Prim Montefalco is the uptight, Goody Two-Shoes daughter of Atty. Cyrus Montefalco, the only city prosecutor who managed to receive a Mayor's Award. Her life is all about perfection, doing what is right and what was expected of her. Being the only d...
My first thought when I entered the room was he's not here. Kahit na alam kong wala naman talaga siya rito dahil klase ni Prof. Dimitri ito at hindi gawain ng matandang propesor ang palaging pagsasama ng dalawang seksyon.
"Prim!"
I smiled as I heard Diane call for my name. She's wearing a casual black blouse, wearing her usual eyeglasses today, looking chic. "Hi!"
"You look pale. Okay ka lang?"
Pero bago pa ako makasagot ay bigla nalang kaming napalingon sa harap matapos marinig ang boses ni Prof. "Good morning."
Umayos ng kani-kanilang upo ang mga estudyante, ilan ay nabigla rin sa ginawang pagpasok ng propesor.
"I just want to remind you for the presentation we're having before the whole semester break. Knowing some of you here, idlers, I knew you wouldn't be able to do the presentation on time."
The professor walked up to my chair to borrow my notes. "You know, I can actually exempt someone in your class just because she keeps her notes intact and organized. Anyway, the whole presentation is about our last week's discussion. Yung lahat ng kumuha ng chemical engineering last semester..."
I didn't mean to but I stopped listening. I just did. My head is buzzing and there is this ting ringing in my ears. Next to come was my eyes, it started drooping and I have to fight to keep it from closing completely.
"ㅡ Miss Montefalco, are you alright?" Prof. Dimitri asked.
Napa-ayos ako ng upo at napamura. Ngayon ko pa talaga napiling maging pabaya kung kailan katatapos lang niya akong purihin.
I nodded earnestly. "I.. yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir."
"No. Your nose is bleeding, Ms. Montefalco."
I reached up and, indeed, there was a blood in the desk of my armchair already. I haven't noticed it dropping, much more running from my nose. Lumingon ako sa likod para abutin ang bag ko at kunin ang panyong nasa loob nito ng bigla nalang napatakan pati ang skirt na suot ko. Shit.
"Here," Diane whispers as she hands me her handkerchief. Agad na inabot ko ito at inilagay sa ilong ko. Hindi ko na magawang pansinin ang mga nag-aalalang mata ng mga kaklase ko.
"I think you should visit the clinic, Ms. Montefalco. Go. You are excused."
"Iㅡ no, sir. I can manage."
"No, I insist. You're pale. I can see. Magpasama ka kay Ms. Reyes at nang makapagpatuloy na ako," iritadong sabi ni Prof. Dimitri.
Tumango ako at hinindian na si Diane na samahan ako. Sapat nang ako lang ang maging perwisyo at huwag nang dumagdag sa p-problemahin pa ni Diane. Kinuha ko ang bag ko at dali-daling naglakad palabas para huwag nang maka-disturbo.
But, of course, I didn't go at the clinic like what was expected and instructed. Especially if my bloody nose stopped dripping droplets already. In fact if it weren't for the professor overreacting, I would still be inside, listening to his discussion.
I stopped at a parking space with a fallen branch of a tree. Walang tao rito kaya naisipan kong dito nalang itulog ang natitirang minuto bago ang susunod kong klase. Isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa nahulog na parte ng puno at umidlip.
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