10 | Progress
__________
She was true to her words. After that incident, we were strangers once again.
“Iñaki! Pakuha naman no’ng plastic cups. Nasa office ‘yon. Sabihan mo lang si Norman. Alam niya na kung nasa’n ‘yon,” utos sa akin ng class president namin pagkarating ko.
It was our college week so everyone was busy. Hindi nga sana ako papasok pero elected peace officer din ako kaya kailangang laging present.
Pagkatapos kong ilapag ang bag ay pumunta na ako sa opisina. Hindi dire-diretso ang paglalakad ko dahil maya’t maya ay tumatawag at nakikipagkuwentuhan. Everyone was excited for the activities, especially the boys. Mayamaya kasi ay may pageant din at kuryuso sa swimsuit portion. Mga bastos talaga.
“Norm,” bati ko sa nerd kong kakurso na subsob sa mga papel na nakalatag sa harap niya.
He nodded. “Nasa cabinet. Pakikuha na lang, p’re.”
“Ano bang pinagkakaabalahan mo? College week, a.”
“Wala, p’re. Malapit na kasi proposal defense namin. Kaya kailangang mag-aral.”
“Gano’n ba. . .”
He talked some more while I gathered the things I needed. Mukhang stressed ang loko, a. Ngayon lang din yata may nakausap kaya dire-diretso ang pagsabi ng mga pinoproblema niya.
Nasa gitna kami ng pag-uusap nang pumasok ang isang kaklase niya. Pinatatawag daw siya ng thesis adviser niya. Frustration crossed his face before he bade his goodbye. Naiwan ako roong nag-iisip kung paano ko pakikitunguhan ang mga araw oras na maging busy na rin ako sa thesis. That must have been really tough!
After I finished collecting the plastic cups, I decided to leave. Walang katao-tao sa opisina at hindi ko rin alam kung dapat bang doon muna ako saka maghintay. The nerd didn’t tell me anything, though. So maybe it was okay to leave it empty?
“Kuya Norman—”
Natigilan ako. Ganundin siya. Nanatili kaming nakatitig sa isa’t isa, gulat at hindi alam ang gagawin.
Shit.
It was her who recovered first. “Nasa’n si Kuya Norman?”
“Someone called for him,” maagap kong tugon na ikinahiya ko pa. “May kailangan ka sa kanya?”
Janette cleared her throat and swiftly looked away. “May hinihintay kasi akong gamit na dito dadalhin sa kanya. May nasabi ba siyang oras kung kailan siya babalik?”
“Wala.”
She looked bothered.
“You can wait here,” mungkahi ko.
“Busy din kasi ‘ko.”
Oh, I remembered. She was assisting the college. Of course, she had her hands full.
“Ite-text na lang kita kung nandito na hinihintay mo.”
She turned to me, lines formed on her forehead. I suddenly felt embarrassed.
BINABASA MO ANG
If I Have To (Book 3 of If I Trilogy, Villaraza Series #2)
General FictionRodrigo Iñaki R. Villaraza had put his best friend, Anaddy Mouera G. Fortalejo, on a pedestal since they were young. A pedestal only a man worthy of her could climb on and join her there. He knew how much his bestfriend worth. Hindi siya makakapayag...
