MARIA ECOSTAS' P.O.V.
My gaze follows every footsteps of this fine man before us. Isa siyang Professor dito base on his uniform of course. He has a nice built of body, well I am not fantasizing him pero halata kasi dahil di naman kaluwagan ang uniform ni Sir.
"Macho gwapito ni Sir 'no?", nabalik ako sa reyalidad nang bumulong sakin si Arel. I just smiled shyly. Napansin niya rin pala. Saang department kaya si Sir. Huehue.
Dumiretso lang kami sa paglakad dito sa hallway nang lumiko kami papasok sa may pinakacenter. Pagpasok palang ay mabubungaran mo ang double wooden door na may sign board indicating na ito na nga ang AV Room.
"Pasok na kayo girls dahil mag-start na ang orientation niyo. It's 8 already."
We smiled and thanked him.
Pumasok na kami ni Arel at hindi naman kami nadismaya makahanap ng komportableng puwesto. Marami-rami kaming andito. Kung ieestimate ay nasa 500 students ang nandito and according to what I have read from the file my dad sent me ay First batch palang daw kami ng mga first year students. Meaning, marami pa ang mga new students na wala pa dito.
"Do you know anyone in here Arel?" Umiling lang si Arel.
"No one eh. Hindi naman kasi ako from here. Galing ako ng other city and I just happened to stay in my lola's house kasi wala siyang kasama."
"Oh I see. The same situation pala tayo."
Itatanong ko pa sana kung saan siya nakatira dito when the deafening vibration of the microphone interrupted everyone.
"Good morning, students. I am Alexander Santi, the President of this University. I warmly welcome everyone and may you have wonderful stay dito sa ating unibersidad. I won't stay long and the other staffs will take over. God bless us all."
We all clapped on Mr. Santi's remarks. So siya pala ang President, he looks familiar to me. Have I ever seen him before? Uh. Nevermind. Baka nakita ko lang somewhere in the world of internet.
"Bakit naman parang curious na curious ka kung makatingin kay Mr. President, Eco?"
Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko sa tinawag niya sakin.
"Eco? ano ako? Eco system? Ecology?"
"Puwede rin kasi you look so fresh. Parang naiignorante ka sa mundo."
Tinawanan niya ang sarili sa kaniyang sinabi. May saltik ata tong isang to.
"Sorry naman. Eh first time ko pumasok sa isang school ma tinatawag eh."
Mukhang siya naman yung nacurious dahil sa sinabi ko. Haha.
"Bakit naman?"
"Okay students, Good morning again. So first of all, I am Ivy Marquez, the Head of the Guidance Counseling office. I hope you would enjoy yourself today as we introduce to you our university."
Kukwentuhan ko na sana si Arel nang nagsimula na ang program.
Halos apat na oras na din bago natapos ang morning activity ng orientation. May activity pa daw kami mamayang hapon but we will start at 3pm.
"Saan ka na pupunta ngayon Eco, It's lunch time na. San mo balak kumain at magstay hanggang 3pm?"
"Ewan ko din AJ, may alam ka bang masarap na kainan dito?"
"Ah oo meron akong alam, tara"
Naglakad lang kami palabas ng gate. Di naman kasi kalayuan yung building na pinanggalingan namin sa gate. Napunta kami sa isang 4 cornered building na sikat na kainan daw for students.
"Arel's Carinderia?"
Nakangiting tumango-tango si Arel.
"Sa iyo?"
"Hindi pero kay lola yan. Pangalan ko lang ginamit niya kasi I am her favourite one, hihihi"
I am amazed to Arel. This is a good business lalo na at malapit lang sa school. Affordable din ang mga products nila. May konting alam din ako sa business cause my Dad does businesses.
"Eco alam mo-"
"Hindi eh." She slapped my arm and I laughed on her gesture.
"Badtrip ka ghorl ha. Eto nga, ang gara ng pangalan pala ni Sir. Tapos ang proactive pa niya sa school natin as a professor."
"Paano mo naman nalaman pangalan niya?"
"Di ka ba nakikinig kanina noong siya na yung nagsalita sa harap?"
She showed me her disbelief expression nang makita niya akong nakacreased forehead na parang walang kaalam-alam sa pinagsasabi niya which is true naman.
"The hell? Nakalimutan kong natulog ka lang pala sa buong orientation program at nagising ka na lang while nag aannounce sila for our part 2 orientation. Hayst"
Partida, may kasama pang iling yan. Tatanungin ko sana kung ano din pangalan ni Sir at bakit niya nasabing proactive siya nang may sumingit sa usapan namin.
"Hello ladies. Kumusta ang orientation?"
I was shocked to hear the voice behind me kasi siya lang naman yung pinag-uusapan naming "sir".
"Ay sir. Ikaw po pala. It's okay naman po. Dito po ba kayo laging kumakain?"
Si Arel na yung sumagot. Kasi ano namang sasabihin ko.
"Yep. Bukod sa mura na dito ay masarap pa. I wonder who owns this though."
"Actually sa lola ko po ito. Kaya po ako nag enrol sa KSU to help her manage this carinderia po sir."
"I see. So what are your names and what department you belong to?"
"Arel Jane Velasco po sir BSIT."
"Maria Ecostas Lazarus po, BSIT din po."
"Lazarus?" His facial expression shows na parang nakikilala niya ang surname ko.
"Are you related to Harrith Lazarus?"
I am surprised na kilala niya si dad.
"Opo. He is my dad, sir."
"Wow. What a great dad you have there. My question is bakit ka dito nag aral? Why not some prestigious schools like Lazus Academy?"
I smiled shyly on him and not bothered to answer.
"You know her family sir?" Oh shoot. I totally forgot I am with Arel too. I am so engaged with this professor's presence.
"Yes I do. Actually her dad is my scholarship sponsor when I was in college and during my Masteral."
This professor was so engrossed in reminiscing his student's life and almost told everything he knew about my dad to Arel.
"Wow, I didn't know your family is that rich Eco."
I laughed at Arel's shocked face.
"Well their family deserves it. Napakamatulungin ng kaniyang pamilya. Anyways, I have to leave first. Don't forget to come back at 3pm to resume the program."
We nod and smiled to the Professor as a sign of us saying yes.
"Eco, I have to stay here to help until 2pm. Maybe we'll just meet in the AV Room?"
"Sure Arel. Maybe I'll just go the Library and stay there for a while."
We smiled to each other.
Now I am all alone again. I never even had the chance to ask Arel the name of THAT professor.
Pumasok na ulit ako sa school compound and managed to find the School Library. I was so fascinated nang makita ko ang itsura ng library. I can sense the delicious smell of the books stacked on the shelves. I usually bring 2 books with me wherever I go but I want to explore the books in here.
Papasok na sana ako sa area kung nasaan ang mga shelves nang harangin ako ng librarian.
"Excuse me Miss. Mag logbook ka muna diyan. Hanapin mo yung logbook ng department niyo."
Tinuro niya yung table kung saan may mga maraming logbooks.
"Sige po."
After ko mag logbook ay pinuntahan ko na ang mga shelves. Naghahanap ako ng magandang mababasa nang mapansin ko yung kulay black ang cover na hard bound. Tapos may gold lines siya sa gilid nito as designs perhaps.
'The Fate? Parang ang deep naman ng title na ito. Ito nga basahin ko.'
I am about to pull it out from the shelf nang parang di ko siya mahila hila. Pinipilit ko paring hilahin pero di ko parin mahila. I know na makapal at may kalakihan ang librong to pero kaya ko naman siguro hilahin ito. Pero bakit?
Binitawan ko na muna para sana magpaassist sa lalaking librarian nang may marinig akong parang natumba from the other side of the shelf na nasa harap ko.
I walk fast para makita ito only to find a tall guy wearing a denim black pants, white v-neck shirt at leathered black shoes na parang nakahiga sa floor, HABANG YAKAP YAKAP ANG LIBRONG KANINA KO PA HINIHILA.
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