from the entrance, and judging by the time right now, there are many criminals wandering around. It is not safe for a girl to be alone by this time of the night, especially when there are few people around.

     “Let me accompany you to the terminal, since that is also my destination.” I tell her.

     She nods, still rubbing her eyes. She was not able to speak; maybe from the mixed emotion she is feeling right now. Does the emotion really have a great effect in an individual’s way of thinking? That question, yet I can’t answer, not yet. Maybe someday, we will see.

     We start to walk now, towards the entrance. I walk behind her, to make sure that I can keep an eye on her. Silence is engulfing our senses. We can’t even converse by this time.

     As a trained member of the PSS, I can easily predict and assess if someone is watching over my position. I feel a similar sensation as now. This is a bad timing; I don’t want to show Ria this part of mine. Also, I am at the disadvantage, is the LPM going to attack now? I don’t stand a chance. I don’t have a gun. I only have this knife in my waist, but it is not enough to fight off hostiles from a distance. I really don’t stand a chance.