Shades of Love (University Series #01)

Ep03

Meanwhile, Zack Aron Alvarez

"Bwisit na babaeng yon, it hurts when she slapped me! Why did she do that?" wika ko sa sarili ko habang hinihimas himas ang namumula kong pisngi.

"Haysst! Ano kayang problema nun! Ang gandang babae kaso mapanakit!" hirit ko pa.

After the opening of the academic year at the HNU College of Law in Anderson Hall, I took a walk and wandered around the campus, at napadpad ako sa Nexus Oval. I took a breather and savored the triumph of gaining admission to this prestigious university.

"Hay! Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala, nananaginip lang ba ako!" I exclaimed with a slightly loud voice as I pinched myself.

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng gutom so nagtanong tanong ako sa ibang mga students kung nasaan ang cafeteria.

"Uhmm, miss? Im sorry to disturb you. Can I ask?" nahihiyang pagtanong ko sa isang babae. "Sure, sure." the woman responded with a cheerful answer.

"Nasaan po rito banda ang cafeteria." saad ko habang napapakamot na lang ng ulo.

"Uhmm, I see. Since you're here at the Nexus Oval, just go straight ahead and you'll see the college building. There's a corner there, turn right, then walk a bit and you'll see the Einstein Hall. Right beside it is the cafeteria, we call it the HN Center. Hehe. wika ng babae while her fingers pointed in the direction.

Nalito ako sa mga sinabi nya at napa-oo nalang kahit hindi ko nasundan ang direction na sinabi nya. Mapapakamot ulo ka nalang talaga kapag baguhan at tatanga tanga ka.

"It's confusing, haha. But thanks." tugon ko.

"It's okay, no worries. Magiging familiar ka rin here. Nice to meet you!" the woman replied and then she smiled at me.

"Likewise! I have to go, bye and thanks again!" I said as I left.

Sinundan ko ang direction na sinabi sakin ng babae kanina. I got lost dahil sa laki, lawak at dami ng pasikot sikot sa HNU.

While I was still looking for the cafeteria, nagkita ulit kami ni luna, the girl who was incredibly mischievous the first time we met.

"Hey, Mr. hot guy!" Luna shouted as she approached me.

"Oh, ikaw pala yan, Luna." I replied while staring at her.

"It's like destiny, maybe we're really meant for each other haha! I mean we've met again" hirit ni Luna na may kasama pang paghampas sa braso ko.

I just smiled and didn't say anything in response sa sinabi ni Luna. Pinipigilan ko ang kilig na nararamdaman ko rito.

"We're really a perfect match. You're a future lawyer, and I'm a future architect! You're handsome, and I'm beautiful. Perfect match," Luna joked again.

"Mapagbiro ka rin talaga eh no!" tumatawang wika ko.

"I'm not joking!" Luna suddenly had a serious expression on her face.

Sa kalagitnaan ng pag-uusap namin, biglang tumunog ang tyan ko. Kumukulo na sa gutom.

"Oops, looks like you're hungry huh. Wait a sec, you seem like you're looking for something, you're wandering around. Are you lost? pagtataka ni Luna dahil kanina pa pala nya ako nakikitang paikot ikot.

"Hays, sinabi mo pa. Kanina pa ako nagugutom and I'm lost. I can't find the cafeteria," I said, feeling weaker due to the hunger I was feeling.

"I knew it! Perfect timing, I'm actually heading to the cafeteria too. Come on, you can join me," Luna said.

"Wag na, nakakahiya naman." saad ko habang napapailing sa hiya.

"No, come with me. Don't be shy. Besides, I want to get to know you," Luna insisted.

Napilitan akong sumama kay Luna kahit na halos mabalot na ako ng hiya. Mas kinagulat ko pa nang bigla nyang hawakan ang kamay ko habang naglalakad kami.

"I just held your hand and you're already trembling! Haha, maybe you're afraid of girls, huh? You'll get used to me, especially when we become close," Luna teased, with a hint of a smirk on her face.

Habang naglalakad lakad kami, tinour na rin nya ako. Tinuro nya ang mga spot, buildings at ang palatandaan para hindi ako maligaw sa campus hanggang sa marating namin ang cafeteria.

"That's the cafeteria, that building is called the HN Center. There you go, I've toured you around, you might get lost again next time," Luna said, teasingly.

"Oh god! Sa wakas." pagbuntong hininga ko.

"Alright, let's go in and eat," Luna said, motioning to enter the cafeteria.

Nag order na kami ng food. Pinag order ako ni Luna ng famous at masarap na delicacies sa campus na pinipilahan ng mga students. Habang kumakain kami, andami na naman nyang tanong sa akin.

"Are you new here in Manila? What are you busy with, do you have a family business?" sunod sunod na tanong ni Luna.

"Yes, bago lang ako here. I come from ano simple family lang; we just own a small piece of land sa probinsya. Here at HNU, I'm just a scholar," I explained.

"Wait... wait, HNU sets very high expectations when it comes to that. They have extremely high qualifications they look for. They don't just open programs like that because it's exclusive for the wealthy. I'm sorry if it sounds insulting." Luna said, at napatigil nalang sa pagkain na para bang nagulat.

"Wait a minute... If you got in, that means..." Luna added, eyes widening suddenly.

"Ha, what do you mean? Ang oa mag react ha.." biro ko, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ganun ang naging reaction ni Luna.

"That means... You're incredibly smart! Hold on, wait... You might be the student I've been hearing about being talked about in the admin office," Luna's said.

"Ikaw talaga, baka nagkakamali ka lang! Kumain ka na nga lang." saad ko habang biglang subo sa kanya ng pagkain para manahimik na.

"But wow, I'm impressed. I knew it, we really are a good match," Luna joked again, with a playful wink.

"Ewan ko sayo haha, kumain ka na lang!" wika ko habang namumula ang mga pisngi dahil sa mga hirit ni Luna.

"But let me tell you, there's a lot you still don't know. In this university, it's full of competition. All the students here are thirsty for academic validation, they're willing to do anything just to be number 1 in the whole HNU. Especially in the course you're taking, you're a law student, right? There are so many smart people there, so do your best. You'll encounter a lot of them, especially Ciarra. Be careful there, she's very competitive and snobbish." Luna said, as if issuing a warning.

"Oh that's fine, I can manage. And isa pa di ako makikipagpatayan dahil lang sa academic na yan. pagbabalewala ko sa sinabi ni Luna.

"Don't get complacent, Zach. In this university, only the strong survive. Someone like you, who's new, needs to be resilient in facing all the challenges you'll experience here," Luna said, as if giving advice.

Ngumiti na lang ako at hindi sineryoso ang mga sinabi ni Luna.

"Hey, I'm serious! Why are you laughing?"

wika ni Luna habang tinititigan ako ng masama.

"Wala lang, ang cute mo pala haha!" I was just joking. I couldn't help myself from responding sa mga naging hirit ni Luna.

"You're something else... You've got some hidden flirtiness too, huh! You like me, don't you!" Luna joked, with a wide grin and flushed cheeks.

"Biro lang ikaw talaga.." natatawang wika ko.

Suddenly, Luna's phone rang in the middle of our conversation.

"Wait, hold on, let me just answer this call, it might be important," Luna said, excusing herself momentarily.

After she answered the call, she quickly hurried to leave.

"I'm sorry, Zach. I have to go. Thanks for joining me for lunch. See you next time, okay? Just remember what I said, and try to avoid bumping into HnCrazy4!" she said hastily before leaving.

"Take care, Luna! Thanks!" wika ko habang papalabas si Luna ng Cafeteria.

Hindi ko na inintindi ang huli nyang sinabi, at bumalik nalang ako sa pagkain.

After eating, I took a stroll around until I felt tired, then I went to HN Residence Dormitory to rest and prepare for my first day of classes tomorrow.

***