The Nobles

Chapter 8

Hindi pa man din ako nakakasagot, umalis s'ya para pumunta sa counter at umorder. He waited there for about 5 minutes at lumakad papalapit sa'kin holding a tray with an extra large chocolate chip drink and blueberry crepe. 

He's smiling the whole time nung papalapit s'ya habang sinusundan ko lang s'ya ng tingin.

He waved literally in front of me and even put on a bigger smile nang umupo s'ya sa tapat ko. He shared a table with me. He seemed sweet tho.

I tried ignoring him and got my eyes back at my drink.

I remember! He's the guy who asked me if I'm okay when I started bursting my tears out back at the Diamond Hotel. Bigla akong nahiya sa kan'ya at mukha namang nahalata n'ya 'yon sa facial expression ko.

He smiled again and took a bite of his crepe.

"Naaalala mo na?" He asked and I'm even more surprised to hear him speak my language. He caught my attention.

"Yah..." I gulped as I answer.

"Secret's safe." He said and took another bite.

"Why were you out there?" I tried keeping up a conversation.

"Wala lang. The party's boring." He answered and shrugged.

"Should I ask you the same question?" he continued not making any eye contact.   

I grinned and shook my head like telling him he shouldn't.

"So you're Filipino?" I asked again.

"Half. And Half South Korean. It's Noah Kim." He casually answered.

"Same actually." I replied, nodding my head awkwardly.

"Really?" Tanong nya. Tumango lang naman ako dahil hindi ko na alam kung anong pwedeng sabihin.

I almost finished my drink. Tumingin s'ya sa labas na parang may hinahanap at bumalik ng tingin sa akin.

"Got a ride?" Tanong n'ya.

"Wala. I'm just starting a kind of a new life here in Singapore so I decided to walk along the streets para ma-familiarize ko yung place." Surprisingly, I'm opening up. Probably because I'm kind of comfortable with him.

"Gano'n ba? Well I can't walk you since I brought a ride pero kung gusto mo..." I cut him out.

"Hindi na..." I reluctantly said. "It's ok I had plans." I followed up and smiled.

He smiled and nodded for affirmation.

Niligpit n'ya yung pinagkainan n'ya at tumayo para ibalik yung tray.

He came back for his drink and pushed his seat towards the table.

"I guess I'll just see you around?" He asked and I nodded. 

As I said, I roamed around the place and went to department stores to buy a few things.

I bought three pairs of black heeled shoes for school and two bags. One from Versace and one from Lancaster. I know I still have a lot but I guess this is what they call "retail therapy". 

I kept this black credit card that my parents gave me. I walked along the clean and astonishing streets of Singapore and somehow, medyo lumuwag yung pakiramdam ko.

Pero alam ko na kapag inalala ko na naman lahat, hihina na naman ako. So I tried my best to keep myself occupied.

Nakaramdam na ko ng pagod and I basically got lost kaya nagpa-sundo na 'ko bago pa abutan ng dilim.

The driver fetch me and brought me to our empty house. My parents don't seem to miss me at all. Ni hindi pa kami nagkikita ni dad.

Papunta sa kwarto ko may nakasalubong ako sa hagdan na isang babae na malamang kaedad ko lang din.

She's also about the same height as me. She's petite but got curves. Lalo pa sa suot n'yang royal blue highwaisted shorts at white spaghetti top. She's wearing a white blazer and a 2 inch heels sa loob ng bahay kaya I assume she just visited or looking for something.

She looks pretty but unapproachable looking at me with a poker face.

Good thing I'm blessed with a resting bitch face and an ability to ignore people kahit napakarami kong tanong at the back of my head.

Dumiretso ako sa pag-akyat at hindi s'ya pinansin.

"You must be Garielle." Sabi nya pagkatapos ko s'yang lagpasan.

"It's Sabrina." I corrected and proceeded to my room.

I've been meeting a lot of interesting people nowadays. Suddenly, I'm reminded of what Ms. Lin told me. That most of the people I'll meet are Nobles.

Speaking of her, after I got off the shower, nakita ko s'yang nakaupo sa upuan malapit sa kama ko.

"I'm sorry for barging in. Hindi ka kasi sumasagot nung kumatok ako pero I heard from Anja na nandito ka na." It must be the girl I met.

"Anja?" I asked for confirmation.

"Yes. Hindi pa ba kayo nagkausap? Nakasalubong ka daw n'ya." S'ya nga.

"Hindi kami nag-usap." I plainly said.

"Anja Zyrielle Javier. Kapatid s'ya ni Aldrich. Yung kasama kong sumundo sa'yo sa airport. She's basically your cousin as your moms are sisters." Sabi n'ya at balik sa pag-upo while typing something on the MacBook that I suppose na para sa'kin.

"Everything you need to know about your school is already here." she said speaking of the laptop. "Your class schedules, students' master-list, your lessons, just in case you don't wanna bring your books. You're already registered and given an account. Naka-log-in na rin lahat d'yan so I guess you can find it all out." She said and closed it. Tumayo s'ya at ini-abot sa'kin yung laptop. 

"Thanks." I said. 

"Call me if you need anything else." sabi n'ya bago lumabas ng kwarto ko. 

Guess I'll call it a day. I procrastinated at walang binuksan ni isa sa mga sinabi ni Ms. Lin. I'm just not so excited about it. Pero kahit papaano curious pa din ako kung anong klaseng mga tao ang makikilala ko sa AIU. Do I have to keep the fact that I grew up in a not so Noble family? Or the fact that I don't know how being a Noble works? I have no single clue about how would they see me if bibigyan ko sila ng detalye sa pagkatao ko. Hindi ko nga rin alam kung paano ba sila gumigising araw-araw knowing they already have company shares to maintain. 

I maybe classified as an heir in an empire or a black wearer noble pero sa ngayon, paniguradong pag-pasok ko ng AIU, hindi ko alam kung anong dapat at hindi ko dapat gawin. Fortunately, I trust myself enough to find out.