“Balak ko sanang mag-aya ng kasama sa pagkain. Wala si Darlene, kaya nung nakita kita sa gym eh ikaw sana aayain ko...” sagot niya kaya't napaisip ako. Ayokong kumain sa cafeteria ngayon dahil andoon sila.
“Where do you plan to have your lunch?” I asked and turned to face him.
“Depende sayo. May alam ka bang pwedeng kainan? May baon kasi ako, nakakahiya naman sa cafeteria pa ako kumain...”
Light bulb. This will do.
“Then I'll just get some food...” I said and entered the cafeteria. I did my best not to be noticed. Paniguradong hindi nila ako tatantanan, lalo ng gurang na iyun.
“May problema ba?”
I didn't reply and just ordered a healthy meal.
“Nice. Vegetarian ka pala?”
Madaldal siya, but it's fine, better than that annoying lady.
After I took my meal, mabilis na akong lumabas ng cafeteria. I walk towards our department building. Tanong lang ng tanong si Paolo kung bakit raw hindi ako nagbayad nung inorder ko. He is curious if I had it paid in advance or whatsoever possibilities, but I only answered it by my silence.
“San tayo pupunta? Hindi pa ako napadpad dito ah...” he asked but more likely talking to himself.
“Rooftop...” at tinahak ko na ang hagdan.
“Ang sabi nila off-limits daw ang rooftop dito...” pagpapaalala niya.
I just took the key when we finally arrived. Hinayaan ko lang siyang magsalita. Binuksan ko ang nakalock na pinto ng rooftop at agad ng lumabas. I immediately sat on the long bleachers and put my ordered meal on top of the glass table.
“Wow, nakakapunta ka pala rito? Nice! May tambayan...” namamanghang pagkakasabi niya bago maupo sa tapat.
“It's tranquil here...” I said and got ready.
Pareho na kaming natahimik habang nag-aayos. I gaze at his food. Ngayon lang ako nakakita ng ganun.
“Gusto mo? Ako nagluto niyan. Miss ko na kasing kumain ng pakbet” anya at nagsimulang kumain.
“I'm good...”
I grimaced because of the bitter taste.
“I see. Hindi mo gusto ang ampalaya. Kuha ka lang dito sa ulam ko. Kaso mas masarap sana 'to kung mainit pa...” daldal niya at binukuran ako ng gulay na galing sa kanya.
“Eating this bitter vegetable might help in the increase of my hemoglobin...” That's actually what Professor Jed told me, so I believe.
“Oh, kuha ko na. Nga pala, asan parents mo? Mukhang di mo kasama sa apartment. Sinong nag-aasikaso sayo?”
“I have none...” I instantly replied. He hummed and became silent for a while.
“I'm alone here in the city as well. Nasa probinsya ang papa ko. Patay na ang mama ko pero mayroon akong step-mom and technically, a sister, but we're totally unrelated, if you get what I mean...”
I nod as a reply and took some on his food and taste it. Masarap ang pagkakaluto.
He shared a lot of things about himself. He took accountancy and fortunately got the exclusive scholarship from the university. He just need to maintain his good marks to be a consistent scholar.
“Rami ko nang nakwento. Magkwento ka rin tungkol sayo” he stated but I shrugged.
“There's nothing in me to be shared. Nothing interesting” Wala akong balak.
YOU ARE READING
PAINTED CANVAS (Under Revision)
Teen Fiction[Soon to be Published] BLURB Eve I. Meneses, a principled fourth year Architecture student and an artist who started hating people after what happened two years ago which changed his outlooks in life. The loathing in his heart created an overwhelm...
Chapter 3: Paolo Jace Alarcon
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