"What course do you want to take, El?" I look at my side and saw Vina holding two ice creams. She offered me the other one and I gladly took it.

"Nursing?"

"Diba your hobby was painting and sketching? Why don't you pick fine arts?"

"It was just my secret dream, Vin. Nursing was my final choice when my Mom was still alive."

"Okay. Let's took Nursing together, El. Let's heal our mental health together." She said and laughed.

The road we took was not easy. But I guess, we both believe that we can survive it.

"Good morning, Eli!" Nakangiting si Vina ang sumalubong sa akin. Today is friday at mukhang may panibagong chismis na naman syang nasagap. Bakit ba ako nagkaroon ng chismosang kaibigan?

Every Friday ay required kaming pumunta sa school. May monthly meeting at Nursing review na subject kasi kami.

"Narinig mo na ba?" She continued. I looked at her and frowned.

"Who is the main character in your tittle-tattle this time, Vina?" Bahagya nya na naman akong kinurot. Namumuro na to ha. Tusukin ko kaya ng injection!

"Paano mo naman nalaman na may chismis akong nasagap?" Hinila nya naman ako at sabay kaming naupo sa damuhan malapit sa field.

Mamaya pa talagang 10am ang klase namin kaya lang itong si Vina ay kinulit kulit ako na agahan ko raw ang pagpunta at may sasabihin raw sya. She was very excited and kept on bugging me until I agreed.

"So here's the tea, Eli. Sabi ng source ko ay nakita raw itong si Ivar na may kasamang girl nung nakaraan." She said this while doing her favorite hand gestures. I sighed.

"Wait. Di ka pa ba tapos dyan sa Ivar na yan?" Nagtataka kong tanong.

"Sino ba namang magsasawa sa chismis, Eli?" She frowned at my answer.

"So, ang sabi ay ito raw ang panibagong pinopormahan nya. Isn't the girl so lucky?" She continued while clapping her hands. She looks so happy so I smiled a bit.

"Siguro. Do you like him?" I asked her boredly. Looking at the wide field in front of us. I saw some people sitting on the grass, just like us. While some people were cheering and watching the soccer players play.

"Nope. Yung friend nya ang mas bet ko pero masungit rin kasi ang Kulot. Akala mo naman ikinagwapo nya." She said and frowned.

"Well, you still like him kahit masungit si Kulot." I teased her and laughed.

"Nakakainis nga eh. Nadulas ba naman ako sa hagdan nung last sem tapos hindi ako tinulungan." Naiinis nya pang sabi.

I laughed, but it stopped when I felt that everything seemed so unreal. I saw with my own two eyes how the ball was slowly going in my direction. I tried to dodge it, but it was too late. It hit my forehead before I could even move my hand. What a great day to start my morning!

"Oh my gosh, Eli!" Tili naman ni Vina. Her voice was so loud that even I couldn't ignore it.

The force was so strong that I lay down on the grass. I touched my forehead, checking if there was blood, but there was none. I sighed in relief.

"Are you okay, Eli? Namumula ang noo mo!" She said and panicked.

"Kunin mo nga ang injection sa bag ko Vina at mukhang may matutusok ata ako!" Nanggigigil kong sabi. Natawa naman si Vina sa sinabi ko at tinulungan akong mapaupo.

"Get up na. Let's go to the clinic." She suggest. Pinagpag pa ang mga nadikit na maliliit na dahon.

"No need. May ointment ako dyan sa bag. Paabot na nga lang." Ang aga-aga tapos matatamaan lang ng bola?

Nakarinig na man kami ng yabag papunta sa amin at parang kukunin na ang bola. Nasa paglalagay na ako ng ointment sa noo ko at hawak ng kabilang kamay ko ang salamin. Inalalayan naman ako ni Vina.

"That was a strong Kick, Ivar!" Sabi ng isang lalaking natatawa habang papunta sa banda namin. Sana all strong, diba?

"Hoy! May natamaan kayo no!" Hindi na nakatiis si Vina at talagang kinuhit pa ang lalaking matangkad na kulay blonde ang buhok na pinupulot na ang bola.

"Hala! Totoo ba?" Kinakabahang sabi ng lalaki at bahagyang lumingon sa gawi ko.

Nanlalaki naman ang mata nya at parang di alam ang gagawin. Lumapit na man ito sa akin at kung hindi ko lang napigilan ang sarili ay baka tuluyan ko na ngang natusok ito ng injection!

"Oh shit! Sorry. Eli? You're Eli, right?" Natataranta nyang tanong. I looked at him confused but still nodded.

"Y-you're actually pretty pala talaga in person." Bigla nyang sabi. Nangunot naman ang noo ko. Are those even the right words to say in this situation?

"Oo. Pretty talaga yan at tinamaan nyo pa talaga ng bola ha!" Sigaw naman ni Vina at bahagya pang hinampas ang lalaki. Oh, she was brutal today!

"S-sorry na! Hindi naman ako ang sumipa!" Pagtatanggol naman nito sa sarili at napalingon sa kasama na hanggang ngayon ay tulala.

"Stop that Vina. Malapit na ang class. Halika na!" Tawag ko sa kanya ng mailigpit ko ang gamit at tumayo. Pinagpag ko naman ang puting uniform ko at kinuha na ang ginamit naming scarf.

"A-aalis na kayo? W-wait!" Natatarantang sabi nya pero ilang munito na lang kasi klase na kaya di ko na sya pinakinggan at tuluyan nang hinila si Vina paalis.

"Ivar! Pare! Lapit ka muna dito, bilis!" He shouted, but I didn't mind what he said.

"Ang bagal mo, Dude!" Sigaw pa rin sila ng sigaw nang lumingon ako pero nakalayo na kami.

Mabuti na lang at sakto lang ang dating namin. Nang makaupo kami ay syang pagpasok naman ni Prof.

Ilang oras na kaming nakaupo rito sa classroom at talagang naiihi na ako. Kinuhit ko naman si Vina.

"Vin. Ihing-ihi na ako. Labas muna ako ha?" Bulong ko sa kanya.

"Sige, Eli. Baka matuluyan ka dito. Bentang benta pa naman ang jokes ni Prof ngayon." Ganting bulong nya. Hindi kasi madalas magbiro ang mga Prof dito dahil na rin sa seryoso ka dapat lagi.

Nag-excuse na man ako kay Prof at pinayagan na man akong lumabas. Dali-dali naman akong dumiretso sa banyo.

Nang matapos ay naghugas na ako ng kamay. Nagulat na man ako ng may biglang humawak sa siko ko.

"Are you okay?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Rav habang nakatitig sa noo ko. What's his problem again? How did he know what happened?

"You're not allowed here!" I whispered. I looked around to see if there were any people inside aside from us.

"I know, okay? I was jus worried, baby!" Hinihingal pa sya. Saan ba to galing? He touched my forehead and bit his lips.

"I'm sorry. I didn't saw you." He said. Nagtaka na man ako.

"You was there?" Nanliliit na mata kong sabi.

"Yes. I didn't mean it, baby." He added, pulling me closer and hugged me.

Inilabas nya naman galing sa bulsa ang ointment na dala nya. He gently pat it on my forehead.

He looks so serious while doing it.