Unang araw ni Bianca ngayon sa St. Martin University. Kasalukuyan siyang nakapila sa campus grounds kasama ang iba pang mga estudyante para sa flag ceremony na gagawin every Monday morning.
"It's so hot." Bulong niya.
She looks around, the university has wide ground that can accommodate thousands of students. Different buildings sorround the school and each building has different number of floors. May mga benches, chairs and tables made of stones and different kind of trees are everywhere where can students relax and stay during break time. There are covered courts for different kind of sports too. In front, there's a big stage and wide screen on both side kung saan makikita ang mga tao sa stage kahit malayo ka. May ilang professor at students ang nakatayo roon and the flag ceremony is about to start.
"This place is really nice."
Halos isang buwan na ang nakalipas mula noong dumating sila sa Pilipinas mula sa America kung saan nagtapos siya ng Senior Highschool.
After her accident five years ago, her family decided to go to America for her full recovery. That's the reason kaya hindi niya natapos ang junior high school sa isang unibersidad sa Batangas; ang kanilang probinsiya.
"I really feel at home now."
She missed Philippines so much. Ibang-iba ang culture at weather sa America compare sa Philippines kaya at first ay nahirapan siyang mag-adjust.
After few months, naka-adapt din siya sa bagong environment and it helped her a lot to recover. When she fully recovered after a year, itinuloy niya ang kanyang pag-aaral sa isang Unibersidad sa America. She graduated with honors just last month and they flied back to Philippines a week after her graduation.
Paulit-ulit niyang kinulit ang kanyang mga magulang na bumalik sa Pilipinas dahil nais niya mag-aral ng College dito. Good thing at napilit niya ang mga ito kahit ayaw ng mga ito noong una.
"What really happened during that day?" She asks in her mind.
The main reason why she badly wants to go back to Philippines is to find the missing pieces of her memory from five years ago. Hindi ganoon kalinaw sa kanyang ala-ala ang nangyari noon isang dapit hapon sa kanilang paaralan. Ayon sa kanyang mga magulang ay nabangga siya ng isang sasakyan paglabas niya ng school. Since that day, she was hopitalized and traumatized at the same time. The doctor said that she had partial amnesia due to the accident.
"Aaaaaahhhh!!!"
Her head suddenly aches and flashes of memories come back...
Kanina pang three o'clock ang uwian ng mga grade 9 junior high students ngunit alas singko na ay nasa paaralan pa si Bianca. Dumaan muna siya sa library upang magbasa ng paborito niyang aklat na 'A Walk to Remember' ni Nicholas Spark.
Masyado siyang nalibang sa pagbabasa kahit ilang ulit na niyang nabasa ang libro. Hindi na niya namalayan ang paglipas ng oras.
Ting! Ting! Ting!
Tumunog ang bell sa loob ng library, ito ay naghuhudyat ng pagtatapos ng library hours, kung hindi pa ito tumunog ay hindi pa siya tatayo mula sa kanyang kinauupuan. Pagkatapos mag ayos ng kanyang gamit ay tinahak na niya ang pintuan palabas ng library.
"Lalalalalalala..." She hums.
Mag-isa siyang naglalakad sa corridor nang makasalubong niya ang kanilang guro sa Chemistry na si Mr. Lopez.
"Good afternoon, sir!" Ang bati niya rito.
"Good afternoon din Bianca!" Ang ganting bati nito.
Nilagpasan na niya ang kanilang guro nang bigla siya nitong tawagin kaya nilingon niya ito.
"Bianca?"
"Sir, bakit po? May kailangan po ba kayo?" Ang tanong niya sa kanilang guro.
"Puwede bang dumaan ka muna sa faculty room saglit? May ipapagawa lamang ako." Utos ni Mr. Lopez sabay talikod at tinahak ang faculty room na hindi naman kalayuan sa library.
"Sige po."
Agad na tumalima si Bianca sa utos ng guro at sinundan ito patungo sa faculty room. Nauna itong pumasok sa loob at niluwagan nito ang pinto upang makapasok siya.
"Ms. Ramirez maari mo bang isulat ang mga ito sa cartolina? I need it tomorrow for my chemistry class. Thanks"
Sambit nito sabay abot sa kanya ng isang bondpaper na may sulat, marker at isang puting Carolina.Tumango siya at inabot ang papel, marker at cartolina.
"Sige po, sir."
"Doon ka nalang sa table ko magsulat" Utos ni Mr.Lopez sabay turo ng kaniyang table. Tinungo ni Bianca ang table nito at umupo sa isang upuan na malapit sa mesa at sinimulang magsulat.
Tinungo ni Mr.Lopez ang pintuan, akala ni Bianca ay lalabas lamang ito ngunit nabigla siya nang sinarado nito ang pinto at ni-lock. Unti-unting naglakad ito palapit sa direksiyon niya na may nakakalokong ngiti sa mga labi.
Dugdug! Dugdug!
Kumabog ng ubod ng lakas ang kanyang dibdib at napatayo siya mula sa kinauupuan.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
"What's the meaning of that?"
Naputol ang pag-iisip ni Bianca nang biglang tumunog ang bell ng school, tapos na ang flag ceremony at dapat na silang pumasok sa kani-kanilang classroom.
"Saan nga ba ulit 'yun? Dito ba o doon? Baka dito 'yun sa kabila. Damn! I'm not sure."
Dahil bago pa lamang sa unibersidad na iyon si Bianca ay hindi pa siya pamilyar sa buidings doon. Agad niyang kinuha ang mapa ng unibersidad na ibinigay sa kanila noong orientation mula sa kanyang backpack at hinanap akung saan matatagpuan ang Science building.
"Gotcha!"
She decided to take BS Psychology beacuse she wants to understand people's behavior. Her first subject today is General Science which is sa College of Arts and Science building. Nang makita niya ito sa mapa ay agad niya itong pinuntahan dahil ayaw niyang mahuli sa unang araw ng kanyang klase.
"I'm here, finally"

Nang marating niya ang CAS building ay agad niyang tinungo ang elevator dahil ayon sa mapa ay nasa fourth floor ng building ang kanyang classroom. Hinihintay ni Bianca na bumukas ang elevator nang mayroong biglang umakbay sa kaniya.
"Hi Miss!" Bati ng lalaking umakbay sa kanya sabay ngiti.
"What the hell is he doing?" Tanong niya sa kanyang isip.
Kung katulad siguro siya ng ibang babae ay ginantihan rin niya ito ng isang napakatamis na ngiti, ngunit iba ang iginanti niya rito. Hinawakan niya ang braso nitong nakaakbay sa kaniya sabay pilipit dito kaya napasigaw ng malakas ang aroganteng lalaki.
"Oucchhhh!"
"Iyan ang bagay sa mga conceited na katulad mo." Mahinang sambit niya sa lalaki bago pumasok sa loob ng elevator nang bumukas ito.
Akmang sasara na ang pinto ng elevator nang humarang doon ang lalaki na halatang iniinda parin ang braso nitong pinilipit niya kanina.
"Wait!"
Silang dalawa lamang ng lalaki ang nasa loob ng elevator kaya lumayo siya ng kaunti mula rito dahil baka akbayan na naman siya nito. Kung hindi niya gagawin iyon ay baka mabali lamang niya ang lahat ng buto nito sa katawan. Maya-maya ay bigla itong nagsalita. Hindi niya namalayang nasa tabi na niya kaagad ito kaya medyo nagulat siya.
"You look unfamiliar, freshmen student ka ba?"
Tanong ng lalaki sa kanya ngunit hindi niya ito sinagot bagkus ay nilingon lamang niya ito saglit at binigyan ng isang matalim na tingin.
"Don't talk to me!"
Wala siyang panahon na makipag kuwentuhan sa conceited na lalaking ito. Unang-una ay hindi sila close at pangalawa ay hindi niya ito kilala.
"By the way I'm Kent" Pakilala nito sabay lahad ng kamay nito na pinilipit niya kanina.
"I don't care!"
Tulad ng kanina ay binigyan niya ito ng matalim na tingin nang hindi nagsasalita. Nabigla siya nang biglang nitong kunin at hawakan ang kamay upang makipag-kamay rito.
"Nice meeting you too Ms. Beautiful" Sabi nito sabay ngiti sa kanya .
"What are you doing?!"
She felt electrocuted when their hands touched kaya agad niyang binawi ang kanyang kamay mula rito.
Ting!
Sakto namang pagbukas ng pintuan ng elevator. Nasa third floor pa lamang siya pero naisip niyang maghagdan na lamang kaysa makasama pa ang lalaking ito.
"This guy is a pervert!"
Agad siyang tumakbo palabas upang makalayo na mula sa baliw na lalaking iyon na may nakakakuryenteng mga kamay.
***
Kent smiles as Bianca immediately run outside the elevator. He is fond of that girl; there is something in her that he can't explain.
"Tsk! Tsk! This girl is not just an ordinary girl. She is the first girl that tries to break my arm during the first meeting.
Where did she get that strong force from that petite body? I'm wondering if she learnt Taekwondo, Judo, Muay Thai or Sumo?
I can't also believe that she refused to have a handshake with me. No one ever resist my charm. As in no one! That girl is really interesting."
He talks to himself before the elevator door closes.
Ting!
The elevator is already in fourth floor so the door opens. He comes out from the elevator with a smile on his lips.
While he is walking along the hallway, some students; especially girls smile at him and greeted him. He smiled and waved at them in return.
"Hi Kent!"
"Hello!" Ganting bati niya sabay kindat. Namula naman ang pisngi ng babae at napayuko ito dahil sa kilig.
"Good morning Kent!"
"Good morning too!" Bati niya ulit sabay ngiti nang napakatamis. Katulad ng naunang estudyante ay ubod ng pula na rin ng pisngi nito.
"Hi handsome!"
"Magandang umaga, Kent!"
"Hello everyone!" Bati nya sa lahat at kumaway pa na parang artista.
"Who would not be mesmerized by this handsome face of mine? Good thing I got perfect genes from my parents." Sabi niya sa kanyang isip na lalong nagpangiti sa kanya.
He is in front of their classroom now as he hears their General Science professor introducing himself in the class. He looked at his wrist watch. He is five minutes late already but he really doesn't care.
"It's time to introduce yourself and let's start with you." The professor said.
"Hi everyone. My name is Bianca Kie Ramirez."
He heard a woman's voice. Her accent is good and it sounds very American but there's coldness in her voice as she speaks.
"Hmmm.. Bianca Kie Ramirez, what a magnificent name.." Kent repeated her name as he open the back door of their classroom.
"Good morning everybody!"
He greets everyone with a big smile on his face as he enters their classroom .
"Good morning classmates! Good morning sir!"
Everybody looks at him except for the student in front named Bianca.
"Good thing you are here today Mr. Rozales. It's a miracle that you attended the first day of my class. May nakain ka ba kaya maaga kang bumangon at umalis ng bahay?" Mr. Perez said mocking Kent.
"Wala naman sir, sadyang gusto ko lang masilayan ang mga bago at magaganda kong classmates."
Napangiti siya lalo nang makarinig ng impit na tili sa ilang classmate niyang babae at kumindat pa sa mga ito.
"Alright. You may take your seat now." Mr. Perez said with annoyance on his voice and face.
Naglakad si Kent sa loob ng classroom with confidence. Lahat ng mata sa loob ng classroom ay nasa kanya. Kinawayan at nginitian niya pa ang ilan sa mga kaklase niyang babae bago pumunta sa hilera ng mga upuan sa bandang harapan. Umupo siya sa tabi ni Bianca na kauupo lamang.
"Good morning!" Kent greets his seatmate.
"So Bianca is your name, right? Nice meeting you again." Kent said and extended his hand to Bianca.
She did not utter a word, hence she gives him a swift glance. As she looked at him, there was an evidence of surprise on her face.
"Mr. Rozales, it's your turn." The professor called Kent in front to introduce himself.
Tumayo si Kent mula sa kinauupuan at humarap sa buong klase.
"Hello everyone! I know kilala niyo na ako. Pero sa mga 'di nakakakilala sa'kin, I'm the most handsome and charming Kent Cedrick Rozales!"
Kumaway siya sa lahat ng tao sa loob mg classroom bago dumapo ang tingin niya kay Bianca na masamang nakatingin sa kan'ya ngayon.
"Just call my gorgeous name and I'll be there to help you wherever you are."
Dagdag pa ni Kent sabay kindat kay Bianca. Nagbaba naman ng tingin ang dalaga sa librong nasa ibabaw ng desk nito.
"You may take your seat now Mr. Rozales. Thank you." Their professor said and Kent went back to his seat.
The introduction continues hanggang sa matapos ang lahat na magpakilala. It is one of the reason why Kent hates first day of the class. The never-ending 'introduce yourself' thingy. He sighed.
"I don't know why but something urges me to attend the first day of class na di ko naman ginagawa sjnce first year ko sa SMU."
Dumako ang kanyang tingin sa katabing si Bianca na kasalukuyang nakikinig sa kanilang professor habang nag t-take down ng notes.
"Maybe this is the reason why. I never know na I will meet an angel today." He said again in his mind then smiles.
Nangalumbaba siya at tinitigan ang babae sa kanyang tabi. She has an innocent small face. As you look at her closely, mas lalo kang ma-a-attract sa mukha nito.
"What a beautiful view.."
The whole period na nakatitig si Kent kay Bianca ay hindi man lamang siya nilingon ng babae
"This girl is impossible. How come na hindi man lamang niya ako nilingon even once? No one ever resist my charm."
"End of discussion!" Mr. Perez said.
Kent's senses went back to reality. He touches his neck which is stiffened right now due to hours of staring at the girl. He glanced at Bianca again who is fixing her things now.
"Don't forget to do your homework everyone and Mr. Rozales, please stop staring at Ms. Ramirez." Pahabol ng kanilang professor.
Napangiti naman si Kent dahil dito samantalang si Bianca ay namula ang pisngi at napayoko na lamang.
"Ayiiieeeee" Cheered everyone in the class.
"That's enough! Class dismiss!" Their professor shouts.
"Yes!"
"Finally!"
"Sumakit ata ulo ko."
The classroom becomes noisy. Everybody stands from their seat including Kent.
"Lets have lunch!"
"Let's go!"
"See you, later!"
It is their break time now after three hours of General Science class. They bid goodbye to each other then everybody went out to the caferia or to the nearest restaurant to eat. While Bianca is still sitting on her chair.
"It's peaceful and quiet now. Buti naman."
She talks to herself then she brings out a sandwhich from her bag that she bought from a convenience store before she go to school this morning. She takes a bite from it and started chewing inside the empty and quiet classroom.
"Hmmm... This is really delicious."
She was about to take another bite from the sandwhich when somebody opened the door. It was Kent. He smiles at her and walks towards her.
"Hi! Can I join you here?"
Her heart is pounding as he walks closer and closer to her. Her head hurts and a memory suddenly flashes back.
She stands from her seat and run towards the door. As she left the room, she sees Kent with confusion written all over his face.
"Why am I feeling this way?"
She askes herself as she keeps running not knowing where to go when suddenly she feels weak and lost her balance. She touches her hurting head.
"Aaahhhhh!!!!"
Mr. Lopez walks towards the direction of the door. She thought that he will leave the room but he didn't. Instead, he closed the door and locked it.
He slowly walks towards her direction with a grin on his lips. Her heart beats fast as Mr. Lopez walks step by step closer towards her.
"Sir? Ano pong gagawin niyo?"
She stands from her seat with shocked. She pick something close to her, it was a scissor. Her hands are trembling as she tightly holds the scissor in her right hand.
"Sir? Wag po kayong lumapit sa'kin.."
She slowly steps backward as Mr. Lopez walks towards her. This time, he is a meter away from her.
Blag!
She bumped to a chair and lost her balance. She is now lying down on the cold floor.
"S-sir..."
Mr. Lopez looked at her from head to toes and a more wicked smile was flastered on his lips. He knelt down and hold her shoulder. Her whole body shivers and she felt weak now.
"S-sir 'wag po..."
Crack!
He pulled her blouse with force. Some buttons are detach and start rolling on the floor. The strap of her bra is showing now. She tries to cover her body with her trembling hands.
"P-please stop! P-please, huwag po. Maawa po kayo sa akin, sir.."
She is stuttering while saying those words. Hot fluid starts running down from her eyes to her cheeks. Then suddenly everything went black.