It Started in the Library (Completed and Editing)

Chapter 45: Naturiffic

Chapter 45: Naturiffic (Part 1)

I couldn't concentrate the whole time we were doing our focused-group discussion. Naroon ang katawan ko pero ang isip ko nasa singsing ko na nawawala. Ilang beses na tinatawag nila Issa yung attention ko sa nire-record ko na meeting pero sadyang nawawala ako.

"Kapag natapos tayo kaagad, balikan natin kung saan nahulog kagabi," Issa nudged me. Alam kong na-gu-guilty siya kasi siya ang nakahablot dun sa chain ko kagabi nang nagulat siya. Ayaw ko naming manisi kasi aksidente ang nangyari pero hindi ko mapigilang malungkot. Mahalaga sa akin ang singsing na yon.

I nodded and tried to smile at her. "Sige, bilisan na lang natin."

It's our last day sa field kaya nagkukumahog ang lahat ng grupo for any last minute data gathering. Maayos naman naming nagawa yung mga interviews namin at yung group discussion. Pati yung photo documentary at map-making ay tinulungan ako ni Nathan. He was surprisingly pleasant when he's quiet. 

Tinupad naman ng groupmates ko yung pangako nila na sasamahan akong maghanap nang matapos na namin yung data gathering. We spent the whole afternoon looking kahit na pinayagan kami nung prof namin na magliwaliw. Sinabi ko naman kila Mitch na ako na lang maghahanap para di sila mapagod pero in-insist nila na mas gusto nila akong tulungan maghanap.

Pero gumabi na ulit ay wala pa rin maski bakas ng aking singsing.   

"Sorry, Aya," Issa patted my shoulder. I shivered against the cold. It wasn't the ring that is important, but what it symbolizes for me. Biglang bumigat ang pakiramdam ko.

 Paano ko ito sasabihin kay Prince?

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I saw the blue Honda Jazz drive up to the the main entrance and had to suppress a sigh. He stopped right where I stood waiting for him. The window rolled down and his smiling face greeted me. Anak ng bagong sibol na kabute, alas-tres pa lang!

"Ready ka na?" He looked really excited. Nangingislap yung mga mata na parang bata. "Dali sakay ka na!" He got out of the car and took my backpack then proceeded to stuff it in the trunk of his car.

"A—" he took my arm and bodily dragged me to the passenger side.

"Bilisan mo Z, aabutan tayo ng trapik tapos ma-tra-trap tayo sa Katipunan. Sige ka, baka kainin kita sa gutom ko." Wait, wha-what?!

"Anong 'kala mo sa'kin?!" I thumped him on the head and he laughed out loud. He gave me a toothy grin.

"Hi Rin," Prince greeted me from the backseat. He wore an amused grin and I felt myself blush. Peste na palakang madaldal, nakakahiya talaga 'tong si A.

"Wear your seatbelt, ano ba yan?" Adam reached across my seat and snapped it on for me. "Hindi porke agent ka, invincible ka na."

"Kasi nga..." Ano ba, hindi ko na tuloy nasabi yung sasabihin ko! I saw Icen and Reaper walking by and they waved at me. Adam excitedly waved back before he turned to me.

"A, yung ano..."

"Excited na ko," he pinched my cheek. Syete, paano ka naman makakasingit sa madaldal na lechugas na 'to? At ang pesteng ngiti na yan.

It feels like a crime na i-turn-down siya. I could almost hear Jaguar's voice in my head.

'Know your priorities.'

"Hoy!" Napaigtad ako ng pinitik niya ang aking tenga. "Nakikinig ka ba, Z?"

"Aaargh!" I caught his ear and pulled it hard, "Anak ng kalabaw na pineste and laki ng problema mo!" He put one hand up para salagin ako.