"Here it is," aniya sabay abot sa akin ng folder na hawak niya.

I quickly reached it from him and hug it.

"I'm sorry for the trouble, Pres, pero salamat na rin," I thanked him.

He nodded his head on me.

"It's nothing," he said.

Nagkibit na lamang ako ng aking balikat dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Okay. Sabi mo, eh," usal kong nakatingin pa rin sa kanya. "I'm going. Baka nasa room na Professor ko," paalam ko.

Muli siyang nagtango ng kanyang ulo sa akin.

Can't he just show me a different action aside from nodding his head?

"Go on," saad niya.

Napangiwi na lamang ako sa sinabi niya. Go on. He also said it earlier then he's also saying it now.

Umalis ako mula sa building ng Medical Department at dumiretso patungo sa may cafeteria. I was heading my way to our building when I saw my cousin shutting her brows at me while staring at me annoyingly.

Aba't, may ginawa na naman ba ako?

I made a face at her and continue walking. I noticed her leading her way from where I was. Lihim na lamang akong napamura sa loob ng isipan ko.

I was just walking as I cursed Eunice's name on my head when I felt her held my wrist so tight when got herself near me. Napaigik ako sa higpit ng hawak niya sa pulsuhan ko.

"What's wrong with you?!" she angrily hissed at me.

The hell?! Kasalan ko pa?!

I looked at her in disbelief.

"Are you seriously asking me that, Eunice, when you're the one who suddenly pulled my wrist?" I asked her. Maintaining the loudness of my voice.

Pabalang niyang binitawan ang pulsuhan ko at dinuro ako sa noo ko.

"What were you doing with Samuel, huh?!" tanong niyang ikinakunot ng noo ko.

Ano na naman ba ang iniisip niya? Ano, magri-report ulit siya kay tita Hilda tungkol dito? Desisyon din talaga ang isang 'to, eh.

Tinampal ko ang daliri niyang nasa noo ko pa.

"Ouch!" daing niya.

Tsk. Arte ng feeling maganda na 'to.

"What do you think?" I asked her instead.

I don't care what will she think. Hindi ko naman responsibilidad ang ipalam sa kanya ang bawat galaw ko. It's just that, she's not tita Hilda after all.

Nakita kong mag-usok ang ilong niya dahil sa tanong ko sa tanong niya rin.

"Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin, Poresa?! I'm telling you! Don't you dare seduce Samuel or I'll tell him that you're a daughter of a flirt!" inis na sigaw niya sa akin.

Why did she brought up my mother again?

"Can't you keep your mouth shut, Eunice? Bakit? Are you dating our club President?! Kung maka-asta ka parang girlfriend ka, eh," I told her.

Nangliit ang kanyang mga mata sa akin.

"Stop asking! It's not your business to think if Samuel and I are dating! But better make sure that you're not flirting with him! Dahil sinasabi ko sa'yo, Poresa..."

She pointed me.

Huh! Why would I date him? Grado ba siya? Eh, sa grades lang ako nakikipag-date, gaga.

I stood straight and looked at my cousin directly.

"Maganda lang ako pero hindi ako malandi, pinsan," ani kong direkta ang tingin sa kanya.

She greeted her teeth. Getting piss because of me.

"Better make it sure, Poresa. Dahil lagot ka kay mama kapag sinabi ko," pananakot niya sa akin.

I suddenly felt my heart racing. Bigla akong kinabahan nang sabihin 'yon ng pinsan ko. No. She can't tell tita about this. Tutal naman ay wala akong ginagawang masama.

Eunice's really something when it comes to people she want to be hers.

"Siguraduhin mo muna kung gusto ka nang tao bago mo bakuran," bagkus ay sabi ko sa kanya.

She shouldn't claim anyone at the first place. Tao 'yon at hindi bagay na puwede niyang gawing pag-aari. At isa pa, seriously? Si Samuel? Ang President ng Music Club? Ano naman ang papel ko sa buhay niya at parang tanga lang kung makabakod ang pinsan kong parang mawawalan yata ng lalaki.

"It's not for you to mind whether I make bakod to Samuel or hindi!" I scoffed.

Goodness gracious.

"Edi bakuran mo! Lakas-lakas ng amats mo, eh, 'di ka naman shuta," mariing sigaw ko sa mukha niya.

Walanghiya lang, eh. She's giving me a headache! I don't care what will she do with her life and her boys! Ang sa akin lang ay huwag niya akong idamay dahil gusto ko pa ang mag-aral. I still want to go home with a family I can call mine. At least.

Tinalikuran ko si Eunice at mabilis na naglakad patungo sa classroom namin. It's early yet my mood's already ruined because of my cousin's face and flirtation.

Nang makarating ako sa classroom namin ay nandoon na si Ms. Pinca. It was our class on her subject Art and Appreciation. I immediately entered our classroom and find a chair to sit. Pinili ko ang nasa pangalawa mula sa unahan sa first row at doon naupo.

Minutes after I went in, our Professor started her discussion.

"What do you call globalization? Anyone from this row?" she asked as she look at the row where I was sitting.

Arriane, one of the smartest students in our batch raised her hand.

"Miss Largo?" Ms. Pinca called her.

She stood up.

"Globalization is a term used to describe how trade and technology have made the world into a more connected and interdependent place."

Ms. Pinca nodded her head.

"Another?"

Rona raised her hand too.

"Is the process of interaction and integration among people, companies, and governments worldwide. Globalization has accelerated since the eighteenth century due to advances in transportation and communication technology. "

"Correct," our Professor said. "One more?"

Nagtaas na rin ako ng kamay ko.

"Okay, Miss Derillo?"

Tumayo ako at tumingin sa propesor ko.

"Globalization is the process by which ideas, knowledge, information, goods and services spread around the world," I stated.

Agad akong lumabas ng classroom nang marinig kong tumunog na ang bell. The next hour will be our vacant before twelve in the afternoon.

Dumiretso ako sa may bench malapit sa gate at umupo roon. Naghintay ako ng tricycle bago ko ayusin ang dala kong bag at mga folders bago lumabas ng campus nang may pumara nang isa.

"Sa may Bonifacio street po, Manong. Sa Lutong Dampog Eatery," I said.

Agad namang binuhay nang driver ang tricycle niya bago iyon paandarin paalis ng campus. Nagbayad ako ng otso pesos bago ako bumaba sa harap ng karenderya.

"Isang takal po ng kanin tsaka isang gulay na rin. Wala pong sahog, Manang," agad na sabi ko.

Sa labas lang ako pumuwesto at hindi na pumasok. Hindi rin naman nagtagal ay inabot din sa akin ang order ko.

I was busy chewing the food on my mouth when Samuel's image suddenly appeared on my side. I stopped and looked at the man beside me.

"Napadpad ka?" bungad na sabi ko.

He looked at me. Pinag-angatan niya ako ng kanyang kilay bago sagutin ang tanong ko.

"I usually eat here," he answered that made my mouth parted.

He eat here? Talaga?

"Usually? Edi madalas ka?" I asked again.

Hinubad niya ang bag na dala niya at inilagay iyon sa may gilid niya bago umupo sa tabi ko.

"Not really," aniya.

"Ha? Eh, sabi mo usually? Tapos ngayon not really?"

Adik bang kausap 'to?

"Madalas ka ba rito?" tanong niya rin sa akin.

Sumubo muna ako at uminom ng tubig bago sagutin ang tanong niya.

"Trice a week. Kada lunes, miyerkules at biyernes," sagot ko.

Tumango-tango siya sa sinabi ko. He ordered the same food that I ordered. It only took minutes before his order arrived as well.

"Dadalas pa lang ako," biglang aniya.

Natigil ko ang akmang pagsubo ko nang sabihin niya 'yon. Bigla akong napatitig sa kanya at gano'n din siya sa akin. Naramdaman kong parang lumukso ang puso ko nang marinig ko ang sinabi niyang iyon.

I didn't blinked even once for about three minutes. I was still in the process of comprehending his words that didn't sink on my head yet.

D-dadalas? Pa lang?

Tumikhim siya ay naglihis ng kanyang tingin sa akin dahilan kung bakit napabaling din ako nang tingin ko sa kabila. Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang kutsara at tinidor ko habang malakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko dahil sa sinabi niya sa akin.

"I don't usually eat in places like this," muling pagsasalita niya.

Hindi na lang ako umimik at nakinig lang sa kanya.

My heart was still pounding loudly on my chest. It was the first time I felt that kind of feeling. I was nervous and cautious not to touch him or at least give him a glance because I was too anxious for what he had said.

Kinuha ko ang baso kong may tubig bago ilapit iyon sa bibig ko para uminom.

"Can I drop you off?" he asked in a sudden that made choked while I was drinking.

Lintik na kahihiyan, 'to, oo!

"Oh, fuck!" he cursed brutally.

He attended me hurriedly and give me some tissue. Hinimas niya rin ang likod ko habang todo ubo ako dahil na naman sa tanong niya.

Papatayin ba ako ng gagong 'to?!

"You should drink slowly," sabi niyang ikinapikit ko ng aking mga mata.

Nang maramdaman kong ayos na ako ay uminom ulit ako ng tubig. But I felt him staring at me seriously. Watching how I gulped and how I swallowed. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasan ang makaramdam ng ilang dahil sa mga titig niya.

Inilapag ko ang baso sa lamesa bago muling tignan siya.

"Ano sabi mo kanina?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

Kinuha niya ang tissue na ginamit ko at itinapon iyon sa trash bin sa nasa gilid. Napatitig na lang ako sa kanya dahil sa ginawa niya.

"Ihahatid kita pauwi," sagot niya sa tanong ko.

"Bakit?" I couldn't stop myself from asking why.

Matagal bago siya sumagot. At hindi ko alam kung bakit tila nanlumo ako nang marinig ko ang isinagot niya sa akin.

"Well... You're one of my officers," he said. Not looking at me.

Officer lang pala, eh...