"One... Two... Three... Smile!"
I covered my face using the back of my hand when Zillian's DSLR flashed. He let out a chuckle as he tilted his head to the side while looking at his camera.
Pinagtatawanan pa ata ang kuha niya sa akin.
I rolled my eyes at him even though he was still busy with his camera. Ibinalik ko ang atensyon ko sa screen ng laptop ko na nakapatong sa desk ko.
May tinatapos pa akong report, nagmamadali na ako dahil hanggang bukas lang ito.
Nakita ko sa gilid ng mga mata ko na naglakad siya patungo sa gilid ko upang maupo.
"You're the class president, wala ka bang ginagawa?" I irritatingly asked and typed on my laptop.
"You're always pestering me." I let out a loud breath after saying that. Narinig ko lang siyang tumawa.
Dumapo ang kaniyang kamay sa aking pisngi at pinisil iyon. Hinampas ko ang kamay niya upang mapaalis ito mula sa pagkakahawak sa aking pisngi.
"Lumabas ka na nga."
Nananahimik ako kanina rito dahil vacant time tapos bigla siyang darating.
"I have nowhere to go." He whispered and placed his elbows on the desk.
He cupped his cheeks before darting his gaze on me. He repeatedly raised his brows, a smirk even made its way to his lips.
"Tapos na ako sa mga ginagawa ko, e'. Punta tayo sa canteen, libre kita." Yaya niya pa at tumayo.
Pinagpagan niya ang uniform niya dahil may mga alikabok ang kanan niyang manggas. Saan ba ito nagsususuot?
"Can't you see? I'm still finishing my report." I gestured him my laptop, his eyes drifted on that.
Simula noong maabutan niya akong umiiyak sa room ay lalong hindi niya na ako tinigilan. Lagi siyang tumatabi sa akin kahit nasaan man ako.
He'll always talk to me about random things. He was so talkative. Pilit ko namang tinataboy papalayo ngunit ayaw talagang magpaawat. Para siyang buntot.
Napanguso siya at umupo muli sa tabi ko
"Sabi ko nga, e'. Tulungan kita," he insisted. "Patingin nga."
Iniharap ko sa kaniya ang laptop at hinayaang basahin ang report ko.
I finished earlier than expected because of his help. Siya na rin ang nagsave ng file na 'yon sa flash drive ko. Inabot niya ang flash drive noong matapos.
"Print natin."
Agad ko namang tinanong kung saan. Sinabi niyang sa room ng mga officers ng student council. Akala ko lalabas pa kami ng university.
I carefully put back my laptop inside my case, Zillian is already standing while watching me. Ngumiti siya noong matapos na ako.
"Hindi ba may itu-tutor ka pa?" Tanong ko noong maalala.
Bahagyang kumunot ang noo niya at umiling. Nagtaka naman ako roon. Alam kong ilang linggo na rin siyang nagtuturo sa estudyanteng taga kabilang section.
"Sabi ko sa kaniya wala muna ngayong araw hanggang bukas." Sagot naman niya at isinabit ang strap ng camera sa kaniyang leeg.
"Bakit?" Curious ko namang tanong. Nagkibit-balikat lang naman siya bilang tugon.
"Tinatamad ako."
Pinutol ko na lang ang topic na iyon at siya na ang nagbukas ng panibago. He showed my photo that he took awhile ago, inside our room.
"Why'd you cover your face?" He pouted and shook his head.
Nakatakip kasi ako sa mukha ko habang ang isang kamay ay nasa keyboard ng laptop.
"David!" Zillian called the president of the student council.
David was sitting on his chair and was busy doing something when we arrived.
Tumayo siya upang makipag-fist bump kay Zillian. Humalakhak si Zillian at sinapak sa braso si David. L
"What do you need?" The student council president shifted his gaze from Zillian to me. His smile grew wider but I didn't show any emotions at all.
"Pahiram kaming printer." Saad ni Zillian at sinuntok na naman sa braso si David kaya't nawala sa akin ang paningin niya.
"Sure, sure. Doon, h'wag niyo nang patayin pagkatapos niyong gamitin kasi may ipi-print din naman ako mayamaya." He pointed at the left corner of the room where the computer's located, next to it is the printer.
Nauna na akong magtungo roon at nakasunod naman sa likod ko si Zillian. I sat down and inserted my flash drive into the USB port. While I was busy setting up my flash drive, Zillian was putting some A4 paper on the paper feed of the printer.
"Faye, ilang copies?" Kada tinatawag niya ako sa pangalang ginawa niya, naninibago pa rin ako.
Sinabi ko sa kaniyang tig-dadalawa kaya naman dinagdagan niya pa ang mga papel na inilagay niya kanina at sinimulan na naming magprint.
"Oh, shit." He cursed under his breath and even pulled his hair out of frustration. He pressed his tounge against his cheek.
"I still haven't submitted my report. I left my bag in our room." He informed me.
"Balikan mo na. I'll just wait for you here." He immediately ran out of the room. Muntik pa siyang madulas dahil sa pagmamadali.
I stood up and crossed my arms over my chest. My eyes roamed around the room. Wala palang ibang tao rito bukod sa akin at sa president ng student council. I heard him cleared his throat before leaving his desk to walk towards me.
Naghila siya ng isang monoblock at inilagay sa harapan ko. Umupo siya roon at ipinilig ang ulo sa kabilang gilid na para bang sinusuri ako. Tinaasan ko naman siya ng isang kilay ngunit hindi ako nagsalita.
"You're beautiful. Are you in a relationship?" I shrugged and looked at him as well.
His brows furrowed because of what I did. "You don't know? Do you and Quinn have a thing?" He curiously asked.
I already know his moves. He's trying to hit on me, huh.
"What do you think?" I responded and licked my lower lip.
"I don't know, can I get your number?" He directly asked.
Hindi pa man ako tuluyang nakakasagot noong bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto at pumasok ang nakangiting si Zillian, nakasabit pa rin sa leeg niya ang strap ng camera niya. Nakasukbit naman ang isang strap ng backpack niya sa kanan niyang balikat. Medyo nagusot ang polo niya at magulo rin ang buhok, tumakbo na naman siguro.
He jogged until he was already in front of me. He handed me a white folder and a plastic fastener.
"Thanks." I muttered before turning my back on them.
I saw David opened his mouth to say something but it didn't happen since Zillian started to talk to him while I was fixing my report that we printed. I printed two copies each for our teacher and for myself.
"Bakit ba ngayon ka lang magpapasa?"
Mabagal kaming naglalakad patungo sa faculty room. He scratched the back of his head before answering.
"Nakalimutan ko pero ayos lang, gusto ko namang sabay tayong magpasa." Ngumisi pa siya at iwinagayway sa ere ang folder na naglalaman ng report niya.
Bahala talaga siya kapag nahulog 'yon. Para talaga siyang bata kahit anong gawin niya.
"Mierda!" Napasigaw siya noong biglang humagis ang folder niya.
Napatampal naman ako sa noo ko, siya naman ay yumuko upang kuhain 'yon sa lapag.
"'Yan na nga ba ang sinasabi ko." Mahinang saad ko kay Zillian.
"Wala kang sinasabi." Pang-aasar niya pero agad ding gumawa ng peace sign noong samaan ko siya ng tingin.
When we were already in front of the faculty room, he knocked first before pushing the door handle. Three pairs of eyes that owned by the teachers inside focused on us. We greeted them before heading to our subject teacher.
"Ma'am, ito po 'yung report namin."
Magiliw na wika ni Zillian at inabot ang folder niya, buti na lang hindi iyon nagusot noong nahulog kanina. Ibinigay ko na rin ang sa akin upang makaalis na kami.
"Samahan mo na kasi ako sa canteen, ililibre kita." Humawak pa siya sa tiyan niya at hinimas-himas ito na parang gutom na gutom na talaga.
I placed my right hand on my waist before rolling my eyes on him.
"No, thanks. I have my own money."
He blinked his eyes repeatedly but I didn't mind his pleading expression.
My lips parted when he claimed my hand and pulled me until we got to the canteen. Nagpaubaya na lang ako dahil sa tigas ng ulo niya, wala naman na talaga akong magagawa.
"Anong gusto mo? Pili ka na." Saad ni Zillian nang hindi tumitingin sa akin, nakatuon ang mga mata niya sa menu.
"Wala." Maikling sagot ko kaya't bumaling siya sa akin at nagsalubong ang mga kilay.
"Dali na, hindi ka pa kumakain mula kanina. Kahit noong break time." Nagulat naman ako, alam na alam niya.
"Sigurado ka?" Tumango naman siya kaagad.
"Hmm, ako pa." Mayabang niyang wika.
"Chicken sandwich na lang saka..." Nag-isip pa ako at dinagdagan ang sinabi ko. "Chocolate drink at tubig."
Sinabi niya ang order namin noong umalis na ang nasa aming harapan.
"Salamat."
Nginitian niya naman ako pagkatapos iabot ang binili niya para sa akin. Napangiwi ako noong inangat niya ang kaniyang kaliwang kamay upang guluhin ang buhok ko.
"Why is he with Freinne?" I heard a woman talked at the back.
She was whispering to her friend but I clearly heard it. They're talking about us. I got irritated immediately.
"That's my question as well, akala ko nga hindi sila magkasundo tapos ngayon magkasama na. Baka naman..."
Naputol ang sinasabi ng kasama noong unang nagsalita kanina noong makita niya akong nakatingin sa kanila. Napatikom sila ng kanilang mga bibig at nag-iwas ng tingin.
"Why are you---" I was caught off guard when I felt Zillian's hand on my wrist.
I just followed him until we stopped under a tree. Simula noong nadiskubre ko ang lugar na ito ng university, dito na ako naglalagi.
Inis ko siyang pinanood habang umuupo siya sa bermuda grass. Seryoso ang kaniyang ekspresyon habang ibinababa ang mga pagkaing binili niya. I met his dark gaze after a while. He tapped the space beside him. I sighed before sitting beside him.
I opened the wrap of the sandwich and silently took a bite on it. I licked the side of my mouth when a mayonnaise was left there.
"You should learn how to control yourself." He muttered when I finished eating.
My brows furrowed and drifted my eyes at him.
"Why? I was just about to talk to them, but you stopped me." I argued and couldn't help but to gave him an annoyed look.
"You're about to shout." He corrected me. Hindi ko siya pinansin at basta na lang nahiga sa damuhan, malinis naman iyon.
"Whatever."
Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata at iniharang ang mga braso sa mga mata ko upang hindi tumama sa akin ang sinag ng araw.
Naririnig ko siyang humuhugot nang malalalim na hininga at pinapakawalan ang mga iyon pagkatapos ng ilang segundo. Bahagya kong inangat ang brasong tumatakip sa mga mata ko upang makita kung ano ang ginagawa niya.
Nakataas ang mga tuhod niya at nakapatong ang kaliwang siko sa isang tuhod habang nakatingin sa malayo at tila malalim ang iniisip.
Umayos ako ng upo at saka mahinang nagsalita.
"They're irritating. I mean, kung pag-uusapan nila tayo, sana naman 'yung hindi natin maririnig, 'di ba?" Sana naman maintindihan niya ang ipinupunto ko.
Bakit kasi ganoon ang mga tao? Ang bibilis manghusga base sa kanilang mga nakikita at talagang pag-uusapan ka pa.
"I get your point, Faye. What they did wasn't right but it's also not right to shout at them." He calmly muttered.
Hindi na ako nakipagtalo pa at nanahimik na lang muli.
"I have a question." He broke the silence filling us.
I raised a brow at him, asking what is it.
"Why are obtuse angles so depressed?" A smile played with his lips right after asking that. He was trying to hold back his laughter.
"You know what? I hate Mathematics, especially Geometry but I definitely know the answer to your question." I proudly said and looked deeply into his gray eyes.
"Then, what's the answer?"
"Because they're never right." My lips curved into a smile.
Natigilan siya kaya naman naguluhan ako ngunit hindi ko ipinahalata sa kaniya.
Natulala siya sa mukha ko kaya naman tuluyan nang nagsalubong ang aking mga kilay dahil sa pagtataka. Kinapa ko ang pisngi ko dahil baka may dumi roon ngunit wala naman.
Ipinitik ko ang aking mga daliri sa harap ng kaniyang mukha upang bumalik siya sa huwisyo.
Ako naman ang natigilan noong inangat niya ang kaniyang kamay at marahang hinaplos ang aking buhok. Inipit niya pa ang ilang takas ng buhok ko sa likod ng aking tenga.
"Mas maganda ka pala kapag nakangiti." He seriously muttered and bit his lower lip. I cleared my throat before avoiding his gaze.
My heart suddenly hammered because of the stares he was giving me right now. My breathing hitched when his palm shifted from my hair down to my hand. He was making a cirle motion around it.
"Am I selfish if I tell you to always wear that smile? Please, I don't want you to lose that 'cause I really hate it every time I see you crying."