Kairo's POV

Bumalik ako sa campus at tumambay sa isang garden sa likod ng school building kung saan may puno. I just heard this from my blockmates that this is a sanctuary place and I agree.

Quiet, peaceful. Very serene.

Umupo ako sa damo, may 50 minutes pa naman ako na magpahinga. So why not stay here for the meantime, right? Tsaka wala pa naman akong kakilala na pwede kong makausap.

I took my phone from my pocket and I saw a message from Mom.

From: Mommy

Have you had your lunch yet, Kai?

Instead of replying, I called her and she answered quickly. "Oh Kai, kumain ka na ba?" bungad nya sa akin. "I already bought food, Mom. How about Hiara?" I asked her. "She already told me that she had her lunch, don't worry" sagot naman nya sa akin.

We talked for a few minutes and I told her na ako nalang ang susundo kay Hiara sa school nya since mas mauuna naman ang dismissal ko atsaka para hindi na din lumabas pa ng bahay sila Mommy. I'm sure kailangan pa nila ni Dad ng alone time together since ngayon ang free day ni Daddy.

To be honest kahit 46 years old na si daddy gwapo pa rin at pwede pang mag model at yun naman ang ginagawa niya.

Si Mom naman ay lagi pa rin hands on deck sa work niya pero usually sa bahay niya na ginagawa ang trabaho niya dahil yun ang gusto ni daddy. Kami naman ni Hiara ay masaya lang para sa kanila. I treat her as my sister whole-heartedly even though we have different fathers.

I finished eating my food which is chicken salad. Satisfied naman ako sa lasa pati presyo, so it's a good deal pero mas gusto ko pa din ang luto ni Mommy na itinuro daw sa kanya noon ng tatay ko. It's really good and I could eat it everyday.

Pagkatapos ko kumain ay nag-ayos lang ako ng sarili ko at nagpahangin sa kotse sandali.

After that, naglakad na din ako para marating ko ang room ng marketing subject ko, ayaw ko na kasi maligaw ulit at malate ako na naman kasi ang aabalahin ng Prof. pag ganon. I put on my ear buds and played my playlist while walking. Ayoko na kasi masyadong intindihin pa yung mga tumitingin at tumititig sa akin.

As usual, short introduction and other important things to remember bago kami mag discuss tungkol sa marketing. Boring nga ang lesson eh, halos basic knowledge lang naman ang tinuturo ng Prof eh

Biglang lumipad ang utak ko at naisip ko ulit yung babae kanina.

Napalingon ako sa bintana at nakita ko ang dalawang babae na nag-uusap sa labas. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita na si Jordyn iyon at papasok sila sa Mass Comm. building. Nakatingin lang ako doon habang nag-iisip, she must be taking Mass Communication as her course.

Interesting. I'm very interested now.

"Mr. Eugenio!" naalimpugatan ako ng marinig kong isigaw ang pangalan ko. Tinapunan ko ng tingin ang Prof. namin at napansin ko din na lahat ng blockmates ko ay nakatingin na sa akin.

Masyado naman nila pinagmamasdan ang kapogian ko, bawal 'yon.

"Stand up!" sigaw niya at tamad na tumayo naman ako. "Are you even listening to my discussion? If you're not interested, get out of my class!" she shouted and I heavily sighed. "I'm listening ma'am, it's just that you're telling us basic knowledge that we already know." I told her and she shot her eyebrows out of shock and anger.

"Don't sit down" seryosong sambit nya habang nakatingin nanag diretso sa akin. "Sandoval, stand up and give me the definition of marketing in your own understanding and cite 3 purposes of it." turo niya sa isa kong blockmate na babae pero mukhang hindi niya alam ang sagot.

Napaka dali na nga lang hindi pa nagawang masagot amp!

"I'm not allowed to give you a failing remark, because this is just your first day. Sit down!" she again shouted then our Prof. turned to me and raised her eyebrow. "Now tell me, Mr. Eugenio, am I teaching basic knowledge?" tanong niya and I just looked at her with boredom in my eyes.

"Marketing refers to the work that a company is doing to promote their product or service. Another thing is, it is the process of getting people interested in your company's product or service. Three purposes of marketing are to capture attention, educate prospects, and convert. I would explain all of those terms in a brief context but I know that I should give a chance to my fellow block mates to answer you, right Prof. Venedez?" I answered confidently before taking my seat.

All of the eyes are looking at me. Bigla naman silang lahat natahimik pagkatapos kong umupo kaya tiningnan ko sila isa isa bago itaas ang aking kilay. Narinig ko naman ang slow clap ng Prof. namin at doon naman nagsunod sunod ang palakpakan. What the fuck?

"Mr. Eugenio, can you tell us why you know this?" tanong pa ni Prof. sa akin at napaisip ako.

Dapat ko pa bang sagutin ang tanong? Baka naman bigyan ako ng singko nito kaya sige sagutin ko na lang ang mga tanong niya. At least I'm kinda giving my classmates a favor, walang lesson nakikinig lang sila sa amin.

"My dad who died already 'gave' me his business." I told them while making a quotation mark with the word 'gave' before continuing. "My Mom is a fashion designer who owns Cordoline cosmetics and Cordovaine clothing-" bigla naman akong nakarinig ng mga violent reactions but our Prof. motioned me to continue talking. "And lastly my step-father is a famous model, and all I listened to while growing up was my Mom and dad teaching me all those business managing skills."

Napatango tango na lang yung Prof bago magdiscuss ulit. Kahit 'di ako nakikinig, pumapasok naman sa utak ko ang sinasabi ng Prof kaya okay na 'yon. I should be taking notes right now pero tinatamad ako. I'll just do them after my last period.

Natapos ang klase ko ng marketing ay tumungo muna ako sa cr. It's currently 2:45pm at ang last period ko ay Basic Finance. I was on my way to my next subject when my vision got blocked. It was the girl na hindi nakasagot sa tanong kay Prof. Venedez. I looked at her with a blank expression. May kailangan ba 'to sa akin?

"Sabay na tayo next period." sabi niya sa akin at tumango naman ako.

Tahimik lang kami habang naglalakad. "What's your next subject after Finance?" tanong niya at mabilis ko siya sinagot, "Wala na, last subject ko na Finance ngayong araw". Agad ko naman nakita ang pagsimangot nya, she probably have another class after 4pm.

Pagkapasok ko naman sa room ay pinili ko ulit ang dulong upuan sa tabi ng bintana. Hoping that I would see Jordyn again. Just to see her, nothing else. Ang cute lang kasi ng buhok nya and the way she dress. So far, siya palang din ang nakakakuha ng atensyon ko.

"Now, who could tell me the six principles of finance?" tanong ng Prof at nagtaas ako ng kamay confidently. I remembered my Mom talking about this. Alam ko na akala niya ang mga sinasabi niya sa akin ay pasok dito labas doon pero nakukuha ko ang mga tinuturo ni Mommy.

"Risk and return, Time Value of money, Profitability and Liquidity, Cash flow principle, Diversity principle and Hedging principle." I answered and the Prof smiled at me before continuing the lecture.

We also talked about the equations of business math and that's where I find it difficult. I'm good at remembering the terms and functions but when it comes to math... ibaon niyo na lang ako sa lupa.

Luckily, I survived my first math related subject. Mamaya pang 4:30 ang dismissal ni Hiara so I have 30 minutes to do something else. But I'm going to make sure that I won't be late to pick up my little sister. Paano kasi, pwede namang mag commute ayaw gawin, pero kailangan ko gawin because I love my little sister.

I bought some food before going to my car. I was about to go inside of my car when I saw a familiar figure a few meters away. It was Jordyn... and she was being catcalled! Out of anger lumapit ako sa kanya at hinatak sa kamay.

The fear in her eyes changed into shock when she saw me... again.

Ngayong araw halos siya ang nakikita ko na pasulpot sulpot. Pinasok ko siya sa shotgun seat at sinuotan ng seatbelt habang nakakunot ang noo ko. I'm pissed to the guys who catcalled her, like what in the actual fuck?

Pumasok na din ako sa kotse at agad naman binuksan ang makina para painitin. I turned to her and she was already looking at me, I calmed myself before speaking.

"Are you okay?" I asked and she nodded still looking at me. Sabihin mo na lang na gwapo ako, Jordyn.

After a few minutes pinaandar ko na ang kotse.

"We'll pick up my sister first, then I'll take you home," sambit ko sa kanya at nagtaka naman siya.

"You don't even know my address." she told me and I looked at her.

"Then tell me."

Hindi naman na siya nakipagtalo at binigay din ang address niya. Nice, alam ko na kung saan ko siya susunduin if ever na magdate kami, jk.

"What's your course?" tanong ko sa kanya and she answered immediately.

"Mass Communication, what about you?" Tanong niya and I swiftly shifted the gear and turned the wheel in the other direction with one hand.

"Business Management." I looked at her again and she has a familiar facial features but I don't know kung kanino. "You're really pretty, Jordyn," I told her and she disregarded my compliment.

"You know, napansin ko lang na kanina mo pa ako sinusundan... Kairo." doon naman ako nagulat, paano naman niya nalaman ang pangalan ko??? But heck, her aura and charm is something.

"I followed you because you are interesting and somehow I want to know more about you."