Alia’s POV

“Strawberry girl!!”

Napalingon ako sa nagsalita ng malakas. Papasok ako sa PhySci building ng IS. It’s been a month since I started teaching at IS. I turned down the offer in Taiwan. Mas gusto kong dito muna sa bansa mag-umpisa while trying to figure out what I want.

The guy who called out is wearing faded jeans and semi-fit shirt. He is tall and well-built. His well-trimmed curly hair adds more masculinity to his hawk-nose.

“It’s really you!” his face lit up. I looked sideways. Lahat ay busy sa paglalakad. Is he talking to me?

Itinuro ko ang sarili ko while looking at him. He is standing few meters away from me. Napakunot-noo ako nang tumango siya at ngumiti. I don’t think I know him.

Hmm, baka pinagloloko lang ako. I turned away at agad ng pumasok sa building. Late na ako sa klase and I don’t have time for pranks.

Dominic’s POV

I’ve been taking up my Masters degree in Management here at IS for a year now. Every Saturday ang klase ko and all the modules are sent on-line. Pero ngayong Friday ako pumunta dito dahil kailangan kong lumipad ng Singapore tonight for a conference at kailangan kong ipasa ang libro ko – semi-thesis – personally sa isang professor.

Fully-loaded ang parking area sa Management building kaya sa PhySci area nalang ako nagpark. Ito kasi ang pinakamalapit doon.

I was walking across the quadrangle when I saw her. Hindi ako maaaring magkamali, she’s the strawberry girl. One of our hotel guest na di ko nakuha ang pangalan dati kasi naka-check out na siya when I tried to find out.

“Strawberry girl!!” I yelled. Lumingon siya at tiningnan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. I smiled. I thought she recognized me pero di pala dahil tumalikod din siya agad at nagtungo sa building diretso sa elevator.

Parang déjà vu.

Pero kung dati di ko siya naabutan, this time, I made sure na kasama na ako sa pagsakay niya. She hasn’t changed after the last time I saw her. Maganda pa rin siya.

Dahil marami-rami ang nakasakay, di ko siya magawang kausapin. So, I just stared at her reflected image on the elevator walls.

Natigilan siya nang magtama ang paningin namin sa salamin pero agad ding nagbaba ng tingin.