Reverso

Chapter 3

"Oh, hoodie lamig ka na lamig ka na dyan." alok ni Adrian nang makita nya akong nakayakap sa sarili ko. Parang tanga rin kasi ako, tumapat ako sa aircon.

"No, thank you." I continued to lie down on the armrest while the professor isn't here yet. Adrian knelt so he can see me face to face, he gestured to the hoodie again.

"I am fine, mas kailangan mo yan, patpatin." biro ko.

He put the hoodie around me and I just gave him a smile.

"Why weren't you answering my messages yesterday?"

"I was busy with some files and I went on a date with Lorenzo." I explained.

"Oh, lumabas kayo?"

"Yeah, tapos nakipag-break na rin ako."

"Really? Well, di ka mukhang broken hearted. You still look pretty."

I chuckled, "And your mouth is nothing but lies. Bolero."

"How are you?" He asked seriously.

"I feel bad for him more than I feel bad for myself. I left recklessly and I know if I've done it any calmer, he wouldn't let me go."

The professor entered the room and everyone went back hurriedly to their seats. Adrian gave me a reassuring smile before leaving.

The Philosophy class was always one of the most entertaining subjects for me. Besides that I like its logic, I also like how the teacher tries to execute the lessons to us.

"Okay ladies and gentlemen, our lecture for today will simply circulate under a simple question. What is more important, to love or to be loved?" he gave us a playful smile before letting us think on our seats.

Sa totoo lang, kung ibang araw nya tinanong yan, mas bet sana sagutin. Sobrang lutang ko talaga today. Iniisip ko, bakit di na lang ako naging upuan? Blackboard? Sabon para sa pwet? Why did I have to become a person and not an inanimate object?

"Miss Caldez, any thoughts?"

I snapped back to reality, maybe a little too late because all eyes are already on me. I stood up.

"To love, sir."

Tinignan nya lang ako pati ng mga kaklase ko. Uupo na sana ako kaso bigla syang nagtanong ulit.

"You're the only one who picked that, why did you pick that one?"

Anak ng teteng! 22 kami sa klase tapos dalawa lang pagpipilian, ako lang talaga sumagot nun? Pag minamalas ka nga naman.

"I uh, because... to love is essential to know when you're being loved. If you don't know how to love and love happens to you, it would not show any familiarity and you won't recognize it traits, thus you'll take it for granted."

He smiled and signaled me to take a seat. He continued to discuss love afterwards. I still didn't listen.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas habang nagmuni-muni ako nang biglang tumunog ang bell. Finally, lunch na. Habang inaayos ko ang gamit ko at ang sarili ko, nakapamaywang nang naghihintay si Riley, akala mo sampung taon di pinalamon eh.

"Ba't ang tahimik mo ata ngayon? Akala ko ba di ka affected sa breakup?"

"May konsensya rin ako, Ril. Hindi lang halata."

"Hmm, pero anong deal sa inyong dalawa ni Adrian? He seems to be putting you in a good mood."

I gave her a confused look.

"Oh come on! Don't act so innocent! Are you drawn to his wavy locks?"

"No." I simply answered.

"Well, para sa akin, bagay kayong dalawa. Kakapalan ko na mukha ko, at tatanungin kita, isa ba si Adrian sa mga dahilan bat kayo naghiwalay ni Lorenzo?"

Napatigil ako saglit. Magkaibigan lang kami ni Adrian, magto-tropa naman kami nila Riley kaya alam nyang di kami talo-talo, why would she ask me about that? Sure, close kami ni Adrian dahil marami kaming collaborated projects. Pero, hanggang dun lang naman kami, di ba?

"No, he isn't."

Tinaasan lang ako ni Riley ng kilay.

"Nagselos lang si Lorenzo sa kanya ng ilang beses nung marami kaming projects, but that's just it."

"Fine." She gave up. "Saan mo gusto kumain? We could go out and get some pizza or burgers, I am starving."

"Honestly, Kung okay lang, pwede sa school cafeteria na lang tayo? Wala ako sa mood maglakad, tsaka baka hanapin ako ng dean mamaya."

She nodded, being considerate of my situation. Riley is a beautiful 18 year old. She has this long, brown hair that goes all the way to her mid-back, she's tan and tall, fit for being a model but she's actually more of a political advocate. She's fearless and outspoken, I wonder why all the men she's been dating for the 3 years we've been friends are complete assholes.

Umupo na lang kami sa usual space namin, the nipa hut by the school's pond. Okay naman mag-chill dito kapag tirik ang araw or makulimlim, may tulo nga lang pag umuulan. Sobrang thankful lang ako na naiintindihan ni Riley na mas kumportable ako sa katahimikan ngayon, wala lang talaga akong gana para makipagusap, ayoko na rin magpaliwanag masyado. Gusto ko lang umuwi at magpahinga.

After a while of looking at the students pass back and forth, making wishes at the pond, I heard someone screaming my name.

"Terrie! Terrie!" my name's Theresa but here in college they made an awful nickname for me to sound hip. I smiled back at him.

"Hey Kelsey, what's up?" I greeted him.

"Hey man!" Riley gave Kelsey a high five.

"Nothing, just wanna say hi to Terrie!" He said, song-singing my name in offkey.

I gave him a weird look and I shifted my gaze to the guy under his arms. He looks familiar but I don't know where I've seen him.

Kelsey gave a millionaire smile once again and said, "Bye Riley, Bye Theresaaaa!"

I nodded my head in amusement. Watching the two of them get away from the nipa hut while Kelsey was being playfully punched by the guy he was with earlier.