I Love You, Prof.

Chapter One : First Meeting

Sheiia

Mataas na ang sikat ng araw nang magising ako. It feels like another ordinary day but I know that it's not. Today is the first day of class on my new school. Pang-ilang beses ko na ba itong paglipat ng school? Hindi ko na mabilang. I've been used in transferring to different schools since my third grade in elementary. Ngayon na third year college na ako, pang-apat na university ko na rin ito. I don't have any other choice but to go on with the flow since this is what my parents wanted me to do. My parents are rich, I must say, very, very rich. And that's one of the reasons why I always transfer. They say that they are just being protective, but in my own language, they are being manipulative.

Well, first day nga ng klase ngayon but I don't feel excited. I'm sure panibagong adjustment na naman ito. I hate to be a stranger again. But then, kahit naman ngumawa ako dito e wala na rin naman akong magagawa. My feelings are and will never be important to my parents. They never bother to ask me what I really wanted ever since.

Before I forget, my name is Sheiia Lerise Ricafort. My father is half British American while my mother is pure Filipina, a former international ramp model. People say that I take most of my mother's look. Mas lamang daw yung genes ni Mommy kung pagbabasehan ang appearance ko. Yun nga lang, I got my fair complexion from my father, as well as his nose and eyes. Lahat na ng meron sa physical features ko mula ulo hanggang paa, namana ko na kay Mommy.

I glanced at the wall clock in my room. Past seven in the morning na pala. I decided to take a bath bago pa ako pasukin ng yaya ko sa aking kwarto. Yes, I have a yaya since I'm a baby. May kaniya-kaniya kaming yaya since our parents are very busy. Ang totoo nga nyan, parang si Yaya pa ang nanay ko since she takes care of me well. Well, it doesn't matter as long as I can feel that I'm being loved.

There's just this one person that shows her obvious hostility towards me, no other than my sister. Keirah Eunice Ricafort, the eldest at 26 and has no plans of settling down yet, is the family's favorite. Siya and expected na susunod sa yapak ng Daddy namin. She's really workaholic, at sa totoo lang ay ilag ako sa kanya. She's so strict, aloof and perfectionist. Why not, she's a cracking beauty and brains. She got her looks from Dad's genes.

After 25 minutes, tapos na akong maligo at ayusin ang sarili ko. I need to make this fast dahil ayaw na ayaw ni Dad nang may nahuhuli sa hapagkainan. Bumaba na ako at exactly 7:30. Breakfast time. Kumpleto na ang lahat nang makababa ako, it seems ako lang ang late.

"It's your first day of class, why woke up late?" Parang military general ang tatay ko kapag ako ang kausap. He's so stiff and he sound so authoritative. Kapag ako ang kaharap, para itong judge sa Supreme Court na may bibitayin anytime.

"I'm sorry, Dad." Yukong-yuko ang ulo ko sa takot na masunog ng nagbabagang tingin ni Daddy. I cannot look directly into his eyes. Nakakatakot siya. Ilang taon ko na ring inalagaan ang takot dito sa puso ko. Takot sa Daddy ko.

"Next time, wake up early. You're 19 now, you should act according to your age. Napakairesponsable mo at walang disiplina sa sarili." Gustuhin ko mang tumawa sa basag na Filipino accent ng aking ama, mas pinili ko nalang na tumahimik at tiisin ang mga sinasabi nito. More or less, alam ko na ang susunod niyang sasabihin. "Look at your sister, Keirah. She's always busy but she manages her time well. Why not be like her? Walang-wala ka sa ate mo." Sarcasm, comparison and direct insult are written all over his face. It was more than a criticism.

"Dad, don't be rude. Let us not spoil Shii's first day. Dapat nga, we'll wish her God bless since this is her new school. At saka, Shii's not Keirah so there's no need of comparison." Maybe the fact that Kuya Gid wears our father's face shuts up our father every time na pinagtatanggol ako ni Kuya. One of the things I'm really thankful. He's the only one who calls me Shii. Sa lahat ng tao dito sa bahay, siya yung pinaka-close ko.

"Gideon's right, darling. Saka isa pa, nasa harap tayo ng pagkain. Let's just eat." And maybe kahit hindi kami close ng mommy ko, I can still feel that she cares for me. Tahimik lang ang Ate Keirah ko but I know she's disgusted with me too, just like our father.

Palabas na ako ng bahay at papuntang kotse when my father called me.

"What's with your dress, Sheiia? Can you please choose an elegant one? Nagmumukha kang teenager sa kalsada dyan sa suot mo."

What's wrong with jeans and shirt? And sneakers? Is he expecting that I'll be wearing a Filipiniana gown, or an evening gown? Minsan, hindi ko alam pero napakaimposible ng tatay ko. Parang lahat ng galaw ko para sa kanya ay mali.

"Don't bother. You go now." Sinundan ko nalang siya ng tingin papalayo. Sometimes, I wish my father never learned to speak Filipino. Pakiramdam ko kasi, mas masakit ang pintas na Tagalog kesa sa Ingles.

"You go na baby, first day mo ngayon diba? You take care, okay? Never mind Dad at wag magpaligaw, ha pretty?" Kuya Gid kissed me on my forehead and then went to his own car. He drives his Bugatti while Ate Keirah has her Porsche. Ako lang ang may driver with my Chevy.

"Alis na tayo, Lerise. Baka mahuli ka na anak." Tinanguan ko nalang ang aking yaya, si Nanay Helen. She's my yaya since birth. She never married dahil masyado daw siyang nalibang sa pag-aalaga sa akin. She's more than a real mother to me.

********************

Medyo marami na rin ang mga students when I arrived at school. Eight in the morning palang, thirty minutes before my class. Umupo muna ako sa isang bench doon. Nagpamusic nalang ako using my phone and my earphone just to kill time. I feel so bored. Kung bakit kasi hindi pwedeng gumising ng tanghali since eight-thirty pa naman ang first class ko. I decided to go to the library kaysa tumunganga dito sa hallway ng school.

"Ooopppss!" Ayun, sa sobrang pagka-absent minded ko, may nabangga tuloy akong tao. The person is tall, I think nasa 5'10 ito compared to my 5'6 na height. At first look, akala ko lalaki sya since maikli ang buhok at naka long-sleeve polo na panlalaki. Dun ko lang narealize na babae pala siya when I've got to see her close.

"I'm sorry." She seemed nice naman kasi after niyang magsorry, tinulungan niya akong pulutin ang mga nahulog kong gamit. When I looked at her closely, isa lang ang nagregister sa isipan ko. HANDSOME WOMAN.

"Sorry talaga. Nagmamadali kasi ako, I need to be on time for my class. Sorry again and see you." Yun lang at tumakbo na ito palayo sakin. Ako naman, I was left dumbfounded. Wow, it seems that my heart stopped for a while and made me breathe harder. Klase? Estudyante din kaya siya? She looks so manly and mature despite the fact that she's a woman. She's definitely a total head turner.

Damn. I feel so weird, bigla akong nakaramdam ng kakaibang interes sa isang tao, lalo na sa isang babaeng mukhang lalaki at di ko naman siya kilala. Ang weird lang talaga.

Eight-thirty. Tahimik akong pumasok sa assigned room namin. Nag-iingay pa ang mga kaklase ko since wala pa naman ang Professor namin. I sat at the vacant seat near the window. Good thing, tahimik ang katabi kong babae cause she's busy on her phone. Yong iba naman, tingin ng tingin sa akin. Stranger again! How I hate this awkward feeling.

Oo nga pala, I'm taking Business Administration. Just like what my father wants me to take. Syempre, pati ba naman ito mapalalampas niya diba? Nang mapatingin ako sa katabi ko, di ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. Should I smile or what? I don't know her kasi kaya I don't have any idea kung paano siya pakikitunguhan. Then, ngumiti siya sabay lapag ng phone kaya napangiti nalang din ako.

"Hi, transferee ka ba? My name is Vera." Her beauty can withstand the crowd. She has this pair of eyes that could give you a shiver, it's very sensual and mesmerizing. She also has a slender body and a very captivating height. Her smile looks genuine kaya medyo nabawasan ang
uneasy feeling ko.

"Ah, oo. I'm Sheiia Lerise." Iyon lang ang kaya kong isagot sa tanong nito. So much for trying to avoid a conversation. Hindi ko na rin binanggit pa ang family name ko including my former school. Ayokong may nagtatanong tungkol sa buhay ko. Mas mabuti na wala silang alam. Sabi nga, the more you know, the greater the chance to be involved. And I don't want it to happen.

Magtatanong pa sana ito nang may pumasok sa room namin, ang babaeng nakabangga ko kanina! To my greatest shock, nagsitayuan ang mga kaklase ko and greeted her in chorus.

"Good morning, Prof!"