NO MORE NO 1
The First Time and Her Declaration
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"And what does In Vino Veritas means, class?"
As usual, whenever professors asked something, everyone in the class fell into a total silence. Just like how a famous line went: even a drop of needle could be heard. It was as if an angel and a devil happened to pass by hand in hand with the angel rendering them dumbfounded and the devil snorting his arse off, got jealous, then decided to steal everyone's useless tongues.
Only Sir Gon's tapping of shoes on the tiled floor could be heard, looking more impatient as seconds ticked by.
"Anyone?"
Murmurs echoed in the four corners of the classroom.
"Ano nga 'yon?"
"I think I've read that somewhere."
"Wait . . . I'm thinking."
"Alam mo ba?"
"Di ba radio station 'yong veritas?"
"Yesh. Sa Broad at Journ, besh. 'Di ba, Shei?"
"Ang alam ko lang walang poreber at magbi-break din kayo ng syota mo sa February 14!"
"Gaga! Kaya 'di ka jowables, e."
"And so? Ikamamatay ko na 'yon?"
I mentally rolled my eyes at their pathetic attempts. They could have just admitted that they didn't have the tiniest bit of idea about the topic in hand.
What was the use? To put on a show that somehow they were reading the lesson? If in reality they were busy browsing on facebook every now and then─sharing nonsense stuffs of what initial letters in alphabet are loyal, cheaters or eternally curse in love matters; or posting rubbishes as "Walang magawa. Comment down 'D'yosa ka, Corazon' at flood likes ko kayo", then four or more emojis after; or seeking love reactions of a picture of them taken first thing in the morning with a caption "Woke up like this".
'Tang'na . . . May pa-woke up-woke up like this pang nalalaman tapos 'di sabog ang buhok, ni muta wala, kahit bakas ng laway sa sulok ng labi wala? Don't tell me they sleep like a frozen statue at night? Oh c'mon!
Sir Gon hummed, roaming his eyes, framed with black rim glasses, around. "Hmm . . . No one knows?"
The murmurs stopped. The room was occupied by Avoxes again.
I raised my right hand with a sigh. Better be done and over with this rubbish talks already. Sir Gon spotted me in a jiffy since my seat was just right in front of his table.
"Yes, Mr. Pateros?"
I stood up. "Do not drink, you'll spill the truth. If I remembered it right, the meaning of In Vino Veritas goes like that, sir."
His face lit up, looking seemingly relieved by a heavy burden in his shoulders. I would feel the same had I was assigned to this kind of class.
"That's right—"
But even before Sir Gon finished a sentence, an irritating loud voice cut him off from the far back seats.
"Woot! Woot! Ang galing talaga ng bebelabs ko! I love you na talaga!"
My shoulders tensed up instantly as heat rushed up from my stomach, warming up my chest and face. The loud yiee-ing and teasing of the whole class didn't help either. Mas lalo lang ako nab'wiset. Even Sir Gon was smiling─or maybe grinning. Bloody hell! He should be angered by being interrupted!
I settled down sparing none of them an ounce of interest.
"Okay, class. Enough with joshing; Mr. Pateros here is as red as cherry already. I'm afraid we'll be having a ticking cherry bomb if y'all still continue."
But instead of stopping, they grew even louder—laughing their arse off like it was a news to them.
"Yiee . . . si Non dalaga na!"
Go to hell, knob head.
"Congrats, brodie! Tuli ka na!"
Jesus friggin' Christ.
"Yah! Tigilan niyo na nga si bebelabs ko!"
Isa ka pa!
The class burst into fits of laughter yet again, making me feel even more ridiculed. More of it and I might really combust right on my seat! Even our professor had joined in. Blimey!
Sir Gon clapped his hands, getting our attention. "Oh, seryoso na. Tama na, class. Maawa kayo kay Mr. Pateros, utang na loob."
"Oo nga, sir! Maawa kayo sa bebs ko, mga ulupong!"
An invisible bitter-cold wind blew me by the ears, making me shiver in my seat. She was totally a nutter! More of that endearment and I'd absobloodylutely puke!
"Language, Ms. Tanaka"
In my mind, I was picturing her showing a peace hand sign all the while grinning widely. "Sorry, sir."
And to my relief, the discussion went on.
Two hours of lecture passed by in a blur. I couldn't count how many times I was teased in the same way as the first, every time I got the right answer in recitation. And every time it happened, I was a tad chuffed of myself for being apathetic; remaining straight-faced, sheer focus was in class' discussion.
Senseless things, people and idle conversation didn't appeal me. Paying attention to those things was such a waste of time. What was more important was to finish my degree in this university and then I was finally free to go b—
"Class dismissed."
"Goodbye, sir!"
I blinked several times after being snatched out of my reverie. Sir Gon had already left the classroom, followed by my blockmates who were certainly waiting for the dismissal alone.I shoved my notes inside my backpack, slung it on my right shoulder and strode out of the room─paying no attention to the nutter calling my name behind as she used to.
"Non! Wait for me, bebelabs! Oh my—excuse me, padaan po. May dadaan pong diyosa. Padaan!"
The corridor was packed with students coming out of their classes. It was already twelve noon so the rush wasn't a surprise at all . . .
"Non! Hin─ay tae!"
. . . . including her annoying presence.
"Sa ganda kong 'to, tinatae mo lang ako?"
"Nice joke, ate. Benta! Mga singko pesos."
"Aba't! Pinaglolok─"
I stopped dead on my track and looked back. For the first time. "The cafeteria won't wait for you, Mitsuki! Hurry up!"
The two of them both turned their heads on me. She was gaping at me with wide eyes, probably not expecting what I did, while the other raised her pure eyebrow-lined brows, eyeing me in scrutiny from head to toe. Even the remaining students coming out of the classrooms did the same thing as the latter.
I frowned at that. I wasn't the only half-blooded student in HU. Was it because of my thick British accent?
"Ano na?" I pressed, biting my tongue after for the accent of my Tagalog. The shame igniting in my chest flared up when she pursed her lips to stifle an impending burst of laughter. I glared at her in return. I shouldn't have done this helping-the-nutter thing at the first place. "Are you deaf?"
She shook her head no, grinning so sickly-sweet. "Hindi, diyosa lang." She turned to the other girl. Her shoulder-length, pindrop jet-black hair slapping her chubby cheeks in the process. The wide grin was no longer in her face. "I have to go, ateng, thank you sa joke. You made my day. Ba-bye!" And just like a light turned on by a switch, her bright smile came back in an instant.
I almost cringed at the sight of her, skipping her way towards me with bright smile perpetually plastered on her face. I thought that was the worst thing she could do for the day, but no, there was something else worth-flinching at than the former: she hooked her arms to mine and held herself closer to my disliking. For a midget barely reaching my shoulders, she sure had amassed an overwhelming amount of self-confidence. I couldn't fathom how. And neither was I interested to dig further.
"Ayieeee, Non bebs. For the first time in forever, sabay tayong magla-lunch!" She gushed out as we descended on the flight of stairs leading to first floor. A li'l voice inside my head urged me to push her down the steps, but I swiftly trampled the thought. "Dream come true! P'wede na 'ko ma-deads aft─no wait, saka na pala 'pag kinasal na tayo, nagkaanak at nagkaapo ng maraming-marami. Tama!" she said, pumping her fist in the air.
When we finally reached the first floor, I removed her arms off mine, ran a frustrated hand on my dirty blonde hair, and said, "No."
Disappointment crossed her round face as I let go of her arms as gentle as I could. I might not like her as whole, but it didn't mean I could act like a mannerless prick. My grandma would rise on her grave just to strangle me good if I did so.
She stopped moving while I, without looking back, continued my way out of the A.L building.
"Non!"
I didn't bother looking back.
"Non Pateros!"
She'd stop eventually.
"Loqui Non Pateros, look at me!"
Why would I?
I was already out of the building when I heard her said it.
"Loqui Non Pateros! I swear, one day I'll turn your no into yes! Maghintay ka lang talaga!"
I scoffed at her declaration . . . again. It had been months since I transferred in Hymzelton University and she made her first similar statement. Nothing happened. I always said no.
"Pipikutin talaga kita kung kinakailangan!"
I snorted. That will never ever happen.
Kahit lasingin niya pa ako.
_______
• Avox(es) - these are the so-called 'traitors' in the Hunger Games trilogy book written by Suzanne Collins. Sila 'yung mga pinutulan ng dila at ginawang servants sa Capitol bilang parusa sa kanila. If you have watched the movie, you should read the book/pdf, too. :')
• Nutter for crazy, arse for ass, blimey for oh my goodness, knob head for stupid, etc.-mga British slangs.
EDITED: 07.13.20