Falling in Instant

Prologue

The first time I uttered your enticing name, I knew for sure that you already caught my attention. It may be sound silly, but it's like a magic spell casted over me. 'Cause how can someone possibly like a person by just reading his name for the first time?

Well, I'm the only exemption in that case.

The only thing I remembered while mouthing every single letter of your name was like a phrase in a poetry. A part that I could read all over again and let it stuck in my head without forgetting.

Etheridge Knight Sanguine Steele.

It was mouthful to say. Your name consist of four words, but in my head, it talks about how domineering and mysterious it was. I could also sense superiority on it but above all, it was soothing to pronounce your name.

"He's a Fil-Am. Ang guwapo niya no? Parang main character sa k-drama?" Cohen whispered behind my ears when she saw me staring at the guy. I cleared my throat because of embarassment but I still manage to have a side glimpse on him. I know that he's american. Halata naman sa mukha at apelyido pa lang.

Kanina ko pa minamata ang lalaki ngunit alam kong hindi lang ako ang gan'on sa loob ng klase namin. Wala pa kasi kaming instructor sa subject na Enhanced Communication Skills. It was our second morning class for the second week of first semester.

In my peripheral vision, I saw other girls looking behind his back. Pinagpapantasiyahan ang presensiya ng lalaki at wala itong kaalam-alam sa mga iyon.

He was obviously oblivious because his attention was focused with one of our classmates. Halos hindi nga ito lumilingon sa paligid. They look causal with each other. Kahit pa nga seryoso ang mukha ng lalaki ay makikita pa ring komportable ito sa kausap. Samantalang mahinhing tumawa ang babae nang minsang may sinabi ang lalaki sa kaniya.

Dahil sa matagal na pagtitig ay hindi ko namalayang napatagal pala ang tingin ko rito. His eyes suddenly diverted on me. Because of unanticipated interaction, it was too late to look away so I just gave him a soft smile. Ngunit hindi man lang ito ngumiti pabalik at nag-iwas lamang ng tingin.

Napasimangot ako dahil sa reaksiyon niya. I was irritated because my politeness was ignored.

Ang sungit!

Mabuti na lang at dumating na si Ma'am Dela Peña kaya naman natuon doon ang atensyon ko. Kaniya-kaniyang nagsipasukan ang mga kaklase kong nakatambay sa labas at ang mga nagdadaldalan malapit sa bintana. Paano ay strikta ang instructor namin na 'to sa online class. Ngayon pa lang din namin siya mami-meet in person dahil online class pa kami noong una at noong schedule niya ng face to face ay hindi siya umattend. Asynchronous kasi ang arrangement ng schedule ng college namin.

"We'll be having a sitting arrangement in my subject," litanya nito. My classmates suddenly groaned because they are against of it. Kahit ako man ay ayaw ko rin. Iilan pa lang kasi ang close ko sa section namin. Aside from Cohen and Ezra, I don't know anyone from the class. But it was a good thing because we have the chance to interact and communicate with one another and eventually create friendship.

We stood up from our seats to go in front. Binabanggit na kasi ni Ma'am isa-isa ang apelyido ng mga magkakatabi. Napansin kong nasa unang row si Cohen dahil Avila ang apelyido nito. While Ezra sat on the second row despite of her last name Javier.

"Sarmiento, Steele, Tamayo, Uriel, Ventura, Villamor and Villarta on the last row," she said. I motioned my self and meekly walked on my respective chair even though my whole system bewildered knowing the fact that I will be sitting beside Entheridge.

I tried to focus my eyes in front but I was too distracted and hesitant not to look at the man next to me. Sa picture ko pa lang nakita ang lalaki. I was really curious with him to the extent I stalked his profile on facebook. And I could tell that he's more good-looking in person.