#RTG01 Chapter 01

Ang ingay.

I roamed my eyes around and saw the people having fun. It's well deserved. Katatapos lang ng midterms exam namin and they deserve to let loose.

But...

My professor didn't know the meaning of the word rest. Dahil kahit katatapos lang ng exam namin ay balik recit ulit kami sa Monday. Kaya naman kahit nandito ako sa club para sa 'required' celebration na hinanda ng sorority, mas gusto ko pa ring mag-aral.

I carried the glass of dry margarita with me as I made my way out the club. Dala ko naman iyong codal ko dahil alam ko na ito mismo iyong mangyayari.

"Where are you going?" Clary asked.

"Out."

She pouted. "What? But we're supposed to get drunk and have fun!" she whined, trying to snatch the codal from my hands. I frowned at her.

One of my greatest frustration would be failing the scholarship exam of SCA... Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit napadpad ako sa Brent against my will... I mean, it's still a great school and it's also very competitive pagdating sa BAR exam... But the students... Gosh, the students... It's like they're living a double life—the school life and the party life. Hindi ako maka-sabay!

Ngayon lang din ako naka-kita ng school na nagbibigay ng additional grades kapag umattend ka sa official parties! Like what on earth?

"We have recit on Monday," I reminded her.

"We'll just wing that," she said.

I shook my head. "Nope."

Palibasa anak siya ng Governor, so afford niyang bumagsak kahit kailan niya gusto. Iba sa 'kin. As much as kaya ng family kong bayaran iyong tuition ko, alam ko na pinag-aaral pa nila iyong dalawa kong kapatid and my youngest sister wanted to be a doctor... so that would cost a lot of money.

So, nope. No room for failure here.

Hindi pa naman ako iyong tipo ng tao na naturally matalino. My grades came from working my ass off and studying non-stop. Pero okay lang. Mas lamang ang masipag kaysa sa matalinong tamad.

Clary was shouting boo as I made my way out of the club. I was already familiar with the area dahil ilang beses na akong naka-punta rito. Agad akong dumiretso sa may parking, doon sa ilalim ng poste dahil doon lang may liwanag. I didn't bring my glasses with me, so I needed a good spot to read.

Nang papunta ako roon ay agad akong napa-hinto nang may makita akong ibang tao. I looked at him from afar—he wasn't familiar. And I must've been staring for way too long dahil napa-tingin agad siya sa akin. His brows were arched.

"Yes?" he asked.

One word.

One word and I knew where he's from.

It's... with the way the word rolled out of his tongue.

"Nothing," I said, showing him the codal I was holding. "That used to be my spot," I continued as I turned my back on him. Marami pa namang poste dito.

As I was walking away, I heard him say excuse me. I debated if I'd turn around. I knew his type... God, I was surrounded by his type! Kung marupok lang siguro akong tao, first week ko pa lang sa Brent ay na-devirginize na agad ako dahil sa dami ng malalandi kong kaklase... Na iyong tipong alam mo naman na may girlfriend dahil kita mo sa facebook, pero pagdating sa school, ugaling single.

"What?" I asked because he called again.

"We can share," he said.

"No, thanks," I immediately replied.

He chuckled.

Sounded so nice.

It's a talent, really.

"I'm Sean," he said. "You are?"

"Not interested," I immediately replied because I seriously had no time for rich boys like him. Hindi naman kasi seryoso 'yung mga 'yan. They're serious about one thing, though—hooking up.

And I wasn't a nun... pero wala lang talaga akong balak maging kabit.

But it seemed like my disinterest made him interested because the next thing I knew, he's already standing next to me.

"Hi," he said, smiling.

"Not interested," I replied.

"Just wanna be friends."

"You don't want to be friends," I said. "You want to get in my pants."

His lips rose in amusement. Bakit ba papatagalin pa? Iyon naman talaga ang gusto niya. Sa ilang beses na nandito ako sa club, iyon naman palagi ang pinupuntahan. At first, I was still naive... but then the guy I was talking to began to caress my thigh... And that was when I realized that club is not the right place to make friends.

"I'm sorry for whatever you experienced that made you think that way," he said. "But really, I'm harmless," he continued, raising both his arms kaya naman napa-tingin ako sa title ng binabasa niya.

Huh.

He's from med.

"Isobel," I said.

He smiled, offering his hand. "Nice to meet you, Isobel. I'm Sean."

* * *

I tried to recall if I was drunk, but I was sure that I only had a dry margarita at ni hindi ko nga naubos iyon... so, whatever was happening couldn't be blamed on alcohol but on myself...

God, why was I so weak for med students?

The first time I made out with someone during these required parties, alam ko na med student din iyon.

I felt Sean kissing my jaw down to my chest. Ang bilis ng kamay niya. I just felt him tugging my top down until I felt his mouth on my nipples. Oh, dear Lord! Ngayon na ba mawawala? Pero ayokong sa sasakyan!

I wanted to voice out my objection against having sex inside his car—albeit really nice car—but I couldn't find my voice in the middle of all the feelings he was making me feel.

God... He's really a med student. It felt like he knew the way around the anatomy.

"Just tell me to stop if you're not comfortable," he said, his chin resting on my nipple. He's so fucking hot, it's insane!

I bit my lower lip. "No sex..." I replied.

"But?"

"Yes to making out," I said, grabbing his head and kissing him again. I felt him chuckling for a second before he continued to kissing me again. He's such a good kisser that for a moment, I debated on just having sex right now. I mean, his car is a nice car... Not too shabby for a place in losing virginity...

No!

Umayos ka, Lyana!

"Stop na..." I said when he was kissing my boobs again. Napa-tingin ulit siya sa 'kin. I saw the sweat forming on his forehead kahit malamig naman dito sa loob ng sasakyan niya.

I needed him to stop dahil ramdam na ramdam ko na na ilang segundo pa, ako na mismo ang mag-aaya sa kanya.

I was so horny.

Oh, my god.

Ako na lang talaga ang virgin sa room namin. Parang kasalanan ko pa 'yun. Sa araw-araw na nangyayari, puro kababalaghan ang naririnig ko sa mga classmate ko. They're so... open to sharing everything. The first time, I was so shocked! Ngayon, sanay na akong maka-rinig ng kung anu-ano. Minsan, may demonstration pa.

"Okay," he said.

Bakit ang gwapo ng pagsasalita niya?

Actually, lahat halos sa Brent, ganito magsalita... Iyong halata mong lumaking English ang salita. Lahat sila malinis tignan. Pero halos lahat fuck boy din... Kaya ang hirap idistinguish... Iniiwasan ko na lang silang lahat para sure.

Sean got off of me and helped sit down. He began to button his white polo again. Hindi ko maiwasan na mapa-tingin sa kanya. Hindi ko nga rin alam kung paano kami naka-rating sa loob ng sasakyan niya... Sigurado ako na kanina lang ay nagtatanong ako sa kanya tungkol sa mga pinag-aaralan nila sa school tapos... naghahalikan na kami.

Ano'ng nangyari?

"Do you wanna fix yourself?" he asked.

"Why?" I asked back, alarmed.

He chuckled at my reaction. "Your lipstick."

I got my phone and checked my reflection. Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ko ang itsura ko! My God! Sobrang gulu-gulo ang buhok ko pati iyong labi ko ay namamaga... And there were some marks on my chest.

I wanted to get pissed dahil hindi ako talented sa paglalagay ng concealer, but I perfectly remembered moaning earlier, so sino ang sisisihin ko? It's not as if pinilit niya akong pumasok sa sasakyan niya.

"You wanna fix yourself?" he asked. "There's a mirror in front."

I looked at my purse. Wala namang makeup na laman iyon dahil wala naman talaga sa agenda ko na makipaglandian ngayon. Akala ko puro law students lang ang makikita ko sa club at wala talaga akong balak makipagdate sa kanila.

"Do you have wipes?" I asked.

"That... I don't have here," he said. "But do you need wipes? I can run to the convenience—"

Umiling ako. "Nah. I'll just head home. I'm tired anyway," I said before I began to book a ride. Sanay naman akong umuwi mag-isa kapag ganitong party kasi hinding-hindi ako sasabay sa mga classmate ko dahil para sirang siraulo na nagda-drive kahit naka-inom... You'd think they're smart enough not to drink and drive...

"Where do you live?" he asked.

I arched my brow. "What?"

He held up his hands. "That didn't sound right," he said, laughing. Damn him! Kahit pagtawa niya ay gwapo! "I didn't mean to sound like a stalker, but I was just thinking if you want me to drive you home? I just... don't think you'd want to go out of my car looking like that."

I looked at my reflection again.

I looked like I'd been thoroughly fucked kahit makeout lang naman.

"If you don't want to, it's totally fine," he said, smiling.

"Yeah, I don't want to," I said, getting my purse and going out of his car. Good thing my hair was long, so I put it in a bun and then removed the smudge of my lipstick using my hands. Bahala na.

Sean got out of his car, too.

"Nice meeting you, Sean," I said, waving. I was pretty sure it's the last that I'd see him. I wasn't looking to date, anyway. Pa-graduate na ako. Then I'd take the BAR. Wala akong panahong lumandi ng seryoso. Okay na iyong ganito minsan.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

I nodded, smiling. "Good luck, future doc!" I said as I turned my back on him.

"See you around, future attorney," I heard him say, but I highly doubted that.

* * *

"What's with the frown?" Clary asked.

"I lost my codal!" I said, really annoyed. I knew I could buy a new codal, but it's not the same! Nandun lahat ng notes ko! Pati highlights ko! Ayan kasi, lumandi-landi pa ako nung Saturday! Nawala tuloy iyong codal ko!

It's not as if mahahanap ko iyong Sean dahil iyon lang ang alam ko at hindi ko alam iyong apelido niya dahil akala ko one-time thing lang!

"Yikes," Clary said.

I rolled my eyes. "Is there an announcement?" I asked, hoping against all odds na sana ay biglang magsabi na walang pasok. I still needed to buy a new codal and re-highlight everything! I was really, really pissed but I had no time to be pissed! I'd just think of this as a review. At least mababasa ko ulit lahat ng provisions.

Asar.

"Dunno. Ask Sancho."

I sighed. Sana talaga wala. 'Di ako nakapagreview nang maayos kagabi dahil sa nawawalang codal ko. Nandun kasi talaga lahat ng notes ko.

Dahil nakikipagchismisan lang naman si Clary tungkol sa nangyaring hookup niya nung Saturday sa kung sinuman, I snatched her codal and began to review. I was focused on reviewing dahil sandali na lang at magsisimula na iyong klase. May chance naman na walang recit dahil kakatapos lang ng exam, but I couldn't be too sure... Minsan pa naman malakas ang topak ng mga professor.

"Lyana," I heard someone calling my name.

I rolled my eyes because it's Sancho. Siya lang naman ang makapal ang mukha na ayaw akong tawagin na Isobel dahil kapangalan daw ng nanay niya. Ako pa mag-a-adjust?

"What?" I asked.

"Someone's looking for you."

Agad na kumunot ang noo ko at itatanong ko sana kung sino ang naghahanap sa akin dahil wala akong time makipag-usap ngayon. Every second mattered dahil wala talaga akong matinong aral! Kung sana instead of panicking nag-aral na lang ako kagabi, pero hindi! Nauna talaga iyong panic!

My lips parted when I saw who it was.

Oh, dear God...

Akala ko gwapo na siya nung nakita ko siya ng gabi... pero fuck... mas gwapo siya habang naka-uniform ng college of medicine!

"Ouch!" I said when I felt Clary pinching my arm. "What the hell?!"

"Why do you know Sean?!" she asked, hyperventilating.

"Ha? Why?"

"It's Sean! The son of the owner of St. Matthew's Hospital!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

"Oh, my god, Sob! He's so dreamy! Where did you meet him?! I tried to meet him but he's so elusive!"

What the fuck? Elusive? Sa ilalim ng poste ko lang nakita 'yan, e!

Clary was still busy fangirling nang mapilitan akong tumayo nang makita ko na naka-tingin si Sean sa akin. It's as if I felt all eyes were on us... Ganito ba siya ka-big deal? Kasi usually, big deal din ang mga classmate ko maliban sa amin na scholar...

Sure, anak siya ng may-ari ng hospital... pero may classmate ako na anak ng drug lord at sure ako na mas mayaman 'yun.

"Hey," he said, smiling at me. Muntik na akong masilaw sa ngipin niya. Gusto kong ialis ang tingin ko sa kanya, pero hindi ko magawa... Parang may magnet iyong mukha niya... Ang gwapo-gwapo niya... Hindi ko alam na gumagawa pala si Lord ng ganito...

"Hi," I replied, trying my hardest to calm the fucking down.

"You left this in my car," he said, handing me my codal. Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ko at inabot ko iyon. I held it close to my chest. I saw him chuckle at my response. "I wanted to return it yesterday, but it was a Sunday..."

"How did you know that I'm here?"

He flashed me his smile. 'Yung panty ko.

"I asked around," he replied.

"Oh..."

"Thank you. This is really important to me."

"If that's the case... buy me dinner later?"

I bit my lower lip. "Sure," I replied. I got his number and called his phone para ma-save niya iyong number ko. Nag-uusap pa kami kaya lang ay biglang dumating si Atty. DC kaya naman napilitan siyang umalis.

I was watching his retreating back. When I turned around, I saw Sancho looking at me.

"What?" I asked because he was looking at me. Pero nang hindi siya sumagot, I passed by him and readied myself for another round of recitation.