The Touch of Eternal Sorrow (Altarieno Series #3)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"Hello, Kuya Rhys?"

I was in the middle of my last class when Leigh called. Actually, it wasn't just her. Pati ang kapatid ko at si Scott ay tumatawag sa akin. If I'm not mistaken, Tori also called.

This must be so important—kaya kahit busy ako sa pagle-lecture, sinagot ko na ang tawag.

"What's up?" Pabulong kong tanong. Hindi ako lumabas ng classroom. I was just hiding my phone on my lap.

"Kuya, what room are you in?" She seems to be on rush, I wonder why.

"Audi..." Sagot ko. "May problema ba?"

She sighed. "Dadaanan kita. Sabay na tayo. Lolo has announcement daw. We should go to the mansion right away."

Announcement?

He did not tell me anything about it, though.

Sumilip ako sa orasan. May isang oras pang natitira for this class. I can't afford to lose it.

"Susunod na lang ako, Leigh."

"Kuya, this is really important... Lolo said so. Besides, Tito Harry himself asked for you. The whole fam's gonna be there."

A wild guess. Sasabihin na ni Lolo ang tungkol sa cancer niya and you know... little planning about the inheritance and all—which I am not interested with.

Pero tama nga, kung hindi ako pupunta, baka sabihin nila ay feeling entitled ako because I have this special connection with Lolo. Well, I surely do have some ngunit ayaw ko nang i-broadcast pa iyon.

Wala rin namang special treatment or anything. I am hardly against it.

"Nasa tapat na ako ng audi, Kuya. Magpaalam ka na. We have to go."

"Alright. Hold on..." I ended the call and raised my hand. Nagdi-discuss naman ang aming prof kaya agad niya akong napansin.

"Yes, Mister?"

"Altarieno." Saad ko. "Bathroom break, Sir."

Tumaas agad ang kaniyang kilay.

"Are you sure na bathroom break lang?"

I nodded.

Alam kong hindi niya ako papayagan if I will say that I have to go home. Bahala na bukas.

"Okay, go."

Dali-dali kong binitbit ang mga gamit ko. Tumayo na rin ako only to hear this frustrating request.

"Leave your things here."

Can't he just discuss and ignore me? "Excuse me?"

"Bring your things down. CR lang, hindi ba?"

"I don't have drugs inside my bag."

"Walang nagsabing mayroon."

"Didn't you mention that presumption from day one?" Iyan ang patunay na nakikinig talaga ako. Lahat daw ng lalabas nang may dalang bag while class hours ay may tinatagong shabu sa bag. Ewan ko kung saan niya nakuha iyon. Baka gawain niya rin mismo.

I pinned my lips. Nagkibit-balikat ako.

"Okay..." Hinagis ko ang bag ko sa kinauupuan ko kanina since hindi pa naman ako masiyadong nakakalayo. Hindi ko naman plano makipagtalo at gawin itong big deal. "I'll go now, Sir. Excuse me."

Hindi na siya nakaimik kaya nakalabas ako nang payapa sa auditorium.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag.

That professor is one of the strictest. Kulang na lang ay kuhanan ka niya ng barangay clearance bago ka makapasok sa kaniyang klase. Akala mo namang lahat ay willing pumasok sa subject niya.