After Her Last Straw (Dream Series #1)

Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Plan
Zanashi

The news spread among the students faster than usual. It became the talk of the night that when I checked our group chat, their last converstion was around two o'clock this morning. They couldn't believe what happened in the conference hall and they couldn't believe the probable chance our school administration might really consider in changing our system.

Since those students who came in the conference hall were all from accountancy department, they initiated telling the other departments about what really happened and, well, they added some spice on it. They said the President was in tears to see us determined about changing our system and this idea alone gave high hopes to those students, without knowing that the President didn't shed even a single tear during that time.

They were also talking about the secret organization called Student's Equity Association that was led by Sulivan de Lopezes. They were in awe after knowing that it was led by this man who is known as a responsible treasurer and excellent student.

Kung marami na siyang tagahanga noon pa man, lalo pang dumami ngayong nalaman nilang meron siyang paninindigan at prinsipyo. Dahil wala na siyang girlfriend, mas lantad na ang pagpapakita nila ng motibo sa puntong ang iba ay nagpo-post patungkol sa paghanga nila kay Sulivan.

Ang mga accountancy student na nakasaksi sa mga pangyayari ay todo rin kung makapag-post sa facebook. They keep saying that it was the most beautiful thing that happened to their college life. They said, it's astonishing to see us being united and breaking the barriers among us.

Aside from that, I noticed my blockmates' sudden change of treatment towards me. Hindi man nila ako kinakausap nang madalas, masasabi ko namang nagbago ang pakikitungo nila sa akin dahil hindi na nila ako iniinsulto at sinasabihang mayabang. Sa katunayan nga ay pinagtitinginan nila ako nang pumasok ako sa room kanina, pero ang tingin nilang iyon ay ibang-iba sa mapang-insultong tingin na ibinibigay nila sa akin dati. Minsan ay naaabutan ko ang ibang nagtutulakan papunta sa akin. Medyo hindi ako sanay sa mga nangyayari kaya nagpapanggap na lang akong hindi ko ito nakita.

"Uh.. Aphra, can we talk?" napatingin ako kay Celline na nakatayo ngayon sa harap ng table ko habang nakahawak nang mahigpit sa strap ng bag niya.

Uwian na namin at dahil ako ang huling nagpasa ng essay, ako na lang din ang natitira sa room. Mukhang hinintay ni Celline ang pagkakataong ito kaya muli siyang pumasok sa classroom.

I nodded. Tumigil ako sa pag-aayos para tingnan siya.

"Uhmm.. Gusto ko lang magsorry, Aphra.." she bit her lower lip and averted her gaze from me to my belongings that are still on my table. "Hindi maganda ang naging pakikitungo ko sayo at hindi katanggap-tanggap ang mga nasabi ko. I'm really sorry, Aphra."

Dala ng kanyang kaba ay wala sa sarili niyang pinulot ang libro ko sa table at ipinasada niya rito ang kanyang hintuturo.

"It's.." tumikhim ako kaya napatingin siya sa akin. ".. okay. Just don't do it again, please. Don't do it to anyone either."

Mabilis siyang tumango at kinagat ang kanyang labi. "I will not do it again, swear!"

"And.." napatingin siya sa akin, kabadong-kabado. Ngumiti ako nang tipid. "Sorry din kung may nasabi man akong nakasakit sa inyo," I said, pertaining to our first conversation.

I thought that maybe my choice of words were wrong. Baka nga ay nasobrahan ako sa pagiging straightforward. Maybe what I said was true but I could've used another words and phrases to convey my thoughts. Sana ay inisip ko ang nararamdaman nila. Ayos lang naman ipakita ang totoong kulay pero may binabagayan itong oras at pagkakataon. Minsan, kailangang limitahan ang sarili para hindi makasakit ng damdamin. Hindi naman nila ako pag-iinitan ng ganito kung hindi ko sila nasaktan.