05
"Kinakabahan ako sa research defense natin," Krysanthe pretended to cry as she rested her head on the library desk.
"Kung bakit ba naman kase HUMSS 'yung kinuha kong strand 'e. Dapat kasi sa ABM nalang ako. Mukha naman akong pera,"
"If you're an ABM student, you're mukhang pera?" Viri asked confusedly.
Krysan raised her head and locked her gaze on Viri. "Hindi? Medyo? Hindi ako sigurado, basta gusto ko lang magka-pera kapag nakatapos ako. Nasa ABM ang pera," She said, and crumpled her hair.
"Mali talaga ako ng strand na kinuha. Puro essay, puro research, magagamit ko ba 'to sa pagdidisenyo ng bahay?"
I sighed and continued reading.
"But you said you want to be abogado?"
"Hindi na, beh, gusto ko nalang maging saging."
I chuckled at Krysanthe's joke. "Pareho lang naman tayong naligaw sa HUMSS," I told her.
She pouted her lips and looked at me. "Hindi naman ako naligaw. Gusto ko talagang mag-abogado noon pero gusto ko nang mag-architecture ngayon. Hindi ko kasi talaga sigurado kung anong gusto ko, alam mo 'yon? Hindi ko makita 'yung sarili ko sa future kaya magulo 'yung isip ko sa kung ano talaga 'yung kukunin ko noon."
I looked at her. "So you're now sure about architecture?"
Tumango s'ya. "No'ng grade 11 na tayo t'yaka ko lang narealize ko gusto kong mag-architecture..."
I shrugged. "You can still take that course in college."
"Pero ikaw bakit ka ba nag-HUMMS? Hindi naman 'to 'yung strand para sa fashion designing, ah?"
I smiled faintly at her and got my eyes back on my book. "You already know the exact reason why I'm in HUMSS, Krysan."
"Right," she murmured. "Hindi ko pa rin maintindihan 'yung lola mo kung bakit ka nilagay dito sa HUMSS. May nakakahiya ba kung ang strand mo ay TVL?"
I didn't respond. I just stared at my book, trying to understand what I was reading despite the fact that nothing came to mind.
Tumikhim si Krysanthe at bumaling kay Viri. "Ikaw ba, Viriana, bakit ka talaga nag-HUMSS? Sigurado ka na ba?"
"I'm not sigurado. I choose HUMSS because you're both here," Viri laughed.
"How much is this po, ate?" I asked the counter server in the cafeteria when I saw a slice of strawberry cake.
"Nako, ma'am, reserve na po 'yan, 'e. Nabili na,"
"Oh?" I was disappointed. Akala ko pa naman ay wala pang nakakabili kasi naka display pa.
The counter server nodded at me, so I didn't have a choice but to order another flavor of cake that is available there for my lunch. Nang maibigay na saakin ang order ko ay agad akong dumeretso sa lamesa namin nila Viri at Krysanthe.
Kakaupo ko pa lang nang biglang sumulpot sa harapan namin si Bryan.
"Hi, p'wedeng makisabay?" He said, smiling widely.
I looked up at him, catching a glimpse of Arthfael behind him, holding a serving tray. Umawang ang labi ko nang makita ko iyong strawberry cake na bibilhin ko sana kanina na nasa tray n'ya kasama ng isang bottle water.
S'ya pala 'yong nag-reserve ng cake...
Ngumuso ako nang makita kong nakatingin s'ya saakin. As usual, nakangiti s'ya ng malaki. I sighed, still disappointed because I didn't get the strawberry cake.
