Chapter 13

Before the final exam week, Bryce made a lot of request to me. Alam niya kasing hindi na niya ako makukulit during next week kaya pinapayagan ko na rin siyang mangulit. If doing that making it less for me to interact next week, that would be great for me. Hindi pa rin naman kami nag-uusap sa personal. We talked on a video call. Choosy pa nga at ayaw ng call lang, gusto niya may mukha raw na nakikita.

Hindi ko naman hinaharap sa mukha ko 'yong cam. Nasa kisame ang tutok habang 'yong kanya naman ay nakatutok sa screen ng laptop niya so I would see what he's typing there. We were like that for quite a few nights until the he has to submit his final chapters to his professor. At that moment, panatag naman ako na papasa siya ro'n.

Hello? I helped him with that at kung mag-fail man siya ro'n, kasalanan na niya 'yon.

"Parang ayoko na pumasok," ani Ruth. "Pagod na pagod na ako mag-aral."

"Kaya mo 'yan, girl. One week na lang, matatapos na rin 'tong pagdurusa natin sa college life."

"Sana nga all may jowa pag-graduate, e," aniya. "E, tayo? Pumasok ng first year nang walang jowa, ga-graduate ng walang jowa. Saklap, 'di ba?"

"E, ano naman ngayon? Jowa na ba ang basehan to have a happy college life? For me, I've got a great four years kahit na hindi maiiwasan 'yong mga bwisit sa paligid-ligid."

"You mean Bryce?" she queried. Hindi ako sumagot. Humalukipkip naman ito. "Sige nga. Tell me more something about Bryce. 'Wag ka nang mahiya. Ako lang naman 'to."

"Wala naman akong sasabihin?" pagrarason ko pa. "Saka, there's nothing interesting about Bryce."

"Weh? Bukod sa pagiging yummy ni Bryce na alam kong one of your types, hindi ba interesting 'yon for you? Umamin ka."

I acted so disgusted by what she said. "Pipili ka na lang ng taong pwede mong ireto sa akin, doon pa sa taong homophobic. I wouldn't ever fall for a man like him. Kahit type ko siya, Bryce is Bryce. He's such a stupid guy."

"Maka-judge naman 'to," aniya.

"Bakit? Judger din naman 'yong na 'yon. So, quits lang."

"Fair enough."

When we decided to go to the cafeteria on lunch time, there weren't many students inside so we took the opportunity to sit where we would like dahil wala namang mang-aagaw. Bumili naman kami nang makakain namin at nagsimulang mag-chismisan nang kung ano-ano.

Later on, Ruth was pointing something else in the direction behind me. Napakunot ang noo dahil sa kuryusidad. Mabilis ko namang nilingon iyon at hinanap kung ano o sino iyong tinuturo and then I saw Bryce walking with a girl.

Binawi ko rin naman ang atensyon ko mula sa kanila at itinuon ko sa pagkain ko. That was Leslie. She's a marketing major and not the best in class, I've heard, but because of her charisma and beauty, people liked her. Maybe that's why Bryce's getting interested with her.

He just broke up with his girlfriend a few weeks ago, ngayon may bago na naman siyang mabibiktima.

"They seem so very close," ani Ruth.

"Paki ko..." mahina kong tugon.

"Leslie's flirting so hard with Bryce. Papayag ka ba ro'n, Augy?" Tiningnan niya ako at tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay. "If I were you, dapat hindi ko na pinakawalan 'yan si Bryce—even though he had a bad past, kung ganyang ka-gwapong lalaki namang ang bubungad sa akin every morning."

"Mapapa-no thanks na lang din ako every day," sagot ko sa kanya. "I wouldn't dare to be with a man like him. Lumandi lang siya nang lumandi ng ibang bahala, for all I care? And if he wanted to do those things first, bahala siya sa buhay niya. I don't even care."

"Ang defensive naman..."

"E, pinupush mo rin kasi sa akin 'yon kahit hindi ko naman bet," sagot ko.

"Okay, ito naman. Chill ka lang."

"It's not something to chill with," sagot ko sa kanya. "Nakaalis na ba sila?"

Tumango naman si Ruth sa akin. We spent a little while in the cafeteria and then we decided to left when our class about to be start soon. Nagulat pa kaming dalawa ni Ruth nang makita si Bryce at Leslie sa hallway. Napatingin pa sila sa aming dalwa. Leslie didn't show any reaction, but when I met Bryce's eyes, a smirk formed in his lips. Agad ko rin namang iniwas ang tingin ko sa kanya at saka ko pasimpleng hinatak si Ruth at binilisan ang paglalakad.

"What was that, Augy?" tanong nito sa akin.

"Huh?" aanga-anga kong sagot sa kanya. "Ano na namang tumatakbo riyan sa isipan mo?"

She giggled, shaking her head. "Wala naman..."

Minsan, hindi ko alam kung kakampi ko pa ba si Ruth dito o hindi na. But she always understands what I am going through at hindi naman siya namimilit sa mga dapat kong gawin—minsan, may pagka-mala desisyon talaga siya at hindi maiiwasan.

After this day, weekend na at makakapagpahinga nang kaunti ang isip ko, pero hindi dapat magpakampante dahil hindi gano'n kadali ang final exam namin. We have given a few exemption sa ilan naming subjects, but those minor subjects kept their stance and wishes us to fail and hoping I wouldn't be dahil iniinangatan kong hindi malaglag sa Latin awards.

But all I kept minding about what I could get at the end of this college journey, and what comes for me next? Seems like there are a lot of things I am going to do. But one thing I'm sure of, Bryce would be out of my sight. Ever.