Some of my classmates laughed.
I apologetically smiled at my professor. "I'm sorry po, Sir..."
"As they say, Mr. Yu, an apology doesn't always cut it. You know our class rules. Hand your phone over to Mr. Caliente."
I hesitated momentarily before handing my mobile phone to the guy beside me who looked as uneasy as I was.
"Sorry, Tol..." he whispered before he cleared his throat. "Mrs. Yu, hindi na ako makapag-concentrate sa klase ko kasi alam kong galit ka at gusto kitang makausap. Paano na lang future natin kung hindi ako makaka-graduate on time? Paano na lang 'yung plano natin na gumawa ng maraming babies?"
The whole class erupted in laughter.
My professor smiled. "Trouble with the wife?"
I nodded.
"Then listen to my lecture, para makagawa ng kayo ng maraming babies," he announced.
The whole class laughed again.
When my class ended, I tried calling my wife's number again but got the same canned reply.
"Ano ba naman, Mrs. Yu, nasaan ka na ba? Nakapatay ba talaga ang telepono nito o naka-block lang number ko?"
I decided to drive to the Shopping Center to buy a new SIM and some call credits for the new number.
Mrs. Yu, this is from the University Health Service, can you give us a call? This is about your husband.
A few seconds later, my wife called the new number.
"This is Gianna Yu, I am Redley Yu's wife. Anong nangyari sa asawa ko?" she asked, worry evident in her voice.
"Lalabs..." I softly said.
"Redley? Where are you? What happened?"
"Nandito ako sa may parking sa may Infirmary—"
"I'm on my way, okay?" she said. "H'wag kang umalis d'yan."
She did not even wait for me to reply and just ended the call.
I was waiting for her beside my parked car and I nearly smiled when she jumped off her car the moment the engine died. "Redley!" she called out running to me.
I opened my arms toward her and then pulled her into my embrace when she was close enough.
"Anong nangyari?" she urgently asked before she looked me over twice. "Red, kausapin mo ako. Aksidente ka ba? May rumble ba kayo? Saan ka tinamaan—"
I hugged her to my chest again. "Sorry..."
"Sorry for what? Sabihin mo sa akin kung anong nangyari. Ano ba kinakabahan na ako nang todo—"
"I'm fine."
"Where's your phone, bakit 'yung taga Health Services na ang nag-message?"
"I bought a new SIM because you ignored my calls and messages."
She stood immobile for a second before she pushed me off her. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she demanded hotly. "Alam mo bang halos liparin ko na itong Infirmary para lang makarating dito kaagad?"
"Sorry nga..." I said wrapping her in my arms again. "Hindi ko kasi alam kung ano ang gagawin ko. Umuwi ako ng bahay para tingnan kung nand'un ka. And when I checked your class schedule, I realized that you have four yours to kill before your next class kaya nag-alala ako."
"Ano ba, Red, minsan hindi ka nag-iisip—!"
"I know that it's my fault. Pero, hindi talaga ako mapalagay na hindi mo sinasagot 'yung mga messages at tawag ko after mong mag-walk-out. Hindi mo man lang ba naisip na sobrang nag-aalala sa'yo itong asawa mo?"
Chapter 5
Start from the beginning
