The Midterm exam ended as quickly as it started. Nakahinga lang ako nang maluwag nang matapos akong magcheck ng mga sagot ko sa finals namin sa Organizational Development... And then I had to read it once more just to be sure. I needed to pass. I needed to graduate this time. Kaunti nalang at matatapos na rin ako.
Some of my classmates were planning to go to Korean Samgyupsal, a Karaoke bar and drink. Iyong iba naman on the way na sa out of the country and beach trip nila. Well, they're privileged. Si Ingrid biglang nawala. Si Dwayne wala akong pakialam.
Me? I just wanted to eat strawberry cheesecake and sleep. That's my reward for studying so hard this week.
Dire-diretsyo akong lumabas ng school. Hindi na ako nagstay pa dahil ayoko munang kumausap ng tao. Normally, I'd ask Ingrid kung anong feeling niya, kung nahirapan ba siya o hindi dahil napi-pressure akong magkaroon ng mataas na grades... but tonight, it's different.
I just wanted to eat a good dinner and eat strawberry cheesecake as dessert. Then, go have a peaceful sleep.
"Miss Ballerina!"
Kaasar naman. Kakasabi ko lang ng peaceful bakit mukhang chaos ang naattract ko?
"What?" I asked.
"San ka pupunta?"
I shrugged. "Going home," sabi ko.
He raised his brow." Uuwi... pero dito ka papunta?" tanong niya.
"Are you insinuating something?" I asked, my brows arched too.
Nagkibit balikat nalang ako. Baka baliktarin niya pa kung anuman ang ibigsabihin ko. Isa iyon sa napansin ko kay Zhion, he could easily twist your words in his favor. He's a good lawyer, indeed.
"Sungit naman," natatawang sabi niya. "Nahawa ka na kay Zytho," mahinang sabi nito ngunit hindi nakalagpas sa pandinig ko.
Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad habang nakasabay pa rin siya sa akin. I appreciate him shutting his mouth but then, I stopped when I remember something.
"Bakit?" he asked when he noticed I stopped walking.
"Ikaw? Bakit ka nandito?"
He chuckled. "Napadaan lang,"
Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Wala namang law firm sa banda dito sa pagkakaalam ko,"
"Grabe? Hindi ba ko pwedeng dumayo dito?"
"Sino?"
Sigurado akong tao ang dinadayo niya rito. Well, at least that's what my instinct is telling me.
"Grabe talaga," sabi niya na natatawa pa. "May pinuntahan lang na importante kaya nandito ako. Okay na?"
Hindi na ako sumagot pa. Excited na akong kumain. Hindi ako nakakain kanina dahil sa pressure. Last na kasi. Kailangan ayusin ko na talaga ayoko naman na irepeat iyon while, knowing that I could've done better. I'm mentally and physically stable now kaya alam kong kaya ko.
"Hello po," I greeted the owner of the store before I took my seat. I wasn't as friendly as Ingrid, but I have manners and it's important to me.
I ordered my usual — salad and strawberry smoothie.
"Ayun lang kakainin mo?" Rinig kong tanong ng nasa tabi ko.
I nodded. "Yes, and....strawberry Cheesecake,"
Umalis na rin ako sa tapat ng counter pagkatapos kong magbayad at umupo na uli sa upuan.
"How's the exam?" he asked.
YOU ARE READING
Checkmate, Mr. Great!
Mystery / ThrillerEvery story has some unspoken truth. A lie that is covered up by another lie. It became more thrilling as it became more twisted. Zytho Fredrick De Travera, known as Dr. DT. A well-known psychiatrist. Aside from being a psychiatrist on duty, he ofte...
