Head in the Sand (Erudite Series #3)

Kapitulo 9

After kuya Ed visited me, kuya Eli told me he'd just make a valentine's delivery for me through a phone call since he had plans with ate Maya on the fourteenth. Honestly, I don't know why my brothers always give me gifts during valentines. I think of that occasion as a romantic-focused event. So, ewan. Okay na rin, at least may pa-flowers sila. Si Eve naman, usually paper flowers ang binibigay sa akin, ang totoong flowers ay para sa nanay namin.

"Naiirita ako," ani Mari matapos niyang sumalampak sa upuan sa tabi ko. Hindi ako nagtanong kung bakit siya naiirita dahil alam kong namang magsasalita siya kalaunan.

"Malapit na ang araw ng mga patay, ayaw kong dumating ang 14, leche!" I glanced at my classmate and continued re-reading my paper on Econ.

Habang tinatama ko ang mga grammatical errors ko, naramdaman ko ang pagkapit ni Mari sa braso ko. Napatingin tuloy ako sa kaniya. I raised my brow as he sighed loudly.

"E 'di, lumandi ka, para may kasama ka sa 14," suhestiyon ko. Umiling si Mari at inalog lang ako ni Mari hanggang sa pumalatak ako sa inis.

"Wala kang pag-asa kay William," prangka kong saad. "Grabe ka!"

I sighed. "First off, he's heterosexual. Second, may crush na 'yon sa CP," nanlaki ang mga mata ni Mari. "Future pharmacist kalaban ko? Shit naman!"

"Iba na lang kasi, I'm sure others would be happy to be your date on the fourteenth, Mari," bumalik ako sa pagababasa ng papel kong ipi-print mamaya.

"Wala ka bang kilala?" umiling ako nang hindi binabalingan ang kaklase. "Ikaw, ayaw mong magpahanap sa 'kin?" again, I shook my head.

After a few minutes of Mari's groaning and complaints about being single, our classmates gradually entered. Napasuot ako ng jacket ko dahil sa lamig ng hangin, nasa GAB kami right now at malamig talaga sa building na 'to, bawat classroom may aircon. Sa RH kasi, may ilang lugar na hindi air-conditioned... Mas gusto ko rito.

"Hindi ko natapos 'yong reading kay Plato, 'tang ina," ani Lara habang umuupo siya sa tabi ko. "Natapos mo?" pagkuwestiyon niya sa 'kin.

"Oo, dalawang oras lang tulog ko, ang sakit nang ulo ko," sinara ko ang laptop ko at nakipag-usap na sa kaibigan habang hinihintay ang prof.

"Kumusta pala? Nakausap mo ba si Gray no'ng Friday?" as I was putting my things in my bag, Lara asked me that.

"I talked to him, but I wasn't able to convince him. And, he insulted me."

Sumimangot si Lara. "What did he tell you? Paano'ng pang-iinsulto niya?"

"I told him I needed his help, that I had to learn how to commute or I'd just have a hard time, you know, studying. But he said I have a bed, a house, and I can have a 'good night's sleep.'" 

I looked at the door of the room before continuing. 

"He was saying that as if I wasn't allowed to complain. The arrogance he had was beyond my imagination. Unang meet pa lang namin, alam ko nang mayabang siya. Pero ibang klase pala."

I reminisce in my head the time I went to España for the first time. Kung paano inakala kong maniyak siya.

"Sorry, ako na magso-sorry for him, Eloise." Bumuntong hininga ako. "Hayaan mo na. I understand naman na siguro nainis siya dahil kinulit ko siya ng kaunti, pero hindi ko naman yata deserve 'yong mga sinabi niya. 'Di ko deserve ma-judge dahil lang humingi ako ng tulong."

"Yeah, I'm sorry, I didn't realize he was an asshole. Mabait naman 'yon usually, e, suplado lang. Pero hindi ko alam ano'ng nagbago," I absorbed her words and just stayed quiet.

Our SocSci professor came and the oral recitation began. I was called first.

"Ms. Madrigal," I stood up. "Do you think it's fair to say that Plato's arguments regarding the 'ideal society' benefit everyone?"