Professor's Pet Series: Quinn Ellis

XXIV. Road Trip and Misfortune

Tumatak sa akin ang parting words ni Miss Diaz. Hindi ito naalis sa isipan ko hanggang pagtulog.

'Be careful with the people around you.' What did she mean by that?

Bakit ba kasi ang hilig niyang magbitaw ng mga salita na may ibang kahulugan? Lalo na at napaka-guillible ko pa naman. Ilang beses na ba akong muntik ng maniwala sa mga pinagsasabi niya?

But, I felt like this time is different. I knew somehow that she really did mean something.

Pabaling-baling ako sa higaan habang nag-iisip sa kung anong nais iparating ng mga salita niya. At, kung sinong tao ba ang pinapatungkulan niya that I shoud careful with?

Ugh! That woman really is going to be the death of me.

I checked the bedside clock to see it's already past eleven, but sleep's still elusive. Kailangan ko pa naman gumising ng maaga dahil tinext ako ni Eli kanina to inform me na 3:30 am daw kami magkikita-kita sa isang convenience store not far from my house.
Pinilit ko na lang matulog after setting the alarm.

A few hours passed, and after loading my truck with all the necessities, I finally drove to our meeting place. Hindi ko na ginising sina Mom at Dad dahil nakapagpaalam na rin naman ako the night before. They didn't ask too many questions when I told them about the plan, lalo na ng malaman nila na may kasama din kaming ibang professors.

After a twenty-minute drive, I pulled up to the convenience store's parking lot, and saw that almost all of them are here already, judging by the two pick up trucks belonging to Eli and Kenny. I got out of my car to greet Miss Gomez and Miss Andrews sitting on one of the truck beds sipping coffee.

"Good morning, Professors. Napaaga po yata kayo, o late lang talaga ako?" Tanong ko na tinawanan naman nila.

"Nah. You're just in time. Masyadong excited lang 'yong dalawa. Anong oras pa lang nambubulabog na." Natatawang sabi ni Miss Gomez.

"Speaking of which.. nasaan po ba sila?" Tanong ko ulit dahil kanina ko pa sila hindi nakikita.

"They went inside a while ago. Bibili daw sila ng maraming junkfoods. Takot na takot magutom sa biyahe lalo na si El." Sambit naman ni Miss Andrews after motioning the convenience store behind us.

Bukod kina Eli at Kenny, may isang tao pa rin akong hindi nakikita. Nasa loob din ba siya ng convenience store? Itatanong ko na sana pero sakto namang may parating na black chevy silverado.

Kunot-noo akong tumingin dito at halos malaglag ang panga ko ng makita si Greg na lumabas mula sa driver's seat na napakalaki ng ngiti habang pinagbubuksan ang passenger's side. Mabilis akong nag-iwas ng tingin bago pa tuluyang makababa ang taong kanina ko pa gustong makita.

Fuck! Why did I even assumed na hindi niya kasama ang asungot na 'yan sa trip na 'to? They're engaged, of course, he's coming. Duh!

I clenched my jaw in annoyance. Pwede pa ba mag-back out? But, that wouldn't make sense, since ako ang may ari ng rest house na tutuluyan namin doon. Saka ano naman ang idadahilan ko? Na may unggoy kasing kasama? How petty.

Lumayo pa ako ng bahagya sa kanila ng marinig ko na ang nakakairitang boses ni Greg. Sakto naman na lumabas na sina Kenny at Eli mula sa convenience store na may bitbit na mga paper bags.

And, then to my surprise, nakita ko ang nakangiting mukha ni Kelsey mula sa likuran nila. I didn't know she's coming, so, this was a pleasant surprise. Kahit paano nabawasan 'yong iritasyon ko.

"Hey. I didn't know you're coming." Nakangiting bati ko dito ng makalapit na sila.

"Hey, good morning to you, too. Why, you don't want me to come?" Tanong nito sa himig na nagtatampo.