Alpha Travis

Kabanata 8

Dumiretso naman ako sa gymnasium at doon daw namin kikitain ang physical health professor namin bago magpalit ng pangbihis, while Red told me that she'll just hang around inside her condo near the school grounds so that after I finish my classes for today, she told me that we'll just chill the whole day.

"Today before we proceed on our activity I would like to briefly discuss to all of you the do's and don'ts..." 

Coach Fidel discussed briefly the guidelines to follow before he told us to dress accordingly. We were given each small key to our own personal locker. I still don't have any friends so that's why I am very cautious as to how I'll act around them, smiles were offered and even help, but that was all. 

The class ended quickly with me having so much peace being in contact with water. Ako ang huling nakapag bihis sa shower room kaya naman kakaunti nalamang ang naririto, while I was busy putting my hair in to a bun ay biglang may nagbagsak ng bag sa paanan ko.

When I looked who's done it, I was clueless, "Althea, right? I don't really know what is it with you at palagi ka nalang sumasabit." She checked over her shoulders before eyeing me, "Anyways, Coach wanted you to be our Physical Health Ambassadress for this semester. Be a doll and bring that back inside the school's equipment room, it's on the west wing."

But before I could even ask her questions, she quickly took off. 

Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago mabilis na nagbihis, my hair is still wet kaya naman hiyaan ko na. I tucked my duffel bag away habang binitbit pa ang isang malaking bag na nilapag nalamang basta ng babae sa paanan ko. I quickly applied some sunscreen on my skin before going out of the area. 

Walang masyadong masisilungan sa dinaan ko, itinuro ito nung lalaki na nakasabay ko at tila alam yata na papunta ako sa storage room kaya he gave me instructions na mas mapapadali 'raw kung mag shoshort cut ako para isang building nalamang ang dadaanan ko. The trail was evident because of the mid-length grasses that are down on to the ground.

I am being burned by the raging sun above me, kaya naman nang makakita ako ng silungan ay inayos ko ng bitbit ang duffel bag at kinalma ang sarili. Kakaunti lamang ang mga studyante, bilang lamang sila, na tanaw ko kaya naman I was somehow relieved that even if I were to disappear and get dragged by someone out of nowhere ay sure akong may makakarinig manlang.

I put down the duffel bags I am carrying and slightly taking breaths, hindi naman ako hinahapo ng hininga kaya naman nagtagal lamanag ako ng ilang minuto at umalis din. Someone whistles  that made me look sideways to check who it was.

I find it rude and very disrespecting.

Nang makita ko ang isang lalaki na naka hood at tila balot na balot dahil sa suot nito ay nagbuga ako ng hininga bago iniwan ang mga bag na dala at pumunta sa pwesto ng lalaki. Based on what I'm seeing, he's maybe in his early twenties but that hideous facial hairs are what's blocking his young face.

Nasa medyo dulo siya ng matataas na talahib, nang dumating ako sa harapan nito ay agad kong tinignan ito sa mata. I snapped my fingers in front of his face as many times as I can, "Excuse you, Mister."

Tumawa naman ito ng mahina bago ibinaba ang hoodie nito, "Oh, did I offend you by merely whistling?"

"Huh! Hindi ba halata? And my goodness, you don't call someone's attention by whistling at them. That's so rude."

I rolled my eyes before turning my back on him, and when I was on the verge of walking away from him ay nagsalita naman kaagad ito. "Wait, Miss." Then, jogged towards me, "I wanted to ask you somethi-"

"Tsaka mo na ako tanungin at kausapin kapag alam mo na kung paano maayos na makipag usap sa tao."

At tuluyan na akong naglakad patungo sa Equipment Room, this time ay binilisan ko na ang lakad para naman makaalis na ako sa University. Today's just too tiring, atsaka ay mayroon pa akong aasikusahin about my documents dahil hinihingiaan ako ng Admin ng kung ano-ano pa. 

Habang naglalakad ako ay as much as possible I am avoiding to make an eye contact to each and everyone dahil na 'rin sa mga nangyari. Hangga't hindi ko nasosort ang aking isip ay iiwas muna ako sa mga tao dito. Sigurado naman ako na kakayanin ko na si Red at tanging si Tattiana lamang ang kaibigan ko, 'yun ay kung kakayanin din nilang hindi magsabunutan kapag magkaharap. 

The time I reached the East Wing, I slumped in to one of the closest chair near me. Ibinigay ko naman kaagad ang duffel bag sa bantay na lalaki sa may desk at kaunting upo pa ay napagpasiyahan kong dumaan nalamang dito sa exit sa building para mas malapit. Hinanap ko naman agad sa bag ko ang cellphone ko bago tinawagan si Red na mauuna na ako dahil sa pagod.

It was on its third ring bago may sumagot, "Red! Hello, kakadrop ko lang ng gamit dito sa may East Wing. Mauuna na ako sa'yo ngayon ha?"

Kaluskos at buntong hininga naman ang narinig ko muna bago ito sumagot saakin, "Hindi ka ba muna tatambay doon sa condo?"

Iniayos ko naman ang duffel bag sa kabila kong balikat dahil medyo nabibigatan na ako dito sa gamit ko kanina, at habang papalabas ay mayroon akong nakitang apat na sunod-sunod na pagpasok naman ng itim na kotse na papunta yata sa main entrance.

"Pass muna ako," I walked past the cars that's approaching, "There seems to be a visitor sa University ngayon, I just saw a black heavily tinted car na papunta diyan."

She gasped on the other line, "What? A-Are you kidding me right now?"

Nagulat naman ako sa reaksyon niya sa sinabi ko at napatingin ako sa screen ng cellphone ko bago ko ulit inilapat ang tainga ko rito. Ngunit bago pa ako makapag salita ulit ay nagpaalam naman ito kaagad.

Something's really wrong. I don't know if it's the University or the students, I am not really sure as to which is which but I ought to know the roots of it. Na sa anong kadahilanan at bakit halos lahat ng estudyante sa paaralan na ito ay tila mga balisa? Masyado nilang bilang ang kanilang kilos at tila sila-sila lamang din ang nagkakaintindihan. 

And the biggest question for me was those syringes we've found at the school's garden. Why is it there?