"Imposible. Wala nang makakatalo sa tindi nitong pagmamahal ko sa'yo."
She leaned away from me to pinch my ear. "'Yan ang problema sa'yo, Lalabs, eh, ang hirap mong awayin, alam mo kasi kung paano ako landiin."
"Siyempre naman, pinag-aralan ko talaga kung paano landiin ang misis ko."
"O, s'ya, nagbobolahan na tayo rito. Pinagtitinginan na tayo ng ibang estudyante. Sabay ba tayong mag-la-lunch?"
"Hindi. Sorry. May emergency meeting ako, eh, mauna ka na kasi ayokong magutuman ka."
She scowled at me.
"Kasi kung hihintayin mo pa ako, baka late na matatapos 'yung meeting ko. Medyo nag-ra-rush kami ngayon dahil may tatlong kaming magkasunod na events. 'Tsaka 'yung sa Frat Ball, hindi pa namin naaabot 'yung target naming funds."
"H'wag ka na nga..." she grumbled.
"Lalabs naman, alam ko kayang may klase ka nang ala una ng hapon. Pero, malay mo maagang matatapos 'yung meeting ko with my officers kaya makakahabol ako."
"H'wag mo na akong paasahin. Ilang beses mo na akong pinaasa, eh, pero hindi ka naman dumadating."
"Sorry na po, Mrs. Yu."
"Hay naku, kung hindi lang talaga kita mahal..."
I leaned forward to kiss her on the lips.
"Redley, ano ba, h'wag naman in public," she said after we kissed.
"Gusto kitang halikan, eh."
"H'wag naman 'yung tipong SPG, pang-General Patronage lang kapag nasa labas tayo."
I kissed the tip of her nose.
"Pwede na ba 'yun?"
She nodded grinning before she pulled my face towards her for a quick kiss.
"O, akala ko ba...?"
"Smack lang naman, h'wag kang choosy, Mr. Yu," she jestingly said.
We walked hand in hand to her classroom.
"Pasok ka na..." I said as we stopped in front of the door.
She wrapped her arms around me tightly.
"Ano, sit in ba ako?" I kidded.
"Pwede ka ba?"
"Sorry, Lalabs, hindi, eh."
"Okay," she quietly said before she waved goodbye.
I watched her as she took her seat. She was visibly unhappy but she smiled widely at me when she saw me looking.
"Sige na. Love you!" she mouthed.
I gave her a flying kiss and then walked away.
My wife was right when she said that I could have refused the position and I wasn't lying when I told her that I wanted to impress her. I was so grateful to be warmly welcomed into her family that I knew I would probably do everything they'd ask. Not that they ever asked for favors. But, I really couldn't say no to my father-in-law's request when he casually mentioned that I should take the helm of the frat.
"Ako, Red, LC ako noon. Pati itong sina Blue at Cyan, mga LC din ang mga 'yan ng frat n'ung panahon nila. Itong sina Garnet at Indigo lang ang hindi sumunod sa yapak ko. Mas gusto kasi ng dalawang 'yan, chill-chill lang," my father-in-law had told me when I was just a neophyte in my fraternity.
"Nakita ko nga po ang mga pangalan ninyo sa Roll of Lord Chancellors, Dad."
"Oo. 'Tsaka ngayon hindi na gan'un kagulo ang fraternities. Noong panahon namin naku, paluan ng tubo kaliwa't kanan. At least ngayon medyo tamed na dahil may mga batas na about fraternities and sororities at lalo ring naghigpit ang mga schools in regulating Greek-letter organizations."
Chapter 2
Magsimula sa umpisa
