𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕:
Maaga akong nagtungo sa university ngayon, at pagdating ko, wala pang masyadong tao dahil 6:20 ng umaga pa lamang, at ang simula ng klase ko ay 7:30 ng umaga. Pagdating ko sa silid-aralan, tatlo pa lang kami—isang bakla kong kaklase at isang tahimik na babae.
Naisipan kong maglibot muna dito sa campus dahil wala pa rin naman yung mga kaibigan kong unggoy, suki yata ng mga late mga 'yun. Hindi ko namalayan na dinadala na pala ako ng aking mga paa patungo sa opisina ni Ms. Kizzia, at nakita kong nakaawang ng kaunti ang pinto nito. Ng akma kong hahawakan ang doorknob ng pinto, ay siya namang pagbukas nito. Nahawakan ko ang aking dibdib sa pagkagulat, tila ba lumalagabog ang puso ko sa matinding kaba.
"Ms. Kensley, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. Anyway, what are you doing here? And it's too early, huh?" Panunudyo ni Dean, brother ni Ms. Kizzia. Hindi agad ako nakasagot, dahil lumalagabog pa rin ang aking puso.
"Are you okay? Do you want water?" I just shook my head as an answer
"I have to go now, Dean. Naisipan ko lang maglibot muna." Tugon ko sa kanya. Sakto naman na pagtalikod ko, muntik nang magtama ang aming mukha ni Ms. Kizzia.
"Gosh" Hindi ko na napigilang sabihin at umatras ng kaunti, baka kung anong isipin ni Dean. Pero naririnig ko siyang tumawa.
"Mauna na ako sa inyong dalawa." Ngumiti pa ito nang nakakaloko sa babaeng nasa harap ko, pero nag-roll lang ng mata si Ms. Kizzia sa kanya.
"Ms., I gotta go now too." Akmang aalis na sana ako nang hilahin niya ako patungo sa loob ng kanyang opisina, at mabilis niyang isinarado ang pinto na may kasamang pag-lock.
"Ms., are you deaf?" Iritado kong tanong sa kanya. Hindi ko alam, pero wala talaga akong gana ngayon.
"Is that how you talk to your professor?" Masungit niyang turan, but I ignore her words and simply look behind her.
"Look at me, Ky." Hindi ko siya iniimikan at hindi ko rin inaalis ang atensyon ko sa likuran niya.
"Do you have now?" Malambing ang tono niya, kaya tinitigan ko siya at nakita ko siyang nakatitig sa akin ng may malambing na expression.
"Nah" Boring kong sagot sa kanya, tinanggal ko na rin ang hawak niya sa aking kamay, at naisipang maupo sa sofa.
"What's wrong with you? Is there something bothering you? Care to tell me please?" Umupo siya sa tabi ko at nakatitig lang sa akin, pero binabalewala ko lang.
She suddenly sat on my lap, but I didn't resist. She rested her head on my shoulder, and I felt her warm breath on my neck, giving a unique sensation.
"Do I look like a chair for you?" Pagsusungit ko sa kanya, pero sa loob ko, kinikilig na talaga ako.
"I'm tired, let me be, please." Nararamdaman ko ang lungkot sa kanyang tinig kaya niyakap ko siya at hinalikan sa likod ng kanyang ulo. I think so, ako talaga ang bipolar sa aming dalawa.
Nagtagal kami sa ganoong posisyon hanggang sa may natanggap akong mensahe mula kay Sam.
𝑺𝒂𝒎:
Where na you? Andito yung bag mo pero wala ka? 10 minutes na lang magsisimula na klase natin, but sabagay wala pa rin naman cousin ko since she's our first subject.
Binalewala ko ang mensahe niya at tiningnan si Ms. Kizzia na tila mahimbing na natutulog. Ayaw kong guluhin ang kanyang pagtulog, pero kailangan kong gawin ito. Dahil pareho kaming male-late.
"Z, wake up, we only have 10 minutes before the class starts." Pukaw ko sa kanya.
She borrowed my phone and messaged Ms. Elise. Wow, kabisado nya phone number ng kaibigan nya. She was requesting a schedule change and excused me in Ms. Elise's class
"Pero Z, I need to attend my class today because I was already excused yesterday." But she's just looking at me while pouting. Alam na alam niya kung paano ako makuha, isang pagpacute lang at parang ang mundo ko'y umiikot ulit.
"Please" Malambing na pagkakasabi nya.
"Fine, but on one condition." I replied. I wanted to have a green mango with salt.
"Buy me a green mango with salt." I responded with a smile. She smiled back at me and quickly got up from my lap to get her phone.
____
Kalaunan, may kumatok sa pinto at agad niya itong tinungo at pinagbuksan. Pagbalik niya, inabot nya sa akin ang isang paper bag. Pagbukas ko dito, bumungad sa akin ang binalatan na mangga, at may asin din itong kasama.
Tig-iisang malalaking mangga ang nakalagay sa tatlong transparent topper ware, nakahiwa na ang mga ito, kaya kinuha ko ang isang topper ware at pinuntahan siya dahil busy naman siyang nakaupo sa kanyang swivel chair, while she's busy on her laptop.
I pulled a chair and placed it beside her. She looked at me but redirected her attention to her laptop.
"Do you want some?" I got her attention, and she just nodded, so I fed her.
"Are you coding?" I asked her, confused.
"Yes, why?" She inquired, not looking at me.
"Let me do it for you." I offered, grabbing her attention away from the laptop.
"Do you know how to code?" She asked. Is that even a question?
"Would I offer if I didn't?" I sarcastically replied, and she handed me her laptop without minding my response.
I started coding, and she's just eating mango. Makapag-pasubo nga sa kanya.
"Feed me." At agad nya naman akong sinuboan, sinadya kong pati ang daliri nya ay dilaan and I saw her flinch.
"Where did you learn how to code?"
"I have a cousin who knows how to code; she taught me how to do it." I answered with a smile, thinking about my cousin Thalia, who is going to teach at this university. She was supposed to start on Monday, but her flight got delayed. She doesn't want to tell me when she'll arrive; she says it's a surprise.
Mabilis ko lang natapos ang pag-cocode dahil sanay na ako; noon pa man, tumutulong na ako sa professor namin sa previous school ko.
"I'm done, where's my kiss?" Pagbibiro ko sa kanya, and I didn't expect that she will going to do it.
She kissed me on my lips, and ilang segundo rin itong nagtagal before she broke it.
"Z, I know it's too personal, but you can choose not to answer if you're not comfortable. Who's Zach in your life?" I seriously looked into her eyes, and we had a long gaze before she looked away.
"It's okay if you prefer not to answer." I just grabbed my phone and checked the time; it was already 11:45 am.
"He's my childhood friend." She casually said, so I looked at her with a questioning look, wondering if that's really all.
"May nabanggit ba si Sam na iba except sa me and Zach are friends?" I didn't respond, just opened YouTube, and watched an ASMR video.
"Fine, he's my ultimate crush before, and he courted me for almost 10 months, but it stopped because he went back to the States." She said in a lengthy explanation, and I just nodded without looking at her.
I'm still not convinced with her answer because I felt something. I can't put it into words, but I really can feel it.
"I have to go now." I bid her goodbye and stood up.
"What's wrong?" She asked seriously, but I just shrugged my shoulders.
I don't know, but I feel a slight discomfort because of what I heard from her. I hate to admit it, but I know I already like her. I just don't want to accept it because she's a professor, a heiress of the Chua clan, and I'm just a student.
And what if kaya bumalik si Zach ng Pinas to continue his interrupted courtship with Ms. Kizzia? Zach is a successful lawyer, and I have nothing compared to him.
Before I could open the door, I felt a hand holding onto me, and it was none other than Ms. Kizzia.
I removed her hands and faced her with questioning looks.
"Did I say anything wrong that made you react like that?" I could sense the sadness in her voice.
"Nah, Z, and I'm always like this, right?" I'm usually cold, so what's new?
"Nah, anyway, let's have a—" She didn't finish her sentence as there was a sudden knock on the door. I opened it, and it was Zach, who brought flowers.
"Hi Kensley, you're here. Anyway, hi, babe." He greeted Ms. Kizzia and handed the flowers to her.
I saw a passing sadness and fear in Ms. Kizzia's eyes, but I just gave her a fake smile and quickly left her office before I suffocate there.
Zach's voice saying "Hi babe" to Ms. Kizzia and handing her flowers kept replaying in my mind. So, am I right that Zach came back to the Philippines to continue his courtship with Ms. Kizzia? Nice, haha. I felt a slight pang, but I shrugged it off, and I'm thankful for what I saw in Ms. Kizzia's office. I'll put an end to this early attraction to her.
••••••
A/N: Anyway, can you guys help me sa pag-promote ng story ko on TikTok? And don't forget to vote. Thank you!