Remember me, Alice (Tough Ladies Series 1)

Kabanata 5

AN: Hi! May nagbabasa pa ba nito? So just last night habang namimili ako ng baabasahing WP story na sad to say ay wala na pala kasi nubusan na ang library ko, napadpad ako sa aking mga pending works na halos lahat ay ang kukunti lang ng published chapters. Natuwa lang ako sa story na to kasi kahit papano ay maayos ko palang naisulat at hindi masyadong cringey (but still there are minor grammatical errors). So after more than 3 years (Grade 11 pa nung simulan ko to and I'm 3rd year college now) ay susubukan ko ulit itong tapusin though nahuli yata ako ng timing dahil approaching na rin ang online classes namin. But I will try my best to update Alice and Xenon's story. Wish me luck!
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I never knew that a mere reply from Alice in that social media platform would bring me in such a good mood until the next day. Ni hindi nga iyon nakakatuwang reply at isang beses lang pero daig ko pa ang sinagot ng nililigawan sa saya. Damn. That's so gay Xenon.

I was all smiles while walking my way to my first subject where Alice and I are classmates. I am really looking forward to going to class because I will finally get to see her again. Ngayon ay mas determinado pa ako na mapalapit sa kanya at magpasalamat sa pagsalba ng buhay ko sa araw na iyon. Though she doesn't seem to remember me anymore but I swore to myself that once given a chance to cross my path with her again, I will spend my second life protecting her with my all.

Ah, boy you're quite poetic. Umangat ang sulok ng aking labi sa naisip.

I entered the room I was assigned to when I noticed that it was empty. Sinipat ko ang aking relo sa pulsuhan at nakitang 5 minutes na ang nabawas sa scheduled time.

Hindi ako agad umalis at nagbaka sakali na late lang ang mga kaklase at propesor kahit na obvious naman na baka wala ngang pasok. Even Alice or Cassie is not even here. Who am I kidding?
Minutes later I was alerted when some unfamiliar dude went in. Napahinto ito ng mapansing may nakaupo pa sa bandang harapan ng silid.

Bahagyang napaatras at napayuko ito kasabay ng pag-ayos ng makapal na salamin sa mata.

"Hey. Is your class here?" Simula ko.

"A-ah. Ano. Oo. Si Mr. Valdez din ba prof mo? Wala kasing pasok ngayon kasi may departmental meeting daw ang Gen Ed hanggang mamayang lunch break, bumalik nga lang ako dito kasi may naiwan ako."

No class? Damn. I was excited for nothing.

"Oh. I didn't get notified then. Anyway, thanks for the info dude."

Matamlay akong tumayo at isinukbit ang backpack at drawing tube sa aking balikat at naglakad palabas.

"A-ah, hindi ka ba kasali sa group chat ng klase? Doon kasi nag bigay kanina si sir ng last minute announcement."

Napahinto ako saglit at kumunot ang noo. Group chat? What the hell is that? Does it has something to do with that facebook app I used yesterday?

I just gave him a shrug and went my way out. Tanungin ko na lang ulit si Biboy mamaya tungkol sa group chat na yan.

Para naman akong nawalan ng gana ng mapagtantong baka hindi ko makita si Alice ngayong araw. Sa isang subject lang kami magkaklase kasi hindi naman kami pareho ng kinuhuhang kurso. I am a fifth year irregular Architecture student while she might be a Medtech student based on what I observed on her shared posts in facebook. Minor subject lang na Life and Works of Rizal ang magkaparehas kami and I thank heaven for the same sched we have for it.

Uuwi na sana muna ako ng talyer
para may silbi naman ang oras ko since mamayang 2 pm pa naman ulit ang pasok ko nang may mahagip ang aking mga mata na sadyang nagpabalik ng ngiti sa aking mukha.

There you are, Alice.

Nakita ko siyang malalaki ang mga hakbang at walang lingon-lingon na papunta sa likurang bahagi ng General Education building at kahit nakatalikod ay kitang kita ko parin ang magandang kurba ng kanyang katawan sa suot na hapit na puting blouse at puting slacks na uniporme. Not to mention her gorgeous white locks.

Dang girl. You are definitely gifted all over.

Napilig ko ang aking ulo sa naisip. Shit. The womanizer Caliber in me is somehow still there isn't it? Dude, this is Alice you are talking about. The girl who saved your life. Stop the perverted thoughts.

Automatic na yata na sumunod ang mga paa ko sa daang tinahak niya. I was thankful na nagmamadali yata siya at hindi niya na napansin na sumusunod ako sa kanya. I was now wondering kung saan ang kanyang tungo ng lumiko pa siya patungo sa isang abandunadong silid sa may gate 2 ng campus. When I first toured here during enrollment, nasabi sakin na hindi na ginagamit itong gate 2 kasi masyadong malayo sa front ng school at masyado na ring luma. Now what is this gorgeous lady doing here?

I stopped on track and hid myself behind the wall when she suddenly stopped and opened the paperbag she was holding.

Xenon, you look like a creepy stalker right now jeez.

"Shere, where are you? Ate Alice brought you a meal."

Muntik na yatang mahulog ang puso ko sa lambing ng boses na nariring ko ngayon kay Alice.

Wow. Is that really her? Shit. Her voice alone can make my heart go crazy. Damn, nakakabakla.

Pero, Shere? Who the hell is that creature that he or she managed to make the cold and stoic Alice soft?

Pasimple kong binalik ang aking tingin sa kanya na ngayon ay naka squat na habang inilalabas ang kung ano mula sa hawak niyang paper bag. Must be the food she is talking about.

"Shere? Where are you? Come here baby."

Oh shit. Why do I feel ill upon hearing her say baby to someone?

Or, something.

"Meow..."

"Shere, where have you been? I told you not to roam around that much. There are a lot of asshats here, they might harm you."

Oh. Wow.

Now I am staring at a soft Alice who is cuddling a cute little white-furred kitten in her arms.

So Alice has a soft spot for cats. I'll take note of that. Okay, so Shere is a kitten and not some random guy. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag.

"Here baby, I bought you food. Sorry for making you wait. Ate's just a little busy with stuffs."

Hindi ko mapigilan ang paglaki ng aking ngiti sa nakikita. Si Alice na nakangiti ng bahagya habang pinapakain ang maganang kuting. Dahil sa sobrang amazement sa nakikita ay buo ang loob akong lumabas mula sa pinagtataguan ko at humarap sa kanya.

"Wow. What a lovely sight to behold."

From this day onward, I, Xenon Caliber Sebastian will make you, Snow Alischa Calderon accept me as a part of your life. And you have no choice but to say yes.