"As the wind gusts through my branches, I'm at ease. They are attached to my bole and they hold my crowning glory. They dance and sing with me. My feathered friends come and settle to roost on them during the day or at night. Slender woody shoots grow from my boughs.... I feel stirred."
As a goal-oriented person, I was really excited to finish schooling and start facing the bigger world outside the University. But instead of looking for work after graduation, I decided to study again and enroll myself in the same institution. I hated studying more than anything else and I cursed Mathematics. But all my plans changed. Everything suddenly became unexpected. And it was all because of her….
I took the earliest class schedules to make sure that I'd have longer breaks to stay at the lobbies or hallways to wait for her to pass by. I wasn't really a morning person, i loathed waking up early but now i've got an inspiration to stir an hour before sunrise. I was just afraid my schedule won't match hers. I mean, I really didn't know her, we just became classmates for once, seatmates to be precise. I never tried to get her contact number, frightened that she might get annoyed or she might take it on the wrong way. I was just happy seeing her thrice a week and I didn't go beyond that. I felt so stupid for not accepting the harsh realities of life particularly love life. I didn't grab the opportunity until it slapped me hard on the face.
Come first day. A lot of old friends, proffesors and schoolmates got really surprised seeing me back in school. After earning a 5-year bachelor's degree, everybody presumed i'd work first before pushing ahead with law or never at all. They knew what i wanted in life, as a matter of fact, i've been very outspoken with my principles and dreams. I spent most of my time chatting with them and i felt that they really missed me. I've seen a lot, got to know new acquaintances but I wasn't able to see her. Of course it was a big University, I still had to do some more explorations (teehee.) I was still hopeful though.
I appeared in burgundy sweatshirt which revealed my broad shoulders and stone skinny chinos matched with my tan suede boatshoes the following day. I looked lankier than i usually did. Well, I always wanted to give the impression of being neat and uncomplicated that was why i preferred the boy next door look. I ruffled my wavy hair as i stood infront of the cafeteria. It was already 11:30 and i was really starving because i skipped breakfast. Tommy, an old buddy promised to be with me in a tick since he works in a shop nearby the school. My phone rang, i checked it and luckily it was him.
"Hey bud! I'd be more than a skeleton for the next minutes, what's up? Where are you?"
"Yah, sorry buddy, i can't meet you right now---"
"Yeah, i knew it. Alright then, see you some other time. Bye."
And i hung up.
I thought of eating somewhere else but there was that force which balked me from leaving and led me at the counter instead. After i paid and found a seat, I looked like a lone wolf in there having no one to share my meal with. I had always hated that feeling. I used to be surrounded by jolly people. I used to have a lot of friends teasing me and shouting at me all the time. I had hated silence. I missed them.
When i finished my food and was bout to leave the cafeteria, my world suddenly stopped. My heart pounded as if it would smash my chest. I got into such a sweat about what i saw. I tried to close my eyes to bring myself to my senses, i might just be hallucinating. But when i opened my eyes, she was there. It was real. She was really there. She was wearing an orange shirt topped with a white blazer. She was so beautiful. She glows all the time. And she never failed to pull my attention. I sat once again and composed myself. Alright she didn't see me. I had to relax and think of something to tell her. A good greeting maybe? I had been waiting to see her again and i must not fail this time.
When i got the cue that she was already leaving, i stood up and walked toward her. I appered calm and pretended that i didn't see her. When i was already a few steps away from her and our eyes met,
"Hi miss!"
She responded by poking me on the right hip.
"How are you?"
" I'm still beautiful"
She smiled at me and then walked away. She left me there standing as if i turned into a stone. I wanted to say something but my lips seemed like tacked together. She was really different. Totally different from the girls i've met before.
