June ( Gugma Series 3)

Chapter 15: Butterflies In My Stomach

Chapter 15: Butterflies In My Stomach

"Would you please assist me, Miss Torres?" Professor Carol, my favorite, called me after our last class. I assisted her in carrying all of our workbooks with my girls, but they abandoned me as soon as we arrived at the office.

"Kaya mo na 'yan," ngisi ni Marie Jane. May date raw siya kasama ang bago niyang manliligaw. Maging sina Penelope at Cattleya ay may kanya-kanya ring mga lakad.

"Babalikan kita, I only need to go to my daughter's dorm. Nagkaproblema kasi," sabi niya habang alalang-alala ang kaniyang mukha.

"Sige po. Kaya ko na po ito," nakangiting sabi ko. I've already checked three out of thirty workbooks.

"I'll drop you off at your house later," pampalubag-loob niyang sabi. "Could you also look through the other class workbooks?"

"Will work on that, Ma'am," I said as she walked away. I put on my airpods and listened to my favorite song, Until I Found You. I'm not sure why, but this song has a special place in my heart.

Natapos ko na ang lahat ng workbooks ngunit wala pa rin siya kaya I attempted to call her, but she did not answer. At lumaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ko ang oras sa suot kong relo, alas nuwebe y medya na!

Inayos ko ang mga workbook sa table ni Professor at agad na nilock ang pinto ng opisina niya, paglabas ko. Bukas pa ang mga ilaw ngunit wala nang ni isang tao sa hallway. Paglabas ko ng building ay nakasalubong ko si Manong guard. Napahawak pa siya sa bandang dibdib niya, pagkakita sa akin. "Abi nakog multo. Ikaw pala, Ma'am," sabi niya sabay masahe ng dibdib niya.

Natawa ako sa reaksiyon niya. "Sorry po kung nagulat ko kayo."

"Okay ra, Ma'am. Sige po at papatayin ko lang ang mga ilaw dito. Dalawa na lang kayong natira dito sa buong campus," sabi niya habang papalayo na sa akin.

"Ganoon po ba?"

"Oo, Ma'am. Nasa parking lot na 'yong isa, si Professor Hugh."

Biglang binundol ng kaba ang puso ko. We can't possibly meet, right? Nasa parking lot naman na raw siya so paalis na siya.

Naglakad na palayo ang security guard. I also went outside the campus. While walking near the lighted waiting shed, I gripped the handle of my bag and my workbooks. Wala na ring tao sa kahabaaan ng highway ngunit nilakasan ko ang loob ko. Kung kaya ng iba mag-commute, makakayanan ko rin. Angelo always told me that I should practice traveling alone, and now is the time.

Though I was twiddling my thumbs, I inhaled and exhaled. I-aangat ko na sana ang kamay ko para pumara ngunit umatras ako. Huminga ulit ako ng malalim. I sat in the chair and dialed my mom's number, and she answered after five rings.

"Anak? Nasa resto pa rin ako. Hindi ka ba makatulog?" Ramdam ko ang pagod at malat sa boses niya kaya pinanghinaan ako ng loob. Akala ko nasa bahay na siya, magpapasundo sana ako.

Pinasaya ko ang boses ko. "Matutulog na po. Katatapos ko lang manood." Ngunit habang sinasabi ko iyon ay sumusungaw na ang luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko.

"Alright, honey. Did you lock the doors?"

"Yes po."

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow night, anak. Marami pa ring customer hanggang ngayon. Dito na ako matutulog. Mag-lock ka ng pinto." Muli niyang paalala.

Tumango ako kahit hindi niya ako nakikita. "I will, Mom."

Then we said our goodbyes on the phone, and it was time for me to face my fear alone. I had a shallow and ragged breathing as I tried to catch a passing jeepney, but he didn't stop. Puno na kasi.

I looked down and stared at my feet, the nervousness coursing through my veins. My right thumb is twitching, and my hands are trembling as well.

I looked up at the starry skies, my eyes welling up again. I wiped it with my fist tightly closed. "Don't be afraid to face your fears, honey," tila umaalingawngaw sa pandinig ko ang boses na iyon ni Daddy. He was my biggest supporter, and I won't let him down.

I was determined to stand up straight as I waited for another jeepney, and my hands trembled again as it approached. Pinara ko iyon at huminto siya sa tapat ko. But my feet were firmly planted where I stood. Ayaw gumalaw ng mga paa ko.

"Mosakay ka o dili?" sigaw ng driver sa harap.

"S-sasakay po," sabi ko at sinimulan ko nang ihakbang ang mga mabibigat na paa ko. Nanginginig iyon ngunit nilakasan ko ang loob kong kumapit sa hand bar ng Jeep. "P-pa-wait lang po," sabi ko na nanginginig. I take a nervous step inside the jeepney, and cold faces stare at me. Umiwas ako sa mga tingin nila at niyakap ko ang mga gamit ko habang mahigpit na nakahawak sa hand bar ang isang kamay ko. Mas lalong binundol ng kaba ang dibdib ko nang umandar na iyon. I closed my eyes tightly and felt someone sit beside me. I trembled even more so I recalled happy times in my life..

Then I felt someone's arms wrap around my small waist to keep me steady. I was about to have a panic attack but I smelled his familiar aftershave and heard his sexy and very husky voice whispered. "Stay calm, baby."

My breathing became more rapid as he drew me closer to his body. He was possessively hugging my waist, which made those butterflies fly in my stomach. Unti-unting napalitan ng kilig ang kabang naramdaman ko kanina.

When I looked up at him, he was dressed in a black hoodie jacket and a black mask. Then he took out a 500 peso bill from his wallet. "Bayad ho! Santander, dalawa."

"Paano ang sasakyan mo? Iniwan mo?" bulong ko. Yumuko siya para pakinggan muli ang sinabi ko. Ngunit sa pagyuko niyang iyon ay nagtama ang mga paningin namin. His warm blue eyes met my earthy brown eyes.

How magical could it be?

N/A: Please don't comment NEXT UPDATE. Nag-aupdate naman po ako, gabi-gabi o kaya madaling-araw. Gaya ninyo, I also have my personal life.

Anyways, salamat sa mga positive comments. Natutuwa ako sa mga comment ninyo and I apologise for not replying on your messages, busy po ang schedule ko.

And I apologise din sa mga grammatical errors at tagalog words ko. Tagalog is not my mother tongue so, I'm sorry.