Her Unheard Weeps

Shocked to see you

Chapter 3

"Thank you ate!" I leaned and kissed my big sister on the cheek before opening the car door. Today she decided na ihatid ako because i was running late. Pero bago ko pa iyon magawa ay pinigilan niya ako.

"Your sandwich!" She said and handed me a ziplock of the snack.

"Right" i chuckled. "Thank you!" Lumabas na ako at mabilis na tumakbo.

I cussed at myself dahil sobrang late na ako. It was already 8:42 and the orientation was supposedly to start at 7:30. Mas lalo pa akong napamura nang makitang walang tao sa classroom.

Napag-alaman ko na lang na nasa auditorium pala naka held ang program nang sinabi sa akin ni manong janitor. Tumakbo na ako papunta doon pagkatapos siyang pasalamatan.

Wala ng masyadong tao sa hallway. Ako na lang ata 'yong college student na nagagala pa.

Sa wakas ay nakarating na din ako sa tapat ng pinto ng auditorium. Binuksan ko iyon ng maliit lang para hindi maka attract ng attensyon sa kung sinong prof na nagbabantay doon.

Nakapasok na din ako at medyo madilim 'yong paligid dahil nakadim 'yong mga ilaw. Ginala ko ang aking tingin. At dahil sobrang daming estudyante ay hindi ko mamataan sila tori. Nilabas ko ang aking phone at tinext siya. Ilang segundo pa ay nagreply din kaagad ito at sinabing nasa pinakatapat daw sila.

I breathed out. Bakit nasa pinakatapat pa sila umupo? Edi makita pa ako doon ng mga prof!? Patay ako nito...

Lakas loob na lang akong humakbang at bumaba ng hagdan. I was careful on my steps dahil madilim nga. I didn't have the chance to look in front on the stage because i was too focused not to trip. Besides..puro din naman mga matatanda ang mga mukha doon.

Nang sa wakas ay nakita ko na sila nissy ay kaagad akong umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi nila. Good thing they saved me a seat.

"Saan ka ba nanggaling? Kanina ka pa namin tinatawagan ah? Kanina pa nagsa start—"

"Na late ako ng gising. Sandali. Hinihingal pa ako" i breathed out and leaned shamelessly on the reclined chair. Pinapaypayan ang sarili.

"Girl. Kanina ka pa namin sinusubukang tawagan." Ani nissy.

"Hindi ko napansin. Bakit ba?"

"Ash. Si—"

"Looks like we have a late comer" ani ng boses sa harap.

Nilingon ko iyon at mabilis na nabura ang kunot noo sa aking mukha at napalitan ng gulat at taka nang makita kung sino iyong nagsasalita sa harapan.

The familiar chinito eyes met mine. It looks like he's always bored with those kind of eyes, but at the same time, he looked cold and intimidating. He has a long top short side haircut. His lips...his cupid's bow and eyebrow that he possesses looks like he is always furious and frowning.

He was wearing a formal-looking white polo and black slacks that defined his arm muscles, lean chest and tall physique.

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HE DOING HERE!?

"Ms late comer. Can you stand up and tell me your name?" He said making me raise a brow.

Ano na namang pakana 'to oliver devon!?

I didn't stand up like i was told. Tumayo na lang ako nang makita 'kong pinanandilatan na ako ng mata ng isa ko 'pang prof na bakla.

"Well? Do tell me your name" i saw the corner of his lips rose secretly.

Mamaya ka sa'kin...

"Astrid...astrid haydn Dizon" i said.

"Ms Dizon...Ash" he said in a microphone. Doon ko na lang napagtanto na madaming nakatingin sa akin ngayon. Sheez! Nakakahiya!

"Yes?" Unconsciously, It sounded like a pagtataray.

"As a former student here in this prestigious university, as far as i remember that my alma mater doesn't tolerate time unconsciousness" tumaas ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya.

"What exactly is your point...sir?"

Narinig ko ang bahagyang pagsinghap ng mga guro namin sa gilid dahil sa pagsasagot ko.

What? Takot sila sa lalaking 'to? E hinahampas-hampas ko lang 'to kapag red days 'ko!

I heard tori chuckled on my side.

"What i'm saying is...you're in a medical course right? BSN?...i guess"

Tumango ako.

"If i was your superior, napagalitan na kita. Ladies and gentlemen, if you were to become a nurse, you should know that being on time is everything. Your patient's life depends on you. So you should act fast, if not, expect to see your cold patient in the morgue"

I just rolled my eyes at umupo na kahit hindi pa nasabihan. On time my ass...ikaw ilagay ko sa morgue e.

"Anong ginagawa mo?" Tanong ni nissy nang ilabas ko ang sandwich na ginawa ng ate kanina.

"I'm hungry. Na late ako kanina ng gising kaya hindi ako nakapag breakfast"

"Mapapagalitan ka—"

"And be attentive. Hindi 'yong nagkakain ka habang nagsasalita 'yong doktor mo sa harap" rinig kong pagpaparinig ni oliver. Pero hindi naman siya nakatingin sa akin.

Ilang minuto pa ay nagse cellphone lang ako. Hindi na ako nakinig at narinig ko na lang ang pagpapalakpak ng iba. I looked at the front and my ass of a boyfriend was now seating and was replaced on the platform with another professional looking old man.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin nang magtama ang tingin namin. He just chuckled.

When the program ended, unti-unti ng nagsilabasan ang mga estudyante. Lumabas na din kaming magkakaibigan pero huminto ako sa labas, sa gilid ng pinto. I leaned on the wall habang humahalukipkip.

Ilang minuto pang paghihintay ay lumabas na din sa wakas ang hinihintay ko. Magkasabay silang lumabas ng iba pang matatandang lalaki. He was the only younger looking in the group.

He was talking to them when he looked at my direction. Galing sa pagkakaseryoso ay lumiwanag ang kaniyang mukha. I saw him muttering something to his colleagues and started to walk towards me.

I didn't expect him to approach me since walang masyadong nakakaalam sa relasyon namin. We didn't intend to hide it, we're just keeping it low-key. Kapag may nagtatanong naman kung may boyfriend ako, hindi ko naman dine-deny. Hindi ko naman pinagmamalaki kung walang nagtatanong.

Actually, there's this one time when someone tried to hit up on me while the three of us, tori and nissy, was strolling on the mall. He asked for my number and i said that i was in a relationship. When he asked me who my man was, i said it was oliver freaking tan. And the fucker laughed like he didn't believe me. I mean...A FREAKING TAN!? Who was i kidding? Hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman ko na sobrang famous nitong boyfriend ko. At the end, the guy left with his group chuckling and muttering how ambitious i was and just didn't want him to hit up on me that's why i reasoned that out. He wasn't wrong though. Hindi ko naman talaga siya type.

"Baby" he chuckled at nabigla ako nang walang sabi niya ako hinapit sa beywang. Napahawak ako sa kaniyang dibdib nang halikan niya ako sa pisngi na siyang kinapula ng pisngi ko.

"What are you doing?" I whispered half shouting.

"What?" Kumunot ang noo niya.

"Maraming nakatingin"

Nilibot niya ang kaniyang mata para tingnan kung tama nga ba ang sinabi ko. It was, most of the students na nakatambay o napadaan ay nakatingin sa banda namin. Wondering why the soon to be director of golden crest hospital was doing kissing a nobody like me.

"So what?" He said nonchalantly.

I just grunted and rolled my eyes. Bumalik ako sa pagkakahalukipkip at sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"What are you doing here?"

"Why were you late?" He asked back.

"You're not even answering my question!"

"Baby, i was meant to be here. The school asked for me. Since last week. They called me and asked if i could be one of the speakers and the representative of our hospital. Bakit? Hindi ba kayo sinabihan ng prof ninyo?"

"Only they said that there will be a VIP speaker." I rolled my eyes. "Malay ko bang ikaw 'yon"

He chuckled. "Now you know. So for my question, why were you late?"

"Well...i became worried sick last night after a certain someone...my boyfriend wasn't picking up his phone after so many missed calls from me"

Napakamot siya sa batok. His mouth formed into an 'o'

"Well?"

"Sorry." He chuckled. "I was busy after a multiple operation. Actually I haven't have any sleep since last night dahil umaga na ng matapos ang 2nd batch ng operasyon and this...in the morning i had to go to my girlfriend's school to have a motivational speech and of course...to have a glimpse of her after a week of not seeing each other"

Lumambot naman ang mukha ko.

"You haven't got any sleep?" I asked softly. Like a baby, he pouted and sighed dramatically while tilting his head for a no. "You are so freaking dramatic oliver" i rolled my eyes.

He laughed making his eyes disappear. He held out his hands in front me at nagtataka ko iyong tiningnan. Seconds of not moving, he stepped forward at nagulat ako nang kunin niya ang kamay ko. He intertwined our fingers together. Then he turned at hinila ako ako paalis doon.

Lumingon ako kila tori at nakita ko silang dalawang nakangiting nakasunod sa amin habang ang mga mata ay nakadapo sa kamay naming magkahawak ni oliver.

"Saan tayo pupunta?"

"Lunch" he cooly said.

"Ah okay" tanging sabi ko.

"Sandali lang. May kukunin lang ako sa locker" ani ko nang dumaan kami doon. Tumango naman si oliver.

"Yong kamay ko?" Ani ko nang hindi niya pa rin binibitawan ang kamay ko. Bahagya kong narinig ang Hagikhikan sa likuran namin. Hindi ko na sila pinansin. "You should just wait near the bench. I won't be long" ani ko.

Ilang minuto pa, Bahagya akong napatalon nang pagkasara ko ng pintuan ng locker ko ay nakita 'ko ang mukha ng baklang prof na sumuway kanina sa akin.

Nakatingin ito ng masama sa akin.

"Ms. Dizon"

"Ma'am!—i mean...sir"

"Ma'am" he stated. Gusto kong matawa pero pinigilan ko lang.

"I'm sorry...ma'am" i cracked. "Ano po 'yong kailangan niyo?"

"I expect you have a pretty good reason for not being in your best behavior earlier. In front our most important guest, mr Tan. I want more than a valid reason to not send you to the Guidance office for your...extremely harsh conduct"

Napaawang ang mga labi ko.

"Pero Ma'am? Guidance? Grabe naman po 'yon"

"As it should be. Ganito ba 'yong epekto ng pagsasama mo kay Ms. Celeste? Nagiging bastos ka na din?"

Bahagya akong nakaramdam ng inis.

"Sir, wala pong kinalaman si tori dito kaya sana naman po 'wag mo na siyang idamay. If you really want to punish me, then free to do so. 'Wag niyo lang idamay ang kaibigan ko. Wala siyang ginawa sa'yo" mariin kong sabi. Tumaas ang kilay niya sa pagsasagot ko.

"What is happening here?" Naputol ang pagtitigan namin ng guro ng makarinig ng malalim na boses. Of course, I knew who it was.

Kita ang gulat at pagkakataranta sa mukha ng kaharap.

"Mr. Tan..." he uttered.

"Anong nangyayari dito?" Pabalik-balik ang tingin ni oliver sa amin. Yumuko na lang ako, kinakalma ang sarili.

"I'm just talking to ms. Dizon here. Do you remember her? Ms. Dizon? The rude student from earlier?" Tila maamo pero may diin pa din sa boses nito.

Hindi nagsalita si oliver kaya nagpatuloy ito.

"I just warned her. Told her to explain herself fully, if not, she will be spending her day tomorrow at the guidance for punishment. As you can tell, we don't tolerate bad behavior here on our school sir. We aim to mold professionals not...brats" He said in a tone na tila nagpapa good shot

"I see"

"But since nandito ka na din naman sir, i would let her apologize to you" humarap siya sa akin. "Well ms. Dizon?"

"Sir?" Ani ko.

"Apologize" he said in a bossy, strict tone.

Ilang segundo din ang dumaan pero hindi ako nagsalita. I really find this situation hilarious...and somewhat..I don't know...pathetic?

Nilingon ko ulit ang guro at kita ang pamumula ng pisngi niya na tila kinkimkim na ang galit. Magsasalita pa sana siya nang...

"I don't think that'll be necessary professor" ani oliver.

"P-po?"

"I don't think it's not nice to force her to apologize if she doesn't want to"

"P-pero sir..." sumama ang tingin nito sa akin. Pinandilatan niya ako.

"Professor...really...it's okay." He looked at me and chuckled like he thought of something funny. "Don't make my girlfriend apologize against her will. Help me here. I don't want an earful from her when we get home"

Then he pulled me on my waist using his left hand and kissed me on the temple.

Nakita ako ang panlalaki ng mata ng kaharap. Nalaglag ang panga nito habang nakatingin sa amin.

"G-girlfriend...sir? Ano? P-paano?" Pabalik-balik ang tingin nito sa amin. Ilang segundo pa ay tumikhim ito. "Astrid. You didn't tell me that mr. Tan here is your partner"

Astrid? Ay? Biglang close tayo sir?

"Now you know...sir" i smiled mischievously.