1st Thorn: End Of Conversation (TTGN Book 3)

Chapter 37

Di alam ni Ara kung ano ang dapat niyang gawin, her mind is in a haze.

"C-Chase," utal niya.

"Hm?," tugon naman nito.

"Guys— shet gago," they were distracted with Yam's voice.

Ara heard Chase sigh before looking at the door.

"What the fuck do you want?", tanong ni Chase.

"Pinapasabi na... kakain daw tayo ng sabay," halata ang pagka-awkward sa boses ni Yam.

They heard a phone rang at sinagot naman ito kaagad ni Yam.

"Oo nasabi ko na sakanila, tangina mo gago pag ako di nakababa baka pinatay na ako ni Cha— ha? Oo sige, gulo mo pre," anito at binaba na ang telepono.

"S-sige Chase, Ara, di naman kami nagmamadali, uh.. take your time? Sige una na ako sensya na," ani Yam bago sinara ang kanilang pinto at umalis na.

Umiling naman si Chase bago magsalita.

"Mga sakit parin sila sa ulo kahit kailan," ani Chase.

Natawa naman si Ara sa sinabi ni Chase.

"What were you about to say?", tanong naman sakanya ni Chase.

Right, nakalimutan niya tuloy yung sasabihin niya.

Is this the right time though? Kailan siya hahanap ng tiyempo? Ni hindi niya pa nga napagisipan ng maigi ang desisyon niya eh.

"Ah, wala yon, nakalimutan ko," ani Ara, nagbabakasakaling ipagpapaliban iyon ni Chase.

Parang nabunutan naman ng tinik ni Ara noong tumango si Chase at tumugon ng 'okay'.

"I think we should go ahead?", ani Ara.

"Yeah, tara na," pagsasangayon naman ni Chase bago sila umalis.

***

"So you're the civil engineering students?", ani Theodore Bartolommeo, isang sikat na civil engineer hindi lang sa Pilipinas kundi sa buong mundo, kaya naman andito siya ngayon sa Espanya kung saan naroon si Chase.

"So I'm here to guide you for a day, give you advices, and all that you need and want to know about this course, I was invited by your school since I have a project here nearby in Madrid," anito.

Hindi naman nakikinig ng maigi ni Chase. He wants to fucking drop out, gusto niya na umuwi sa Pinas, he doesn't want this anymore, nihindi nga siya interesado maging enhineryo, at this point? Kahit anong kurso siguro hindi na interesado si Chase. His life is too fucked up to think about anything now.

"Alright, then," mukhang tapos na nagsalita ang nasa harap nilang lalaki.

Chase was looking at him intently until he looked at him as well.

He gave him a smile pero hindi iyon tinugonan ni Chase.

He was looking at the papers that are due later, ang dami niyang kailangang gawin, pero hindi siya sinisipag gawin ito.

Ngayon ay nakatitig na lamang siya sa mga papel na nasa harap niya.

"Hey kid," nagulat siya ng kaunti noong narinig ang boses, it was the person talking in front earlier.

"Pilipino?", tanong sakanya nito.

Wala sa sariling tumango si Chase.

"Hindi ka ba natutulog mga nakaraang araw? Mukhang madami yatang pinapagawa sainyo ah," kahit hindi naman nagpapakita ng interes si Chase sa mga sinasabi nito, je was still enthusiastically talking.

"Oh, mukhang di ka yata tapos?", anito noong nakita ang mga papel ni Chase sa harap.

"Y-yeah, wala naman akong balak tapusin," mahinang tugon ni Chase bago tumingin kay Theodore Bartolommeo.

Tinaasan siya nito ng kilay bago magsalita.

"Why is that?", he asked, looking intrigued.

"It's none of your business," he said straightforwardly.

Tumango tango naman ito na parang iniintindi ang sinabi ni Chase.

"Alright, can I see the papers?", tanong sakanya kaya binigay niya naman ang mga papeles.

"These, are hard at first, pero pag maintindihan mo na ang totality ng topic, kahit ano pa ang ibigay sayo, mahahanap at mahahanap mo ang sagot, don't you agree?", he was still talking to Chase.

"I don't know, I didn't listen," ani Chase.

"Seems like you're not interested in CE then? Bakit mo naman ito pinili?", tanong sakanya.

"I was forced by my parents,"

"Well you can easily quit right? It's your second year, umalis ka na sana noong unang taon mo palang, hindi ba?,"

"I didn't have the urge to quit last year, n-ngayon lang to," ani Chase, still almost with his whisper voice.

Tumango tango naman ang enhineryo.

"Katulad mo rin pala ako, but I wanted to quit when I was in my fourth year, I was so enthusiastic with this course for a whole 3 years, pero bigla ako nawalan ng gana, iba talaga ang epekto ng personal na problema, ano?," and with that it looks like he caught Chase's attention.

"W-why did you continue then?", tanong ni Chase.

"Uhm Engineer Bartolommeo, you're needed by your team in Madrid already," anang isang babae.

"Well then, I have to go, what's your name again boy?", tanong sakanya.

"C-Chase Natividad,"

"It's nice meeting you, Chase,"

****

"Chase, kanina pa nagriring ang telepono mo," ani Ara kay Chase noong nakaupo na sila sa hapag kasama ng mga kaibigan nito.

Mukhang nagising naman na si Chase kaya sinagot niya ito.

"What is it?.... Ano?... Well tell them to stop being lazy and do their fucking jobs, wag na sana nilang hintayin na bumisita pa ako, tell the head engineer of that fucking project to wake up, ako pa ba ang kailangan gumawa non?... okay," binaba na ni Chase ang tawag, nakatitig naman sakanya ang mga kaibigan nito.

"Nakakatakot ka pala maging boss," ani Jan.

"Bakit di ka ba takot kay Ten?", tanong naman ni Gil sakanya.

"Ako? Matatakot diyan? Dapat siya pa ang matakot sakin eh,"

Ten rolled his eyes and ate instead of answering habang nagtatawanan naman ang mga kaibigan niya.