Chapter 22
I haven't seen Sir Troy for a week. He wasn't there during our Lab class. Si Ma'am Gel 'yong pumasok in his behalf and said he was on a seminar or something.
Medyo nalungkot ako, I admit. Usually he makes announcement on our facebook page or he messages me, but that time, he didn't. Hindi ko rin siya nakausap even during the weekend.
I want to be mad at myself because I waited for him to contact me. Medyo nasanay kasi akong madalas siyang kausap at ngayong hindi nga kami nagkausap, pakiramdam ko hinahanap iyon ng sistema ko and I hate it. Ayaw kong masanay sa isang bagay na anytime ay pwedeng mawala. It will just hurt me.
It was Tuesday again and I have to attend his class. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung nakabalik na siya or what. I didn't try to find out.
"Hello, Bibi!" Halos mapatalon ako sa kinatatayuan ko when someone draped an arm around me.
I was standing near the entrance to our department, in front of the bulletin board. May bagong mga posts kasi so I just stopped to check. But then, Clarisse suddenly came and surprised the hell out of me.
Hawak-hawak ko ang dibdib ko nang humarap sa kanya. From the grinning Clarisse, I suddenly saw the worry on her face.
"Masyado ba kitang nagulat? Oh my God, sorry!" Tila nagpa-panic na sabi niya. Nasabi ko kasi sa kanya na lately parang sumisikip 'yong dibdib ko kaya ganoon na lang ang pag-aalala niya. Pero hindi naman sumisikip ngayon. Nagulat lang talaga ako.
I chuckled upon seeing her worried face. Nang marinig niya 'yon ay sinimangutan niya ako.
"Bwisit ka! Legit 'yong pag-aalala ko! Akala ko aatakihin ka na sa puso!" She mumbled. I gave her a smile and assured her I'm really fine.
Sabay kaming umakyat ni Clarisse papunta sa classroom. I want to thank her so much for coming so early. Isa rin kasi sa rason why I stopped by the bulletin board ay para hindi ako ang maunang dumating sa classroom.
"Pumasok na kaya si Sir?" Tanong ni Clarisse when we were nearing the classroom. I just shrugged.
Pinauna kong pumasok si Clarisse and just told her to sit at our usual seat. Sumunod naman siya sa sinabi ko and left the seat beside the window vacant for me as she sat on the chair beside it. I murmured my thanks as I finally settled on my seat, without looking in front.
May dalawa na kaming kaklaseng mas nauna sa amin. Thank God I wasn't the first one. Kita ko kasing nakaupo na sa harap si Sir. Though I didn't really look at him, kita ko lang sa peripheral vision ko.
I took out a book and just decided to read while waiting for the others. I got it from Faith's shelf kasi siya lang naman ang may pinakamaraming pag-aari na books sa amin. It was actually a good choice because I fell in love with the book I'm reading.
I'm reading The Selection by Kierra Cass. Nagsisi tuloy ako kung bakit ngayon ko lang naisipang basahin 'to gayung sobrang tagal na nitong naka-display sa shelf ni Faith. Matagal na niya kasi 'tong nabasa and she really loves displaying all her books. Mukha tuloy Library kwarto niya.
"Matagal pa ba classmates niyo?" I heard him asked. I didn't look up. Busy akong magbasa.
"Hindi ka pa ba nasanay, Sir?" Pabirong sagot ni Clarisse which made him chuckle.
Still, I didn't look up. Kaya hindi ko na alam kung anong ginagawa niya while waiting for the others.
Suddenly, I felt my phone vibrated inside my bag, but I didn't bother checking it. Nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagbabasa. Ang exciting na eh. Nasa part na ako where they first kissed!
