"Ms. Listel, are you even paying attention?"
Napaigtad ako ng tayo nang marinig ang malakas na pagtawag ni Dr. Solidad sa'kin. Tiningnan ko si Dr. Solidad at nakita kong nakatingin siya sa'kin.
"I'm sorry sir. I was zoning out," I said honestly.
Narinig ko naman ang buntong hininga ni Doc Solidad. Napayuko ako dahil sa kahihiyan. Alam kong disappointed siya.
Simula pa lang ng laboratory class namin, palagi akong nagkakamali kasi hindi ako maka-focus. I was also called out by Doc Solidad. I'm relieved that he didn't scold me after.
But I know that it will really affect my grades. Dahil talaga 'to sa sinabi ni Rence last week eh. It has been four days since then.
Why would he say something like that? Now I'm here in the lab doing a bad performance.
At oo, hindi kami na kami nagkikita. I mean nagkikita pa rin kami sa campus, pero hindi niya ko pinapansin. It's like he's avoiding me.
I don't even know what to do. Sinusubukan kong makipag-usap sa kanya pero umiiwas talaga siya.
Nasasaktan din ako sa nagyayari. Gusto ko yung tao eh. Pero nasasaktan ako kasi ang taong gusto ko, iniiwasan ako.
But maybe he is just trying to clear out his mind at sinusubukan niyang mag-isip talaga kung ano ang tingin niya sa'kin. I'm willing to wait naman.
"Hey are you okay?" tanong ni Bhea nang makita ako na nilalaro lang ang pagkain ko.
We are having dinner not far from my apartment. Timing kasi pagkatapos ng class ko, kakagaling lang nila sa mall. So we decided to eat together since hindi pa sila nakakain ng dinner.
Nasa mall sila pero hindi sila nagka-time mag-dinner kasi they were too busy buying stuffs that they'll 'use'.
"Yeah, I'm fine," sabi ko at nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga.
"Anong problema, Aly?" Si Perry na ang nagtanong.
"Wala nga," I said not trying hard to convince them.
"Eh kung wala bakit parang pasan mo ang buong mundo sa balikat mo? It's written all over your face na may problema nga," Bhea said with certainty.
Well, she's not entirely wrong.
Hindi ko na natiis at sinabi ko na sa kanila ang nangyari nung huling araw na nagkausap kami ni Rence. I just couldn't take it anymore. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang gagawin ko.
Palagi nalang niya akong iniiwasan kapag nagkikita kami. Everytime I would come up to him, he would just look me in the eyes and give me a small smile.
He wasn't the Rence I knew. Parang nagbago siya bigla.
"Eh gago pala siya. Bakit ba siya nagpapakita ng motive na gusto ka niya?" galit na tanong ni Perry.
"Oo nga. Ano ba naman yang si Rence. Kung ako sa'yo Aly, huwag mo nang aksayahin ang oras mo sa kanya. Huwag ka sa lalaki na pinapaasa ka lang. Ikaw lang ang masasaktan niyan," seryosong sabi ni Bhea.
"Whoa, galing ba yun sa'yo? First time kong makarinig ng advice from you ah," pabirong sabi ni Perry.
Napaismid naman ng ngiti si Bhea.
"Umaasa rin naman ako. So it's not entirely his fault," I said in defense.
"Aba, kailan ka pa naging protective sa kanya?" Gulat na sabi ni Perry.
"Nagiging marupok ka na Aly ah," sabi ni Bhea at napailing nalang siya. Is that a bad thing?
"Hay, nako hindi ka pa nga nakakapag-confess sa kanya, umiwas na siya kaagad sa'yo," sabi ni Perry.
BINABASA MO ANG
Hey Rebound (Hey Duology #1) | ON-GOING | SLOW UPDATE
RomanceAly is a nursing student, who also has a knack in sketching and designing clothes. She originally wants to become a fashion designer, but because of her parents' dream for her to become a nurse, she gave up her dream. Her college life was peaceful n...