Mistaken Identity

MI III.

J A R E D

"Eh pare, wala nga akong kilalang Francheska dito sa LU," sabi ni Rence habang nagkakamot ng ulo. Nayayamot na ata sakin. Our school's name is Lee University, by the way.

"Pero pare sige na naman oh, tulungan mo na kong maghanap," halos isang linggo na rin kasi matapos yung sayawan.

I must've looked so desperate but what can I do? I tried every way I can. I asked everyone I know kung may kakilala ba silang Francheska. I searched on our school website too, pero puro college or elementary lang yung lumalabas. Halos nagroom to room na din ako. Nilibot ko buong building namin, I even asked our subject teachers!

Pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin. Zero, no progress, failed! Wala talaga! And I don't even know why I'm trying to find her! This is not Cinderella for crying out loud!

"Uy Ren! Sa wakas! Nandito ka lang pala," umupo si Genice sa tabi ni Laurence na nasa harapan ko. We're currently here at the library.

Free time ng lahat ng estudyante ngayon dahil may conference yung mga advisers. Kaya yun, tambay-tambay lang. Wala yung iba naming tropa, absent. Magdamag na naman atang babad sa computer games.

"Oh hi Gen! Kumusta?" sabi naman ni Rence habang inaakbayan sya.

"Ito, pagod, but pretty pa rin. Kakatapos lang ng Body Mass Index eh," napatingin sya sakin. "Hey Kuya Jared, nandito ka rin pala!"

Tumango lang ako. Masyado akong namomroblema ngayon para makipag-asaran.

"May problema ba?" nagpapalit-palit ang tingin ni Genice sa amin, totally clueless.

"Ay pare! Si Gen baka may kakilala!"

Tila naman nabuhayan ako ng loob. Oo nga!

"Ah Genice, may kilala ka bang Francheska dito?" I fished out the ID from my pocket and placed it on the table.

"Francheska?!" Damn. Ang ingay naman nitong si Genice, parang megaphone. Pwede namang hinaan lang eh. Baka marinig nung librarian, patay tayo dyan! Napakamot tuloy ako sa ulo. Nag-isip sya saglit at umiling-iling.

"Uhm. Y-yes?" Nagulat kaming tatlo nang may lumapit na babae sa amin. She has black wavy hair na umaabot sa bewang nya. I estimated that she is just below my eyes. She's slim wearing her school uniform. Morena sya with big, round eyes which is currently twinkling with anticipation. Her thin lips formed a small smile. She is by the way holding a book in hand that says "101 Smart Tips For Dumb Studends".

"Uh, hi?" Genice awkwardly said. Maging kami ay nagtaka rin kung bakit may bigla biglang sumulpot sa may lamesa namin.

"Hi din uli! Bakit nga pala?"

"Huh?"

"You're calling me diba?"

"No?"

"Oh." her shoulders slumped with disappointment.

What?! Wait.

"Francheska?!"

"You're calling me diba?"

Wait, what?!

Namilog ang mga mata ko. Shit, shit, shit!

"Your name is Francheska?!"

She turned her gaze to me and I was taken aback. God, she's really cute and beautiful at the same time!

"Oo. Uh, sorry ha. I thought you're calling me kasi eh. Sige I'll go na," tila napahiya naman syang tumalikod. Oh no you don't!

"Wait!" I grabbed her by the wrist and showed her the ID Card I am holding.

"Is this yours?"

Please let it be! Sana ito na yun! Sana sya na yun!

Nagulat sya at kinuha mula sakin yung card. "Oh my gosh, my ID! Nahanap ko rin sa wakas! Thank you so much!"

She beamed at me with a huge smile on her face.

The ID is hers.

Nawawala yung ID nya.

Sa kanya yung ID.

Sa kanya yung ID!

JESUS, IT'S REALLY HER! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! SHIT!

Okay, Jared pare, compose yourself. Don't creep her out.

Okay.

I smiled back at her. I finally found you, Francheska!