Afternoons in Dapitan

fifteen

"For this year, you will work on your thesis in pairs. So I decided that you can choose whichever person you have in mind." Ma'am Villanueva smiled. "Also, ilan kayo dito sa room?"

"22 po, Ma'am. Sakto lang ho." The president of the class answered.

"Nako! Laura! Sorry ha, pero si Noreen kukunin ko." Pipa apologetically said.

"Ayos lang." I smiled. Sila naman talaga ang mag bestfriends, nasama lang naman talaga ako sa kanila. "Ma'am?" I raised my hand. "May I know po if sino pa walang pair? I don't have any pa po."

"Okay, raise your hand if wala pa kayong pair."

Cali raised her hand. "Me. I don't have any."

"Ikaw na lang? How about the others?" Cali nodded. "Well, I guess Santos and Inocencio will work in pairs. Now, may I request you to go to your pairs quietly."

Humanap kami ng pwesto ni Cali. "Hi." I greeted her and she just smiled. Akala ko may ipapagawa na si Ma'am pero wala pa pala. She just discussed the basics of the thesis and by next week we should have a topic in mind already. "Cali, message me on Messenger if you have a topic in mind na, let's brainstorm it together." Still no reply. So I just left her there.

"Teh! Kamusta naman si Cali?" Pipa asked.

"Hindi nga nagsasalita eh. Mukhang mahihirapan ako nito." I laughed. "Pero baka naman nahihiya lang."

"Sabi raw ni Anton hindi tumutulong 'yang si Cali. Tapos noong online class raw, hindi rin umaattend." Noreen said, laughing. "Ang mahal ng tuition tapos gaganunin lang? Sabagay, baka mayaman naman sila."

"Pabayaan mo na. Tutulong rin 'yan." I assured them.

"Hindi mo sure, teh! Basta pag kailangan mo ng tulong we're here for you. Kahit na alam namin keribells mo 'yun."

Nang makauwi ako ng dorm ay nagluto lang ako ng Tilapia. Next week ang anniversary namin ni Nico, ni hindi ko pa nga alam kung ano ibibigay ko sa kanya. Baka naman pag-umalis kami, makita nanaman kami ng nanay niya. Pag nasa dorm lang, mahuhuli at mahuhuli pa rin. Ang laki laki na ni Nico pero bantay sarado pa rin ng magulang. Hay.

I heard my phone beeped. I thought it was Nico or Tatay but it was Stacy. Hindi ako sigurado kung drunk text ba 'yun o ano.

Stacy Bernardo:
Mahal ko na si Royce
Tangina beh
Hindi ko na kaya makita siyang may kasamang iba

I laughed at her statement. I knew it. He likes Royce. Hindi nga lang gusto, mahal pa daw.

Laura Santos:
Lasing ka ba?

Stacy Bernardo:
Hindi!
Promise hindi.

Laura Santos:
Saan ka?

Stacy Bernardo:
Sa Jollibee
Nakita ko may kasama siyang babae
Ang sakit beh

Laura Santos:
Nako naman!
Baka naman kablock lang 'yun?
Ang OA mo ha! Selosa masyado

Stacy Bernardo:
Whatever!

Napaisip ako bigla kung ganito ba ako kaselosa kay Jen noong nagkita sila ulit ni Nico? Parang hindi naman. Pero kahit na, there is something going on between me and Nico. Pero kay Stacy at Royce? Wala naman. Malala na ata ang kaibigan ko.

The next few days I just decided to think of a topic on our Thesis. Ilang araw na rin ako naghihintay sa message ni Cali, pero wala pa rin. I guess I'll just ask her tomorrow, sana naman magsalita na siya.