Everything in Me

Chapter 2

I hurried to get inside our classroom and settle on my seat. I placed my bag in front of me and gulped my coffee so fast, it burned the roof of my mouth. I let out a curse which earned a laugh from someone.

"Ano, first day ng second sem stressed ka na agad?" Natatawang tanong ni Jace. Umupo ito sa likod ko at may inabot.

"Hindi naman, pero kinakabahan lang ako kaya bumili ng pampakalma," turo ko sa kape. "Ano 'yan?"

"Kape na pampakalma, ayos ka rin 'no?" He smiled before giving me the what seemed like a rectangular box, wrapped in a brown paper. "Christmas gift, I was going to give that to you nung party pero bigla kang nawala."

"Hala, omg thank you!" I  carefully ripped the cover and squealed when I saw what was inside it. "Holy crap, Jace... gosh thank you talaga. Complete na ang set ko ng Chronicles of Narnia."

"Well, I'm glad you like it."

"Pero ano," I paused and put my new book inside my bag. "Wala akong gift sa'yo, sorry."

"Chill, Naya. It's fine, I got you the book because I know you like it. You don't have to buy me anything, it's a gift.

I smiled and thanked him again. He and I have been friends for almost 2 years already and he hasn't changed a little bit, still sweet and thoughtful. Soon,our professor in pediatric cases came in and began his introduction to the subject. 

We are already on our third year in Physical Therapy and I bet that it's gonna be another bloody battle towards my goal. I couldn't even believe how I survived all the other years. All I knew was sinungaling 'yong mga nagsabi na madali lang ang PT. Natapos na ang lahat ng klase namin at unang araw palang ay parang sinabak na agad kami sa giyera.

"Can I buy you some coffee?" Pangungulit ni ko kay Jace. "Sige na, I really feel guilty for not giving you anything."

He sighed and smiled at me. He ruffled my hair like he usually does and told me which coffee  shop I may treat him to. We both walked down the stairs when someone walked past in the middle of us and bumped Jace's shoulders. He was expecting him to apologize but the guy just walked away as if he didn't see us. 

"The fuck's wrong with him?" I whispered under my breath. 

"Naya!" Tawag sa'kin  ni Claire na dali-daling tumakbo para yakapin ako. 

"Sa'n ka galing?" Tanong ni Jace kay Claire. "'Di ka pumasok sa first subject kanina. Nako, Clarisa ah, late ka na naman."

"Anong late? Pumasok ako kanina, nandoon ako sa likod naupo."

"Late ka, 'don ka pumasok sa back door para di ka makita ni Ms. Dimasalang 'no?"

"Aish! Oo na, bakita ba? Wala naman akong na miss ah."

"Ewan ko sa'yo, kunin mo na 'to," sabi nito sabay abot ng paper bag. Napangiti ako, I'm glad that Claire also received a gift from Jace para 'di lang ako ang nakokonsensya. But I doubt my friend would feel any remorse.