Chapter 2 First Meet

     "See you later ate Jane."

     "See you later ate Nic."

     "See you later ate Robin."

Napangiti ako habang sabay-sabay silang nagpaalam sa akin bago bumaba ng kotse. Isa-isa naman silang humalik sa akin sa pisngi.

      "Remember what I told you earlier, okay. And Lourd, behave inside the classroom."

Magsasalita pa sana ito nang pinangdilatan ko siya ng mata. Makuha ka sa tingin, ika nga nila. He's a boy, I literally meant 'boy'. He's quite sometimes naughty but I know he will not do something that may hurt him or disappoint me.

      "You take care ate." Paalam ni Love.

I just smiled and start the engine. I glanced quickly at my watch.

7:10 am.

I only have twenty minutes before the first subject starts. Sapat lang ang bilis sa pagpapatakbo ko ng kotse baka makadisgrasya pa ako kung bibilisan ko. I hope I can make it. 10 minutes lang naman ang byahe papuntang Hancock University, I think so?

Narating ko ang parking lot ng HU ng eksaktong 7:20. Dali-dali akong lumabas ng kotse at naglakad ng mabilis. Naghahabol ako ng oras baka malate pa ako sa unang araw ko sa klase and I don't want that to happen.

Sa pagmamadali ko ay muntik na akong masagasaan ng kotse--- oh scratch the word 'kotse' because it's not just a car, it's a sports car, Ferrari to be exact. Seriously? Sports car in the University. Yayamanin nga naman talaga ng mga students dito.

Balak ko pa sanang pagsabihan yung driver ng Ferrari but I have no time for that, malelate ako and I think I'm okay. Hindi naman ako nasaktan, nagulat lang ako nang may rumaragasang kotse papunta sa akin. Thank goodness at mabilis ang reflexes ko kaya wala akong nakuhang galos.

Nagsimula na akong maglakad papunta sa loob ng HU.

Damn! I didn't know na mahirap pala hanapin itong room ko.

Lakad-takbo na ang ginagawa ko para makahabol sa oras but I think I'm not gonna make it. Isang minuto nalang ang natitira pero nasa hallway pa rin ako.

       "Room 46. Room 46. Where are you?" I'm whispering to myself.

Hanggang sa makita ko na ang room number ko. Mabilis ang pagtibok ng puso ko dahil sa kaba tapos hinihingal pa ako.

Huminga akong malalim bago ako kumatok. Ramdam kong pinagpapawisan ang mga kamay ko.

I hate this day. Sana pala naisipan kong i-explore itong university. Nahirapan tuloy ako sa kakahanap ng room ko.

           "Come in."

Rinig kong sabi mula sa loob. Mas lalo kong naramdaman ang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko nang dahan-dahan kong buksan ang pinto.

          "You're 1 minute late."

Napaigtad ako sa gulat ng marinig ang malayelong tinig na iyon. What should I do? I can't think properly.

        "Are you mute or what? And please, look at me when I'm talking to you."

I feel the irritation to her words. She's strict! But I chose to looked at her. Dahan-dahan kong inangat ang tingin ko sa kanya.

Napansin ko ang pagkagulat niya dahil sa akin or namamalikmata lang ako.

Hindi ko akalain na bata pa pala ang prof ko. She's taller than me, I think so.

       "I'm..." Napapiyok ako. "I'm sorry Ma'am for being late. Transferee po ako."

I thought, they're going to laughed at me but there's none. Everyone is serious and looking at me, directly.

       "Okay, I'll let you to get away for being late this day, just because you are a transferee. Give me 1/4 index card with your name written on it. And introduce yourself, state what school you from and how young are you."

Kinabahan ako lalo. Do I really need to talk in front of these people? Naglakad ako papunta sa harap and everyone's eyes staring at me and their attention is on me.

          "Are you just standing there all day? Or you'll start talking?" She said in icy voice.

         "Y-yes Ma'am. I'm s-sorry po." Huminga ako ng malalim bago nagsalita. "H-Hi! Ahm.. Nico Robin Jane Alexander is my name. I'm from Stanford University and 22 years of age."

        "Stanford University? Isn't that a prestigious school? Why did you transferred here in Hancock University?"

Tumingin ako sa prof ko at tiningnan siya ng seryoso. I'm sorry but I can't let anyone know about us.

       "I'm sorry Ma'am but it's a private matter. I can't tell you why."

Sinuri niya ako kung nagsasabi ba ako ng totoo o hindi. Nakipagtitigan din ako dahil ayaw ko rin namang magpatalo. Pero siya ang unang nag-iwas ng tingin.

I won.

      "Okay, I understand. You can take a sit now."

Naglakad ako papunta sa likuran kung saan may bakanteng upuan doon malapit sa bintana.

I'm not a loner person. I'm just not fond talking to other people because I'm not friendly. Pero dalawa lang naman ang kinikilala kong kaibigan sa buong buhay ko.

Yes, I have two best friends. They're not here in HU because I was separated from them when we lost our parents. I don't have a choice but to moved in another university for the sake of my siblings.

They understand my situation, and they always supported me. I'm lucky to have them. And for the change, I'll always support them in everything that will make them happy.

Napaigtad ako sa biglaang pagpalo ng stick ng professor ko. Wala naman akong napansin na may hawak siyang stick kanina. So bakit nagkaroon siya nyan.

Maaga akong mamamatay sa gulat nito.

       "Miss Alexander."

Napaangat ang tingin ko. Seryoso itong nakatingin sa akin na parang may ginagawa akong hindi niya gusto.

       "Miss Alexander, are you with us? Late ka na nga kanina tapos hindi ka pa nakikinig ngayon sa klase ko. You're not interested in my subject, are you? If you don't want to listen, get out because I won't tolerate a student like you."

Napanganga ako sa sinabi niya.

        "I'm sorry Ma'am, pero nakikinig po ako sa inyo simula kanina when you are started to talked in front."

Alam kong hindi ako nakikinig pero I never thought na magtuturo pala siya. First day palang kasi ng klase.

       "Really?" Tumaas ang kilay niya. Kahit na kinakabahan ako, hindi ko pa rin inaalis ang tingin ko sa kanya. "Okay then, answer this."

~*~

Grabe yung kaba ko kanina. Hindi ko alam na may ipapasagot siya sa akin na equation. Thank God, and I always do advance reading before the class started kaya nasagutan ko yun kahit papaano.

May one hour vacant ako ngayon then after that, three more subjects to go and I have only twenty minutes before my next class. I'm here inside the library, taking some notes and theories about the contemporary world, which will be my next class.

I'm busy reading and take down notes when someone disturb me that makes me stop from what I'm doing.

            "Hi. Is this seat taken?"

Tumingin lang ako saglit sa kanya at binalik din agad sa libro before answering him blankly. I know him, he's one of my classmates.

             "No."

            "Pwede makiupo sa tabi mo."

Nagpaalam pa ito kung nakaupo na rin naman siya.

           "You're good naman pala. I thought you can't answer the question that was given by Miss Boa. You know, kaka-start lang ng klase tapos yung tinanong niya pa ay hindi pa niya natuturo and that was Math."

He's so noisy. I can't focus on what I'm doing. Didn't he knows that I'm busy and I want a silence atmosphere. Ganyan ba talaga ito, isn't it obvious that I don't want him to talked. I shouldn't let him sit next to me in the first place so he wouldn't bother me.

          "... And if you are interested to go out with me, I'm free, basta't ikaw."

Darn! That's it, I can't take this anymore. If he doesn't want to leave, I'll leave. Niligpit ko na ang mga gamit ko at pinasok na sa aking bag.

Isinukbit ko na ang bag ko nang may humawak sa laylayan nito.

         "Hey! Where are you going?" He asked curiously.

         "Please, just mind your own business. And I'm not interested in you, not in everyone because I'm contented with my life. Leave me alone."

Naglakad na ako nang may nakalimutan akong gamit. Damn it! I returned to the table but I feel seethe when I saw the guy's smiling face like he won a lottery.

        "You've changed your mind." He smiled widely.

I really want to punch his face to erased that fucking smile of him. But, don't need. Simple words of rejection can hurt his feelings.

          "I forgot something. Don't assume too much, you may even die." Nakita ko ang book na naiwan ko at hinarap ang lalaking ginatungan ang init ng ulo ko. "And oh, it's Maths not Math. You won't say Mathematic, you say Mathematics. Try mo magbasa minsan nang malaman mo."

Nawala ang ngiti niya. Suits him right. Pero may narinig akong tumawa sa may tabi ng table ko.

Lumingon ako sa kanan at nakita ang professor ko na may kasamang iba na natatawang nakatingin sa amin.

Mas lalo akong nawalan ng ganang pumasok ngayon dahil nandito yung dalawang nagpainit ng ulo ko. I want to go home and rest. Saglit ko lang silang tiningnan at umalis na agad dun.

I want to end this day.

Ate Robin! Ate Robin! Ate Robin!

Nagulat ako ng nagvibrate at tumunog ang phone ko. Nag-iba na naman ang ringtone ng phone ko and I think I know who changed this.

That little brat!

I answered the phone immediately when I saw the caller ID.

          "Ate Robin!"

Nailayo ko ang phone ko sa tenga. Ang lakas ng boses niya.

           "Babe, don't shout. I can clearly hear you. Okay?"

          "Sorry ate, I just want you to know that we have no classes today."

I felt that she's very happy.

            "Oh really? And why is that? You want me to call Mang Samuel to fetch you there."

            "No. No ate Robin, I'll stay here and wait for you. Kasi... I checked your schedule today and I saw that your class is until 12 noon, right?"

I can't help not to smile. Lalo na kapag naiisip ko kung ano ang mukha niya ngayon. Ghad!

            "Oh ghad! Baby.."

            "Why ate, you forgot your schedule today, didn't you?"

She's acting like my older sister.

           "Of course not babe. I'm just imagining your cute face, that's why."

            "Oh. But ate I really want to talked to you more but I think, it's already time for your next class. Bye ate, I love you ate so much."

            "Yeah. I'll see you later, okay? I love you more." Kinikilig kong sabi. "I'll hang up the phone now."

Binaba ko ang tawag na may malaking ngiti sa labi. See? I don't need other people to make me smile because I know that I am contented in my life.

My life is my siblings. They're my everything. I love them so much more than I love myself. And I promise to my parent's grave that I will take good care of them and never leave them, ever.