The Courtship of A Dragon (Encantadia Modern AU)

iv

2017, FIRST SEMESTER

MUROS

"Welcome to Encantadia Requel Univer..." the voice of Dean Emre Legaspi was starting to muffle behind them as Muros and his bandmates darted their way out of the auditorium. Sila ang unang grupo na nagperform at hindi naman sila nagpabaya. He even got a couple of hi's ang giggles from the audience on their way out, mostly from new faces. (Sabi naman ni Aquil hindi na nakabibigla 'yun since iba ang angas ni Muros kapag kaharap na ang drum, something na lagi niyang itinatanggi.) It was such a success that Pirena participated in the group hug despite giving them the stink eye early in the morning.

They headed to the nearest cafeteria as soon as they left the auditorium. They were hungry. No, starving. Hindi natuloy ang isa pa nilang practice last week kaya naman pagkarating na pagkarating sa uni, nag-practice sila. They did that without breakfast, a considered miracle. Hitano convinced them by promising to treat them with all you can eat in one of the five main canteens inside the campus. You can't pass on free food despite having the capability to buy some yourself.

That's what college taught them, anyway.

"Sana may carbonara," Aquil voiced out, waiting in line with the rest of the band. Marami-rami na rin kasing tao sa loob, lalo pa't nauna ang pagsisimula ng academic year ng mga nasa elementary at secondary level. "Matagal na akong di kumakain ng carbonara since..."

"Wala," Pirena cut him off, her whole face scrunched up. Aquil has the tendency to overshare things, even the disgusting ones. "Jusme, Aquilles, may mga kumakain naman sa paligid mo."

They all laughed except Pirena. Muros looked at Hitano who only shrugged in response. It's either hindi nakalusot ang kung ano mang alibi ni Hitano last Wednesday or may problema ito sa bahay ng ama nito. It's Hagorn-an impending doom personified.

"Pirena!" Someone called out from the entrance. They all looked at the girl who was walking toward them. Si Gurna, ang notorious troublemaker ng campus dahil sa likod ng black lipstick nito ay ang isa sa mga admins ng Encantadia Requel University Secret Files. Alam lang nila ito because she's Pirena's cousin.

"Hi, Raimi!" Gurna greeted Muros with an enthusiasm she usually reserved for him. "Aquil, Hitano."

"Oh, 'lo." He greeted back, ignoring Aquil's imitation of Gurna on his right. He did elbow him slightly on the stomach, though. "Musta?"

"Okay naman," Gurna smirked, trying to pull Pirena on her side, much to the latter's annoyance. "Pahiram muna nitong pasaway na 'to."

"Nakakahiya naman sa'yo," Pirena mumbled, pulling her left arm back from her cousin. She was next in line, after all. "Kakain muna ako."

"I-take out mo na lang!"

"Ikaw, Gurna, may gusto ka ba?" Pang-aalok naman ni Hitano na nasa likod lang ni Pirena. Nasobrahan sa pagkagalante ang kaibigan. "Libre ko."

"Papayag ba si Muros?" Teased Aquil on the background. Muros was already aware of Gurna's crush on him but Aquil often acted it was still a secret. "Muros?"

"Naku, wag na, Hitano." Gurna said in her trademark monotone. Her face turned blank, too. "Hintayin ko na lang si Piry."

"Nahiya ka pa," sabat naman ni Pirena na tapos na sa pamimili. She shoved Gurna by the shoulders and the two of them started to move toward the exit. "Sige, guys, una na ako. Mamaya na lang."

"Ge, ingat." They said in unison, watching the cousins bicker over something indiscernible, and looked at one another with silent understanding.

After Hitano paid for their meals, they sat down on one of the vacant tables outside the cafeteria. At first they ate their food in silent until someone brought up the topic they were hiding from the only female member of the band. Usually, in circumstances like that, it's Muros.