TAMARAH'S FATE

Chapter 3: Unspoken Tension

The university where Pedring brought her is not what she expected. Hindi ito kasing taas ng kalidad ng paaralan na pinuntahan niya sa Brisbane, pero kumpleto naman ang mga kagamitan. May sarili itong gymnasium at activity center.

Sumalubong agad sa kanya ang nanunuring tingin ng mga estudyante. Imbes na mailang ay itinaas nya ang mukha at nagsimulang maglakad with her signature bitch face. Naririnig nya ang mga itong nagbubulungan in their own dialect and she couldn't understand a thing kaya lalo lamang syang nawalan ng interes sa mga ito.

She will be attending her first subject at kanina pa nya hinahanap ang magiging classroom nya. She tried asking a direction pero tiningnan lang sya ng mga estudyante at nagbulungan.

If she's in her family's care hindi sya mangingiming pagmalditahan ang mga ito pero hindi nya magagawa yun sa ngayon. Who knows kung sino ang inatasan ni Damon na bantayan ang kilos nya doon. That man is really suffocating her.

Kinuha nya ang cellphone sa shoulder bag at pinindot ang speed dial. He gave her this cellphone and make himself in her speed dial. Napaka-feeling entitled. Nakailang ring lang iyon bago nito sinagot. He is grunting and breathing harshly. Naisip nya bigla ang nakita sa library nito noong first day nya.

"Hey what are you doing again?!"nai-eskandalong aniya. Narinig nya ang mahinang pagmumura nito bago muling nagsalita.

"What do you need?" he is now back in his cold tone.

"I can't find my classroom. I've been asking politely but no one can give me answers."

Tumawa ito sa kabilang linya, she wonders what he looks like now he's laughing. She never sees him laugh. "How do you ask politely?" nanunudyo ang boses nito. And why he is playful all of sudden?

"I'm late already. I don't wanna go to class anymore. Bye! Continue what you're doing, you maniac!" pinatayan nya ito ng telepono.

"First day of school tantrums?" tanong ng isang lalaki na nakangiti sa kanya. Nakasandal ito sa railing ng lobby five feet apart from where she is standing. He doesn't look like a college student, mas papasa pa ito as professor, not that he looks mature but he doesn't look like a boy.

"I'm Nate." humakbang ito palapit sa kanya at inilahad ang kamay. Nginitian nya ito bago inabot ang kamay nito. Usually, she doesn't talk to strangers but she needs companion right now.

"I'm a business Management student, I need to find my classroom."

"Alright, but it would be better if you tell me your name."

"Oh shoot. Sorry, it's Tamarah."

"Nice name, come on I'll walk you to our room." oh they're classmates. She let our exasperated sighs. Just nice, she has an idea whose Nate is.

Her first day of school goes well, as expected Nate stays the whole duration ng class nya. Lahat ng subject ay kaklase nya ito, and she is not a smart-ass kung hindi nya maiintindihan ang nangyayari. He seems like her bodyguard but acting like a student also.

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Paglabas nya ng gate isang hapon ay nakaabang na si Mang Pedring sa kanya, kumaway ito sa kanya na naging dahilan ng pagtitinginan sa kanya ng estudyante. Sinong hindi magtataka, she looks like a gem in the middle of the crowd tapos ang service nya isang tricycle lang. Napairap sya ng maalala ang striktong mukha ni Damon.

"Mang Pedring, you don't need to wave pa, you know. Kayo lang naman ang nag-iisang tricycle dito kaya makikita ko kayo agad." Paglapit niya sa tricycle, sabi niya. Napatawa si Mang Pedring. Ang init-init pa kahit alas singko na ng hapon. Kinuha niya ang panyo at pinahid sa pawisang noo at leeg bago sumakay. Pinaandar na rin ni Mang Pedring ang tricycle. Naalala niya si Nate, bigla na lang itong nawala pagkatapos ng last subject nila. Weird, hindi pa siya nagpaalam. What an ass.