Hidden Affair

Chapter 1: Background

Natapos ang unang klase ko ng punong-puno ang utak ko. Sino ba naman ang hindi masisira ang ulo sa tatlong oras na klase ngunit isang subject lamang. Ayaw pa naman mag patalo ng instructor namin at talagang sinulit niya ang oras, activity, discussions at quiz ang ginawa namin.

Dagdag pa talaga na hindi ako nag breakfast kaya naman ay ubos ang lakas ko.

"That was a three hours of hell." wika ni Andy na kagaya ko ay lupaypay na rin.

"Kailangan ba talagang tapusin niya ang tatlong oras?" Malumanay kung sabi at pabagsak na umupo.

Nag silabasan na ang iba para mag lunch pero hindi ko pa rin magawang tumayo dahil talaga namang nang hihina ako sa kaganapan sa chemistry course namin.

"I'm hungry." wika ni Andy as if naman kumakain ng maayos ang isang to.

She's also looking at the ceiling kagaya ko. Para kaming binagsakan ng isang sako ng bigas, e.

"Ako din, hindi ako nag lunch." Umupo ako ng maayos and gather my things slowly.

Tamad na tumawa si Andy kaya naman napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Sabog, talagang gutom kana nga kasi baka breakfast, mag la-lunch palang tayo oy." walang gana niyang sabi.

As much as she wants to laugh hindi niya naman magawa kasi wala na siyang lakas.

"Let's eat." sabi ko at nauna ng tumayo.

"Today's gonna be my cheat day. Sana hindi malaman ni Mommy." napangiwi ako sa sinabi niya.

Andy's mom is one of the paranoid mom out there. One time Andy and I had a scratch kasi parehas kaming nadapa, hour later may dumating na dalawang dermatologist. I appreciate the concern but she's overreacting for real.

"Hindi naman kita isusumbong, she won't know." sabi ko at tuluyang ng tumayo.

Meanwhile, Andy gather her thing slowly at nagpakawala ng buntong hininga. She looks like she can't believe that I said that. Parang sinasabi ng mga mata niya na "You should know better."

"We're walking two but we're actually ten." Nangunot ang noo ko ng marining ang sinabi niya pero kalaunan ay naintindihan ko rin ang ibig niyang sabihin.

I should have known better.

We both came from a known family and wala namang bago sa pag kakaroon ng chaperone. I just don't want to see them directly right in front of my eyes.

"Yeah, right." Tipid kung sagot at tumingin sa kanya.

Wala na siyang sinabi pero sabay kaming nag kibit balikat.

This may be the things that make Andy and I friends, it's because we do know how to read the situation. We know where to close the topic. We maybe friends for a while now but we don't have the chance to do such as deep talks regarding with our family. We value our privacy so much that we became a bit secretive about our lives. We're totally exposed to the world pero there are parts that we tend to keep to ourselves and I'm glad that Andy and I both understand that.

"What do you wanna eat?" I started the conversation, we're walking quitly but the people around us, aren't.

Is this still about me?

"I wanna eat outside but I have no more energy for that. I want fried chicken and rice!" maligayang sabi niya kaya naman hindi ko mapigilang matawa.

"Rice? Seriously?" sabi ko.

"Oo, bakit ba? Hindi naman nakakataba yun and I want kunti lang. Gutom na ako!"

"Rice and fried chicken then!" pag sang-ayun ko.

Mabuti nalang at hindi naman ganun kalayo ang cafeteria sa building and we're lucky as well na nasa first floor ang klase namin ngayong umaga.

Pagkarating namin sa cafeteria ay um-order kaagad kami ng gusto namin. The cafeteria's interior design was colored in a dark green and a soft touch of brown. This may seem too dark at night but I like it, its giving aesthetic vibe for me.

Andy order chicken and rice for the both of us. I don't gain weight that easily kaya naman okay sa'kin ang pagkain na in-order niya para sa'min. Ang hindi okay ay para bang huling kain na namin to, four cups of rice and eight pieces of fried chicken plus side dishes and dessert pa. Alam kung gutom kami pareho pero hindi naman ganun ka gutom para maubos namin lahat ng serving na ito.

"This is too much, Andy! Hindi kana ba kakain mamaya?" pag alarma ko.

"Don't be conscious, okay? We're hungry and its natural to order food as much as we like." sabi niya na para bang usual niya itong ginagawa.

"Are you okay? Do you have problem ba? This isn't normal! Hindi ikaw 'yan!" I know Andy, she's very concious when it comes to the food she ate kaya naman nakakapag-taka na she wants this kind of foods at ang dami pang.

Akmang isusubo niya ang isang kutsara ng kanin pero napatigil siya sa sinabi ko. Andy looked at me as if she was about to kill me and I pretended that there is something interesting behind her. I'm meeting those deadly stares.

"Stop killing my appetite, Venice! I haven't tasted rice for months kaya I want to eat now. Sasabayan mo ako o susubuan kita?" there's a sense of creepyness in her voice kaya naman wala na akong nagawa kundi ang sumuko.

I raised my two hands a sign of giving up and said. "Let's eat then." I sound like a lost kid.

"Good, now get your fork." Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay sa sinabi niya.

She smiled cutely and mouthed me the word "labyah" kaya naman muntik ko na siyang tusukin ng tinidor at ang gaga ay nag kibit balikat lamang.

We ate our food silently and talk to random things as if they are all normal. Andy's a social butterfly and I am not.

She is the campus bff and I am the campus enemy. Totally opposite. Not the enemy that can turn your world upside down though, just the simple one teenagers produce but lately I've been thinking on living different life. I want a quit one, away from the drama.

"We don't class this afternoon, wanna go shopping?" napabuntong hininga ako ng marinig ang sinabi niya.

She's one of those typical rich girl princess, shopping here and everywhere. I was like that before but since I decided to move out from our house and provide for my own. I realize how difficult it is to earn money plus its draining kaya naman ay from spoiled brat ay nag change quickly ang aking perception about life.

Maybe I've been spending too much time in social media that I just wanted to live a simple life like what I have seen in the video. The green sorroundings is just so soothing to my eyes that I want go there immediately and enjoy life. But, I just can't do that.

As much as my parents are able to provide me with everything and they love me so much that they buy me every materials that I want. Being away from them is something they can't live with. I remember doing everything that I had to do pumayag lang sila na bumukod ako.

Mom was so eager in bringing me to her world which is something I am not into. She's a model and a business woman on her age and she wants me to follow her foot step. Nakaka pressure because everyone is expecting me to do just like her but then since I have been the center of gossips in our university. I can see the dismay in there faces whenever we are on the same event but looks like Mom is not noticing that and she's putting me on the pedestal kaya naman ay walang magawa ang kanyang mga amega kundi itago nalang sa kanilang mga sarili ang opinion.

"I can't." Maikling sagot ko kay Andy at uminom ng tubig.

She doesn't like my answer kaya naman ay umayos siya ng upo at maarteng pinunasan ang gilid ng kanyang labi.

"Is this about money? Its on me!" Masayang wika ni Andy na para bang binuhay niya ako ngayong araw.

"Hard pass." Matapang kung sabi.

Napasimangot siya and acting na nag iisip ng mabuting sasabihin.

"Marley nalang!" saglit akong napatigil sa sinabi niya kaya naman bigla nanlaki ang mga mata niya.

She knows that I am interested.

Marley is a bar. I've been there a couple of times and I like it there maliban kasi na medjo matitino ang nandoon. Its a place that is safe from media. The last thing I want is to make another news headline.

"Marley..., hmm. I'll see when my mood changes later." Pang-aasar ko kay Andy.

"Come on! Since the break--- Oops! I'm not giving you a choice anyway." Andy and her mouth.

"Okay, whatever!" pag sang ayon.

Andy's a pain in the ass.

"Marley then! I'll pick you up later." final niyang sabi.

I don't have a service anymore. I give up living like a princess the moment I I move out in our house. Kaya naman Andy offer a free ride tanggihan ko man ay hindi naman siya pumapayag plus I don't really know how to commute.

"Uwi muna tayo." Sabi ko at nauna ng tumayo.

Sumunod naman siya sa'kin at sabay na kaming lumabas.

Paglabas namin ay sumalubong sa'min ang mainit na singaw sa labas which is an opposite temperature from the cafeteria.

Mabuti na lamang at medyo mahangin kaya naman okay lang ang init sa balat.

Andy and I walked silently and feeling the noon breeze. I can see few students seating on the grass and in the bench. Probably scholars or those who grow up fine.

Paanu ko nasabi? Kasi hindi naman basta basta ang mga studyante dito and mostly grow up with a nanny and base on how they dress up, hindi sila basta-basta mag se-settle sa damuhan.