Secret Code (ON-GOING)

CHAPTER 2: HIDDEN THREADS

Lumapit ako sa teacher's table at umupo ro'n. Nang mabored ako, humiga ako doon at pinagmasdan ang kisame. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang magisip ng kung ano-ano tulad ng, "What happens next... after we graduate?"

I swayed my feet back and forth.

No one knows the answer to that question.

And actually, I'm not scared of leaving the university. I'm just scared of leaving the place where I grew up my entire life without a direction.

I don't even have a dream and I can't picture myself living "my best life". I'm not like everyone else who knows what they want already.

I admit, I excel at a lot of things like in music, art, programming, and academics. Pero kahit na gano'n, parang may kulang pa rin sa 'kin. Alam mo 'yung tipo ng ang dami kong gustong gawin, pero ni isa wala akong kaya panindigan. Because what if I fail?

Bumaba ako mula sa teacher's table at niligpit ang libro ko sa desk. Habang ginagawa ko 'yon, may nahulog na pulang papel mula sa pagitan ng pahina ng libro.

Napakunot ang noo ko dahil doon.

Pinulot ko ito at sinuri kung may nakasulat ba, pero mukhang blangko naman. Wala manlang ni kahit isang tanda ng marka dito. Papel lang naman 'to kaya hindi ko na inisip pa kung saan galingan 'yun at basta ko nalang sinilid 'yun sa bulsa ng uniform ko.

Pagkatapos kong mag-ayos ng mga gamit ay lumabas na ko ng silid.

Habang naglalakad ako palabas ng University, may isang lalaking nakasandal sa poste, malapit sa gate, ang nakaagaw ng atensyon. It wasn't his face that attracted my atention, but his I.D. It's a shame that you cannot read student names through their I.D. unless you exchange contacts with them. Because in this place, exchanging contacts is a sign of closure. And that's a big deal.

Binasa ko ang nakasulat sa I.D. niya.

------*------

President Delta

------*------

Sinuri ko ang kanyang hitsura mula ulo hanggang paa.

He had a fierce expression on his face which added to his sharp and unreadable eyes. His jet-black hair hung loosely over his brow, partially covering his eyes in an annoyingly perfect way. He wasn't that bulky, but wasn't that skinny either. He is tall and he carried himself like he's a person who didn't need to say much to be taken seriously. His presence alone was enough to make you think twice before even approaching.

Sa katunayan nga, mukha siyang masungit. Kaso lahat naman ng taga-Delta ay masusungit talaga. Well that's expected because they despise the higher sections. Dahil kahit anong pilit nilang umangat sa section ranking ng University, ay hindi talaga nila kaya. Not because they are not making any efforts, it's because mahirap lang talaga kalaban ang section na nasa itaas nila because of the performance gap. 

Kaya bago pa niya ako mapansin, umiwas na agad ako ng tingin at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad papunta sa bus stop. Wala akong balak makipag-eye contact sa kaniya dahil wala na akong lakas para makipag-usap ngayong araw.

Pagkasakay ko ng bus, agad kong nilapit ang phone ko sa scanner.

Beep!

------*------

C-Value deduction successful.

Transaction complete. Enjoy your ride.