Misfit

IX

Maaga akong nasa school para magreview about sa company ng mga Xianon. I have to know how they work and their connections para 'di ako magkamali mamaya. Panigurado magtatanong sila kung bakit ko binibili ang shares ng company nila.

Nakausap ko via phone ang ibang shareholders nila. The others gave up their shares because the company itself is failing. 'Yong iba naman nagdadalawang isip kung ibibigay ba nila o hindi, but end up knowing my last name, and they did. Adesso, the magic-fucking-word.

I was silently reviewing the materials made by ate Jane. She sent it to me 3am in the morning. She's that effective. Panigurado tulog 'yon ngayon para mamaya. She doesn't usually come with me and my meetings but when I asked her to, kailangan ko ng tulong niya.

I looked at my watch. 6:30am.

I haven't had breakfast yet, 7am ang start ng first subject ko today.

I stood up and went sa school café. Iba pa ang canteen sa school café namin. I need coffee to function effectively. Badtrip ako lagi pag walang kape.

Medyo madaming estudyante ang nakatambay sa Café tuwing umaga. Some of them have dorms kaya doon nagbbreakfast.

I went inside and the smell of coffee and cream lingered.

"I'll have a triple espresso shot latte with skim milk and a spoonful of sugar. Take-out." I said sa babae sa counter. She smiled at me. Inabot ko ang bayad at pumunta sa kabilang counter nito.

I actually know how to brew coffee on a coffee machine manually. Sa sobrang bored ko last summer, I went to France and took a short course there.

I was waiting there for my order when I saw Amanda came in. Nanlaki ang mata niya sa'kin at mabilis na nilapitan ako.

"O!" Tili niya. I boredly looked at her. Kahit kalian talaga 'tong babaeng 'to, lakas-lakas ng boses.

May mga napatingin na estudyante sa'min kaya napahagikgik siya. "At last naman nakita na kita, anong nangyari kahapon?" She sounded worried.

"I'm fine." I said to make her drop it.

"I heard may ginawa sa'yo si Chels. Ano 'yon?" Pilit niya. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. That made her raise her hand and give up the topic.

"Here's your order, Ma'am." I smiled and said my thanks. Sumama naman sa'kin palabas si Amanda papunta sa klase namin.

"Si Theo, oh!" sabi niya. Napalingon ako sa tinuturo niya at nakitang may kausap na babae si Theo. Is that Chelsea? Umiwas na ako ng tingin at tahimik na tinahak ang daan papunta sa classroom naming.

"Close ba talaga sila ni Chelsea?" Tanong ni A sa'kin. I shrugged. I don't know and I don't care.

"Sa lahat talaga ng tao, ikaw pinakamaayos kausap." She sarcastingly said. Napailing nalang ako sa kan'ya.

"Sabi ko nga." Minsan talaga napapaisip ako paano niya ako natitiis. Ang daldal ba naman nito tapos ako hindi.

Halos lahat ng kaklase ko nasa classroom na. Pumunta ako sa upuan ko at tahimik na ininom ang kape. I was staring at the window when I felt someone's presence in front of me. Napalingon ako do'n at nakitang si Theo 'yon.

"Sorry." Sabi niya, napakunot ang noo ko at tinaasan siya ng kilay. In my peripheral vision I saw some of my classmates looking at us and murmuring stuff. I just rolled my eyes at them.

"Sorry sa ginawa ni Chelsea sa'yo." I don't know but for some reason, nairita ako sa sorry niya.

Nakita ko si Amanda na nanliliit ang mata sa'kin. I didn't mind her though.