June ( Gugma Series 3)

Chapter 14: Avoiding Him

Chapter 14: Avoiding Him

Monday. I arrived on campus feeling more awkward than usual. I had numerous plans in the back of my mind for how to avoid him. But my mind wandered to the way he held me so close last Saturday. I knew there was something in his stare that I couldn't put my finger on. Umiling ako at inalis ang mga ideya na hindi makakatulong sa pag-iwas ko sa kanya.

When I entered the classroom, everyone was already present. And I silently thank God that he isn't here yet.

"Morning," I greeted my friends, but they didn't respond because they were preoccupied with other matters.

Si Mr. President ang bumati sa akin pag-upo ko sa tabi niya. "Mukha kang nalugi sa palengke," he commented.

"Am I?" I asked. Kinuha ko agad ang compact mirror sa bag ko then I stared at my face. I appeared haggard, and my eye bags sagged. Napuyat ako ng dalawang gabi sa kaiisip sa lalakeng istorbo ang tingin sa akin.

"May nangyari ba?" bulong niya.

Umiling ako. Sinumulan kong kunin sa loob ng bag ang workbook ko sa Economics with LRT. "Puwede bang i-compare ko ang sagot mo sa sagot ko?" tanong ko sa kanya. Itinaas ko ang hawak kong workbook at nakuha naman agad niya ang ibig kong sabihin. 

I had just finished comparing our answers when I was startled by a loud bang in our classroom.

Ibinagsak ni Professor Hugh sa lamesa ang hawak niyang mga papel. "Please distribute these papers to everyone, Mr. Razonable."

Agad namang tumalima si Angelo and Professor began writing on the board. He then started to talk about Analysis of Cost Profit and Total Revenue. Habang nagsasalita siya sa harap, nagti-take down naman ako ng important notes sa mga sinasabi niya. I never look up to see him. Para nga akong magkakastiff-neck noong malapit nang matapos ang oras niya sa klase. Subconsciously, I wanted to steal a stare but decided against it. Baka kasi magalit na siya ng tuluyan sa akin kapag nahuli niya akong tumitingin sa kanya.

Kahit noong magbigay siya ng pop quiz ay never akong tumingin sa harap. I'm determined to avoid him now. But deep down, I yearn to look into his eyes. Nababaliw na yata ako. I close my eyes and concentrate as he reads the questions for our quiz. Tama! Boses na lang niya ang pakikinggan ko. His soothing voice that makes me calm.

Then we graded our papers, and I received a perfect score. Deep down, I am proud. Bihira lang akong maka-perfect kasi. May advantage din pala ang pag-iwas ko sa mga mata niya.

He then exited the room and we waited for our next professor. He also gave us a pop quiz after teaching us, and we groaned once more.

Then we had another subject, Philippine Literature. Doon nagpa quiz din si Hugo at hindi niya napigilan ang sarili niyang tumayo sa harap ko nang matapos na ang oras ng klase na siyang hinawakan niya pansamantala.

"Would you like to join me for lunch?" He almost knelt before me.

"I'm sorry, but I'm no longer interested in you," I admitted honestly in a monotone voice. Besides, he still smells like a cigarette ashtray, and I don't want to be around him.

"Please?" His eyes begged.

"I'm sorry, but no." I then gathered all of my belongings. Lunch time naman na so I can go wherever I want to go. Pero hindi siya sumuko at sinundan pa niya ako hanggang sa labas. He gripped my hand so tightly.

"Bitiwan mo ako." I grunted because the way he holds my hand hurts me. "I could notify the Dean, he's my Ninong!" banta ko sa kanya.

He had a smug look on his face. "I just wanted to have lunch with you."

Magsasalita pa sana ako ngunit nakita ko sa peripheral vision ko si Professor McConaughey. When I stared at him, his eyes locked on me for a few seconds, sending pleasurable chills through my body.

Nakatitig siya sa kamay ni Hugo na nakahawak sa akin. I noticed his jaw clenched, but he averted his gaze.

"Hugo! 'Yong mga test papers!" sigaw ni Marie Jane mula sa loob. Sa paglingon niya kay MJ ay lumuwag ang hawak niya sa kamay ko kaya mabilis akong nakawala sa kanya.

I walked and stared at the ground, clutching all of my workbooks tightly. Malakas ang tibok ng puso ko noong lagpasan ko si Professor, hindi ako nag-angat ng tingin.

I spent the entire week doing that, and my friends confronted me once.

"You seemed so down these past few days, Skye," Cattleya observed as we sat at our usual hangout, the cafeteria.

"Am I?" patay-malisya kong tanong. I scribbled on my Management Information System notes.

"Am I?" she mocked me kaya natawa ako.

"There! You should be smiling. Lagi kang seryoso these past few days. Kung hindi ka nakatingin sa mga notes mo, laging kang tumatambay sa library. Tapos kasama mo pa palagi si Mr. President, kayo na ba?"

I raised my head in surprise. "Hindi, 'no!" tanggi ko habang salubong ang kilay ko.

My response made them all laugh. "Binibiro ka lang, e. Napaseryoso mo. Hindi ka na katulad dati na cheerful at bubbly. 'Yong totoo? Brokenhearted ka ba?"

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko sa mga pinagsasasabi nila.

"Sino naman ang wawasak sa puso ko, kung meron man?" I took a big sip of my pineapple smoothie, and it was deliciously tangy and sweet.

"Si Professor Hugh."

Inubo ako ng sunud-sunod. Pumasok pa sa ilong ko ang ininom ko kaya mas lalo akong nahirapang huminga. Tawang-tawa naman ang mga gaga bago nila ako inabutan ng tubig at tissue.

Inirapan ko silang lahat nang makarecover ako. "Siya? Magkakagusto sa akin?"

Hate nga niya ako.

"Oo. Lagi ko kayang nahuhuling nagnanakaw ng tingin sa 'yo," kuwento ni Marie Jane, nakangisi.

Umangat ang kilay ko. "Huwag kang gumagawa ng kuwento riyan, MJ." But deep down, I was hoping it was true.

"Joke lang," she said.

Umasa ako.

"Never niya akong magugustuhan. Baka nga may girlfriend na iyon, e. Tsaka hello? Ang laki kaya ng agwat ng edad namin."