How Do We Live?

Chapter 11: Semi-Permiable

Pagkarating sa tapat ng Starbucks ay nakita ko agad si Rahim sa corner mula sa glass wall noon. Kinawayan ko siya bago ngumiti. The normal Rahim roll his eyes on me kaya naman agad din akong napasimangot.

I got inside the shop at ang amoy ng kape ang agad kong nalanghap. Something is really enticing to study inside the coffee shop. Siguro ay dahil adik nga naman ako sa kape. And all of this pressure and consciousness you have inside a shop dahil hindi lang ikaw ang naroroon.

I walk towards Rahim and saw something's off. Hindi nakalagay sa gilid niyang upuan ang mamahalin niyang bag. It is place on the side of the table, nasandal doon sa glass wall. I just shrug it off at umupo sa harapan niya and places my stuff on the other seat beside me.

"Hello." I greeted at him and grab my cup of java chip at sumimsim doon. I saw how he frown a little at me bago sinilip ang upuan sa gilid niya at kinuha ang bag niya roon at ibinalik sa usual noong pwesto, sa upuan sa gilid niya.

"Bakit?" I ask him with all those weird thing with him today. He rolls his eyes on me once again. Dinilaan ang labi bago ituro ang tinapay sa gilid.

"Did you have your lunch?" Tanong niya kaya naman agad akong tumango.

"Good. We'll eat later. For now, study." Saad niya at kinuha ang isang fine limer niya at sinimulan na mag-annotate sa isang printed pdf copy ng isang reading niya siguro and of course, Rahim with his Ipad.

I gather some of my things and such to start reviewing. Inayos ko ang iilang mga compilation ko, lalo na iyong mga drawing para sa bio ko para maipasa na sa susunod na buwan. I pop my Ipad open too and start making some compress copy of my new lesson.

Palihim kong sinisilip si Rahim sa gilid ko kaya naman hindi na ako nagulat to see him in his usual long sleeves attire. Lagi siyang mayroong dress shirt sa ilalim with all his neutral and dark color long sleeves that he has. Kung hindi long sleeves polo, dress shirts, halos puro pormal na. Mayroon pa ngang mga araw na naka corporate attire siya.

And we just sit there in silence, engross in our own world but still know and aware in each other's presences. I don't know why but I feel so contented by how we spent hours of studying, and trying hard, or at least me, try hard to ignore Rahim. After the study, when it's atleast one and half hour before his sched for the day, we will eat in the fast food just across the street.

We continue that routine for days and I know, deep down in my subconscious, I'm looking forward for it almost every single day. Hindi ko alam, but I find it very amusing to see improvement in me.

I no longer procrastinate things, I aced some of my exams. My recits and all of that. I became more sufficient to my study habits, or at least our study routine. I should be thankful for!

I was humming to a Taylor Swift's song as I walk down Intramuros. Naabot ko ang Starbucks after an hour or less and I'm happy because I have the highest score in our outputs!

Nang matanaw ang Starbucks sa labas ay agad kong namataan si Rahim sa usual na inuupuan naming but to my surprise he was not alone. There is this girl sitting beside him. Not in my usual place but beside Rahim.

Napatigil ako sa pagpasok dahil doon. I gulp on my own as I scan the both of them. The girl is holding a thick book; codal I guess. With those round glasses like a dork, formal attire and a very sleek and black hair.

I scan over Rahim and he is not even talking with the girl. He's there in his normal state. Writing on his yellow pad, focus and not minding the place. Ang bag niya ay nasa gilid at nakasandal sa glass wall ng shop. So is that why the bag was there everytime? Is he waiting for the girl?