Jillian Klairo
"Nerdy!" Malakas na bati ni Del Russo habang naglalakad ako palapit sa kanya. Kasalukuyan siyang nakaupo sa spot namin sa student center. Hindi ko naman maiwasang mahiya dahil napatingin sa akin ang halos lahat ng estudyante na naroon.
"Tumahimik ka nga, umagang-umaga." Singhal ko sa kanya at sumalampak ng upo sa katapat niyang upuan. Alas-diyes na ng umaga, katatapos lang ng dalawang period namin. Anatomy and Pathology, walang lecture pero nag-quiz kami, I was just so thankful that we studied last night because if we didn't, I would've failed that test. Sa tatlong beses ko na break ay nag-stay si Del Russo doon at sabay kaming naga-aral.
"Kape oh, pampalakas sa third period."
Hindi na ako sumagot at kinuha iyon na lamang iyon.
"Wala bang 'Thank you, napaka-gwapo na Del Russo sa kape'" Nang-aasar na naman na banat niya.
Inirapan ko ang may ngisi niyang mukha.
"Gosh, imagine the god complex that you would have once you're a Doctor." Sarkastiko kong sagot.
"Speaking of, hindi dapat ako magdo-doctor." Sabi niya habang nakatingin sa akin, as if waiting for me to respond. Which I wouldn't do and so, Hindi ako sumagot at ininom lang ang kape ko. Ngayon ay banat na ang kanyang itim na slacks dahil nakapatong ang ankle niya sa dulo ng kanyang hita. Kita ko din ang kanyang black shoes na paniguradong mas mahal pa sa tatlong buwan na renta ko.
He drammatically sigh.
"Dito 'yung part na magpe-pretend na may pake ka, Nerdy, you know." He tilted his head.
Dahan-dahan akong tumango at nilagok ang kape. Ngumising aso ako sa kanya.
"Oh, really? What was your alternative choice?" My tone was too attentive and sweet to be real.
Bahagya naman siyang tumawa at sandali na pinaraan ang kanyang kamay sa kanyang nakalugay na buhok.
"Biochemistry 'yung pre-med ko...so, I was gonna pursue Biochemical Engineering but I didn't."
"Oh, ba't di ka nag-engineer?"
Ngumisi naman siya.
"Wala e, mas panghatak sa chicks yung Dr. na title e." He clicked his tongue and winked at me. I rolled my eyes.
"Ang landi landi mo talaga." Iiiling-iling kong sagot at lumagok muli ng kape.
He chuckled lightly.
"Joke lang..gusto ko talaga mag-medicine...tsaka kung nag-Engineer ako, edi hindi mo ako makilala at hindi mo makkita ang gwapo kong mukha." He even caressed his chin.
I scoffed.
"Wala ka pang god complex sa lagay na yan ha?"
Ngumuso siya.
"Just stating the facts that you're not ready to face yet." He replied and winked.
Napadaing na lamang ako. He stretched his arm to reach for his cup, hindi ko naman napigilan ang mga pasaway kong mga mata na dumapo sa kanyang braso. He looks like he works out a lot because there are cords of muscles in his biceps, and string of veins in his forearm. ..I also can't help to notice how long his fingers are. Tumikhim ako. Nope, I shouldn't be thinking about that.
"Ikaw naman, bakit ka nag-med?" Tanong niya matapos niyang sumimsim sa kanyang kape.
Lumunok ako at nag-isip sandali kung sasabihin ko ba sa kanya o hindi but before I even contemplated deeper, I opened my mouth.
"My father died because of a sudden stroke...and at that moment, I just wish I could've done something to prevent it..and save him somehow.." I paused and swallowed the thorns around my throat. "But he's gone now..and if not him, then I'll help other people who still have a shot in life." Pagpapatuloy ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit basta basta ko na lang nasabi iyon sa kanya. Maybe because wheter I like to admit or not, komportable akong kasama si Del Russo.
Suddenly, nawala ang pilyo na ekspresyon sa kanyang mukha, but what baffles me is, he didn't have a pity for me, but just a sympathy.
"I'm sorry--I didn't know.."
Umiling ako.
"It's okay, it's not your fault...and thank you for not pitying me."
A humorless smile came on his lips. There was a glint of emotion in his green eyes that I didn't get a chance to read because it was so brief.
"I knew better than to pity you because you made it clear from day one that you are not a charity case, and hell, I saw you work and study at the same time. It doesn't look like you need pity at all..." He sounded so sincere.
Lumunok ako.
"If I didn't see you last night, I wouldn't have thought that you work a job and study at the same time." Dagdag pa niya. Akala ko ay hindi namin paguusapan ang nangyari kagabi, turns out I was wrong and now I do not know how to answer.
"Bakit? You have something against working students?" Nang-aasar na tanong ko para naman gumaan gaan ang paligid. Suddenly, his eyes were alarmed and wide.
"No!" Mabilis siyang umiling. "Nerdy no, It's just that..I was surprised, is all."
Bahagya akong tumawa sa reaksyon niya.
"Relax, I'm messing with you, do not give me that so much credit, madami ang mga working students all over the Philippines and in the world, I'm just a grain.."
He smiled.
"Still it's impressive and I get to see you in a dress." Tinaas baba niya ang mga kilay niya. Napadaing ako, I know he's gonna make a comment about it and the serious Del Russo wouldn't last long.
"Tse..I had to work because.. it's not like I have a choice. I need to meet the ends." Deretso na sagot ko. I have no shame in admitting that I am struggling..for now.
Napatango naman siya at uminom muli sa kanyang cup bago iyon ipinatong muli sa lamesa. I on the other hand can't help but to yawn. Damn it. Inaantok talaga ako.
"Wait, you pay for your tuition?" Takang tanong niya.
Umiling ako.
"Hindi, iska ako."
There was a hint of confusion in his green eyes.
"No, you're Nerdy."
I rolled my eyes.
"Tanga, Tagalog slang ng Iskolar 'yun. Lumabas-labas ka rin kasi mula sa iyong sosyal bubble."
Tumawa naman siya sandali bago siya napatango.
"Though it does not cover my miscellaneous expenses..bills....and--ugh, bakit ko ba sinasabi sa'yo ang life story ko." I shook my head when I realised that.
Ngumisi siya.
"Kasi aminin mo man o hindi komportable ka sa akin." Sagot niya.
"Wow, how did you make this all about you?" Sagot ko nalang pero totoo 'yung sinabi niya.
Sa loob ng magda-dalawang buwan namin na pagsasama ay komportable nga ako sa kanya, but not comfortable enough to show him where I live and so, I managed to shoo him away before I walked home.
"I'm just kidding, Nerdy...I feel bad now that I ate half of your food." I can actually sense the regret in his voice.
I stared at him with a neutral expression.
"Did I tell you to feel bad for me?"
Umiling siya at bahagyang ngumuso.
"Then no, you do not feel bad for me until I tell you so."
He chuckled.
"Who has a god complex now, huh? Telling me what and when to feel things." Pabiro niyang sagot na ikinairap ko, pero deep inside gusto kong tumawa but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction that I am actually starting to enjoy his company.
***
"So, I am a twenty-three year old female, I experience rashes, swollen eyes, wheezing and abdominal pain after I accidentally took paracetamol." Sabi ni Del Russo, kasalukuyan namin na sinisimulan ang case studies na binigay ni Dr. Claudio matapos ang quiz kanina. Matapos namin na uminom ng kape ay nalaman namin na libreng oras ang susunod na tatlumpong minuto since male-late si Dr. Siento, our Microbiology Professor.
"Uhm..wait." Tinaggal ko sandali ang salamin ko at kinaskas ang mga mata ko matapos kong humikab. Ngayon ko naramdaman ang pagod, right after my decaf coffee, how ironic. I moved my neck for a bit to wake me up ngunit hindi iyon umubra dahil ilang oras lang ang tulog ko at hectic sa Diner kagabi. Pagod ang katawan at isip ko.
I can feel Del Russo's eyes on me.
"Nerdy, we can stop if you want."
Mabilis akong umiling at ibinalik ang aking salamin.
"No, I'm okay."
Bumuntong hininga naman siya at hinayaan ako na tingnan ang mga notes ko.
"It's an allergic reaction. You had an Anaphylaxis or Anaphylactic shock."
Tumango siya.
"You have three more but we can take a break--"
I cut him off.
"Del Russo-"
"Nag-quiz tayo sa Anatomy at Pathology ngayong umaga tapos naka-diagnose ka ng sampung kaso. Don't you think you deserve a break?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.
I tried to stare him down, but of course, it didn't work and so I sagged and rested my back on the chair.
"Fine, five minutes."
Tumango naman siya at ibinaba sa lamesa ang mga flashcards. Sumandal din siya sa kanyang upuan at inilagay ang ang kanyang mga kamay sa kanyang likod ng ulo. Nakasuot siya ngayon ng brown na short-sleeved brown shirt kaya hindi ko maiwasang makita ang pag-galaw ng muscles sa kanyang braso.
I looked away for a moment. I shouldn't be looking at it but for some reasons, I couldn't help myself. Jeez, what is wrong with me?
"I knew you were lying about your date," Nakangising pang-aasar niya ikinasimangot ko. "Obviously wala namang magkakagusto sa'yo."
Inirapan ko siya at binato sa kanya 'nong crumpled paper na nasa gilid ng lamesa ko, he caught it as he laughed.
"Tangina ah. Grabe ka naman sa akin." Singhal ko.
"Bakit? Totoo naman ah, hindi ka din naman nagpapakita ng interes kahit kanino, kulang na lang tahulan mo 'yung mga lumalapit sa'yo."
I mocked him.
"Well, do you have a type then?" He licked his lower lip for a moment and looked around. "Yun oh, ChesterJohn, gusto mo?" He discreetly pointed the guy at the table on my side, halos tatlong lamesa ang layo nila. He's pointing at our classmate in Microbiology.
Humalukipkip ako at sinamaan siya ng tingin.
"I thought this was a break." Pag-iiba ko ng usapan.
He smirked and sat down properly.
"Yes, it was..I am taking your mind off of the stressor, come on, don't deflect the question." Pamimilit pa niya na ikinadaing ko.
"Degree bago titi." Sagot ko na ikinakunot ng noo niya.
"Huh?"
"W-wala akong type kasi kasi degree muna bago titi and a lot more considerations, gets?" Sagot ko. I can't believe I'm having this kind of conversation with Del Russo, out of all people.
Bahagyang napaawang ang kanyang mga labi habang dahan-dahan siyang napatango.
"Hmm..I see, well, may exception ba kung 'yung may ari ng titi ay tutulungan ka na mag-aral para makuha mo 'yung degree?" Nakangising tanong niya.
Bahagyang napaawang ang mga labi ko bago ko kinuha ang ballpen na nasa gilid ko at gigil na binato iyon sa kanya.
"Nerdy! Joke lang!" Tatawa-tawa na sabi niya habang hawak niya ang ballpen an binato ko dahil nasalo niya iyon.
"You can't be seriously talking about your dick and asking for sex right now, Del Russo!" Pinandilatan ko siya na ikinatawa niya ng malakas. Napahawak naman ako sa aking sentido sandali. "I can't believe you're still trying to get into my pants."
"Maybe.." Nagkibit balikat pa siya "But I'm just saying that we have an option to do something else other than studying." Sabi pa niya sabay kindat sa akin.
Inabot ko ulit ang lapis na nasa lamesa.
"Aba't, hindi ka titigil--"
Tinaas niya ang mga kamay niya.
"Joke lang, Nerdy! Eto na, mag-aaral na tayo." Maagap niyang sagot at inabot ang mga flashcards at ngumisi sa akin.
Iiling-iling ko na ibinaba ang lapis. I'd be a fool to consider that I would have a serious day with this Parasite, ever.