The Engineer (Batchelor Series #2)

12

Monday. My phone’s alarm didn’t go off, and when I shot up in bed, my heart sank. Tangina! I had completely forgotten about the exam in my major subject today. Class was at 7:30 AM, and it was already 6:30.

Panic coursed through my veins as I threw the blanket aside, rushing to get ready.

I splashed cold water over my face and body, hastily lathering up soap and shampoo, rinsing it off with five buckets of water. Paglabas ko ng banyo, naka-tapis lang ako ng tuwalya, at nasalubong ko si Mama na naghahanda ng almusal sa hapag-kainan.

“Kung di pa sisigawan, di pa gigising. Ano silbi ng alarm clock mo, Pay-pay?” Mama teased as I quickly threw on my NSTP uniform.

“Kahapon pa 'yan di nagana, Ma. Kaya nga na-late ako nung pumunta sa tindahan,” I muttered, hurriedly shoveling food into my mouth. Sunny-side-up eggs with fried rice and hotdogs – classic breakfast ni Mama.

“Si Manuel, Ma?” I asked between bites.

“Kanina pa nakaalis. Ala sais pasok non,” she answered casually. I glanced at the clock. 6:45. Great. Late na ako. Sana naman hindi traffic.

After wolfing down breakfast, I brushed my teeth and grabbed my bag. "Ma, alis na ako!" I called out as I reached for the door.

“Sandali lang, Pay-pay! Isabay mo na tong order ni Renz,” Mama said, handing me a plastic bag filled with freshly made kakanin. “Sabi nya, pupuntahan mo naman daw sya. Mas okay na raw kesa pumunta pa sya sa tindahan.”

Renz. The name made my stomach twist. Bakit ko pa isasabay ang kakanin ng taong kinaiinisan ko? “Mainit-init pa 'yan, kunin mo yung bayad ha. Close naman ata kayo, 'di ba?”

“Hindi po. Science ako, basketball degree non,” I quipped sarcastically. Pero totoo, we weren’t close. He was Civil Engineering, basketball captain, and probably the most arrogant person on campus. Yet, somehow, Mama liked him. Of course, she'd side with the burgis.

By 7:20, I reached campus, thankful for the lack of traffic. Papunta na ako sa main building when my phone buzzed with a notification.

Renz Salarza sent you a friend request.

Tangina, bakit ako ia-add ng kupal na 'yon? He couldn’t stand me yesterday, and now this? As if to add to my annoyance, I remembered that I had Mama’s kakanin for him. Napamura nalang ako at nag-message sa group chat namin ng officers na malalate ako ng konti.

Another ping. A message request. Of course, from him. I opened it out of sheer curiosity.

Renz Salarza: 
Hey, yung order ko kay Tita, can I have na? Nasa basketball court ako. Pag 'yan di mainit, ikaw nalang magbayad.

This guy. Nagpadyak ako sa inis, kinukulit pa nya ako habang stressed ako sa exams. I made my way to the gym, trying to control my irritation. When I stepped inside, the faint smell of sweat hit me immediately.

The College of Engineering basketball team was in the middle of practice, and as I scanned the gym, my eyes locked on Renz, dribbling with his usual smug expression. The girls on the bleachers were whispering excitedly.

“Si Pres nandito,” I heard someone say. Napairap nalang ako.

I approached Renz, who jogged over, dripping with sweat in his jersey. I barely held back my grimace at the sight of his sweaty face. He was smirking as if the whole world was his playground.

“Order mo,” I said, shoving the plastic bag toward him.

He reached out, but instead of grabbing it properly, he let it slip from his sweaty hands. The bag dropped to the floor. “Oops, sorry, I’m sweating,” he apologized, though I knew it was deliberate. The plastic bag crinkled but thankfully didn’t spill.

I clenched my jaw. “Eh bakit mo kinuha kamay ko kung pawis pala 'yan? Tarantado ka ba?” My voice rose, and I could feel the eyes of his teammates on us.

“Huy Renz, ano ginagawa mo kay Pres?” one of his teammates chimed in.

He dismissed them with a wave, turning back to me. “Not your business, guys. Shower break muna para matalo natin ang mga nangbabakod.” Then he pointed his eyes at me with that teasing smirk.

“Magkano?” he asked, though it felt more like he was asking about something other than the kakanin.

“1,250 lahat,” I said, crossing my arms, clearly annoyed. May meeting pa ako with the council. Sana matapos na to.

He cocked his head, still grinning. “Pag ginawa kong 1,500, will you accept my friend request?” His tone was playful, but there was a challenge in his eyes.

My patience snapped. “Tol, sa pagkaalam ko, ayaw mo ako sa buhay mo. Ano to? You always shoo me away. Di naman kita girlfriend para suyuin.” I spat out the words.

“Im girlfriend,” he said, stepping closer and grabbing my hand again, making sure I felt the warmth and the slight dampness from his sweat.

I pulled away quickly, glaring at him. “Wala ako oras para makipagbiruan, Renz. Give me the payment, may meeting pa ako sa council.”

“Paano yan, tol? Marami ako oras ngayon. Di na nga ako natampo, oh. Bati na tayo. Nood ka laban namin mamaya ha? Ikaw naman committee doon. Kung wala ka mamaya… I'll use my connections to impeach you.” He was still grinning, handing me the money.

I rolled my eyes. “I know my responsibilities. Wala na ako pakialam kung magtampo ka pa. Pakiwait ng sukli.”

He glanced away briefly, but I could see the flicker of something in his expression.

“Huh? Wala na ako change,” he said, shrugging. “Yung sobra, bayad na sa pag-accept mo sa friend request ko. You’ll benefit from it naman—may pogi kang friend, we can communicate better, and you get to talk to someone sikat.”

Tsk. The nerve. Still, sayang din ang three hundred. I accepted his friend request. The notification sound from his phone went off, and his smirk widened into a smile. “Mukhang pera naman pala.”

I shot him a look and flipped him off. “Ulol. Kaysa igastos mo sa babae, bigay mo nalang sa akin yung sobra—pang matrikula ko sa Med.”

“At least mapupunta sa tamang pundasyon pera mo, burgis ka rin lang.” I muttered, pocketing the money. It’s better that his excess wealth gets put to good use.

He winked at me, laughing. "Yeah. I'm your girlfriend, remember?"

“Bakla ka ba, Renz? Gusto mo ba talagang makipagrelasyon sa akin?” I challenged him.

Before Renz could answer, his teammates gathered around us, fresh from the showers. One of them teased, “Ang tagal nyo mag-usap ni Pres, pre.”

I didn’t give Renz a chance to respond. “Tapos na kami. Good luck sa game nyo.” I turned and left before he could get another word in.

Tangina! Twenty minutes na ako late.