The Man in Strings

:lost in time:

"E 'di okay," Student shrugged. "Confused ako ngayon. Sooner or later mawawala rin 'to. Ikaw kasi, nauna 'yung kasiguraduhan mo. Ano ka ngayon?"

"Tanga," Prof nodded. "Alam ko naman."

"Eh bakit mo pa ako tinawag dito?"

"Wala, para 'di ako mukhang kawawa."

"Kahit samahan kita rito, mukha ka pa ring kawawa. Ano ba nangyari?"

"I slept with her."

"Sinong her? Dalawa sila."

"Not in my heart."

Katahimikan.

Sa table nila, ah. Hindi sa buong lugar.

"O...kay? You're shitty, Anderson. I don't even know why I attend your classes."

"Ulol," pinitik ni Prof si Student sa noo. Ang cute naman nila. Even the bickering. Ang cute pala mag-usap ng mga lalaki? "Ibagsak kita dyan eh."

"Okay lang," Student shrugged. "I can take your classes again. You can't take back your decisions."

"Salamat, ha?" Prof sarcastically said. "You're being really helpful, kid."

"Hiwalayan mo na kasi," Student's mood suddenly changed and went serious. Hala. Teleserye. Maglive-tweeting na kaya ako for more followers? "Kawawa naman si Ma'am Mia."

"I can't leave her."

"E 'di iyong isa ang iwanan mo."

"I'd.. die."

"OA mo, Sir."

"Hindi mo ako maiintindihan. You're not wearing my shoes."

"Kaya nga," Student sighed. "Pero kaya mo nga ako kinakausap kahit mas bata ako sa'yo, 'di ba? For a better perspective. Clouded ka kasi ng nararamdaman mo."

"You're the one to talk, ha. Good kid."

"Huwag mong ibaling sa akin ang usapan. I'm not the pathetic drunkard here. And the one with raging hormones he can't stop."

"Hindi pa ako lasing. And why do you sound like a smartyass tonight? You used to idolize me."

"That's because I haven't seen the real you," Student's head hung low. "Or I haven't seen myself in you, Sir."

"Is that you telling me indirectly we're soulmates? You're disgusting."

"I'm not the one who slept with two different women."

"I haven't slept with the sun lately."

"Lately. Lately. Akala ko naman in months. Gaano ka-lately ang lately?"

"I don't know."

"Bakit hindi mo alam?"

"Siya lang ang nakikita ko."

"Sinong siya? Tangina naman, Anderson. Huhulaan ko pa kung sino 'siya' at 'siya'?"

"I can't say her name. Pinipilit kong huwag na siyang isipin."

"So kapag sinabi mong siya, you're referring to the moon?"

"My moon."

"Tch. Saw her with you on the hallway."

"And?"

"You're being such a dick."

"Du'n ako magaling, eh."

"Why hurt her, anyway?"

"Because she used to hurt me."

"So you're hurting her as a payback?"