3 [Part 1] | Disastrous Encounters
1593 Words
s**t.
THAT WAS the only thing he can say in his mind as he see a ten-wheeler truck aheading to him. He was stiffened and didn't know how to cope up with what's happening to him.
A man then scowled at him. "Hey, just run towards here!" He was able to hear that but his body did not function.
The man then ran towards him and pulled him with all his might. The man who called him hugged him and made sure that Chaunce was not able to see the truck passing them.
The ten-wheeler truck successfully passed them, without damaging anyone or anything. Nanatiling nakatulala si Chaunce at nanginginig ng sobra.
"Hey dude, ayos ka lang?" tanong ng lalaki habang nakayakap pa rin kay Chaunce.
Chaunce heard that man's statement towards him and immediately pushed him. He was scared of what this man can do to him right now, lalo na't nat-trauma na siya sa ginagawa ni Blake.
"I-I'm okay," Chaunce calmly said. He was back to his mind. "Thank you."
"Are you really okay dude? Kanina lang muntikan ka nang mabundol," ani noong lalaking sumagip kay Chaunce.
"Okay nga lang ako," mainit na ulong wika ni Chaunce. Tila nadadala ni Chaunce ang init ng ulo niya sa kaniyang renting partner dito sa ngayong kausap niya.
"Okay bro, chill. I was just asking," natatawang ani ng kausap niya.
"Okay then, I told you my gratitude, mauna na ako," masungit na ani Chaunce at agad na tumalikod sa lalaki. Hindi pa man siya nakakalayo ay agad na hinawakan ng lalaki ang kaniyang kamay dahilan para tumingin siya dito. Dali-dali niyang inalis ang kamay ng lalaki sa braso niya. "Ano ba? Aalis na ang tao, bakit ka ba nangungulit?"
"Sorry dude but I don't just accept a mere thank you."
"What do you want then?"
"Treat me on a dinner," natatawang ani noong lalaki bago kinuha ang braso ni Chaunce at kinaladkad patungo sa isang fastfood chain.
Sunod na sila sa counter nang lingunin ni Chaunce ang kausap na diretsong nakatingin sa menu. Agad din naman nitong tinignan si Chaunce nang makitang tinignan siya nito. "Ikaw nga, sagutin mo ako, mukha ka namang mayaman, ba't mo ko aayaing librehin ka sa isang fastfood chain?"
"Aren't you taught of owing a gratitude to someone who helped you?" seryosong ani noong lalaki. "Anyways, I have money, I'll pay for mine."
"It's my treat 'di ba, then I'll pay for it, nagyaya ka e," umirap na lamang si Chaunce sa tumatawang lalaki at agad na tumingin sa counter.
They were now eating in front of each other. Chaunce was busy eating while the man who helped him doesn't even move his food. Napaangat ng tingin si Chaunce at agad na tinignan ang lalaki. "Anong tini-tingin-tingin mo diyan? Kumain ka kaya, hindi ka mabubusog kung titignan mo lang ako."
"Actually, seeing you enjoy your food can make me full," the unknown man told Chaunce which caused him to be choked with what he is eating. Kinuha niya ang softdrinks na nasa mesa at agad na humigop sa straw. "Dude, okay ka lang?"
"What the hell did you just say?"
"What part?"
"The first one," Chaunce told him. "Why did you tell me that? Bakla ka ba? Why are you trying to hit on me?"
"Excuse me dude, I'm straight," depensa ng lalaki. "And I'm not hitting on you okay?"
"Then what the hell did you just say?"
"I think you must have misinterpreted it," the man told Chaunce. "It's not that porke sinabi kong nabubusog ako habang nakikita kang kumakain e gusto na kita. It's just that I have this weird trait na makakita lang ng taong kumakain e nabubusog na agad ako."
Napatango na lamang si Chaunce at bumalik sa pagkain. "Look, if you won't eat your food, babawiin ko sa iyo 'yung bayad para diyan."
"Okay then," the man said and suddenly got his wallet. He was about to take off money from his wallet when Chaunce talked again.
"But I'll never let you waste food, eat that now."
"But I'm already full."
"Then what's the sense of me having a treat for you? Eat that or else..."
"Or else what?"
"You're getting into my nerves, just eat that."
"I don't eat fastfood."
"Then why the hell did you just bring me here?"
"For you to eat," the man said. "You look pale and out of your mind kanina kaya nga muntik ka nang mabundol so I guess you haven't eaten yet."
"You knew I haven't eaten yet?" Chaunce asked. "Are you a nutritionist? Tsk."
"Yeah," the man said. "Future nutritionist. Medical student here."
"You're a medical student?"
"Kasasabi ko lang."
"Saan? Anong year ka na?"
"Sa Epsilon College," the man told him. "I am currently a third year student."
"Shit."
"Why did you just cuss at me?" the man confusedly asked.
"No I mean that's for me," Chaunce mumbled. "That's for me for being so stupid."
"Why are you then calling yourself stupid?"
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you asking for a sorry?" nagugulhang tanong no'ng lalaki. "Enlighten me."
"I'm sorry for acting such an asshole in front of you senior," Chaunce asked for forgiveness. "I didn't know kasi, if I have known a little earlier, e 'di sana hindi ako naging gano'n sa harap mo."
"Ahh, nope, it's alright," the man said. "After all, it's my bad pa rin. I was just a stranger to you yet I acted so feeling close with you."
"Nope kuya, it's my fault."
"Drop the kuya, I'm not used to someone calling me kuya," napatango na lamang si Chaunce. "You, anong course mo? Anong year ka na?"
"I am just a freshman from the business management department." Chaunce sliced a piece if chicken and ate it after. "If you don't prefer to be called kuya, then what should it be?"
"Suggest."
"Can I call you doc?"
"Nakaka-pressure naman, hindi pa naman ako doctor, dude."
"But you're gonna be one day. Why not call you doc in advance?"
"My pleasure dude," Chaunce just striked a bubbly smile. "You, what's your name? Kanina pa kita tinatawag na dude at nag-uusap but I didn't even know a single thing about you. Not even your name."
"Call me Chaunce, doc."
"What a nice name Chaunce," doc told him while smiling. "Eat up, mukhang gutom ka pa e."
All of a sudden, Chaunce's phone buzzed. Kinuha niya agad ito at tinignan ang message. It was from Hiro, telling him to submit his part sa project na ginagawa nila.
"Shit."
"Why now, Chaunce?"
"Sorry doc, but I have something to do. I have to go first."
"Mukha ngang urgent 'yan, then we'll see next time, baka sa college na rin."
Agad na uminom si Chaunce ng softdrinks at agad na pumunta sa pinto kung saan naman siya sinusundan ng paningin ni doc. When he saw doc looking at him, he smiled. Nice meeting you doc.
Nang makarating siya sa dorm ay naabutan niya ang kaniyang renting partner na nahihimbing na natutulog. He immediately went in front of his laptop and started typing.
He looked at the wall clock, it was now eleven o'clock, too late but he's much more eager to finish the project.
The clock struck twelve but the paper is still not done. Nakailang hikab na si Chaunce at naka-tatlo na ring kape pero hindi na mawala ang antok sa sistema niya.
Unti-unti nang pumipikit ang mga mata ni Chaunce at bumabagal na rin ang pagtitipa niya. Umiiling nalang siya para mawala ang antok niya pero hindi na ito mawala sa sistema niya. Sinarado niya ang kaniyang laptop at agad na naghikab. Inilapat niya sa mesa ang kaliwang braso niya at agad na ipinatong dito ang kaniyang ulo bago pumikit at matulog ng tuluyan.
---
CHAUNCE WAS moved when he felt someone shaking him. He opened his eyes and was shocked to see Blake's face only centimeters away from him.
"s**t!" he exclaimed. "What the f**k are you trying to do this time, Blake?"
"Is it the right way to thank me when in fact I'm waking you up because you're running late?"
Tumingin siya sa wall clock at agad na nakita ang oras. It was now seven-thirty in the morning. Only one hour before their first subject.
Dali-dali siyang pumasok sa banyo at agad naligo. Nang matapos siyang maligo ay dali-dali na rin siyang naghanda para sa klase. Agad din naman siyang lumabas pagkatapos makapagbihis at hindi man lang bumati sa renting partner niya.
Mabilis din naman siyang nakarating sa school at agad na hinanap ang mga ka-grupo niya. "Hey guys, Hiro and Nickole, I'm sorry talaga."
"What are you sorry for Chaunce?" Nickole asked.
"'Yung sa paper..."
"Ulol ka ba?" biglaang tanong ni Hiro. Napa-angkla ang kilay ni Chaunce. "Ang ganda nga no'ng gawa mo sa paper natin, hindi ko 'yon inaasahan sa 'yo Chaunce."
"What?"
"I'm complementing your work Chaunce, huwag kang pa-humble. Naipasa ko na nga kay prof e."
Chaunce was still confused how did that even happen. Basta all he remembered is that he had a dinner with doc and he was not able to finish his part.
Agad na may dumating na professor sa loob ng classroom, ito 'yung prof na nagpagawa sa kanila ng paper. "All the papers was checked. Ibabalik ko ito sa inyo by grades, from lowest to highest."
The professor then started giving away their papers. Hiro and Nickole were excited to what grade they got. Hiro and Nickole are satisfied with an average grade but seeing Chaunce work raised their hopes higher.
- Writer
