Between Hate and Love

Chapter 35

In my freshman year of college, that's when I first ran into Khal. It was thanks to Venera's friends-of-friends that we ended up meeting during one lunch break. We were all from different departments, and Khal wasn't even in any of my classes – just a buddy of a friend of a friend.

I was shaking, I guess it was the same for everyone, or maybe I was wrong. Wala ako’ng ibang kakilala sa mga kaklase ko, lahat ng kasama ko dati noong senior high ay ibang kurso ang kinuha. Tanging ako lamang yata ang napadpad biology.

I sat in front of the seats, pero sa pinaka gilid. Maaga pa, kaya’t kaunti pa lamang kami sa room. Venera was just at the other building, psychology kasi ang kinuha niya na kurso. And she was staying in an apartment, hindi na siya nag-apply ng free dorm room.

Past seven nang dumating ang instructor namin. We had the usual introduction, and I was smiling the whole time. Kung siraulo ang mga kaklase ko dati sa senior high, mas siraulo sila ngayon sa kolehiyo. Well, actually, it was a mixture everything, but a more diverse one. We were around fourty in one class.

“My name’s Angel Reyes, I came from Velenzuela and I took up Biology, as a pre-medical program,” I answered, half-lying. It was the default answer. Hindi rin kasi ako sigurado kung bakit ako nag-biology. Maybe it was my teacher back in senior high school, o dahil curious lang talaga ako kung ano ang pinag-aaralan sa biology. Biology is basically the study of life, and I wanted to know life. So maybe, that was my real reason. But I didn’t say that.

My two classes ended and it was lunch break. Kaagad ko’ng hinanap si Venera at pinuntahan siya. Sabi niya sa akin sa chat ay wala ‘yung instructor nila, kaya naisipan ko na tumambay sa room nila.

“Hinihingi ni River f*******: account mo, pati number mo!” bungad sa’kin ni Venere. I hugged her and gave her a weirded-out look.

“Huh?”

“Si River! Ano ka ba! ‘Yung kahapon. Gagang to, hiningi niya so binigay ko ha,” wika ni Venera. Hinigit niya ako para umupo. Walang masyadong tao sa loob ng room nila dahil nga wala silang instructor, may kanya-kanyang grupo ang lahat, maging si Venera. She was really and extroverted one, first day pa lang ng klase ay may mga kasama na siya.

“Everyone, this is Angel. From Bio siya,” pakilila niya sa’kin. They nodded and then proceeded to ask me questions kung bakit ako nag Biology. And I answered them with my default answer.

Lunch break ay sumama ako sa kanila. They all went to the university’s cafeteria.

Venera made me feel included. Maging ang mga kasama niya ay masaya rin na nagkukuwentuhan. Para silang matagal nang magkakakilala.

We entered the univerity’s cafeteria. Halos puno ‘yon ng mga tao, and there were food stalls everywhere. Hindi airconditioned, kaya’t mainit kahit pa puno ng industrial electric fan ang lugar. May ceiling fan din, pero dahil sa init ng panahon ay mainit din ang hangin na ibinubuga nu’n.

One of Venera’s classmate, DJ, called someone from the other table. May mga chairs pa roon at siguradong kasya kami.

“Sama kami sa inyo!” DJ shouted, rinig iyon sa lahat ng sulok ng cafeteria. Nakakahiya ang ingay namin pero tumawa na lamang ako dahil sa lakas ng loob niya.

DJ introduced us to his friends. They were from agri and fisheries. Sa kanila naman na magkakaibigan ay siya lamang ang naligaw sa psychology.

“Ito si Khal, Louie, then si Nora,” DJ stated. Tumango sila sa amin at saka kami sinabihan na umupo.

Bumili kami ni Venera ng pagkain. Gladly, budget friendly ‘yung mga meals. Hindi masakit sa bulsa. Less hassle sa pagluluto, and pag-prepare ng pagkain sa umaga.

We sat on the table, and there was probably around a dozen of us. Magulo kami habang nagkukuwentuhan ng experiences no’ng senior high.

“Ayos ka lang? Hindi pa ba nag-chat sa’yo?” Venera asked me.

Napataas ako ng kilay sa kanya dahil hindi ko naintindihan ang tanong niya. “Huh?”

“Gaga, si River! Hindi pa ba nag-chat sa’yo? Wala ba kahit text?” tanong niya ulit.

I checked my phone and shook my head. Hindi ko alam if madidisssapoint ako o ano. Kahapon lamang naman kami nagkita, and hindi nga kami masyadong nag-usap. Hindi ko nga alam bakit siya naging interesado sa’kin.

“What if ikaw na kaya mag-chat na una?” Venera suggested.

Kaagad ako’ng umiling. “Ayoko nga!” mabilis ko’ng sagot.

The group were loud hanggang sa matapos kami kumain. We still stayed in the cafeteria. Alas-dos pa kasi ang klase ko habang ala-una naman sina Venera. Those from agri and fisheries ay mamaya pa’ng alas-tres hanggang alas-sais ang klase. Tatambay na lang din daw muna sila sa may fountain. At dahil malapit lang ang fountain sa building ng department namin, nag-suggest ako na sumama sa kanila. We walked outside the cafateria. Tirik ang araw kaya’t

“Alis na kami. If hindi pa rin siya nag-chat, pababatukan ko siya kay kuya,” Venera said. She kissed me on the cheek then left.

DJ waved us goodbye, sabay turo sa akin. “Ingatan niyo ‘yan, kung hindi, yari ako kay Venera!”

Nang makaalis ang mga psych ay apat na lamang kami na naiwan sa fountain. Louie, Nora, Khal, and I. It was a bit awkward for me, but the three of them were having a great conversation about random stuff.

“Ikaw, ba’t ka nag-biology?” Khal asked me.

The three of them looked at me, waiting for my answer.

“Pre-med,” maikling sagot ko.

Louie and Nora nodded, but Khal burste out laughing. “Weh? Hindi nga?” tanong niya. “So, balak mo mag-medicine? Naisip mo na ba kung anong klaseng doktor ang gusto mo maging?”

My eyes widened at him. Natawa ako dahil sa reaksiyon niya, maging sa paraan ng pagsasalita niya. He sounded so excited, and he really believed what I said.

“Joke lang. Default answer ko ‘yon, kapag tinatanong ako kung bakit ako nag-biology.”

Khal became more interested and looked at me with curiosity. “Ay… So, bakit nga?”

“Crush ko kasi ‘yung teacher ko sa biology dati, nakaka-inspire siya, kaya ayon,” pag-amin ko. Medyo nakakahiya, but it also made me laugh. “Hoy, totoo ‘yon,” pangungumbinsi ko.

“Muntik na ako’ng mag-biology,” Khal stated. “Kung hindi siguro ako nasa fisheries, nasa biology ako.”

“Sabagay, related naman kasi e,” tugon ko.

The trio asked me a few more questions bago ang klase ko. Medyo nasanay na rin ako sa ingay ni Khal at sa kalmadong mga tugon lagi ni Louie. While Nora was someone I couldn’t read.

“Bye, good luck sa klase, Ms. Biologist,” Khal stated. Kumaway pa siya hanggang sa makarating ako sa building namin.

While walking upstairs, nag-vibrate ang cellphone ko. I thought it was mama, kaya’t kinuha ko ‘yon. But when I checked it, it was a notification from f*******:.

River Manalastas sent you a friend request

Accept // Decline