I drummed my fingers on the top of my book as we waited for our Thesis Adviser to approve our articles and journals that would support our topic for Related Literature.

"Darating pa ba si Ma'am?" My friend and groupmate, Vina Paladin, asked.

We are here at our classroom and waiting for her while our other classmates have their meetings either at the canteen, carpark and canopy. Everywhere where conversations and discussions is allowable.

"Nagtext si Ma'am. Emergency raw. Yung anak niya kailangang ipa-check up sa ospital. Resched daw ang meeting." Donald Costinar said to us after looking at his phone. He lifted his eyes to us and stood up, "una na ako sa inyo. Ma-traffic na pauwi."

"K. Ingat." Susan San Diego said and met our gazes when he left the room. "Tara, Mcdo tayo!"

"Pass ako. Imimeet ko pa yung friend ko sa Montes." Vina shook her head and played with her phone. "Alis na rin ako maya-maya."

"Ikaw, Caryl?" Susan asked and before I could even open my mouth to answer, my phone rang.

"Hello, honey?" Luke asked over the phone.

"Yes, love." I said and Susan rolled her eyes. I gave her a sheepish smile and she waved her hand at me as she left me alone in the classroom.

"I'm on my way there. Male-late lang ng ten minutes. Hakot pasahero si Manong Driver." He said irritatingly and I can actually hear the driver calling out passengers on the road.

"Hayaan mo na." I chuckled softly. "Nagtatrabaho siya eh. Andito lang ako sa classroom. Text mo ako kapag nasa pangatlong kanto ka na para magsisimula na akong maglakad."

"Alright, hon. See you. Mwah!" He said and hung up without waiting for me to bid goodbye to him.

Sitting beside the classroom window gives me the chance to feel relaxed even during the hectic days in the university. Odd as it may seem, I learned to love this spot a whole lot lately.

"Hija." A voice distracted my thoughts and I turned to find the voice. It was Manong Jonathan, one of our university maintenance personnel. "Pwede na ba akong maglinis rito? Wala na ba kayong klase?"

"Sige lang ho, Manong." I smiled at him as he began to gather the trash from the trash bin into his cart. He also started to sweep the floor. "Wala na po kaming klase. Magmimeeting lang po sana kami sa thesis kaso nagka-emergency po si Ma'am."

"Oo nga pala. Graduating na kayo. Good luck sa thesis nyo ha." Manong Jonathan gave me a smile and he dusted off the white board.

"Salamat ho." I said and then my phone beeped signaling that Luke has sent me a message informing me he is almost here. "Alis na po ako, Manong. Ingat po kayo."

"Sige, hija. Ikaw rin. Ang payong. Pabago-bago pa naman ang panahon ngayon." Pagpapayo pa niya habang naglalakad ako papalabas ng classroom bitbit ang bag ko.

"Opo nga po." I said and bid my goodbye to him again and went out the door.

I was walking a few steps more outside the building when it began to drizzle.

"Shocks! Bakit mo kasi binati, Manong!" I groaned inwardly and stood to the side of the lobby to retrieve my umbrella inside my bag. Then, I remembered Luke. He was too stubborn to bring the essentials with him, specifically, the umbrella.

As soon as I got it, I opened it and went outside the building. I walked briskly and carefully not to splash dirt water on my uniform and legs.

I immediately treaded to the direction of the covered pathway and was surprised when I saw Luke dry with a lady beside him and sharing her yellow umbrella.

"Honey!" His voice boomed the almost empty pathway since many are finding shelter inside the department's buildings or in their classrooms.

"Thank you, Stacey." He said to the lady in yellow umbrella and he met my gaze. "Girlfriend ko nga pala. Si Caryl." He introduced us and I managed a small smile.

"Nice meeting you. Got to go. See you around, Caryl." She said simply and went to the direction of Fine Arts Building.

"I guess, she's in a rush." Luke said and smiled at me. "Alis na tayo?"

"Wait. Pahinga ka muna. Patilain natin ng konti ang ulan." I said and wiped off droplets of rain on his shoulders.

But inside me, I wanted to wipe off the closeness she had with him earlier.

Ako lang ba to or pinagseselosan ko ang maliliit na bagay?