Storms and Waves

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“According to Jean Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory, each development in child is categorized into four stages: sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, concrete operational stage, and formal operational stage. These stages help us to understand and develop a wide range of knowledge to tailor what's best for a child,” said our professor in Child and Adolescent Development. She paused midway to divert her gaze in the class. “Now, can you tell me the differences between the four stages of child development?"

The class was focused on the discussion. As I looked around, no one dared to raise their hand and give an explanation to the said question.

“No ideas, children? Or do you want me to call your name using the index card you've all passed to me?"

I formulated a brief explanation on my head, not minding the tension in our class. Inayos ko ang postural ko at mas naging kalmado.

Our professor saw me raising my hand, and I didn't wait to give me her signal as I took it as an opportunity.

Some of my classmates were fixing their attention to me, and some stayed focused on their own businesses.

I scoffed. “Sensorimotor stage talks about the first stage where every child uses their five senses and motor actions to communicate, formulate, and learn. The preoperational stage discusses the use of symbols such as words and images to articulate egocentric or self-centred views, but hardly to identify logical thinking. Concrete operational stage is when they develop logical thinking about concrete operations. And lastly, the formal operational stage is when they can distinguish abstract thinking which focuses on multiple possibilities. That's all, Ma'am.”

I didn't feel scared; I felt alive.

"As expected from you. Well-explained, Miss Cadavez."

I smiled with confidence. "Thank you, Ma'am.”

Bumalik ulit sa diskusyon ang propesor namin habang ang lahat ay nakatuon sa kaniya. Ni wala ng bakas ng kaba ang mga mukha ng mga kaklase ko.

With the pen in my right hand and notebook on the table, I wrote down the key details I needed to review. In that case, I wouldn't forget it.

Makakalimutin ako, kaya kailangan kong siguraduhin na hindi ako papalya. If I do, I'm damned.

Learning is not just a hobby; it's a skill that needs to be practiced. As a curious cat, I'd say that I love how my mind is open to new lessons, discovering informations I hadn't learned before, and study about it like it's a heartbeat.

“Edeine!” Someone shouted at the top of its lungs behind me.

I turned to face who it was, only to find my classmate, Cheise.

Funny to think that she always called me Eden while I called her Cheise. When you combined the two names, it would come out as Edeine Cheise, similarly to Eden Cheese product being advertised on television or being displayed in markets, stores, and malls.

Cheise is an Accountancy student. Her department is far from my department. We've met through a role-play world. Naging ka-kwentuhan ko na siya simula noong May nang nag-post ako ng story ko at hanggang ngayon. Wala din akong kaalam-alam na dito siya mag-aaral. Kung hindi siya nag-open up, hindi ko siya makikilala.

She was running toward me while she's holding her lunch box. There was a bright smile on her face that always lit up like she's someone who's sunshine over rainy season.

“Oh? Bakit ka ba tumatakbo?" I asked, holding back my laugh while she was composing herself.

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin nang makita niyang malapit na akong bumuga ng tawa.

“Aba, Edeine. Nag-chat ako sa'yo na hintayin mo ako doon sa room niyo, pero hindi mo ako hinintay. Nauna ka pa talagang pumunta rito sa canteen, gaga ka!" bulyaw nito sa'kin.

I chuckled a little bit. “Sira ka ba? Kapag nasa room ako, automatic na i-off ko ang phone ko kasi ayaw kong madisturbo." I shot back.

Inirapan niya lang ako. Bumili na kami ng snacks namin bago pa umupo sa mga vacant seats.

I bought my comfort foods: siomai rice with chilli sauce and sandwich. On the other hand, Cheise bought a lot. She has a chocolate bar, spaghetti, mogu-mogu, rice and scrambled eggs with spam.

The canteen was filled with bunch of students going in and out. Chuckles and laughters can be heard. It sounded like a song, a melody with different notes.

Kumain kaming dalawa ni Cheise habang nagkukwentuhan. Hindi maalis sa usapan namin ang tawa, dahilan para mas lalo mabigyan ng buhay ang paligid.

But Cheise being Cheise, she would asked unstoppably. Random questions in a damn time.

“Edeine, may crush ka na ba dito sa university natin?"

As if on cue, I almost throw my foods out of my mouth. Cheise then laughed like a monster.

Pinandilatan ko siya at nagsalubong ang dalawa kong kilay. “Walang hiya ka talaga! Muntik na akong masuka sa sinabi mo!" reklamo ko pa.

“Ano bang masama sa sinabi ko?" she acted like she's innocent.

Bwesit na babae ‘to. Mababatukan ko talaga ‘to sa susunod. Mas may experience pa nga siya kaysa sa'kin tapos magpapanggap pa siyang mahinhin na inosente.

“Anong masama?" I echoed. “Tinanong mo lang naman ako kung may crush ako, gaga! Alam mo naman na wala akong nagugustuhan dito sa university natin dahil puro red naman ang mga lalaki dito."

Tawa lang siya ng tawa. She didn't even care that the other students were staring at us.

Nagpatuloy ako sa pagkain ko at hindi na siya sinagot pa. Malapit na ang second subject ko kaya uubusin ko na ang mga binili ko. Wala na akong oras aksayahin sa mga walang kwentang tanong ni Cheise.

Give me a break today. Mapapaltos ko talaga ang babaeng ‘to.

Tumahimik na rin siya at bumalik sa kinakain niya na parang walang nangyari. Hindi ko alam kung wala na ba siyang tanong o ayaw lang niyang magkausap kami habang kumakain. Either of that, the latter would be nice.

After we ate our snacks, we headed back to our classrooms and attended our classes.

Nag-advance reading din ako sa mga lessons na baka magamit ko sa mga susunod na klase. Ayaw kong mahuli ako, pero mas lalong ayaw kong magpakampante na sapat na ang mga naaral ko.

The time went swiftly that I didn't even know it's already afternoon. Mukhang napatagal ang pag-aaral ko nang walang disturbo.

Nakaramdam ako ng pagsakit ng ulo. Tumigil muna ako sa pag-aaral at nagbukas ng cellphone.

Cheese na walang keso 🧀:

Gagaaaaa! May chika ako daliiii hahaha

Napaawang ang bibig ko sa bumungad sa'kin. Ang babaeng ‘yon, hindi talaga nauubusan ng kwento.

Eden na may cheesemess 🍰:

Puro ka na lang chika, aral ayaw?

I laughed at my own reply. I could imagine her frowning while rolling her eyes.

I stared at the convo for a few seconds. Hindi naman sa ayaw ko sa mga chika, wala lang talaga akong energy to reciprocate her messages to me.

Cheese na walang keso 🧀:

Grabe ka sa'kin, ante. Nag-aaral din ako, ‘no. Minsan lang hehe pero ito na nga, may pogi akong crush hahahahaha

Napataas ang kilay ko sa sinabi nito. May crush siyang pogi pero minsan nga lang mag-aral? Aba, ibang klase ang taong ‘to.

Eden na may cheesemess 🍰:

Unahin ang pag-aaral, huwag crush, girl. Study first ka muna.

Ibinulsa ko ang cellphone ko pagkatapos Kong mag-reply sa kaniya. Lalabas muna ako saglit ng room namin at pumunta sa library dahil may titignan akong libro na related sa psychology.

“VP Cadavez, may meeting mamaya para sa gaganapin na English Culmination!” One of my classmates informed me. She was sitting at the back, gaze fixed at me.

Tumango lang ako bilang sagot. Lumabas na ako at naglakad patungo sa pupuntahan ko.

In no time, I arrived at the library. I was welcomed by the librarian with a warm smile. It had always been like this, but it made me felt special.

The room was quiet; the one that could make you feel asleep while reading a book, the one that could relax your brain while you were busy consuming and reflecting lessons you've just learned, the one that could make you feel at home with thousands of books.

I don't hate being surrounded by books at all. I just couldn't stop myself from learning because it has always been a motivation of me to reach, teach, and enrich young minds with my own wisdom.

People would say that I'm a bookworm. People would also comment that I overlooked real-life examples because I focused on the things I can learn from books.

Well, no.

I learned both. When I discovered new things that could also applicable to me, I didn't just learned from books, informations from internet, or texts; I learned because I applied it to myself. And I think that's the best investment I could always offer to myself.

“Excuse me."

My gaze was drawn to the voice I heard. I took a quick turn, only to found out a guy, wearing an all white uniform.

"Hi?”

His hair was black like it was already made for him to look gorgeous. His thick eyebrows that perfectly aligned with his face shape. His nose that's so prominent and straight, just like a Roman nose. His full, red lips that could drawn every woman’s attention and desire. And his eyes, it was a set of amber in a perfect almond eye shape.

Is he some kind of a w*****d character? He's… gorgeous. So damn seductively attractive. Oh my eyes!

“Miss? Hello?"

He's really like a fictional character. Why didn't I saw him here before? Is this a prank? Really, Ade? You're thinking if this is prank when in fact the guy just talked to you?

Focus, Ade. You can't get distracted by this unknown guy who's wearing your school's uniform from another department. You're here because you wanted to borrow books, not to slack off by how handsome this guy in front of you. Get yourself back, Ade!

"Hi.”

I felt awkward, but I smiled a bit. "H-hello.” I greeted back hesitantly, almost nervous.

I could see it in his eyes how he was taken aback. His lips formed into a curve line, showing his dimple in his left side.

Wow. He has a dimple. It wasn't deep, yet it was pretty obvious that it shows up enough just to be recognizes.

“I'm wondering if you can give me a few minutes, Miss. I just want to inquire about something to you. Is it okay with you?" he said, his voice was deep yet soft.

I was stunned. It was the first time that a stranger ask me, and I felt a little uncomfortable because we don't know each other, yet here we are now, standing while trying to spark a connection.

Should I converse with his guy? I don't even know him. But maybe what he's about to say is important. Right?

"Yes? What do you want to ask me?” I was unsure, but I don't want to be disrespectful either.

May kinuha siya sa bulsa niya. Napatingin ako doon. Hindi ko alam pero nakaramdam ako ng kaunting kaginhawaan.

Happy? Maybe. Calm? Yes.

“Is this yours, Miss?" He showed me the cute blue wallet.

Oh my… is that my lost wallet? Bakit nasa kaniya? Bakit siya ang may hawak? Bakit… siya? At bakit ngayon lang?

I nodded. “Yes. Pwede ko bang malaman kung bakit nasa sa'yo ang wallet ko?" I asked him, hoping to hear an answer from him.

He handed the wallet to me. I took it and put it inside my pocket.

“Thank you. Bakit nga pala nasa sa'yo ang wallet ko?"

“Actually, that…" he paused, taking a break for a few seconds. “I actually saw that last week here in the library while I was reading some books. I picked it up, trying to search for the owner's information so that I could give it back."

Right. He was right. Nawala itong pitaka ko noong nakaraang linggo dito sa library dahil sa pagmamadali ko.

I couldn't utter words in my mouth, but my mind was invested in formulating what to say. I stood up, calm and confident, enough to keep my poise prominent.

Neither of us talked after. I was just surprised by what he did, he asked, and he gave. I didn't even know someone could exert an effort for finding the owner, give the things back, or just simply return it in the lost and found area.

I didn't know. But this guy did. He just did.

“I talked to some students here in the university, tried to ask if they knew the owner… or you, and I even showed them the picture… in your wallet. That's when I started to look for you to give back your wallet.”

I just continued to listen to him explaining… or saying to clear up the confusions.

I didn't showed him that I felt a relief. I was mentally smiling and happy, but I kept my face straight but calm.

“I…” he trailed off. "I'm happy that I found you, Miss.”

"Thank you for returning my wallet. Thank you so much”, ani ko pa, masayang nakatingin sa kaniya. I was sincere about my regard to him.

"It's my pleasure. May I know your name, Miss?”

I blinked. For the tenth times.

He's asking for my name? Anong gagawin niya kung malaman niya ang pangalan ko? Ipapakulam ba niya ako? Gagawing wanted?

Napalunok ako. "A-ameya. My name's Ameya.” I introduced, shaky.

He nodded. "Glad to meet you, Miss Ameya Cadavez.”

"Nice to meet you too.”

He gave me bright smile before he started to walk away.

I stared at him, slowly turning his back to me. I smiled at last.

He turned his head to me. "By the way, your beauty standouts. I'll go ahead.”

Napanganga ako sa narinig ko. Umabot sa tainga ko ang sinabi nito. Nakaramdam ako ng gulat, saya… at kilig.

OA ‘yan? Kaunti lang naman ang kilig, eh. Alam ko namang maganda ako, pero iba talaga ang effect kapag ibang tao ang magsabi.

Especially when you don't know the person.

Maganda daw ako? Napansin din niya ang kagandahan ko?

Aba, pashnea. Sabi niya na maganda ako?! Edi, thank you, Mister stranger.

I took my phone from my pocket and sent someone a message.

Eden na may cheesemess 🍰:

Gaga ka! Dahil sa'yo, may crush na ako! May crush na ako, binalik pa niya ang wallet kong nawala, tapos sinabihan niya akong maganda HAHAHAHAHA

Once she got that message, I knew what will happen when we saw each other again.