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Pinagmasdan ko ang mga dahong nilalaro ng hangin habang nakahiga sa ilalim ng puno ng Acacia. Anong oras na't nandito pa ako sa aking tambayan, ang madamong Oval ng unibersidad.

Kagat-kagat ang matamis na berdeng mansanas ay inangat ko ang aking kamay upang tignan ang aking orasan. 10:34 am. Tsk, late na naman ako sa klase...at sinasadya ko iyon.

Hi, I'm Wren and I hate school.

Hindi ko alam kung paano nabuo o kung kelan nagsimula ang kaisipan kong iyan, pero matagal-tagal ko na rin iyang pinanghahawakan. Matagal-tagal ko na ring pinaparamdam sa lahat ng paaralang napuntahan ko, lalo na sa mga magulang ko.

But, what can I say? I still need to graduate to leap out from this shitty university. Well, Ilang buwan na lang naman na iyon. Konting tiis na lang at makukuha ko na ang pinag-usapan namin ni Daddy.

Formal education is not for me and I badly want to get the hell out of it. Any formal things are not just working for my liking. The rules and regulations of the colleges, the neat and girly uniform I'm wearing right now, the classroom policies, good moral character enigma, the university activities, subject schedules--ugh, everything!

Bumangon ako mula sa pagkakahiga bago muling kumagat sa aking hawak. Apples are like my caffeine every morning, everyday. Anytime and anywhere.

"Public Sector plays a vital role in the economy as it--"

Ang matandang dalagang propesor ay bahagyang napatigil nang gumawa nang ingay ang pagbukas ko ng pinto ng silid. Naningkit ang mga mata niya habang sumilip sa ibabaw ng kanyang makalumang salamin upang makita ang estudyanteng gumambala sa iminumungkahi nito. Nang makitang ako ay napailing na lang siya't nagpatuloy.

Well, of course, who would waste their time on a difficult, annoying irregular student like me.

"As I was saying..."

Ma'am Santos' high-pitched voice quickly faded as I sit down at the very far corner of the class, alone in the last row, like it was blocked for my liking.

Twenty-two minutes before the class ends when the door opened again. I thought I already got the award of "most punctual of the year", but I was wrong. Mukhang may tumalo sa pagkalate ko.

"Good morning, Ma'am. Sorry I was late," aniya habang nakabalandra ang malaking ngiti nito. Seriously? He doesn't even looked like he was sorry.

Mukhang pareho kami nang naging ekspresyon ni Ma'am Santos na tila naputulan na ng litid ng pasensya. "Yes, yes! Just settle down, Mr. Esperanza, and stop interrupting me," she exclaimed to the newcomer.

Pigil na tumawa ang halos karamihan habang pinagmamasdan ko lamang siyang maglakad patungo sa aking banda. Nang tuluyan itong umupo sa aking tabi ay nahagip ko ang isang masamang tingin ng isang babae sa 'di kalayuan.

"Hello, Ate Wren," he greeted gleefully. Ugh, this dork. Mas matanda lamang ako ng isang taon pero kung maka-Ate ay wagas.

"Shut the fuck up, Kurt," I mumbled and rolled my eyes at him.

"Oh, you remembered my name this time. Akala ko nakalimutan mo na naman kahit tatlong taon na tayong naging magkaklase," halakhak nito. Of course, nakikilala ko siya.

Kurt Esperanza. Quirky and quite annoying. I just can't handle the bundle of joy he carries all around the whole place. I can't keep up with that. No, thanks. Isa pa ay kapatid niya ang nakaupong presidente ng Student Government ngayong taon, Callum Esperanza IV. Mas magandang lumayo ang isang kagaya kong dilengkwente sa isang 'tong may koneksyon sa mga higher authorities. Mahirap na.

At, ang babaeng nakatitig sa amin ng masama ngayon ay si...uh, hindi ko maalala ang pangalan niya. Basta ang alam ko, kasintahan niya ang kapatid ng katabi ko. That means, I shouldn't barge in her sight, too.

Unless--just unless--otherwise things got fucked up and she tested my patience na marahil ay mas maiksi pa sa pasensya ni Ma'am Santos. Then, I won't bat an eye to start a chaos.

It felt like eternity, but the boring class ended eventually. Habang palabas sa classroom ay umakbay si Kurt sa akin. Unfortunately, mas matanda lang ako ng isang taon pero higit na mas matangkad siya.

"Nasubukan mo na bang mabali ang braso mo?" I threatened.

To no avail, he just laughed again, "Yeah," sagot pa nito at bahagyang ginulo ang maiksi kong buhok. "Humiga ka na naman sa damuhan, Ate Wren. Next time, I'll bring some beddings sa Oval. Para 'di ka na naman nadudumihan sa tambayan mo," he said while patting my head, removing the dirt, perhaps.

I'm not even surprise he knows where my 'tamabayan' is.

"Cheap whore."

Napatigil ako mula sa paglalakad, kasabay ng aking katabi, hindi dahil sa matalas na narinig ang komentong patama sa akin kun'di dahil ay nakaharang ang nagsalita sa aming daraanan.

It's the girl whom I forgot her name with. Iyong masama ang tingin sa akin kanina.

"Ba't mo ba pinakikisamahan ang basagulerang iyan, Kurt?" mataray nitong saad. "Baka makasira iyan sa reputasyon ng pamilya niyo kapag nalaman nilang kasama mo ang isang kagaya niya, lalo na sa Kuya mo. For all we know, she might have bedded all the guys in this campus. At, mukhang sa damuhan pa talaga," ngisi nito habang pinaglalaruan ang kulot na dulo ng kanyang buhok.

Pinagmasdan ko lamang siya hanggang matapos ang mahabang lintaya nito tungkol sa akin. She has a pretty face, I admit. I just wonder if it would still withstand without those tons of makeup made to look natural. Hindi ko rin alam kung natural ang kulot nitong buhok o iginigising niya na lang ito ng napakaaga upang ayusin. But, that would be pitiful. Imagine the amount of sleep lessened in your daily life just for that.

And, uh, I still can't remember her useless, ugly name.

"Don't worry, Ate Stephanie. It's my reputation, not Kuya Callum's," sagot ni Kurt. Yup, that's her name.

Mukhang hindi niya nagustuhan ang sagot nito ay bumaling naman sa akin, "Ano? Hindi ka makaimik? Kasi the rumors about you were true, right?" she smiled like a real muse.

It amaze me how sweet her voice comes out everytime she talks, but spats poisons and ugly comments. Mukha pa naman itong anghel, tsk. Hindi ko mapagilang mapabuntong-hininga.

"Hindi ako umiimik kasi mukha kang tanga," malumanay kong saad.

That one statement of mine created gasps around us. Hindi ko alam na madami pa lang nakamasid sa amin at tila nag-aabang nang isasagot ko sa diyosang kaharap.

"If you can't check your facts right, Ms. Stephanie, might as well shallow your own dumb, cheap comments about me," tuloy ko nang hindi ito nakapagsalita. "Now, get out of my fucking way, brainless pretty face," I spat coldly. Nilagpasan ko siya at wala akong pakealam kung nabungo ko man.

Everyone who heard our little petty fight, rattled silently as they try to hid their laughters. I left the place with her face got distorted like her ego was smashed into little pieces.

"What are y'all laughing at?!"

Iyon lamang ang huli kong narinig sa kanya mula sa likod bago kami tuluyang nakalabas ni Kurt sa gusali ng Business College. Buti nga iyon lang ang lumabas sa bibig ko.

Papunta na akong University Canteen para makakain ng masaganang lunch. Hindi ko lang alam sa batang nakasunod sa akin. Yes, bata. Tutal 'Ate' ang tawag niya sa akin. Pork Adobo would be nice for today's lunch.

"Brainless pretty face," he whistled. Mukhang hindi pa naka-move-on ang isang 'to. I glanced at him and he was grinning at me like he heard a freaking joke.

"What?"

"Always remind me not to mess around you, Ate Wren. I'm so glad to be your on friend's side," masigla nitong saad na tuluyan kong ikinairap. Did he just--?

"What a delusional child."

He laughed at me like I was just teasing him. I am certainly serious about that, though.

Speaking of which, did I just used my 'Unless' card? Parang kakakumbinsi ko lamang sa sarili ko kaninang 'wag bunguin ang babaeng iyon, pero tignan mo ang mapaglarong tadhana. I knew my patience is as thin as a strand of hair, or perhaps, there is nothing at all. Well, too late to take it back.