Chapter 3
1002 Words
Only the hug of her brother will ease the pain she had been hiding since then. Kanina pa siya hindi makabitiw sa yakap ng kapatid at patuloy na umiiyak. She cried long into his arms. She heard the light chuckle from her brother.
"Oh no, you're such a cry baby," she lightly pinched her brother's side.
"I miss you," mahinang bulong ng kapatid at hinimas ang ulo niya.
"I miss you more," hikbi niya. "You never show your ass to me!," natawa ito at hinarap siya.
"I called you and texted you," nagkibit-balikat ito at dinala siya sa balkonahe nila.
"Moderately!,"
"At least I did, right? I know you, you always miss me," sumeryoso ito at pinagkross ang braso.
"Tell me who's that man you danced with, hm?," bigla niyang naalala ang lalaki.
She can't forget the pain shown earlier. Those eyes that hide a lot of emotions. He's like a lost soul on an island searching for someone to help him ease the pain, and she thinks she's the one to solve it.
"I don't know his name," tumaas ang kaliwang kilay nito like he's not convinced with her reply.
"I am telling the truth!," mahina itong tumawa at pinitik ang noo niya.
"He's familiar to me though. I still allow you to have a relationship but I'll break the bones first of those who try," may diin ang boses nito.
"I still don't have a plan,"
"You don't know the time, Kizzia. In this world, we only die once and live every day. In each day, you will experience the happiest and most memorable moments in your life, cherish every moment," maliit na ngiti ang gumihit sa labi nito.
"The freedom that our parents gave to you, don't waste it, okay? You deserve it, an angel like you deserves it." Tumulo ang luha sa kabilang pisngi niya.
She can't help but sob again. Her brother always gave her advice but this advice really hit her hard. It was like an idiomatic advice that really struck her.
"I-I will be going to school next week," mahinang bulong niya.
"I know and there's nobody guarding you starting that day," nanlaki bahagya ang mga mata niya.
"Really?!,"
"Uh-huh, just promise me to take care of yourself." Walang pag-aalinlangan niyang niyakap ang kapatid.
"I will! I will!,"
"Take care of yourself while I'm far from you...again," bigla siyang napahiwalay sa yakap ng kapatid.
"W-what are you saying?,"
A hard punch inside her brought her back to reality. It was like deja vu again, being left again by her brother.
"Luke," It's her dad. Her dad didn't give her a glance and beside her dad is her mom who's crying.
"K-Kuya!," mahigpit na hinawakan niya ang braso nito.
"Yes, dad, just a minute please," niyakap siya ng mahigpit ng kapatid at hinalikan ng paulit-ulit ang ulo niya.
"Enjoy your school, Kizzia, and protect yourself. I will miss you, sis, and always remember that I love you so much," hindi niya naabutan ang kamay nito dahil mabilis itong tumayo at niyakap nang mahigpit ang ina.
That night was the last time they had a conversation with her brother. She didn't have any contact with him because he changed his number. Every day at school, her brother's advice echoed in her ears.
Her brother wanted her to be an independent woman, as she is now, walking alone on the pathway while silently praying that she's still not late.
She sighed in relief upon seeing her classmate outside the room door. It meant that the professor wasn't there. Sumalubong ang mukha ng kaibigan niyang punong-puno ng make-up.
"You're not late, Kiz!" she happily exclaimed, linking arms with her.
"You're lucky because our new professor isn't here yet, and he's already 10 minutes late, just like you!" she pouted and placed her things on her desk.
She checked her iPhone and confirmed she was indeed 10 minutes late, but the new professor that Eia mentioned earlier caught her attention.
"Yes we had Kiz. Alam mo namang malapit na pumutok ang tiyan ni Mrs. Malobo diba? And good thing dahil sabi-sabi nila ang hot daw ng professor natin!," napailing siya sa turan ng kaibigan.
Eia Monteverde became her close friend three months ago when she started studying at the university. She's always ready to go and has a bit of a dirty mind.
"Also, chika-chika dito na lumipat talaga ito ng school! How special we are naman talaga," she can see the sparks in her eyes.
Magsasalita sana siya ng biglang nagsipasukan ang mga kaklase niya. Nagsi-upo ito at agad naman umayos ng upo ang katabi niyang si Eia na kanina ay halos humiga na ito sa upuan.
"Good morning," Mr. Baybayin entered there room, their Dean.
"I would like to inform you that Mrs. Molobo is no longer your professor and may we all welcomed Mr. Jusaiah Montero your permanent professor," naiwan sa ere ang kamay na papalakpak sana ng masilayan niyang muli ang lalaki.
She couldn't help but compliment him again. He was wearing a polo with a coat over it and glasses that made him even hotter. She was taken aback when their eyes met, feeling an unexplainable connection.
"Good morning," his deep voice echoed in the room without breaking their eye contact.
She couldn't utter a word.
"Shall we start?," inilapat na nito ang mga mata sa mga kaklase niya na mahinang tumitili.
She swallowed hard as he looked back at her, as if inviting her to speak. But she couldn't; she didn't know what to say!
His intense gaze had a different effect on her. She quickly looked away and bowed her head. She couldn't endure his stares.
The night came back to her mind. After three months, this was the third time she'd meet him again, and she felt excitement within her.
"May you remember my name as Mr. Baybayin introduced me earlier," Nag-angat siya ng tingin at huli na ng mapagtanto na sa kaniya ang tingin nito.
Jusaiah Montero is her damn Professor!
- Writer
