Most of my subjects that I completed in my two years of study in Saint Paul University are credited in Polytechnic University of the Philippines so I have only a few subjects to pursue to become a Regular Third Year Student at Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
I spent myself in studying so that I could easily move on with Joshua. I also had friends but selectively because I'm still not allowed to be close to a men, even if he is a gay. There are men who want to introduce themselves to me but I ignore them. Some of them says that I'm snob, man hater, rude, feeling beautiful and etc.. But I ignored that. My top priority is my study. I will make my dream come true and make my family be proud of me.
Four months later.
"Class, I'v make a role play for you to present before your final exams. While you are presenting this you can learn that Culture can be defined as all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that are passed down from generation to generation. Culture has been called "the way of life for an entire society." As such, it includes codes of manners, dress, language, religion, rituals, art, norms of behavior, such as law and morality, and systems of belief.
You will act an example of a culture in which it is still practiced from then until now. This is entitled, "The Wedding." To be fair to everyone you will draw on your characters on this box in what your role will be at the wedding. All girls form your line at my right side and boys here in my left side. If your acting is good, you will be exempted from the final exam in the two major subjects under me," teacher Myrna said.
"Wow! I hope it's all prof.," my classmates answered.
"Let's start. Get one and tell me what it is," our professor says.
I was surprised to see the role I got. "Oh my God, I am the bride." I shouted.
"Perfect! It will definitely be exciting. And who is the groom?" teacher Myrna said.
Suddenly the whole class became silent.
"Boys? Who among you is the groom?" teacher asked again.
Until they were all looking at a man who was slowly raising his hand.
"Why it takes you so long to raise your hand Mr. Apolinario?" teacher isasked the man.
"I'm sorry ma'am, I am just worried that Angelica might reject me," he said.
I looked at him as he looked at me so our eyes met. Well, he looks simple and simplicity matters to him. He is tall, dark and handsome. We stared at each other and I recognized him. He was the handsome man in the library who stood beside me and smiled at me sweetly. We were classmates? It's really different when you're not looking at the guys around.
"Angelica, do you like him as your partner?" our Professor asked me.
"It's ok ma'am. It is just a role play." I said but nervously.
Alright, please write your character here at the sheet of paper and beside it write your name. Miss Dela Cruz and Mr. Apolinario you are the main character of the story so you must be responsible." she said.
"Yes ma'am" we said.
He approached me with a smile on his face.
"FYI I'm Caleb Apolinario," he said as he held out his hand to me.
"No need for us to shake hand. You know me, don't you?" I said.
"Because you accepted me as your partner, you should get used to me," he said and he suddenly clasped our palms.
I was surprised at what he did.
"Thank you for accepting me as your groom and soon to be your husband." he said while looking into my eyes. "What are you saying?" I asked.
"I mean, I am grateful you accepted me as your groom on this role play," he said while smiling.
His smile was contagious.
"Are you happy? If our grades didn't just depend on it, I wouldn't want to be your bride." I said.
"Really? So I need to thank teacher Myrna for thinking this kind of role play where in I had a chance to talk to you and be with you," he said with a mischievous smile.
I smirked at him and turning back away from him.
Ok class, listen everyone. I will give you today what you need to say or do. You have one week to master it. Just go with the flow so you don't have to experience difficulty in memorizing it. Tomorrow is Saturday so you have more time to practice. Please be here tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock sharp. That's all for today. See you all tomorrow," she said.
Prof. Myrna had left earlier but I still couldn't leave where I was. I stare at the script teacher Mryna gave me.It is too romantic.
Can I do this? I asked in my mind.
I can't believe I have to do everything in the script. I was just reading the first part but my heartbeat was getting stronger I turned to the person who seemed to have been watching me before. It's Caleb.
What? I asked.
"Your feet are already rooted. Take your seat." he said.
"So? You don't care." I pouted.
"Really rugged and snob. You just be thankful I'm still concerned about you," he said and pulled my hand to make me sit next to him.
I was secretly pleased when he said he was concerned about me. I looked at him. He was still looking at me. I also stared at him. I had notice that his eyes mesmerizing me. Suddenly his gaze went to my lips and returned to my eyes again. My heart beat faster. He slowly brought his face closer to mine. I already feel his breath.
"Good morning class, sorry I'm late." that voice of sir Mark brought us back to sanity. I just bowed in embarrassment and I think I'm blushing. I secretly scolded myself.
"Are you ok?" Caleb asked me. I just nodded because there's something blocked at my throat. Even though I wasn't looking at him, I could see out of the corner of my eye that he was smiling while listening to sir. But for me, I can only hear the loud beat of my heart.
"Bring out 1/4 sheet of paper and we have a short quiz," teacher Mark said. I'm dead! My brain is empty. I didn't understand the lecture earlier. I still can't even pull out a piece of paper and a ballpoint pen because I haven't been able to adjust the way Caleb and I looked before, which almost ended in a kiss.
"Here." said Caleb once handing me a paper and ballpen.
"Relax Angelica, just copy my answer and trust me." Caleb said in a low voice but enough for me to hear.
Is it too obvious that I am out of mind?
"It is better to cheat than to get zero." he whispered because I still don't write.
They are already in number 5 but I haven't written any answer yet.
I had no choice but to copy Caleb's answers. Fortunately, I was able to write quickly so I copied number 1-10 of his answers.
"ok, exchange your paper with your seat mate and let's check if you really understand our lesson for today."
I was ashamed to exchange paper with Caleb so he snatched my paper and gave me his paper to exchanged. We got the correct answer from item number 1 to 10. I was happy but suddenly lost my joy when I remembered that I had just copied Caleb's answers.
"Who got the perfect score?" sir Mark asked. Caleb handed my paper to sir Mark then looked at me and to his paper. I stood up and gave his paper to Sir Mark. He smiled at me and I smiled at him too.
"Thank you." I said.
"Don't be thankful because I will asked you a replacement for that," he said.
I was stunned by what he said.
What do you mean? I asked.
"Can you be my friend?" he said.
"No." I answered seriously.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because it can't be," I said.
"Why?" he asked again.
"I can't," I said.
"Why you can't?" he asked.
"I do not want to." I said.
"Why don't you?" he asked.
"Won't you stop asking why?" I said.
"I will not stop until you answer yes into my first question. I won't get tired of repeating why to you." he replied seriously.
"It's up to you." I said.
So you mean, I will be the one to decide? he asked with a smile.
"No, I will be the one to decide if you are going to my friend or not. It's up to you if you don't want to stop because I don't care about you . So please get out of my sight," I said to him and I couldn't help but raise my voice.
Miss Dela Cruz, are you fighting with Mr. Apolinario? teacher Mark asked me while sitting infront and writing on his class record.
"N-o s-ir. I was jus practicing how to act sir." I said hoarsely.
" I'm sorry sir, my friend Angelica is just practicing drama for the audition tomorrow," Caleb said with a mischievous smile on his face.
"Ok, Angelica please bring back this papers to the owner. I recorded your score now and i found out that only Angelica and Caleb who got the perfect score, but at least, no one got 5 below," teacher Mark said.
I took the papers and returned it to the owner. It's good that I copied Caleb's answer otherwise I felt embarrassed if I got zero. Caleb stopped talking to me after I shouted at him. I wanted to avoid him that day but he still stood beside me. We moved to the other room and still he sat beside me. I just ignored him.
Untill I was on my way home but he was still at my side while walking. Even though he doesn't speak, I'm still disgusted. I wanted to sew him but I remembered what I said that I didn't care about him anymore.
I rode inside the tricycle and he was supposed to ride too but I resisted. "What are you doing?" I asked. "What?" he said.
"You've been following me. Don't say that you will follow me until I get home." I said.
"If I do, will you accept me as your friend?" he asked.
"Caleb! I can't." I said in a serious voice.
"Is there anything stopping you from accepting me as your friend?" he asked me.
"I'll tell you the reason tomorrow. So stop following me, ok?" I said.
"Alright, you said so," he said and moved away a little to give way to the boarded passenger.
The tricycle I was riding signaled for us to leave. I looked at him and saw him smile and wave his hand causing me to smile at him too.
We've moved away from Caleb but I'm still not losing my smile. I covered my mouth with my palm because the passenger next to me was looking at me.
When I got home, Agatha immediately greeted me with furrowed eyebrows.
"Why only now? You're 10 minutes late. I'm hungry but I don't have a snack yet." Agatha said angrily.
"Alright, I'll just change my clothes and then I'll make your snack," I said.
"Are you deaf Angelica? I said I'm already hungry if you change first then I'm going to starve. So hurry up! Give me my snack first," she shouted.
I stopped talking and went straight to the kitchen to prepare her snack. I took cold water and put it in the glass. I mixed Agatha's juice and then I split the cake in the refrigerator. I put it on the saucer and immediately brought her to the terace.
"Here's your snack Agatha." I humbly said.
"Did i tell you that i like juice? Well, for your information, I'm not fond of juice. I want you to cook pancit canton for me. Make it fast!" she shouted.
I just followed immediately what she said. I was about to turn around to do what he ordered but suddenly he shouted again.
"Throw this Angelica, you should asked first because you make your own decision! You're just wasting food! Move fast. I don't want you to be slow." she said.
I acted quickly and cooked her pancit canton. After cooking, I put it on the plate with her spoon and fork. I also put water on the glass and brought it where she was.
"I'm going upstair. Just call me when you need anything else." I said calmly.
When I landed in my bag I lay down on the bed for a while and took a deep breath. I closed my eyes and Agatha's high voice seemed to echo in my hearing. She is treating me like a slave.