Adria
"It's her!"
"'Wag kang maingay baka marinig ka," saway ng isa sa kasama nito na huli naman na.
"Yeah it is me, so what?" Tinaasan ko pa ng kilay ang dalawang babaeng nadaanan ko sa pasilyo bago muling nagpatuloy sa paglalakad patungo sa klase ko, na tila nasa pinakadulo ng kastilyo. Everyday I have to walk this long for each class. It's as if all the classrooms are located at the farthest end of each direction.
Limang araw na ang nakalilipas mula nang aksidenteng makatakas sa kulungan ang isang dragon na nagdulot ng gulo sa plasa ng Alquia. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang dahil sa pagmamalasakit ni Cyan sa mga naroon, walang ibang malubhang nasaktan bukod sa kanya. Right then and there, I discovered that he still has a heart after all. Ang suplado at masungit na lalaking 'yon ay may puso rin pala.
"Sorry, I'm late," anas ko nang sa wakas ay marating ang classroom.
Everyone's attention turned to me including our professor. "Ms. Serrano, seems that your habit of going to class in a very late manner is not such a good example." Professor Charmstein pointed out something which I'm already aware of.
Ang layo ng mga classroom sa bawat isa, ang gusto ko sanang isagot pero mas pinili kong sarilinin na lang 'yon.
"You have been coming late an awful lot of times since the beginning of class. Would you like me to let your senior guardian take note of your actions?"
"Don't do— I mean please don't do that, professor. I'm still adjusting, I need a little more time." It wasn't like me to beg, but I just did. All because I don't want something as trivial as this reach Cyan. Sigurado kasi akong hindi niya 'to palalampasin lang basta-basta.
The professor sighed. "Very well, but this is the first and last warning, Ms. Serrano. You may stand on the hall and think about your actions for now." Iyon lang at ipinagpatuloy na nang matandang babae ang pagsusulat sa pisara.
I was on my way out, when I noticed some of my classmates looking at me from head to toe while whispering and giggling at each other. Tinapunan ko sila nang nakamamatay na tingin na mabilis naman nilang iniwasan.
Gaya ng iniutos sa' kin, tahimik akong lumabas at tumayo sa pasilyo. Being punished to stand in the hall like this is as bizzare as being able to study magic in a different world. After all, I was untouchable in the world I came from. Any teacher that lays a hand on me immediately gets fired the next day.
"What a coincidence seeing you here." Muntik na 'kong mapatalon sa gulat. I turned around to check who the hell startled me, and to my dismay. "Mabuti na lang pala dito ako dumaan."
"Don't pester me." Pagtataboy ko sa lalaking ngiting-ngiti nang makita ako. "Move along and go somewhere else."
"Harsh," biro nito bago humalakhak." Sasamahan lang kita." Pinasadahan niya pa ng tingin ang buong pasilyo bago tumayo sa tabi ko. "I don't want you to be lonely," aniya kasabay ng isang kindat
"Mabuti ka pa, maraming libreng oras. Pwede kang magpakalat-kalat," I sarcastically exclaimed.
"I don't really have that much free time. Pero para sa 'yo kaya kong gumawa ng oras." Matiim na ang pagkakatitig ng berde niyang mga mata sa 'kin. "Even if it means I have to miss a class or two.
I averted my gaze. "You can't be serious, we just met a few days ago."
"And so? Can't we get to know each other?" bawi niya. "Don't tell me you like Cyan?" makahulugan niyang dugtong na hindi ko nagustuhan kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Sapat na siguro 'yon para malaman niya kung ano ang sagot ko. "Hindi mo 'ko kailangang iwasan." Inilahad niya ang palad. "We can be friends."
