I don’t know how she manages things. Superwoman ata to eh. Almost a month into our tutoring sessions nalaman ko na it's also their season na pala. I felt guilty in a way. She's juggling UAAP, double training, studies, family time and rest time. Isama pa ung pagtutor nya sakin. How does she manage?
"Vic, hey." I tried shaking her. She kinda dozed off while I was answering the mock test she prepared for me.
"Sorry. Napapikit lang." Here goes that guilty feeling again. I am starting to feel sorry for her. Maybe she should stop tutoring me na. I can manage na naman eh.
"Sorry din. I'm done na. Maybe after checking, we can call it a night. Para narin makapagpahinga ka." I hope she feels my sincerity.
"Ha? Meron pang dalawang topics oh!" Parang masnagising sya sa sinabi ko. "Hoy, Thomas ah! Baka naman tatakasan mo lang ako."
"Oy grabe Vic ah! I resent that! I appreciate your time and effort. I wont do that!" I cant believe she just said that! Bait bait ko kaya!
"Tsk. Too defensive." She laughed. We're super comfortable with each other na, na we can joke around without fear na maoffend ang isat isa. "Oh, 24/30. Not bad. Improving ah! Next topic na tayo. Konti nalang."
"Are you sure? Vic 9:17 na. You guys have a game pa tomorrow. You need to rest. I'm not making excuses. Di rin ako tumatakas. Concerned lang." Medyo matigas din ulo nito eh.
"Coach Ramil? Ikaw ba yan?" Binatukan nya ko. Wow talaga tong babaeng to. Weird.
"I'm serious. The term's about to end narin naman. I can handle it na from here. Focus ka muna sa volleyball." She just stared at me as if trying to figure out if I'm joking.
"Parang nakikipag break lang ah?!" What?! What is she saying?! My heart is racing. My eyes went as wide as my chinito eyes can go. "Hoy joke lang no! As if! Grabe maka react. Ang abnormal mo."
I forced a smile. Until now my heart is beating irregularly. "Whatever Vic."
"Pikon ka talaga." She sat back then crossed her arms. "Kaya mo na ba talaga? Baka naman sinasabi mo lang yan kasi nakokonsensya ka. Nako Thomas ah. Alam ko ang limit ko. Di ako magpapaabuso kahit kanino. Kahit sayo. Kaya kung naawa ka sakin. Wag." This is something I really like about her. She speaks her mind and is so sure about herself. Aside from my mom she's probably the strongest girl I know.
"Kaya ko na, promise! Besides, I have to do this for myself." I winked at her and she just laughed. I heard her faintly say "Mokong."
"Fine. Basta if kailangan mo ng tulong, text me."
"Yes po, Ate." Natawa lang sya.
"Che!"
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After that night, Vic and I barely got to hang out na. Sometimes, we pass by each other along the halls but hanggang dun lang. Hi, hello. Then wala na. But I understand naman. We’re both busy. It’s just that I miss her at random moments of my day. Which I shouldn’t feel.. But..
“Thomthom naman eh. You know I don’t eat at Agno. I wanna eat somewhere decent naman.” Meet Val, my girlfriend of 5 months. She’s obviously naglalambing. We’re currently looking for a place to eat. It’s past the usual hour for lunch pero madami parin tao. I still have one more class, pero my girlfriend wants to eat lunch so here I am, spending my 10 minute break with her.
“Mochi, you know I need to rush to Andrew pa. May class pa ako. Here nalang para mabilis.” We call each other Mochi.
“Naman eh. Let’s eat at Kenny Rogers please please. I’m craving for Mac n Cheese. Please, Mochi. Cut your class nalang for me. I barely spend time with you tapos you cant even cut class for me.” Oh men. Here comes the “you-don’t-have-time-for-me” card. But it’s on the opposite direction of my class.
