The Ravages of Time

Kabanata 05

Kabanata 05

Onion

"Oren."

My forehead furrowed at what she said. Sometimes, Jushen is weird and insane. Why would she even mention that name? She's aware that I hate to hear that name! My ears are going to bleed after hearing her name.

"What about her?" I asked while raising my left eyebrow.

"Tariq is not really from a wealthy family, right?"

I was about to part my lips but my acting skills turned on. Kapag magugulat ako, mahuhuli niya ako.

"What?" I asked, smirking.

"What's your relationship with him?" she asked again but I just looked at her not even shocked.

"A seatmate or classmate relationship? Wala naman akong pakialam sa kanya and wala ka rin namang pakialam sa buhay ko para tanungin ako ng ganyan, hindi ko nga mahanap ang ambag mo," I answered habang pinanlakihan siya ng mata.

She grinned. "You two went to school together."

How much does she know? All this time, she was suspicious of Tariq. The only thing I didn't understand was why she would pay more attention to this—oh, my bad, she's one of my rivals, I almost forgot.

"Jushen Rae Ventura, a fourth placer, pays more attention to a new transferee who allegedly reported not a wealthy one instead of studying. Go on, waste your time," I stated.

I was about to turn my back when I forgot something to say to her.

"In case your suspicion is true, will that make your intelligence increase? Will that petty thing prove you're not a loser?" I added and chuckled.

Her nostrils flared as she glared at me.

I admit that I'm pretty stupid when it comes to academics. But I'm not a stupid person when dealing with people. I'm a clever person who can manipulate each of their emotions and I can flip the situation upside-down.

***

"Where are you going after this subject? How about let's go shopping?" I suggested to Tariq who was busy copying the notes written on the blackboard.

I don't mind copying notes when I can take a pic of them. That's just a waste of time. I don't even study my notes, what's the point?

"Uuwi ako agad, hindi ka ba kokopya ng notes?" he asked but his attention is still on the notes.

"Hindi, I don't study naman. Stock knowledge lang ako 'pag may exam," I answered.

He looked at me after writing the notes that fast.

"Ang tanong may stock ba 'yang knowledge mo?" he asked, which made me glare at him.

Frankly, wala. I keep on relying on my stock knowledge when in fact hangin lang talaga ang laman ng utak ko.

"Kahit pa sabihin mo na stock knowledge nalang, mahalaga pa rin ang pagre-review. Kung gusto mo talagang makapasa, matuto kang mag-aral ng mabuti. Gumapang ka ng tila ahas para maabot ang minimithi mo," pagsasalaysay niya.

I blinked thrice.

Gumapang ng tila ahas?

"Why would I crawl like a snake? Hindi naman ako ahas! Well... oo, makamandag ang ganda ko but I am not a snake!" I complained.

He sighed.

"H-hindi 'yon ang ibig kong sabihin, ibig sabihin no'n ay dapat paghirapan mo ang mga bagay na gusto mong makamit. Kung gusto mo ng tunay na tagumpay, dapat gumapang ka muna," he explained.