At What Price (Completed)

XV

#AtWhatPrice 15

“Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.”
– Langston Hughes

•••

Hatak hatak ako ni Nailea. Hindi ko maintindihan why we have to take the longer route, pwede naman diretso lang kami. Banas na banas ako dahil kanina pa kami naglalakad, alam naman niyang napakainit sa school na 'to.

I breathed out. "San ba kasi tayo pupunta?"

Ang init kahit ber months na. Letse. Mamaya, ako na mismo mag-aaya sa kanilang mag-ice skating. Kailangan ko talagang magpalamig.

"Sisilay lang!" Nailea excitedly giggled.

"Jusko, tanghaling tapat."

"Ito naman," hinampas niya pa braso ko. "Mga gantong oras sila natambay dito. Gagi, ang gwapo. Tali-talino pa!"

I rolled my eyes. "Ang bilis mo namang mag-move on."

She frowned. "I learned na! Hmp! I wouldn't settle sa gago na 'yon. Pero that doesn't mean I won't look for an inspiration. You should try for looking one, too, Claudia." she said and her head kept on searching.

"Di na kailangan," tanggi ko. What for? Another baggage? No thanks.

"Wait! Shet! Maayos ba itsura ko?" she puckered her lips, na nilagyan niya ng lipbalm kanina.

"You look fine."

Actually, more than fine, sobrang ganda kaya nila ni Margot. Ako, mukhang patatas.

"Okay." Huminga siya ng malalim.

"Teka. San ka pupunta?"

She moved her hands shakily, as if removing her nervousness. Then she exhaled and smiled confidently. "I would ask for his number."

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "What?"

She fixed her ponytail and started to walk confidently. Hindi niya alintana na may kasama ito. Kahit malayo ako, I can tell she initiated a conversation they're familiar with and then carried the conversation all the way 'til the guy asked for his number.

Luh. Expert.

Hindi naman iyon nagtagal, they can see I'm waiting. Nang tumalikod siya at pumunta sa'kin, I saw her trying not to smile. Kinikilig amputa.

"How was it?"

She grinned. "Success."

"Can't believe you did that just now."

She snaked her arms around me and touched my elbow as we started to walk away.

"Well, we often regret the chance we didn't take. Now let's see how long this will last." she chuckled.

"Huh, sorry to say this, but I think you'll be done in two months." I gave an honest comment.

"Ssshhh! Don't jinx it." She waved the bad air. "You really should try, Claudia. Nothing is promised in college, except our studies. Kahit harmless fling lang." Then she proceeded to narrate her feelings about the guy.

I pretended to not hear what she said.

•••

Hindi naalis sa utak ko ang sinabi ni Nailea. Can you blame me?

I'm in college. I get lonely sometimes. I'm at the age of wanting landi from time to time.

I scrolled upon my messenger, even on my message requests. Wala namang nakakaganang kausapin. I closed it when I realized what I'm doing. Ugh! What's the need?! Maybe I'm just bored. I shouldn't have let Nailea mess into my head.

Ang kailangan kong gawin ay mag-aral.

I tried to focus on my book.

Weighted averages are all around us, although you may not have realized it. In most classes, your grade is calculated using a weighted average. Your professor is giving more weight to tests than to homework. Your final exam might have more weight than a regular exam.

Binagsak ko ang ulo ko. Hanggang doon lang pumasok sa utak ko, langya.

Margot patted my head. Buti pa siya, focused. Ako, kanina pa wala sa hulog.

"Do you want a tincture of Eleutherococcus?" she offered.

"Eleu—what?"

Napaangat ang ulo ko.

"I know, right? Apparently it's only ginseng. Anyway, it helps you gain confidence."

"How does it—?"

"Just make sure to stay hydrated today. Drink lots of water, iced or herbal teas, maybe healthy fruit juices. It help your emotions flow properly throughout the body."

"Smirnoff, bawal?"

Inambaan niya ako. I laughed. Ang classy tignan, pero nang-aamba.

"Fine, Margot. I'm not sad but I will do that."

"But you have bottled feelings, my sweet. Listen and trust me, I know you."

I pouted.

•••

"Alam mo bang anlaking misconception na money or currency ang security na tine-trade sa money market?"

"I mean... it makes sense. Kung hindi pala, bakit money market ang target ang tawag?" Hadwin genuinely asked.

"Ang primary subject of trading doon ay financial instruments. But they are short-term and highly liquid, kaya siguro nako-consider as money."

"What do you know about cancer?" It was now his turn.

"Hmm? That... it's deadly." I don't really know how it works.

"The proliferation of abnormal cells. The cells have lost their ability to reproduce in an organized fashion. Hindi na sila nag-ffunction normally, or they don't die a natural death."

I ended up looking on every edge of his face.

If I wanted someone to talk with for fun, it would definitely be Hadwin. Who wouldn't? He's neat and goodlooking. His humor is ten times better than me. He is passionate about life that he wanted to experience hospital life early on by being a nurse... and he likes keeping plants alive. He doesn't brag about it, but I know he's a President's Lister among his batch.

His only flaw is he smokes and he's stubborn... but he only smokes when he stressed. He doesn't smoke as a hobby nga eh. He tends to sleep late and talk too much. Or maybe he has flaws... but he's too good for me that I don't even count it as a flaw.

So would I want to flirt with him for temporary fleeting romance?

No.

He's a friend.

He's a keeper.

Making him temporary would be the biggest mistake I'll make. He doesn't deserve that shit.

"Since di na sila nag-ffunction normally, the cells spread and invade uncontrollably causing dysfunction and death of other cells. And if we lose healthy cells and it's difficult to reproduce a healthy ones... it's cancerous." He explained clearly. He really knows how to hold conversations... I feel like he'd be a charming speaker.

"Oh." I nodded. "I hope your cells keep being healthy."

He chuckled at my comment. Sorry naman. I'm too bangag to engage a smart conversation.

"Yours too." His husky voice were the last thing I heard before I fell asleep.

---x---

Proliferation — the act of increasing or rising; the process by which an organism produces others of its kind.

Reference for Weighted Average:

Ingram, K. L. (n.d.) WEIGHTED AVERAGE INVENTORY METHOD CALCULATIONS (PERIODIC & PERPETUAL). Accounting in Focus. Retrieved from accountinginfocus.com.