(Professor's Series #1) EFFLORESCE

Prologue

Prologue

I am wearing my own paint designed off shoulder crop top partnered with high pants loose on ends and high heels. I  put red lipstick to compliment my outfit.

"My ghaaaaad Catalina you look gorgeous, lipstick lang talaga? This world is so unfair" he said after he fixed my hair in a bun.

"Thank you Madie" I smiled and hugged him.

"Damn boy! Sya lang ang may yakap Catalina?" Feniel snorted at me as if I betrayed her and rolled her eyes to Madie.

"Dudukutin ko talaga mga mata mo Josephine nang hindi ka na makairap sa akin. Pa boy boy ka pa dyan gaga!"

"Whatever Rogelio magtigil ka dyan baka makatikim ka sa akin" laglag ang panga ni Madie habang nakatulala kay Feniel minutes passed bago sya matauhan dahil sa pagclick ng camera ni Feniel

"What the fuck Feniel! Kadiri" I don't know kung saan sya nandidiri kung sa pagtawag na Rogelio sa kanya o sa tikim na sinasabi ni Feniel. Whatever it is we started laughing because of his reaction I swear diring diri sya sa sinabi ni Feniel

"Ms. Mendes sa  backstage na daw po" I nodded to our event staff nagpaalam na ako sa dalawa kong kaibigan dahil may vacant seat naman sila in front of the stage. Perks of being a professor huh?

"And for the last performance tonight let's give a bighand our very own fashion designer and chemists Miss Florencia Catalina Mendes!" I heard my students shout and whistle.

"Wooooh go ma'am caaaaaat" I smiled and waved my hands while heading to the stage.

I saw my students holding placards with my face on it. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasan matawa kaya narinig pa iyon dahil nasa harap na ako ng microphone.

"Oh damn ang sexy din ng tawa omg!" Feniel shouted while holding her camera sabay tampal sa braso ni Madie na todo ilag sa kamay ni Feniel. Napailing na lang ako habang impit na napangiti sa asta ng kaibigan akala mo hindi guro sa sobrang ligalig.

I closed my eyes and started to strum my guitar. I'm going to sing my heart out tonight.

"I'm going under and this time I fear there's no one to save me
This all or nothing really got a way of driving me crazy
I need somebody to heal
Somebody to know
Somebody to have
Somebody to hold
It's easy to say
But it's never the same I guess I kinda liked the way you numbed all the pain"

"Common sing with me!" I shouted and smiled as the audience started to sing and feel the emotion of the song.

"Now the day bleeds
Into nightfall
And you're not here
To get me through it all
I let my guard down
And then you pulled the rug I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved"

I stop singing as I heard someone else is singing at my back. Students started shouting and jumping I even saw most of them giggle.

As I turn my head I saw Isaac holding bouquet of flowers while he effortlessly walk as if his not giving mini heart attacks to these students in front of us.

He's all smiles as he gave me the flowers and winked at me. Wala na akong marinig sa kinakanta nya sa sobrang ingay ng mga students. God, this guy really know what he's doing.

I can't help but rolled my eyes on his actions. Napakaharot kung wala lang mga nakatingin ngayon masasapok ko ang isang to.

We sing together hanggang matapos ang kanta. I look at the students who kept on saying one more until I notice someone behind the post.

"Juergen?" bumaba na ako sa stage kahit may sinasabi pa ang host I immediately went to where I saw him pero wala na sya doon. I'm sure its him hindi ako pwedeng magkamali.

Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko I'm nervous and hopeful kahit ngayon lang please I'm hoping that its Juergen. Di ko na mapigilan ang pagtulo ng luha ko ghaad I miss him so much.

"Florence"

"Its Juergen! He's alive! I saw him be---" I turned to Quiro but I only saw disappointment in his eyes. I look down because this situation became usual since Juergen died. They said I need to accept what happened but I...I just can't!

Bumalik lahat ng sakit simula nung malaman ko na wala na sya. Nag uunahan ang luha ko sa pagpatak na halos hindi na ako makahinga ng maayos. Hinawakan ako ni Jasper sa braso bago pa ako matumba dahil sa panghihina ng tuhod ko.

Hindi ko kaya, hindi ko matanggap, Juergen! Why? Why did you leave me? Ang sakit sakit!

I tried to look at him only to see coldness in his eyes. I plead, I bended my knees kahit ngayon lang sabihin naman nya na tama ang nakita ko na buhay si Juergen. Please kahit ngayon lang, please.

"Stop being stubborn Florence. I don't like baby sitting, go and visit your therapist. You need to clear your fucking head"