the stars above us (medtech series #2)

4

Napatango ako, "Kaya pala..."

Wala naman akong sinabi pero napangiti siya at tumango rin na parang na-gets na niya 'yung point ko, "Yeah... I think that's why a lot of the people in our department hate me and makeup stories about me. But I don't really give a fuck. I came here to study and then leave the country after. If I invest any feelings in any of their fairytales, then they'd win against me."

"So... you just choose to ignore them?" O pak, englishera ng taon. Nai-imagine ko na tuloy 'yung paghampas sa'kin ni Maya kung narinig niya ako ngayon.

He nodded, "They'd never squeeze anything from me with whatever they make up about me. So I'm just waiting for them to get tired."

"Paano kung napagod sila tapos may next victim na naman? Tatahimik ka pa rin ba?"

Sergio smiled, "Of course, I won't. There's no use in being silent about someone else's sufferings. I won't do what they're doing to me—turning a blind eye that is."

Napangiti ako.

"Well, buti na lang our dean was quick to debunk your issue about being lazy and all that stuff."

Sergio chuckled, "I don't even know where that came from, and I was really bothered that people were avoiding me in groups and not giving me tasks before I heard about the rumor, so when I heard about it from the boys, I just chose to ace the biochem quiz," he uttered. Nakonsensya tuloy ako bigla. Hindi naman na'ko masyadong grade conscious, pero ang sakit pa rin talaga kasi sa likod magbuhat ng mga pabigat na schoolmates. Pet peeve ko talaga 'yun.

"Sorry pala... Medyo naniwala ako sa chismis nila," sambit ko na medyo nahihiya-hiya pa kasi siyempre na-judge ko siya, pero feel ko naman valid din siya nang slight... kasi ayaw ko rin namang magkaro'n ng kagrupo na kargado ko lang tapos pareho kaming mabibigyan ng extra credit. Ang unfair kaya no'n.

Napa-kibit naman ng balikat si Sergio at ngumiti, "It's okay," sambit niya. Bakit ang hilig niya ngumiti?! Sobrang smiley at sobrang hinahon niyang magsalita. Parang hindi siya tao, nakakainis.

"Ang bait mo masyado 'no?"

Sergio, like the giggly person he is, laughed again, "Really?" he asked, sounding na parang amused na amused siya sa remark ko. "I'll take that as a compliment, then. Usually, there are only two things I hear about myself—either I'm not approachable or I look grumpy. I don't really care though about their opinions of me. I'm not studying for them to like me."

Grabe. Ganito siguro talaga kapag mayaman. Wala ka nang pake sa sinasabi ng mga tao sa paligid mo. Not in a bad way naman... pero sabagay, wala rin naman akong pake sa sinasabi nila tungkol sa'kin. Bakit ba'ko nag-co-connect ng dalawang bagay na wala namang connection. Nasa way of perceiving the reality na lang naman talaga 'yun.

"Mamaya ma-issue tayo, ha," natatawa kong sambit. So far, 'di pa naman ako nai-issue at na-li-link sa mga lalaki sa department. Mukha siguro akong basura for their liking. Pero okay na rin 'yun. At least wala akong iniisip na problema bukod sa pagiging judgmental nila na sipsip ako sa prof kaya matataas grades ko.

"I could care less."

"Sabagay... 'Di naman ako kasing-level ng hitsura mo."

"What? No you're pretty."

Napairap ako, "Hindi ko sinabing hindi ako maganda, ang sabi ko magkaiba lang tayo ng level. Kumbaga ako pang-barangay pa lang, need pa i-build up. 'Yung sa'yo pang-Ms. Universe na."

Sergio chuckled, "You and your words," he uttered, still chuckling. Napatigil kami saglit nang dumating na 'yung waiter dala 'yung order namin. Medyo nalula ako kasi ang dami niyang in-order!