Gleaming Part

....23

Chapter 23 

"Miss Rom, can you please gather all of your classmates' papers and deliver it to the faculty room?" Napaangat ang tingin ko sa teacher namin. 

I nodded, "Okay po." I mumbled and continued writing. 

Umalis na ang teacher namin kaya mabilisan din nag sitayuan ang mga kaklase ko para kumopya. 

"Cadie, pwede bang mangopya sa'yo?" Gab scratched the back of his head. 

"Yeah, just copy it fast." Binigay ko na iyong papel sakaniya at nagulat na lang ako na halos lahat ng kaklase ko nasa pwesto na niya.

"Don't copy the essay please. Pinaghirapan ko iyan." I shouted and they all showed me a thumbs up. 

Nang natapos na sila ay naiwan ako sa classroom para ayusin in alphabetical order iyong mga papel. I don't know, I just want it organized. 

Medyo makapal ang papel kaya mabigat. I went out of the classroom and immediately got bumped to some person. 

Kaya nahulog iyong kalahati ng mga quiz papers. Kaya mabilis akong umupo at kinuha ang mga papel. I felt the person squatted too and got some of the papers.

"Shit, I am so sorry. I didn't see you. I should've been more careful. I'm really sorry." He uttered and got the papers that fell on the floor.

"It's okay." I mumbled. 

Now, I have to fix it alphabetically again. 

Tumayo na kami at inilahad niya ang mga papeles. I slightly smiled and got. Papasok na sana ulit ako sa classroom. 

"Why are you going inside again?" He said in a curious tone. 

I looked back at him, "I'm going to arrange it again, alphabetically." 

Iniwan ko siya dun at umupo sa may teacher's table at inayos ang mga quiz papers. 

Nagulat ako nang kumuha siya ng upuan at umupo sa harap ko. 

"I feel guilty." Ayun lang ang sinabi niya at tinulungan ako na ayusin ang mga iyon. 

Nang natapos na kami, he just stared at me. 

Kumunot ang noo ko at tinignan siya, "Is there dirt on my face?" 

Umiling siya at nanatiling seryoso, "You look familiar. Ikaw ba iyong pinsan ni Thomas?" 

Tumango ako at tumayo na. "Ako nga. Excuse me, ipapasa ko na 'to." 

Tumayo kaagad siya at ibinalik iyong upuan. "Samahan na kita." 

"How was your day?" Nawala ako sa malalim na iniisip nung narinig ko nag tanong si Talliah kay Eugene. 

"It's just the start of the day, Talliah." I saw his hand went to Talliah's waist. I felt a sting on my heart.

"U-Uh, excuse me." I looked down. I was about to take a step ahead when he spoke. 

"Cadie." He called. 

I looked back at him, "Yes?" 

He looked at Talliah, "Talliah, that's my..." He looked at me and smirked, "my schoolmate back in Senior High School." 

Schoolmate? Huh, alright. 

Talliah immediately smiled at me and offered her hand, "Oh gosh, hello! I'm Talliah, Eugene's girlfriend. And you are?" Nanlaki ang mata ko dahil sa gulat. She is hyper.  

Napansin niya siguro na napatigil ako kaya siya natawa, "I'm sorry. Did I scare you?" Mas dahan-dahan na niyang sinabi. 

I shook my head and smiled, "It is okay. I'm just... shocked." She giggled at my remark. 

"No worries, I get that a lot. I should stop talking and let you say your name." I accepted her hand for a shake. 

"It's Cadie." I smiled. 

She nodded, "You are so pretty! Do you have a boyfriend? Or do you want a boyfriend?" Nagulat naman kaagad ako sa sinabi niya. 

She seems really too approachable and comfortable with people. That's nice. 

"Talliah..." Eugene grabbed her hand and Talliah covered her mouth. 

"Am I doing it again?" Eugene laughed and bit his laugh before nodding his head. 

"Yes, Tal." He said sweetly. 

I smiled bitterly, he used to do that to me. 

"I just want to know. Baka kasi need ng pinsan mo ng bagong girlfriend, and she seems to be the perfect fit." Pati pala pamilya kilala na. Nice. 

Umiling si Eugene, "Baka mamaya i-ghost niya." Nawala ang ngiti ko. 

Tumawa si Talliah, "She seems nice and I bet she doesn't ghost people." she looked at me and smiled sweetly. 

"You're not sure about that, Tal." He looked at me and smirked. 

I can't take this anymore. 

"Excuse me, I better get going. Nice meeting you, Talliah. Uh, nice seeing you again, Eugene." I didn't wait for them to reply and immediately went to the place I needed to be in the first place.

Nang nakarating na ako sa pinakadulong office, I was about to open the door when it swung open. 

Napatigil ako at iyong katapat ko. 

"Oh, Cadie. Hi." Tita Claire didn't know what to say. She seems shocked. 

I smiled lightly and bowed my head as a sign of respect, "Hello, Tita." 

"Woah, I really thought I am only dreaming." She placed her hands on both of my arms. 

"You're back." She said almost a whisper that made me nod. 

"I guess, I'm back." I chuckled. 

Nagulat ako nang bigla niya akong yakapin, "Oh gosh, I missed you so much. You have grown too. Became more beautiful." Humiwalay siya sa yakap at sinuri niya ako. 

"No boyfriend?" She playfully asked that I shook my head. 

"No time, Tita." She smiled and nodded. 

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa folder ko, "You pass your papers first, I will wait for you here." 

Kahit naguguluhan ay tumango na lang ako. Pumasok na ako sa office and I was greeted already with a smile. 

I sat down and handed the lady my files.  

As she is scanning through everything, I can't help but to just think of what happened awhile ago.

Everything just escalated quickly. My day hasn't even had the chance to get even half through. I had too much already this morning. What more in the afternoon? At night? 

"Well, everything's here na po. We'll just call you for an interview, as soon as possible. Thank you!" Nawala ako pag-iisip nang sabihin niya iyon. 

I smiled and stood up, "Thank you!"

Akala ko hindi ako hihintayin ni Tita Claire pero pag labas ko ng office. She is still there waiting for me. I smiled at her. 

"We have a lot of catching up to do." She smiled. I can't really help but to be in awe, just seeing her screams the definition of classy. 

Nagulat na lang ako nang bigla niya akong hilahin. A lot of people were greeting and I can't help but to get shy when they look at me. 

Okay, relax. Cadie. I really can't stand a lot of people looking at me, it makes me nervous.