Zen Li

It was four am when my alarm went off at napabalikwas ako sa kama. I felt my eyes were still heavy from not being able to get enough sleep. Everything sank in and the embarrassing scenario yesterday filled my brain once again.

I had a hard time falling asleep due to the embarrassment and just when I was finally dozing off at three in the morning, my alarm rang after an hour. Just wow.

I gathered up my remaining energy and stood up from the bed. I picked up my uniform from the hanger and carefully tucked my matching undergarments inside the skirt. I don't want to undergo the same thing as last night. Never.

After contemplating for a while, I finally mustered the courage to open up the door towards the study. After seeing that sir Maiko was sleeping at the couch, saka na ako nagkaroon ng lakas na lumabas ng bedroom. I tried my best not to create noise as much as possible and tiptoed my way outside of the room papuntang kitchen to make breakfast and lunch para na din mamaya. He just needs to reheat the food whenever makapag decide siya na kakain niya na.

I made some tamagoyaki, grilled fish, and fried rice for breakfast. For lunch are rice and curry. I also made sure to make some onigiri for him to eat during breaks and left a sticky note on the table, beside the food.

At six in the morning, I was finally done with everything. I took my bag and left the house. Ngayon na lumayo na ko sa campus, I need to leave early than usual para di ako ma late. I usually hate my Monday schedule kasi I have seven am classes pero after what happened last night, a blessing in disguise na din tong class schedule na to para sa akin. Pati na din siguro na loaded ako every Monday this semester. At least, I'm spared from being embarrassed in front of him. Tsaka di ko pa ata kayang harapin si sir Maiko.

Just when I reached the campus and went to my first class, everyone got told that there will be a meeting for the whole department for half a day. We got instructed to proceed at the audiovisual room (AVR) and to attend the gathering. I- at least- could make use of this time to sneak some sleep. So I might as well pumwesto sa pinakalikod nang makatago naman ako kahit papano.

The whole morning ended with every concern from the students being addressed and me sleeping the entire meeting. Just when I exited the AVR, may biglang tumawag ng pangalan ko sa may di kalayuan, it was Alesandra. She and I had different courses, she took AB Mass Communication while I took BS Psychology. We met during high school and have been inseparable ever since then na kahit sa college we went to the same school.

"Seira! Tara, let's go have lunch. My treat!" She exclaimed cheerily as she clung unto my arm with a huge smile painted across her face. I smiled back at her saka tumango at hinayaan siyang hatakin ako patungo sa cafeteria ng school. "Anong gusto mo sis? Libre kita ngayon, dali!" Pag-uudyok nito habang hinihila yung braso ko papunta sa isa sa mga stall na nagbebenta ng lunch set menus.

"Ehh, may baon kasi ako, sayang din naman." Kanina nang matapos akong magluto, maliban sa pagprepare ng makakain ni sir Maiko sinama ko na din yung sakin para naman kahit papano di ko na kailangang gumastos sa labas.

"Ay bakit? Dapat pala tinext kita kanina. Ayaw mo fries? Smoothie? Gusto ko kasi e-try yung bago nilang flavor." Pamimilit nito sakin. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako at napailing sa kaibigan. Kahit kelan, lahat ng pagkain na natitipuhan nito at gusto tikman, nasusunod talaga. Wala naman akong nagagawa at samahan siya sa pagiging food buddy. Ayon nga lang, siya lagi ang nagastos dahil diy niya ko hinahayaan.

"Oo na, ikaw na bahala. Hahanap muna akong table para satin." Sabi ko nalang at hinayaan siyang bumili ng gusto niyang makain para maghanap ng bakanteng table. Lunch time na din ngayon at medyo maraming dumadagsa na sa cafeteria kaya mas mainam na ding mauna na akong maghanap ng table para sa aming dalawa.

After a couple of minutes, sa wakas nakahanap na din ako ng bakanteng table. Di naman tumagal at sumunod na si Alesandra sakin dala dala and pagkaing binili niya. "Ang dami naman niyan, mauubos ba natin yan?" Tanong ko sa kanya habang tinitignan and iba't ibang pagkain na nasa food tray na nilapag niya sa table.

"Oo naman, kung tutuusin nga kulang pa yan hmmp! Kung di lang ako inunahan nung isang senior dun sa blueberry cheesecake! Gusto ko pa naman yun." Pagrereklamo nito. "Anyway sissy, kamusta naman yung nahanap mong work? Si tito?" Sunod sunod na tanong niya sakin.

Sa isang hudyat bigla namang nag flashback lahat ng nangyari kagabi as I felt heat rushing towards my cheeks. Napaiwas nalang ako ng tingin at kinuha yung lunch ko sa bag. "W-wala." Maikling sagot ko.

"Ay iba! Anong nangyari teh? Halata masyado oh. Spill!" Pamimilit niya sakin habang ngumunguya ng ilang pirasong french fries.

Sa loob ng isang oras, purong pamimilit ang ginawa ni Alesandra sakin habang wala naman akong nagawa kundi ang sabihin sa kanya ang mga nangyari. Our discussion finally ended with her telling me good bye dahil uuwi daw siya ng maaga at may pinapagawa yung mommy niya sa kanya. Coincidentally, every student were dismissed for the whole afternoon dahil ang mga prof from every department will be having a meeting. I decided to go home, instead na gumala pa para maka iwas sa paggastos.

The travel going home was quite smooth, no traffic dahil maaga pa naman. I was about to enter the gate when a man wearing a maroon hoodie and a black shirt underneath walked towards me with a bright smile on his face. He had his hair done in a neat way, his brows have the right thickness to it and his eyes were slanted, he had a straight-edged nose and his lips were curved into an attractive smile that you can't help but notice the small mole an inch away under the side of his mouth. "Seira-chan?" My eyes widened as the familiar voice registered automatically in my head.

"Sir Zen?" I blurted out the first name I could think of.