A Twist Of Misfortune

Chapter 6: Nebula

It's been three days since nakipag-deal sa akin si Primo. Feeling ko hindi naman niya sineryoso yun or baka nakalimutan na niya. My thoughts dwell on the happenings three days ago as I walk towards the Academy.

"Fine, it's a deal", I answered with determination.

"Good enough", he remarked.

Tumayo na siya at nagsimulang mag-ayos ng gamit. He showed me the way out of his office, leading ahead of me by two paces. Nang makarating kami sa pintuan ng External Affairs department, pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto kaya naman dali-dali na akong lumabas.

I was already walking along the corridor towards the staircase when he called out.

"Good luck, Seraphine."

Nawala ako sa aking flashback moments dahil nasa gate na pala ako ng Academy. I hastily scanned my ID for the daily attendance and went inside.

Naglakad ako sa quadrangle dahil ayokong dumaan sa soccer field at baka makita na naman ako ni Primo, because I have been hiding from him during the past three days, hehe. Umikot ako sa likod ng gymnasium at dumaan sa school garden when I noticed a person sitting on a bench.

"You thought you can hide from me?", those were the words that first came out of the persons lips. Tinitigan ko siya and oh my, siya yung tinataguan ko! Bakit siya nandito ha?

"Huy, ikaw pala 'yan hehe. Dito ako palaging dumadaan kaya!", depensa ko sa kanya. He just stared at me disbelievingly.

"We have a deal, right?", he suddenly asked. Naaalala pa din niya? I'm so gone! Tumango ako bilang sagot.

"Great", he said amusedly. "Leave your things to your friends, and come with me. No objections."

Ha? Me? Come with him? May reporting kami sa first sub, group meeting sa second, at assessment sa third, huy! Hectic maging HUMSS student ah! I shook my head violently.

"Ayaw", sagot ko habang naka-pout. "Madaming gagawin sa first three periods."

He tilted his head and looked at me curiously. May dumi ba mukha ko? Luh. He just looked at me for a moment or two before speaking.

"I already arranged things with Professors Ledeis, Panganiban, and Padayao. They said you can go as long as you leave your things with your friends."

Wala na akong choice kung hindi, syempre, dalhin siya sa room namin.

It was a good five minute walk since katabi lang halos ng building namin yung school garden. Umakyat kami on three sets of staircases, lahat yon ay may tumitili sa kanya. Mukhang tama nga ang chika ni Eunice at Fiona, sikat nga 'to.

Nasa tapat na kami ng room 301 nang sumenyas ako na 'diyan ka lang'. Huminto naman siya at dumiretso na ako sa room namin. Medyo maingay na dahil madami na akong mga kaklaseng narito. It also revealed my circle of friends na mukhang ako na lang ang hinihintay dahil nakatambay sila sa aking desk.

"Maaga nga, late pa rin naman compared sa amin", Lizette commented airily. The other three nodded.

"Uy andyan ka pala honey", pansin ni Gale. Ano na naman kayang kagagahan ng mga 'to?

"Ay oo nga! Come on baby, sit here", anyaya ni Fiona sa akin sabay tapik sa arm rest ng desk ko.

"Anong trip niyo?", tanong ko sa kanila. I looked at the curiously one by one as I waited for an answer.

"Ah wala naman, we just like being hospitable. Lalo na kapag may pogi sa pintuan", komento ni Eunice. Pogi? Sinong pogi?

As if on cue, the guy they were referring to cleared his throat, getting the attention of all my classmates. The result? Ayun, parang mga galing mental ang girls.

Primo entered coolly while he approached us. My friends looked at me as if questioning or blaming, hindi ko maintindihan.

"May ikukwento ka sa amin mamayang lunch break", bulong ni Lizette as Primo reached my desk. Gale and Fiona suddenly rose from their seats.

"Gotta go, malayo pa lalakarin ko eh hehe nasa kabilang ibayo pa Bio department", Gale said.

"First period ko World Politics, medyo madugo kaya kailangan ko mag-refresh ng terms", Fiona excused.

"'Bye Sky, we'll catch up later", they both said and went outside. Collegiate women and their excuses. Pasalamat kayo kasing ganda niyo ako!

"Miss Richelieu, can I ask you to take care of Seraphine's outputs for today?", Primo addressed my best friend.

Nakatingin ang mga kaklase ko sa amin, especially the girls. Either from jealousy or admiration, I don't know.

Lizette blinked twice before answering. Lutang si gaga. "Ah yes, sige", she said as she took my filer.

"Kami na bahala dito", Eunice added, smiling maliciously towards me. Mukhang maghihintay ng kwento 'tong mga to mamaya.

"Thanks", Primo said. "Shall we?", he asked me. I nodded slowly and he walked towards the door.

Sumunod na ako sa kanya kahit na nakatingin ang mga tao sa akin. Yumuko na lang ako para hindi ko sila maka-eye contact.

"Saan ba tayo pupunta?", tanong ko sa kanya. Hindi siya sumagot kaya binilisan ko ang lakad ko at inunahan siya. Huminto ako sa harapan niya kaya huminto rin siya.

"Hello, Mister Fuentes. Saan tayo pupunta?", tanong ko habang nakatingin sa kanya. Nakakangalay naman 'to! Ba't ba kailangan na maging five-four lang ako? Huhu.

"Call me by my name, don't be too formal", sagot niya sa akin.

"You are not answering my question, Lucas", I retorted. Mukhang nagulat siya dahil tinawag ko siyang Lucas. Hindi ba siya sanay na tinatawag siyang ganon? He stood stunned for a moment before regaining his senses.

"I told you to just follow what I am going to say, right?", he asked me back. Oh right. Isang buong school year akong nagpaalipin sa kumag na 'to.

He must have noticed the change in my expression because he said, "follow me to the parking lot."

Wala naman akong choice diba? So sumunod na lang ako papuntang parking lot. Naglakad lakad kami hanggang sa tumapat kami sa isang gray na Audi. Binuksan niya ito at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto sa backseat.

"Get in", he said imperiously. Pumasok na lang ako at sinara na niya iyon. Umikot na siya at pumasok sa driver seat.

"I see you are following rules. It's nice having a slave for a whole academic year, you know", he said amusedly. Aba! Alipin daw ang beauty ko? Shuta. Minsan na nga lang magsasalita nang mahaba 'to, nangiinsulto pa.

I gave him a glare from the backseat as he chuckled and started the engine. I'll admit, bagay sa kanya kapag tumatawa. He started driving towards the parking lot exit.

"Saan tayo pupunta? Hehe", tanong ko. No response.

Nakalabas na kami ng parking lot nang nagsalita siya.

"I understand that you are agitated towards your pending schoolworks", he started. "Pero naayos ko na sa profs mo 'yun", he added. Nagtatagalog ka pala eh pinapa-nosebleed mo pa ako!

I must've said it aloud as he laughed. Akala ko suplado lang 'to.

"Of course I speak the mother tongue. I was born a Filipino. Lumaki lang sa Cali", he declared. I nodded as my response.

"As for where we are going, gusto ko lang aliwin sarili ko, and perhaps you too", he continued.

"Let's go to the nearest mall. No ands, ifs, or buts."