Chapter 29
"Good morning," Troy greeted the class. Medyo na-late siya today because they had a meeting earlier. May project daw kasi sila for next semester. I don't know how long that project will take. Hindi ko rin naman naitanong sa kanya if he's going to stay for another year here. Ang initial plan niya kasi ay isang taon lang magtuturo and then he'll begin med school. I don't know if there's any changes.
"Good morning, Sir!" Masiglang bati ng ilang kaklase ko. I saw Troy smiled at them and then he looked at me to give me a smile. Saglit lang 'yon kaya wala naman sigurong nakahalata.
"I'll just be quick today. I'll just give the instructions for your final project," he announced. The finals is fast approaching. Halos hindi ko na nga namalayan ang oras. It's really true time pass by so fast when you're having fun.
We were already grouped for our final project at may deadline na rin. We'll just have to hear the instructions so we can start with it.
Gaya ng sabi ni Troy ay mabilis lang talaga siya. Nagbigay nga lang siya ng instructions saka umalis. Nag-excuse lang daw kasi siya sandali sa meeting na hindi pa pala tapos. Kaya hindi siya pwedeng mawala nang matagal.
After he gave the instructions, he gave the remaining time for us to meet with our group mates para mapag-usapan na 'yon.
My group's already together. Nagbibigay na ng tasks 'yong group leader at pinag-uusapan na rin ang meeting time namin for that project para walang conflict sa schedule. I was just there, silently listening at tumatanggap lang ng mga ipagagawa sa akin.
While in the middle of discussing the project, I felt my phone vibrated. I looked around first before getting it from my bag. It was a text from Troy.
Sorry can't meet you later. Sobrang busy. Let's have a date this weekend instead? :)
Maybe it's one of the things when you date an Instructor. You can't demand a lot of their time kasi marami silang ginagawa. But I truly understand. Kahit papaano naman ay bumabawi siya kaya no hard feelings.
Napangiti na lang ako as I type a reply for him.
No problem. And yes, date this weekend. :)
Hindi rin ako pala-emoji na tao sa text, but because of him, nasasanay na akong gumamit ng emoji.
"Hoy! Ba't pangiti-ngiti ka diyan?"
Halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang marinig si Lio. Hindi ko namalayang nasa gilid ko na siya. Magkatabi lang pala ang groups namin kaya ang dali sa kanyang makalapit.
Agad kong itinago ang cellphone ko. God, muntik na 'kong atakihin sa puso. I don't know what I'm gonna do if he saw the text. I'll be surely doomed. Gosh, I could still feel my heart beating so fast.
"Para kang nakakita ng multo," he mumbled.
"Nanggugulat ka kasi," I replied. Nag-iwas na 'ko ng tingin saka umayos sa pag-upo.
"Gala tayo mamaya," Lio whispered. "Libre ko."
"Saan?" I asked, still not looking. Hindi pa ako nakaka-recover sa naramdaman kong kaba.
"Kahit saan. Saan mo ba gusto?"
"Tanong mo kay Clarisse."
"Actually... Gusto ko takasan si Clarisse," he mumbled. That made me look at him with a scowl.
"Bakit?" I inquired. Bakit niya tatakasan si Clarisse? Did they fight again?
"Wala lang. Para maiba," he replied. "Joke lang. May lakad na kasi siya," he added. "Sige na. Minsan lang akong magyaya ng gala eh. At mas lalong minsan lang manlibre." He smiled at me, trying to convince me to go.
