Holding on to His Promises

Chapter 24: Anxious

"Demi!" tawag sa akin ni Devon habang nagsusulat ako sa notebook at nililipat ang lecture ko. Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya at tiningnan siya nang may pagtatanong. "Sasama ka ba sa educational tour?" tanong niya.

"Mayroon ba?"

"Yes. Didn't you listen to Sir Bong last week? He even reminded us earlier."

"I didn't." I was busy with my lecture in Pharmaceutical Biochemistry because we needed to pass it by tomorrow.

"Well, you've been writing here since kanina pa. Let's go! Today is the dead line of payment," Kendra said.

"I'll just finish this."

I started to write again and finished my lecture. We went straight to the cashier afterwards. There were a lot of students there who were also paying for the educational tour, so it took time for us to pay. Napagkasunduan namin na dumiretso sa cafeteria pagkatapos. We went straight to the counter to order some food.

"Required ba na sumama ang lahat sa tour?" I asked them.

"Yes. That will be our final examination in Rizal."

I just nodded my head and ate my food. I stopped when all of a sudden I felt how my feeling become uncomfortable. I felt dizzy. Napahawak ako sa noo ko at hinilot ang gilid nito.

"Are you okay?" Kendra worriedly asked me.

Pilit na ngumiti ako at tumango. "Yes. Medyo nahihilo lang ako. Kulang kasi ang tulog ko."

"Are you always sleeping late?"

"Yes."

She heaved a sigh. "Me too. Pero binabawi ko rin ang tulog ko pag may time ako na matulog sa umaga." She opened her leather sling bag and took something there. "I have Acetaminophen here. It will reduce your headache." She handed me the medicine.

"Thanks."

Walang pag-aalinlangan na ininom ko iyon dahil gusto kong mawala ang sakit ng ulo ko.

***

I found Hellen, my roommate, when I arrived at the dormitory. She was lying prone on the bed while typing on her laptop.

"Hi," I greeted her.

"Hi," she greeted back with a smile. We weren't that close because she wasn't always around.

I sat on my bed and put down my bag. I got my baggage and rummaged in it, finding something to wear. I stopped when Hellen suddenly asked me.

"Bakit noong isang gabi hindi ka ata umuwi rito?" she asked with confusion.

"Uhm, I stayed in the house." I lied. I was with Dylan that time.

"Ah, okay. Palagi kasi akong tinatanong ng tita mo kapag bumibisita siya rito. Kaya kapag tinanong niya ako, alam ko ang sasabihin ko." She smiled at me.

"I see," I managed to say.

"May boyfriend ka ba?" Her question brought tension to my system.

"I . . . I don't have." I lied again. I didn't want Auntie Jessie to know that Dylan was my boyfriend. I was sure that she would report it to Mommy.

"Sa ganda mong 'yan, wala?" pabirong sabi niya.

I smiled at her and shook my head. Kinuha ko ang t-shirt at shorts. Pumasok ako sa banyo at doon nagpalit ng damit. Nang bumalik muli ako sa kwarto, hinanda ko ang gamit na gagamitin ko tomorrow para sa educational tour. Five o'clock in the morning ang alis.