UNIVERSITY SERIES # 3

CHAPTER TWELVE

"Congratulations, Miss Andrade! You did a great job again," Bati sa akin ng Dean namin.

I fake my smile naman. Hayst, too much papuri, nakakaumay naman. If it wasn't for Pat naman hindi ko gagawin yung buong paper na yon.

"Actually, pwede ka na sumali sa college SSG eh," Aniya habang tumatawa pa.

Now is the time kase para irelease yung Campus Paper namin. And they put credits na naman sa akin.

I fake my laugh, "May perfect time po for that, Dean," Sabi ko.

"May I go na po ba?" Tanong ko dahil ayoko na dito sa office nya, nakakasuffocate.

"Sure, hija. Study well," Aniya at yumuko na lang ako for respect at umalis na.

For sure naman, kalat na naman 'to sa buong campus. Bukod kase kay Gen na super popular sa mga boys, ay popular den naman ako, kaso sa mga insecures nga lang.

"Hi Caylee!" Sigaw ng mga lalaki sa dinadaanan ko.

"Bro, your crush oh, say hi ka naman," Bulong pa ng isa na akala mo hindi ko narinig.

Ngumingiti na lang ako. I am jolly and a saint kase dito sa school eh. Role model kase ako sa buong Senior and Junior high school. Si Gen naman Model ng La Salle.

Dumiretso ako sa room, for sure naman na nagstart na ng class. Calculus ata.

And for sure si Gen? Nagpapanic na naman.

I slowly open the door, currently na nagdidiscuss si sir, and as usual lahat ng classmates ko napatingin sa akin.

"Miss Andrade, please take a sit," Ani Sir na hindi man lang ako pinagalitan.

Well, Dean na mismo kase ang nagexcuse sa akin.

Umupo naman ako kaagad.

"Thank God naman nandito ka na! Buti na lang hindi pa nagstart yung activity!" Bulong sa akin ni Gen.

See? Sabi na eh panic na 'to eh.

After class, nauna na si Gen sa akin. She's having a practice na kase for her upcoming pageant. Last na nya kase for SHS kaya super ganado at pursigido si gaga.

Nagaayos ako ng gamit ko nang may narinig akong something.

"Gen should quit na 'no?"

"She should talaga."

"Super yabang, slut naman,"

At nagtawanan sila.

Binagsak ko ang mga gamit ko sa table ko ng malakas, at lumingon sa gawi nila.

No one's here lang naman except sakanila.

Gulat silang napatingin sa akin.

I smiled at them while slowly walking towards where they are, "Talking behind other's back? Gosh, that's cowards act, right?"

Sinamaan nila ako ng tingin. Agad naman akong tumawa.

"Ally, Hannah, and Wendy," Pagtawag ko sa pangalan nila.

"Eh ano naman? Were saying the truth naman," Ani Wendy.

"Gen is a slut? Maybe she is, but at least sya, sya mismo yung nilalapitan ng boys, eh kayo ba? Trying hard pa to make papansin sakanila," Pangrerealtalk ko.

I sat on Hannah's table, "She is like a beautiful flower, that has a sweet nectar that surrounds all of the bees, unlike you na wala na ngang nectar, lanta pa," Pang-iinis ko.

I can see na gigil na sila. "I can't stop you for being like that, but kaya kong ipamukha sainyo yung katotohanan," Sabi ko.

Lumapit pa ako ng sobra sakanila, "And the truth is, you can never be like us,"

And that I carry all my things at umalis, but before I shut the door,

"I know na magsusumbong kayo, coz you're a coward nga. But take note, Hannah, I know your dark secret, you're the girl doon sa scandal na kumalat right? So, if you want to keep my mouth shut, better to shut off your mouth first," I said and umalis na.

I have my resources kaya. Sa super dami den ng friends ko, and so as Gen, diba?

They can't hide anything from me.

________

I am here at my room, of course, as usual currently facing my Laptop kase we have a research individually.

Sa isang buwan pa naman pasahan, kaya nakakatamad pa gawin. I like to cram den kase lalo na pag tinatamad ako.

Magtatype na sana ako while my phone dings.

Sorry, research, mas importante pa den si phone.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko to see who's that, and I saw Mauve's name.

Mauve Martinez :

you busy?

I smiled naman. Wow, after a week tska lang sya nagparamdam. Tss, I felt I was ghosted tuloy.

Me :

i am not doing anything naman.

Mauve Martinez :

sorry ngayon lang ako nakapag chat. I am not a ghoster, tho.

Me :

defensive?i am not saying anything naman

Mauve Martinez :

can I call?

Wtf? He is asking for a call, Clay! Keep on paglandi.

Me :

sure

Ilang seconds lang tumawag sya sa akin.

"Hi," He said on his bathroom voice.

"Hey," I said while biting my lower lip at humiga sa kama.

"I am going to ask you sana to go with me sa UP Fair?"

Shit, is he asking me for a date?

"Walang intro intro, yes na agad ako," I shouted.

He laughed softly, "You are so cute,"

Natigilan kaming dalawa.

"Uhm," Sabi ko na lang.

"Its my treat naman. Basta wala ng bawian," Aniya.

Hayst, Mauve, hindi naman ako tatanggi.

"Sure-"

"CLAAAY, ARE YOU DONE STUDYING NA BA?!"

What the fuck? Pahamak talaga si kuya oh.

"Uhm, got to go, okay? Catch up na lang ulit tayo later, bye!" Kabadong sabi ko at pinatayan na sya.

Kuya naman eh, kahit kailan talaga. Nandon na eh.

"NOT YEEET!" Sigaw ko pabalik.

Bumalik ako sa harap ng laptop ko at wala sa sariling napangiti. I can't wait sa UP Fair.