Take Me Back To The Night We Met

Chapter 2-Strange Things

Too stunned to speak. That was my reaction while I was watching the videos of myself dancing with that unfamiliar man.

Nakatutok ang mga mata ko sa isang partikular na video na kuha mismo ni Aica. The video captured the moment I fainted but Bryan was able to hold my arms to prevent me from slipping. Aica giggled in the video while I was sweating badly.

"If hindi kita kilala, iisipin ko na sinadya mong mahimatay kunwari para saluhin ka niya," Aica teased me.

We were walking down the hallway of our department building. Pareho kaming Bachelor of Performing Arts Major in Theater dahil gustong-gusto namin ang mag-perform sa stage kahit noong bata pa kami.

"Impossible," I unconsciously said, almost a whisper.

"What do you mean impossible? Kitang-kita kaya na sinadya mo! Tapos—"

"That's not what I meant, Aica!" I blurted out and gave back her phone. "After that incident, wala na akong maalala! Para bang nawala ako bigla sa sarili ko and…I can't remember anything! Cecil told me that my party went well but I clearly remembered that I fainted last night!"

Hindi ko namalayan na sumisigaw na pala ako at pareho kaming napatigil ni Aica sa paglalakad, ignoring the other students who keep on staring at me. Aica's eyes were confused while glaring at me too.

"Why do you need to raise your voice? And what did you say? Wala kang maalala sa nangyari kagabi? Come on, it's your 18th birthday last night. Imposible na makalimutan mo 'yon."

I pulled my hair in frustration. "That's it! Hindi ko alam bakit ko nakalimutan! Aica, help me! Do I have amnesia na?! No way! What's happening to me ba?!" I held both of her hands, panicking.

She gasped. "OMG. Wala ka bang maalala dahil lang nakasayaw mo 'yong guy na 'yon? Well, kung ako rin naman ang isinayaw niya…baka nakalimutan ko rin pati name ko. What was his name, by the way?"

I made a disgusted face. "Really, Aica? Mas gusto mo pang malaman ang name ng guy na 'yon. This is a serious matter! Wala talaga akong maalala!"

"I think it's normal. Masyado ka lang yata na-overwhelmed kagabi. And wala ka naman dapat ipag-alala kasi wala ka namang ibang ginawang kalokohan kagabi…" She looked up like she remembered something. "Oh, I'm not sure no'ng after-party kasi nawala ka sa paningin ko that time. Where did you go ba?"

"I don't know! I can't remember nga, eh!" I almost rolled my eyes and started to walk again. Humabol naman kaagad si Aica para asarin ulit ako do'n sa guy na nakasayaw ko kagabi. "Do you have a crush on him? He's old na kaya!"

"What?!" Her eyes grew wider. "So, how old is he?! Sayang…pogi pa naman siya! Ang unique ng kagwapuhan niya…tapos…"

"Hoy! Anong pinag-uusapan n'yo?!"

Aica and I both groaned in annoyance when Miggy went between the two of us, locking our necks with his arms. Matangkad siya kaya madali lang para sa kaniya na sakalin kami.

"Stop it! Oh, my make up!" Aica complained, pushing Miggy to my side.

"Arte mo naman. Make up lang 'yan!" Miggy teased.

"But makeup is my life so shut your big mouth!"

I rolled my eyes and started to walk faster. Hindi nakakatulong ang ingay nilang dalawa sa mga tumatakbo sa isip ko. I'm still confused dahil wala akong maalala sa nangyari kagabi…at nangyari lang 'yon nang ma-meet ko ang guy na 'yon.

"Hey, princess." Hindi ko namalayan na nakaakbay na pala sa akin si Miggy. Hindi katulad kanina, he was holding me gently.

"I told you not to call me 'princess' anymore." I rolled my eyes.

"Para namang ano 'to." Nagdrama kaagad siya. "Parang dati lang gusto mo na tinatawag kita sa gano'n. Naalala mo naman siguro na favorite mo ang mga princess na napapanood mo noong bata pa tayo."

"Hello? 18 na kaya ako. I should act mature now."

"Do you have a problem?" he asked out of the sudden. He somehow noticed me biting my fingernails.

"I don't remember anything after dancing with that guy." I looked at him. "Something's strange."

His brows met but before he could talk, Aica called me from the back. She was already standing in front of a room.

"What are you doing? Dito ang class natin!" sigaw niya. "Miggy, go back to your class! Hindi dito ang building mo!"

I stared at Miggy. He was still confused but I decided to go to Aica.

Kahit nang umupo kami sa seat namin ay nakatulala pa rin ako at iniisip ang mga nangyayari sa akin na kakaiba. Imposible naman na mawala 'yon sa isip ko kung kagabi lang nangyari.

"Do you think I have selective amnesia? I heard nangyayari daw 'yon if walang matandaan ang isang tao pero ilan lang."

Aica sighed while retouching her makeup. "Stop it, Akina. Wala kang mapapala kakaisip niyan. Believe me, nakalimutan mo lang siguro kasi nalasing ka sa after-party natin kagabi. I couldn't find you kaya last night. Pati si Miggy hindi ka mahanap."

"Wait, I was drunk last night?" I blinked twice, getting more confused. "But I don't drink!"

"You drank tequila last night and you insisted!"

"What? I hate tequila. Alam mo 'yan!"

"Yeah, but you insisted nga kasi!"

"Ugh! D*mn it!" I bumped my head with the corner of my phone. "Bakit wala akong maalala?"

Natigil din ako sa pag-iisip nang pumasok ang professor namin at dumiretso sa harap. Her build was somehow unfamiliar to me but I didn't bother giving her a glance. I stared at the floor, still occupied by the strange things happening to me.

After a minute of silence, narinig ko ang impit na tilian ng mga blockmates ko at lalo na si Aica dahil katabi ko lang siya ng upuan. When I looked at her, para siyang nakakita ng bagong set ng favorite brand ng makeup niya.

"Good morning." I heard a familiar voice.

Thinking that it was the guy I danced with last night, I immediately turned my head in front. There, I saw him standing in front, wearing his sweet smile. He was wearing a blue long-sleeved polo and black slacks that hugged his body perfectly. He looked clean with his hair pushed back. May eyeglasses pa.

"I'm Bryan Marasigan and I will be your new Acting for Theater Professor," pagpapakilala niya.

OMG! Bakit?! Bakit siya pa?! Nangyayari ba talaga 'to?!

"As your professor, I have rules inside my class. First, ayokong nakakakita ng estudyanteng tulala habang nagsasalita ako."

Strange things happened mula nang magkakilala kami! Tapos ngayon naging professor ko pa siya sa isang major subject?! What the hell?!

"Excuse me…Miss Archangel? Why are you zoning out?"

Nakabawi ako sa pagkabigla nang sikuhin ako ni Aica. Doon ko na-realize na nakatingin na pala sa akin ang mga blockmates ko…including that guy.

"Are you okay, Miss Archangel?" he asked.

I cleared my throat and fixed my sitting composure. "U-Uh…"

"Yes? May sasabihin ka ba o itatanong? Alam kong nabigla kayo lahat pero ako na ngayon ang magti-take over sa klase ni Mrs. Gonza. I guess you already know that her husband died and she can't go back to her work."

Bakit ganyan siya magsalita? He has a soft, calming voice pero kapag nagsasalita siya ay parang mapapasunod na lang kami lahat sa mga sinasabi niya.

I shook my head. Hindi dapat siya nandito. I'm still confused sa mga nangyayari sa akin nang makilala ko siya tapos naging professor ko pa siya? Hindi ako papayag!

"I don't want you here, Sir," I said with full conviction. The next thing I heard were the gasps of my blockmates. I didn't care anyway.

"What?" His brows met but his eyes were filled with amusement. "Did I hear you right, Miss Archangel?"

"Hoy, Akina, ano bang sinasabi mo?" Kinalabit ako ni Aica, lowkey threatening me with her pointed fingernails.

Tumayo ako at taas-noong nakipagtagisan ng tingin sa kaniya. Nasa pangalawang row ako ng mga chairs kaya hindi naman masyadong malayo ang distance naming dalawa.

"I said I don't want you here. I have this feeling na magbibigay ka ng bad luck sa class na 'to," I added.

"Bad luck…" he repeated what I've said, chuckling a little bit. "I heard you are the daughter of my friend kaya magpapanggap na lang ako na hindi narinig 'yang sinabi mo. Take a seat. " He mentioned me to sit down but I didn't budge.

I hate him. I hate his face. I hate his eyeglasses. I hate his presence. I hate everything about him!

At the end, umupo na lang ako dahil mukhang mapapahiya lang ako sa mga blockmates ko. Gusto ko siyang inisin para umalis siya pero na-realize ko na masyadong childish 'yon kapag ginawa ko.

At mukha naman na hindi tatalab sa kaniya ang pang-iinis ko dahil ako pa nga ang naiinis ngayon sa kaniya. He seems to be used to handling students like me. Nakakaasar.

Because of what I did, I received a lot of glares from my blockmates…especially the girls. I don't care though.

"You're crazy!" Halos sabunutan ako ni Aica habang nasa canteen kami with Miggy. "Professor natin siya tapos sinabi mo 'yon! Ugh!"

"Ginawa mo 'yon? Ang bad mo, ah. Pwede kang ipa-guidance sa ginawa mo," Miggy tried to scared me.

"As if naman magagawa niya 'yon. I heard he's a friend of Dad."

"Ni Tito Juancho?!" sabay na tanong nilang dalawa. I nodded as my answer.

"Kilala ko ang circle of friends ng mga parents natin pero never nabanggit sa akin ni Dad si Sir Bryan," sabi ni Aica, napapaisip na rin. "And he looks younger than our daddies' age. What do you think?"

"Ano bang itsura niya? Gwapo ba?" tanong naman ni Miggy habang sumusubo ng chocolate ice cream. "Hanggang sa department namin, nakakarating 'yong pangalan niya. Hindi ko kasi masyadong nakita 'yong itsura niya kagabi sa party. Hindi raw siya mukhang gurang. Totoo ba, Akina?" Sinubuan niya ako ng isang kutsarang ice cream at kinain ko naman.

"He's ugly," I lied.

I know he's attractive but I don't like his presence. There's something inside me na ayaw siyang makita o makasama.

"Ang pogi niya kaya!" kontra ni Aica.

"And hindi siya bagay maging professor dito. Dapat mag-resign na lang siya," dagdag ko pa.

Marami pa akong sinabi na paninira tungkol kay Sir Bryan pero napatigil ako dahil natahimik silang dalawa at may inginunguso sa likod ko si Aica habang nakangiwi.

My brows met and I turned my head around just to see him standing behind my back. Napatayo kaagad ako.

OMG, did he hear me?! Oh, wait! S-So, what?! Bakit ako matatakot?!

I crossed my arms and looked at him fiercely despite him towering over me. Para siyang basketball player dahil sa tangkad niya at isa naman akong mushroom. Nakatingala tuloy ako sa kaniya ngayon.

"W-What?" I urged him to talk.

He smiled sweetly. "I have to talk to you. In my office."