"Class dismissed."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang marinig ang mga salitang iyon mula sa professor namin. Tapos na agad ang Mathematics subject namin!? Hindi ako nakinig nang maayos dahil tulala at malayo ang isip ko sa discussion.
Three weeks had passed since that incident. I didn't expect that would be our first meeting after so many years. Gumwapo siya, mas naging teen ang features. Pero bakit hindi ko narecognize sa kaniya ang batang Gian?
Within those three weeks, hindi ko na siya nakasalubong ng landas. I am not expecting him to follow me around, lalo na't hindi ko naman pinakilala nang maayos ang sarili ko sa kaniya. I just told him my second name, 'Bea.' I don't know why I'm feeling shy towards him. Maybe because I had feelings for him as a kid? I really don't know.
"Hey, Bea. May hinihintay ka pa ba? Tara lunch!" Napalingon ako sa nagsalita and I recognized the person who called my attention. It was Kate, one of my classmates on Class Agape. What does she mean lunch? Hindi ba't third class pa lang ang Mathematics sa morning?
"Huh?" I said as I tilted my head.
"Hindi ka pa magliligpit? Tapos na ang Math, last subject natin ngayong morning. Lunch time na," ulit niya. Napatingin tuloy ako sa wrist watch ko. She's right, 11:45 AM na. Literature, History, then Vacant! Vacant ang third subject at fourth ang Math. Ano bang nangyayari sa akin?
"Ayos ka lang?" tanong niya. I awkwardly smiled at her and nodded.
"Salamat, Kate. Go ahead, hihintayin ko pa sina Mimi, eh." sabi ko. She smiled back at binibit nang maayos ang mga hawak niyang notebook. May nag-cling sa braso niya at mukhang close sila. Maybe her girl bestfriend.
They waved at me and left afterwards. Isa-isa ko ng inayos ang mga highlighter, pen at notebook na nakapatong sa table ko. Pagkatapos ay binitbit upang maipasok sa lockers.
I waited for a few more minutes pero hindi pa rin dumating sina Mimi kaya I assumed they're not coming to fetch me. I passed by the lockers and went at the cafeteria to see if they're already there. One thing, I don't have packed lunch that's why I buy and eat here with my bestfriends. Kahit gusto ko mang mag-diet, papagalitan naman ako ni Lolo. How will he know that I am skipping lunch? He'll surely contact those two.
The cafeteria was crowded with students. May ilang mga nakatambay lang, mayroon namang kumakain pero hindi naman nag-order. Majority are talking while eating kaya medyo maingay sa loob. The cafeteria was large enough, actually para siyang restaurant. May estimated number of tables at araw-araw napupuno 'yon, sa dami ba naman ng mga students. Every corner of the university has designated cafeterias, four in total. Some students prefer to eat at the grass field, sa lilim ng mga puno.
Dahil nga President ako last year ng Supreme Student Council, most people know me. Habang naglalakad ako, may mga students na bumabati sa akin, majority boys. I wave my hand at them or greet them back or else they'll think I'm a snob. That's how it is here kapag may high position ka.
Last week, I represented our class to run for the position of SSG President. They still want me to do the job that's why they pushed me into it. Even some of my professors agreed, that's why I didn't refuse.
Lumapit na ako sa counter atsaka na pumila upang umorder. Tumingin ako sa paligid upang hanapin sina Mimi pero hindi ko sila mahagilap kaya tinuon ko na lang ang atensyon ko sa harap ng counter at pumili na ng order upang alam ko na ang sasabihin mamaya. Inayos ko nang bahagya ang salamin ko upang mabasa ang menu poster.
The two students infront of me got their orders kaya nagmove forward na ako. Sinabi ko ang order ko and slid my ID card on the table. Our identification card is dual purpose. It acts as a credit card that's why you need to take care of it and you can't just put it anywhere else.
"Are there new exports of cappucino? I wanna order," I said at the lady. She checked and I was surprised that the last cup will be mine. That rarely happens dahil madalas sold out! They're made from Italy and they export it here. It's a bit pricey but it's okay. It's worth the price.
"We'll just give it to you later, Ma'am." bigkas niya and smiled at me. I smiled and took my tray and looked for a table. I chose a table near the counter.
"Sorry, we're late!" I was surprised when someone tapped my shoulders.
"Huwag ka munang kakain, Beys! We'll order first. Wait for us!" They said and went away. Saan kaya nanggaling ang dalawang 'yon at ngayon lang sila? I waited for them until they got their orders.
"Salamat naman at kakain na tayo." Faye sighed as she placed her tray on the table. They both looked tired.
"Naubos energy ko kakasigaw," Mimi said and dipped a french fry on her ketchup and ate it.
"Ano bang ginawa niyo?" I asked them, I was so curious. They keep talking without elaborating everything.
"We cheered at a basketball practice! Ang hottie kase nu'ng isang player. And we got their numbers in exchange," kwento ni Mimi. Since nag-umpisa na silang kumain, I did that too with my pasta. "Hahamakin ang lahat para sa basketball-listang hot!"
I chuckled at her words. They're so extra. All they do is play. Wala pa nga sa isip ko ang magkaboyfriend. Ang gusto ko, kapag nagmahal ako, 'yung panghabang-buhay na. I don't do boys who just want flings. Eventhough that sounds cheesy and corny.
A waiter (should I call him that?) placed another tray on our table. "You ordered too much food. Did you invite someone to join us eat?" I asked them.
"No, they're all ours." Faye replied shortly.
"Food greedy!" I teased them.
"Here, eat this salad. You look thin, oh. Eat or we'll tell Lolo you did not eat lunch," banta ni Mimi. Napairap ako sa kanila. Bakit ba nila ako gustong pakainin nang marami? Gusto ba nilang tumaba ako, as in overweight? Normal naman ang BMI status ko, ah!
I had no choice, that's why I pouted while eating.
"I want to drink something sweet that's why I tried ordering capuccino, kaso out of stock na raw sila," saad ni Faye.
"Good thing I didn't watch some random basketball game and got the last cup!" I said and twirled the pasta using the fork.
"Kaya ka walang jowa, eh. You're all about books and setting things straight."
"Bakit, masama ba?" I questioned them.
"Yes! Kulang ka sa love love love. Dahil diyan, pupunta tayo ng bar later!" Mimi cheered. Faye joined her few seconds later.
"We're teenagers, for God's sake!"
"I'm kidding!" Mimi tried defending herself. They're so composed and calm. They should focus on their studies!
It was almost quarter to one but we decided to just stay there to rest. We're just using our phones and talking about random things while waiting for my capuccino. I told them kase na I'll get it after we eat, para hindi lumamig. Air-conditioned naman ang rooms namin at hindi naman siguro ako pagpapawisan kung iinumin ko 'yon doon.
"Hi po. Pinapatawag po kayo sa SSG office for a meeting. Be there daw po before one." sabi ng isang lalaki sa akin. Base sa ID lace niya, I think he's a junior. We're not yet seniors but I'm older than him kaya siguro he didn't drop the honorifics.
"Okay, sige. Thank you. I'll go there now." I said. Nagpaalam na siya atsaka na umalis.
"Aw, you will not attend first class in the afternoon? Hope all." Mimi said while making a gloomy face. I mimicked her and she started acting disgusted.
"I'll go ahead, do not ditch class searching for hotties or else I'll tell Tita." banta ko sa kanila. Agad naman silang tumango. I took my tray atsaka na iyon pinatong sa cleaning area. Bumalik ako sa counter upang kunin ang cappucino ko.
Habang naghihintay, napansin ko ang isang lalaki na nasa kabilang side at mukhang may kausap sa phone. I can't help but to overhear the conversation. [Opo. Mom, I'm fine, alright? I'm not skipping lunch, I never did. Sige na po, malalate na po ako sa meeting namin sa Student Council.]
When he hung up, that was also the same time that my order arrived. "Ma'am, Sir, here's your cappuci—" She didn't had the chance to finish her sentence when the guy took his cup and immediatly ran away. And I think I should do that too because I just saw at my wrist watch that it's almost 1 PM.
Nang makarating ako sa Student Council Room, may mga students at professors na naghihintay roon. Umupo ako sa tabi ng isang lalaki at diretso nakatingin lang sa projector.
"Nandito na ba ang lahat?" tanong ng Student Council Head. Sumagot ang iilan sa amin at ang ilan ay nagheads-up lang. "Ngayon, i-aannounce na namin ang newly elected university officers. For the position of President..." The Head trailed. I don't know why I felt nervous. Kung hindi ako nanalo, okay lang, kasi mas less responsibility. Pero okay lang din na manalo. I wanna gain more experience in leadership.
"Again, Miss Bea Matthias. Congratulations. You are once again the newly elected president. Leading with 5, 364 votes," bigkas ng head. Nabingi ako sa palakpakan ng mga tao sa loob. Pinatayo nila ako atsaka pinapunta sa harap.
Pagkatapos ng maikli kong speech, nanatili pa rin ako sa harap upang hintayin ang mga iba pang officers. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang mahagilap ko si Gian sa lugar na kinauupuan ko kanina. Nakangiti lang siya sa akin, habang hawak ang cappucino sa kamay. Siya 'yung lalaking nakipag-unahan sa akin kanina sa cafeteria?
Nang matapos ang ilang pang seremonya, nagkausap-usap kami nang bahagya tungkol sa mga projects na nasa isipan na namin. Nagulat ako at nanalo rin si Gian bilang Vice President ng University. Nagparticipate kami sa ilang discussion, pero hindi pa niya ako pinapansin simula kanina.
"Make sure to take your mess with you. Have a good day everyone," bigkas ng head bago tuluyang umalis at lumabas ng room. Inayos muna namin ang ilang mga nagulong mga upuan at pinulot ang konting kalat na naiwan. Mga balat lang naman ng candy ang lahat ng iyon.
Nang mahagilap ng mata ko ang isang candy wrapper sa upuan ay sinadya ko 'yun kunin ngunit may nakatamaan akong isa pang kamay. Nang i-angat ko ang ulo ko, nagulat ako nang bumungad sa akin si Gian.
"You looked like you've seen a ghost," bigkas niya. I awkwardly chuckled at him.
"Hindi, no... Naunahan mo lang kasi ako pulutin 'yung kalat," palusot ko. Mukhang hindi pa rin niya talaga alam na ako ang kababata niya.
"We're the only ones left in the room. Anong next class mo? Didiretso ka na ba or magpapahinga muna?" tanong niya habang naglalakad kami palapit sa trashbin na malapit sa pinto. Hawak-hawak ko ang cappucino cup na may tira pa, medyo lumamig na.
"Oo, eh. Ikaw?" maikli kong tugon. Tinapon ko na ang mga wrappers sa trashbin.
"Yeah, same," sagot niya. Napansin kong napakunot siya ng noo nang tignan ang kamay ko. "Hey, that's my cup!" turo niya. Napuno ng pagtataka ang mukha ko atsaka iyon tinignan. I saw the letters G-I-A-N written on my cup.
Napatingin din ako sa cup niya. I saw my name on it. He literally laughed and held the cup tight. "I'm sorry, I didn't even notice I took the wrong cup." Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nakaramdam ng hiya at pamumula. Inayos ko ang nalaglag na buhok sa harapan ng mukha ko atsaka iyon tinuck sa tenga. Tinulak ko rin ang bridge ng salamin ko para hindi 'yon malaglag.
Even his laugh sounded heavenly. I'm falling for it. His body also releases a particular manly scent. Parang sa kaniya ko lang naamoy iyon.
"Is this pure coincidence or we're just meant to see each other again?"