One Lost Summer (Brave Series #2)

Chapter 32: Majarlika

 Majarlika reached the parking lot of the university thirty minutes before her first class. Lumabas na siya ng sasakyan at kinuha ang mga gamit niya sa backseat. Ipapasa niya na ang tatlong plates na ginawa niya dahil deadline na ang mga 'yon sa katapusan ng linggo.

Habang naglalakad, hindi lihim sa kanya ang mga matatalim na sulyap at mga bulung-bulungan. It has been weeks since the issue about her and Iñigo spreaded out at bahagya na nga itong humupa pero hindi ibig sabihin ay tuluyan nang namatay ang apoy.

Before Grale went back to his road tour that day, he asked for her opinion regarding doing an interview about it but Majarlika told him not to. She doesn't need him to defend her nor did she do something to be defended. Her conscience is as clear as the fresh water.

Nag ring ang cellphone niya kaya kinuha niya 'yon sa bulsa. It was Tria who's calling her. "Hey, Tria."

"Are you in the school na?"

"Yes, why?"

"Pwedeng daan ka muna dito sa building?"

Kumunot ang kanyang noo. "Why? What's wrong?"

"Kasi ano… hindi ko alam meron pala ako ngayon. Nasa cr na ako ngayon and I can't go out baka matagusan ako."

"I'm on my way."

Tumalikod siya at naglakad pabalik. Malapit na kasi siya sa building nila. Mabilis siyang naglakad dahil thirty minutes na lang rin start na ng klase niya.

She reached Tria's building at nasa second floor ang classroom nito. She sent her a text saying nasa cr siya second floor. Nasa tabi lang ng hagdan ang cr ng girls kaya pumasok na siya ron. Sakto naman na may dalawang babaeng palabas at halos mapairap siya sa klase ng tingin na binibigay ng mga ito sa kanya.

And then she realized something: This is Iñigo's building, too. Umiling na lang siya at inalis ang nasa isipan.  

"Tria?"

"Maja, is that you? I'm here!" The last door opened and Tria poke out her head. "Sorry sa abala."

"It's fine, Tria. Mabuti ako ang tinawagan mo," she smiled to her. "Wait, I'll just get my extra pads." Pinatong niya ang bag sa lababo sa harap ng mahabang salamin.

"Hindi na nga sana kita tatawagan kasi alam ko naman na may issue kayo ni Iñigo at hindi magandang makita na nandito ka sa building," wika ng kaibigan. "Gosh! Believe me, sobrang daming nagtatanong sa akin about the two of you and grabe ang kikitid ng brain cells nila! Hindi ka na ba pwedeng magkaroon ng other guy friends just because your boyfriend is a superstar?"

Ngumiti na lang siya at inabot ang pads sa bestfriend. "Thank you for defending me to those people, Tria, but you don't have to do it."

"Kahit na! They don't even know you or si Iñigo pero kung makahabi sila ng kwento daig pa nila lahat ng mananahi sa mundo. Tsaka hindi naman talaga kayo friends diba? Like friends friends kasi duh? Ako lang naman ang kaibigan mo."

Majarlika laughed. "Just change, Tria. Mas lalo kang tatagusan niyan."

"Fine," she closed the door after that.

While waiting for Tria to come out, Majarlika eyed her reflection in the mirror. Maikli na ulit ang humaba niyang buhok at ganon pa rin naman ang itsura niya. 

She smiled bitterly. Kahit gaano pa rin talaga niya iklian ang buhok she still looks like her mother. Every detail, every edge, and most especially her eyes, all of them resemble her. Walang tulak kabigin ang pagiging magkamukha nilang dalawa. She could even pass as the younger her based on her mother's teenage photos.