As You Lie Awake

CHAPTER 6: STOP IT

"Maraming salamat, Violet. Thank you for being a model student. Mula ngayon ay maipapangako ko sa'yo na hinding-hindi na iyon mauulit. Not with you, not with anyone. I will be a righteous and ethical professor now," wika niya. I silently hope that he will be true to his words. Kung saan man siya pag-alis niya ng AU, sana lang ay totohanin niya ang kanyang pangako. I cannot confirm it personally lalo na at nagbabalak na pala itong umalis ng AU.

"I hope you will be true to your words, Sir." I smiled at him again at nagpaalam na.

Masaya ako sa nangyari. Kahit na medyo naiilang pa rin ako sa kanya, it's a relief that we are fine now. Hindi ako nagtagal doon at agad na nagpaalam sa kanya.

Binuksan ko ang pinto at lumabas ng classroom. Muntikan na akong napasigaw nang may nakatayong lalaking nakaitim doon. It was Semper.

"Ilang beses mo ba akong gugulatin?!" I shouted at him. He was standing against the wall, right behind the door. One hand was in his pocket, the other on the wall.

"Did I?"

I rolled my eyes. Sabagay, he didn't intentionally surprise me. Nakatayo lang naman siya doon. Napansin kong wala na ang pasa sa mukha niya at ang ilang galos sa braso niya.

"Your bruises are healed." He moves his lips like he is agreeing to what I am saying. "Saan ka galing? Bakit ngayon ka lang dumating? Are you absent in all your classes today? You missed our quiz. Katatapos lamang ng klase natin."

Sandali, ako ba ang nagtanong ng mga katanungan na iyon?!

"I rested to treat my wounds and body pain."

"Sino naman ang nag-alaga sa'yo? Girlfriend mo?" I didn't want to open up the girlfriend thing but look, I just did. I wanna punch myself real hard.

"Why are you asking?"

"Masama bang magtanong?"

"No."

"Hindi naman pala eh."

"No, I wasn't taken care off by my girlfriend." Okay. His NO was the answer to my previous question. Thank you, Semper.

"Ah, I see," wika ko. Nauna na akong maglakad. It's so awkward. Attention of the people around were on us right now. Naglalakad kasi ako sa corridor and behind me was Semper. And yeah, we're talking. "You missed our class."

"Yeah."

"Hindi ba magagalit ang girlfriend mo kapag ganoon?" I almost bite my tongue. Bakit ko na naman binuksan ang usapan tungkol sa girlfriend niya?!

"Hindi."

"Ah." If that would be me, siguro hindi nga ako magagalit pero hindi naman mabuting pabayaan niya ang pag-aaral niya.

I don't know what's his deal kung bakit madalas kaming nag-uusap lately. I don't think he's the friendly-type kaya imposibleng isipin na nais lang niyang makipagkaibigan sa akin ang rason ng paglapit niya.

Nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad ngunit bigla akong napahinto at nilingon si Semper na nakabuntot pa rin sa akin. "Bakit mo ako sinusundan?"

"I find the direction of where you are heading to... interesting," sagot niya. Papunta ako sa gate dahil aalis ako sa campus.

"I'm going to church." Nais ko kasing magpasalamat dahil ayos na kami ni Sir Neo. I've been praying for it for a long time at ngayon ay dininig na ang panalangin ko.

"Let's go." Semper walks forward, passing me. Let's go? He is going with me?

"Sinong may sabi sa iyo na isasama kita?" Tanong ko sa kanya at hinabol siya. Hinila ko ang laylayan ng damit niya at agad siyang humarap sa akin. Yes, he's still wearing all-black outfit.