Our Fate [OUR SERIES #2]

CHAPTER 2

'You have no choice. Eat it… or starve.' 

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I clicked the email Elvira just sent me while I was doing my lesson plan. I received a text message from her asking me to check the email she sent. I wasn't able to go to ASU earlier this morning because I woke up late and I just decided to do my job in my house. 

It was an announcement, more likely an invitation to attend a meeting the ASU owner prepared. The agenda wasn't stated but it was said to be something unrelated to school.

And that made me confused. Something unrelated to school? Gayle would never arrange something like this unless it's very necessary. So I guess I'll be attending later. 

Both of them became part of the English Department. Gayle and Kris. Si Gayle na ngayon ang namumuno sa English Department at si Elvira iyong kanang kamay niya. 

Kris, on the other hand, wanted to start as Teacher I. She currently has the lowest position among all English teachers in ASU. Gayle did not question her decision though, feels like they both agreed on this one. 

Saktong ala una nang magsimula akong ayusin ang sarili upang dumalo sa meeting na iyon. I too am curious about the why's and what of that meeting. Si Gayle iyon. Hindi niya isisingit sa schedule niya kung hindi naman iyon mahalaga. 

I drove my car going to ASU at ang unang bumungad sa 'kin ay si Prof. Raffy agad. Kakababa ko lang sa sasakyan ko nang maabutan ko siyang nakasandal sa motor niya. 

"I was waiting for you." Pormal na aniya saka tinignan ang relos niya. 

Sinikop ko ang buhok at nilagay iyon sa kanang balikat ko saka kinuha ang bag ko sa passenger's seat. Hindi ko pinansin ang lalaking naghihintay saka dumeretso nalang sa loob ng conference room kung saan gaganapin ang meeting. 

To my surprise, almost everyone was there. Only Professor Ali and Professor Anthony weren't there. Hindi kaya sila dadalo? 

"Anong meron?" Mahinang tanong ko. Umupo ako sa tabi ni Monique at si Raffy naman ay umupo sa kaliwa ko. 

"I don't know. I'm interested eh. Ikaw din ba?" Tanong niya. 

"I'm not. I was just bored in my house. After isolating there for three days because of the fucking typhoon, mabobored ka talaga." Katwiran ko. 

"Oo nga. Grabe din yung mga naapektuhan ng bagyo. Nakita mo ba?" Inilapit ni Monique ang swivel chair niya sa 'kin saka bumulong. "Lalo na yung nasa kabundukan. Their locals did nothing about their situations." Bulong nito. 

"Lumayo ka nga." Kunot noong reklamo ko. "First, I am not watching the news, Monique. Second, wag kang bumulong malapit sa mukha ko." I pushed her a little. 

"Suplada." Nakangiting aniya saka lumayo. I rolled my eyes on her and took out my ipad so I could list the minutes later. 

"Pero…" hindi pa limang minuto ay nagsalita na naman si Monique. "What if may kinalaman sa bagyo yung agenda natin ngayon?" She said it like she was a fucking detective. 

"Ano naman ba yung magagawa ni Gayle sa bagyo? Does she have the power to stop the typhoon, Monique? Stop being irrational."

"Ikaw din Dhayne. Kaka-una mo ng lesson plan mo, kumitid na yang utak mo. What if she planned to help the affected? Kasi unrelated naman 'to sa school natin-" 

"And if you know Gayle, you know she wouldn't dare do that. Lalo na't magsisimula na ang klase next week." I cut her off, stating the opposite. I know Gayle has a good heart to help those people but I also considered her busy schedules.