Prologue
“Henry…”
“Customer Henry…”
Someone stopped typing on his keypad phone when the cashier called his name. He stood up and went to the cashier counter to get his frappe. He paid seventy five pesos and went out from the tea shop.
Nakangiti siya habang naglalakad papasok sa kaniyang paaralan. Katapat lang kasi ng University na pinapasokan niya ang Tea Shop kaya walking distance lang ito.
Napahigpit ang hawak niya sa paper bag ng mapansin nanaman ang mga tingin sa kaniya ng mga students. Sanay na siya sa ganitong esksena dahil araw-araw nangyayari sa kaniya ito, ngunit minsan hindi maiwasan na hindi sila mapansin.
He’s a scholar student in the University and because of that reason almost all of the students in the University were bullying him. Because most of all students in the University were rich or second generation or have title in their names. In this University, scholar students were peasant in the eyes of the rich students. They wanted to finish their studies in this school so they could only endure.
“Hey, peasant…”
He stopped when someone called his name and put his arm around his neck that choked him. Nagpumiglas siya at hinampas-hampas ang braso ng lalaking sumasakal sa kaniya. Bumitaw ang lalaki at itinulak siya na muntik ng matumba. Napaubo siya at namumula na rin ang kaniyang mukha dahil sa sakal ng lalaki.
“Anong…” ito lang ang nasabi niya dahil hindi pa rin nawawala ang pag-uubo niya.
“Ano ‘yang hawak mo? Akin ba ‘yan?” Kukunin na sana ng lalaki ang hawak niyang paper bag ng agad siyang tumalikod at tumakbo palayo sa lalaki.
Napalayo na siya at buti naman ay hindi siya nasundan ng lalaki. P-tang lalaking 'yon! Muntik na akong mapatay. Binuksan niya ang paper bag at tiningnan kung okay pa ba ito. Napabuntong hininga siya ng makitang puno pa rin ang milk tea.
Ibibigay niya ito sa kaniyang kasintahan dahil paborito niya ito at ngayon na rin ang kanilang pangatlong monthsary kaya isu-supresa niya ito. Nagkakilala silang dalawa sa loob ng library, noong nag-aaral siya para sa darating na prelim exam nila ng tumabi si Yena – ang girlfriend niya – sa kaniya. She caught his eyes dahil sa maganda ito at palangiti at mabait. Naging malapit silang dalawa at mas lalo nilang nakilala ang isa’t isa.
Nag sign-in muna siya bago pumasok sa dormitory ng mga girls. Pumasok siya sa elevator at naghintay na huminto ito sa tamang palapag. Pagkabukas nito ay lumabas na siya at tinunggo ang room ni Yena.
Nasa tapat na siya ng pinto at bumuntong hininga muna bago kumatok. Ngunit bago niya ito magawa ay may narinig siyang ingay mula sa loob.
“What about The Peasant? Are you still going out with him?” Boses ito ng lalaki kaya nanlaki ang mga mata nito.
“The Peasant? Huh.” She sneered, and hearing that voice strucked a lighting in his heart. “That peasant is so foolish. He thinks that I’m serious with him. Haha. In his dreams. Did you know, I have to sanitize my hands and took a bath for almost an hour when he is near? Ew.” His breath heaved because of what he just heard. “Besides, I have to endure with him because of a bet. One hundred thousand a month being with him and so I won three hundred thousand.” His fist clenched. “He is just my toy and you are the one I love. So, Liam, why are you talking about him? Why don’t we just continue our business?”
“Hm… Yeah, sounds good.” Liam said and after that their moans could hear even outside the room.
He just stayed outside the door listening to their moans and whatever. His fist clenched igniting his vines. He sighed and left the milk tea outside the room. He left the room feeling disgusted and betrayed.
