His Replacement Wife

Not an American Girl

                                                                                  [ROVERIE’S POV]

”sh*t!” – I murmured.

Why he’s here? DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE ARE CLASSMATES??

OH GOD! I’m too embarrassed to see him anymore! I’ve had enough with all the shame I got from him. I don’t know why our path always crossed like are we supposed to see each other frequently today? Because it seems like we are being fooled by fate.

I just pretend that I didn’t see him and just walk towards the other side instead of going through his directions. We look for a chair to sit in and unfortunately it was near him.

“we’re almost late good thing that there’s still vacant chairs here” Frankie said.

“do it really have to be near him? I have so much embarrassment because of him” I replied.

“hmmm something’s fishy” Frankie said while acting like she’s trying to discern something

“forget about that, let’s just sit” I said.

After a while our Financial management professor came in and started to discuss something. Actually, it’s just the same with the other professor a while ago, an introduction about the subject and a short recap. I really can’t focus on listening because every time that I would look in front, my eyes always sees him from my peripheral vision because he’s sitting at my right side on the second row before me at the last column in the corner. He’s quite tall even if he is just sitting  that’s why I would likely see his back compare to what’s in front.

WHAT AM I THINKING?? FOCUS!! He doesn’t even talk to you and you kept on admiring him! I continued listening and pay attention to the professor but my brain seems to have its own business out there. You all know that feeling of being physically present but mentally absent? That’s me at the moment.

“I guess that’s everything that you need to know, you can go now” - Mr. Hudson.

Great it’s done I badly want to get out here. I immediately stand and asked Frankie to go.

“Let’s go! Come on!” while grabbing her hand.

When I saw that he’s not standing, I choose to pass on his side near the door so that we can immediately get out. I keep my face facing the ground while my hair covers my face. When we are near him, I saw a familiar notebook on his table and I just remember something,  shook! I forgot my notebook at the cafeteria a while ago so I decided to stop and look something on my bag just to make sure when unfortunately, I can’t see it. REALY?? OF ALL PEOPLE WHY DOES IT’S STILL HIM WHO FOUND MY NOTEBOOK??

I brought that notebook and have it customized when I was still in the Philippines and it’s something that’s very special to me. It’s a black covered notebook with an “R.J.M” engraved on the lower right corner of the front page so I decide to ask him

“hey” I called Him

He faced me and yeah still wearing that poker face of him.

“that notebook, I think that’s……….mine”

He was just looking at me and it really makes me so uncomfortable.

“uhmm…thank you” I said and give him an awkward smile

We are about to go when suddenly I stumble

“ARAY!” I shouted.

OH MY GOD WHY DID I SHOUT? I immediately cover my mouth and look around some students were looking at me but good thing there’s only few students out here.

“what did you say?”

I looked at him and oh no! he might think that I’m cursing or speaking awful words.

“no uhm its nothing! I-I have to go” I said and continue to walk outside

 Sh*t I was so tensed. I’VE HAD ENOUGH WITH MY CLUMSINESS AND STUPIDITY! I’m in so much trouble already.

“I’m so curious about what you’ve said" - Frankie.

“It’s just a Filipino word which means “ouch”" I replied.

“YOU’RE A FILIPINO?” obviously she’s very surprised.

“yeah, why?” I asked her.

“you just don’t look like one, I really thought you’re an American girl” - Frankie.

REALLY? I DO LOOK LIKE ONE? I didn’t even imagine that. Maybe it’s because of my hair or my complexion?  

“I just got here months ago” I told her.

“oh! so you just migrated?” she surprisingly asked. I just smiled while nodding to say yes.

“you know what, if you have time maybe we could go hang around sometimes, I mean San Francisco is a big city to explore” Frankie said.

“sure! Probably next time” I replied.

We’ve both continue walking until we have reached the gate of the school.

“It was nice meeting you Roverie see you tomorrow” She said.

“pleasure to meet you too” I replied and I give her a smile.

I took a bus so that I could go home, I feel like this is a very long day. We actually have three subjects for today and it’s quite early but I badly want to be home and have a rest. Today, something good still happened and that’s meeting Frankie, she’s a very approachable woman and not a kind of American woman I thought they are. I felt sorry for the misconception, I shouldn’t judge anyone without even knowing them specially when I didn’t even know what they’ve been through in life to act in such manner. My stupidity is on the highest level.