At What Price (Completed)

IV

#AtWhatPrice 4

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."

– Mark Twain

•••

I opened my eyes when I heard the train.

Sa tagal ko nang nag-cocommute, parang kaya ko na rin matulog ng nakatayo. This morning, I'm experiencing light-headedness. I stayed up late to catch a deadline, pano kasi ay hanggang 12 midnight ang pasahan.

I went inside when the train stopped. Time to suffer again.

***

"Ilan na nasagutan mo?" Margot sat in front of me.

Nasa condo niya kami ulit. Maaga ako lagi pumasok, at kadalasan ay tumatambay ako sa condo niya habang wala pang klase.

"Yung essay questions pa lang." sagot ko. I blinked when I saw her wearing a face mask for skincare.

"Help yourself, Claud." Inabot niya sa'kin iyong mask. I obliged. We do this a lot. Stress kami lagi so we always find ways to pamper ourselves.

Isa pa, ang hirap maging fresh sa college. Nakakatanda.

Thank God I sometimes still look like a minor. (Well, it has disadvantages).

"Well, focus on the problem solving." She adviced. "I can't wait to prove my family wrong." she shared frustratedly.

I stopped writing and gave my attention to her. Usually, her family gives her talks about how she's choosing the wrong path. They like to control her and Margot loves her family that's why she's upset they can't understand her.

"I understand that they built the company from their blood and sweat. I understand how much the business means to the familia. That's why I'm trying to know the nitty gritty of it in the way I know—or I'm trying to know. Accounting. " Tumungo siya sa table. I saw how she pressed her eyes shut. "I'm just so tired. Parang yung efforts ko, napupunta sa wala."

Tapos ay nag-angat ulit siya ng tingin. She rested her chin on her hands while pouting, almost crying.

Our eyes connected. I gave out a small re-assuring smile, and whispered, "You're doing great."

She sniffed.

She scrunched her nose, letting me know her appreciation. Her hands reached for the sliced apples she prepared. "You want?"

•••

"When is a promissory note said to be dishonored?" The professor asks.

"When it matures and is not paid," someone answered.

"See? Kaya wag kayong mahiyang maningil sa nangutang sa inyo. They're the one who dishonored a written promise." Our prof said, making the class laugh.

"How should notes receivable be initially measured?" dagdag pang tanong nito.

"At present value, Sir." sagot ng isa.

"Pero kapag short-term lang yung note, it will be measured at face value, tama? Why?"

"They are not usually discounted po because it's usually not material."

"Tama. Maliit na nga halaga, parang inapak-apakan mo pa hanggang wala nang matira sa kaniya."

"Walang personalan, Sir." singit ng isang lalaki. I rolled my eyes.

"Okay. Sa long-term notes naman may dalawa: interest-bearing at non-interest bearing. Totoo ba na walang interest yung isa?"

"Hindi, Sir. Ang siste, it was just implicitly implied that it contains interest. Kadalasan po sa non-bearing, included na po yung interest sa face amount." sagot nung malapit sa harap.

"Okay! Since mukhang alam niyo na, get your worksheet."

Everyone groaned.

I opened my bag and realized I don't have a worksheet. Lagi kong nakakalimutang bumili.

Sinundot ko ang tagiliran ni Margot. "Penge."

She gave me one and we started working on our calculators.

•••

Wow. Wala na ngang papel, wala pang payong.

Bakit kasi bigla-biglang umulan? Parang impyerno naman yung init kanina.

Dismissal na and Margot and I patted ways. Bumili muna ako ng tubig sa tindahan sa labas ng school pagkatapos ay biglang bumuhos ang ulan.

A familiar person appeared in my sight. His eyes also widened when he saw me.

What the hell is with my luck today?

Si Hadwin.. in a black t-shirt and jeans. Unlike me, naka-payong siya at mukhang pauwi na rin.

Pretend you didn't see me... Don't come near.. Don't come..

"Claudia."

Just my f-cking luck.

I turned to him. "May payong ka ba?"

"Ah... nakalimutan ko." Napapikit ako sa hiya.

"Tara na. Pareho naman tayo ng sasakyan."

I contemplated for a while. But he's nice enough to offer... so I obliged.

We started walking to reach the station. He held me closer by touching my shoulders. I could remove his hands... pero mababasa nga naman ako.

Naglikot ang mata ko. We are too close. Look anywhere... anywhere but him..

"Uh.. buti di ka naka-uniform." komento ko. He looked really different without his uniform. He looked like a normal university guy. I mean, he is one, pero wala kasing uniform ang school na 'to generally.

"Ah, oo." His voice was deep. I almost shivered. God, too close! "Nagpalit ako kaagad. Mahirap maglaba."

Silence. Rain. More silence.

"I'm sorry about the other day. I shouldn't have pried."

"Yes, you shouldn't."

Another silence.

When we reached the station, he closed his umbrella. Inunahan ko siyang magsalita.

"I'll go now," tinuro ko pa ang women's section ng tren.

He nodded. "Ingat."

"Thank you."

Hadwin smiled. I took one last look of his soft features and walk away.

Mukhang kailangan ko na bawasan pag-inom ng kape sa 7/11. Ang bilis ko nang kabahan ng walang dahilan.

---x---

* The notes being referred to in this chapter is Note Receivable. It is a formal promise to pay, usually with interest.

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