My Professor is an Eyesore

Lesson 26

"Girls, walang mag-aaway. Be mature," babala ng propesor namin.

"I think Genera's needing a seminar on How to Get Away with Immaturity." I heard some snickers in the room. I cast a final distasteful look at her and directed my attention to our prof.

Bumuntong-hininga na lang si Mrs. Cortez. Well, it's true. Hopeless case kami ni Genera. As much I would want to strangle her I should not step down to her level.

Pagkatapos ng class namin sa Filipino, lumabas ako ng room para magpahangin. The longer the time I spend in a same room with Genera, the more I have this urge to kick her ass. Ayaw ko nang ma-stress dahil sa kanya. Bakit pa kasi kami magkaklase pati dito? 

I was so lost in my thoughts that I bumped into something...

"Ouch!" sabi ko sabay tingin sa kung anong bumangga sa akin.

So... I bumped into someone. 

"Cheska! Sorry! I was walking too fast, hindi kita napansin agad pagkaliko ko." It's Sir Neil. He held both of my shoulders and checked me. "Did I hurt you somewhere?" 

I felt the warmth of his hands on my shoulders. The grip was not too loose and not too tight. It was a securing one. I just shook my head and grimaced.

"Looks like something is wrong ah? Want to share? In an hour pa naman next class ko," sabi niya.

"No, thanks, I'm good naman," I replied and flashed a wide smile.

"You're faking it, Cheska. C'mon, we can talk in the caf." Hindi na ako nakatanggi sa kanya nang hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at nagsimulang maglakad papunta sa cafeteria.

Umupo kami sa pwesto na malapit sa cashier. "Wait a minute, I'll get coffee for us. What do you want?"

"White Mocha will do." 

Mga ilang minuto lang ang lumipas at bumalik na siya sa table namin dala ang mga kape. 

"What's up?" tanong niya. "Look, I am sorry what happened last night-"

"You did not do anything wrong, Sir. 'Wag kang mag-alala."

"I'm just worried I could have caused a fight between you and my cousin." Kitang-kita ko ang pagnuot ng noo niya. "Maybe I should distance myself from you."

"Hey," I touched his hand. "Hindi naman kailangan." Binawi ko agad ang kamay ko. "Sorry-"

"It's okay." Nagulat ako nang hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at saka tiningnan ang palad ko. Napatingin ako saglit sa paligid dahil baka mapag-usapan kami nang wala sa oras. "Just remember I am always here for you." He tapped his palm to my open palm.

"Thanks a lot. Lalo na when you share some information about RR. I barely know about him. And I think he has a lot of secrets that I do not know about. Or... I do not know. Baka paranoid lang ako." I buried my face into my hands. I remembered the conversation he had one night with his ex over the phone before.

"Cheska, calm down," he said while stroking my hair. "We'll deal with it one at a time. 'Wag kang masyadong ma-stress."

"He told me he broke up with her already pero hindi ko alam bakit hindi pa rin ako mapakali. Bakit feel ko hindi pa rin secured?" O bakit hindi ikaw, Sir Neil?