Chapter 16
Thursday pa lang, pakiramdam ko ubos na ang energy ko para sa linggong ito. Unang klase ko ngayong araw ay P.E. Nasa gymnasium kami at naghihintay ng instructor.
I was scrolling through my social media account when someone sat beside me, stealing my attention.
"Hi, Era..."
It was one of my new classmate. Singkit siya at mahaba ang buhok, maputi at pansin ang pagiging Koreana niya. She's half Korean, that's what I know. And if I'm not mistaken, her name is Zaira Shin.
"Hi," I smiled.
"Okay ka lang? Nag-iisa ka rito sa gilid." Tanong niya.
"Oh... I'm fine." Tugon ko sabay sulyap sa mga dating kaklase na malapit lang naman sa akin.
"Matagal ka na ba rito sa University?" She asked.
I turned off my phone to attend to her.
"Since grade school. Bakit?"
She smiled shyly at me. Mas lalong naningkit ang mga mata niya. She's very beautiful. Her glossy skin suits her.
"I'm glad... I mean, even though I've been here for months, hindi ko pa rin nakakabisado ang skul."
"You need help to anything? Galing ka ng UST... am I right?"
Tumango siya at ngumiti. "Can I ask you with anything I don't know? I'm comfortable with you."
Natahimik ako. She folded her lips and looked at her polished finger nails.
"I mean... kung okay lang sayo." Aniya.
Tipid akong ngumiti at tumango na lamang. There's no problem in that.
Hindi siya umalis sa tabi ko kahit nang dumating na ang instructor namin. She was silent all throughout the discussion. Hindi ko rin naman na siya napansin dahil abala ako sa pagtatake down notes ng subject description.
Pagkatapos ng klase, pababa na kami sa benches nang napansin ko ang pagpasok ng grupo ng mga lalaki. I noticed that some of them are familiar because they are Olzen's teammates. Nagsimula silang maglaro ng baskteball nang palabas na kami. Iniwas ko ang tingin sa kanila at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad palabas.
Nasa bukana na ako ng gymnasium nang makita ko si Olzen. He's on his PE uniform and walking towards our direction. I didn't see him whole day yesterday. Not like the past days, I have come to able to control my feelings. My heart might be pounding hard but it won't reflect on my expression.
I cleared my throat and kept a cold facade as I look away when I saw that he's near. Hindi ko alam kung nakita na niya ako. I need not to care.
"Era!" I heard someone call me.
Hindi pa ako nakakalingon nang maramdaman ko ang pagbangga ng katawan sa taong nasa harapan ko. I was busy looking at the ground that I didn't notice my surrounding. Suminghap ako nang maamoy ang pamilyar na pabango.
Hesitantly, I looked up and my shameless heart sighed at the sight of Olzen so close to me. He towered over me and with that imposing air he carries around him, some eyes were glued on us.
He's jaw was clenching and there was no trace of any light emotion on his face. His brows furrowed for a moment while looking in front.
Napansin ko ang bola sa kaniyang kamay. Nang dinungaw niya ako ay halos mapaatras ako. His cold eyes gave me a hollow feeling.
"Dahan dahan naman, p're." Malamig niyang sinabi sabay bato ng bola pabalik sa court
What just happened? Hindi pa ako nakakagalaw nang may humila sa kamay ko. I saw a concerned Zaira in front of me.
