Scarper with Fremde

Chapter I Reading the book I just pulled out on some shelves to buy times, I glances at the empty seats beside me where my towel fell down. I bent down a little and reached for it before placing it back on the table. Kuya Thallus sometimes leaves an hour before the actual time for class and since he accompanies me, I also come to school this hour. Well, I graduated Primary here at the University and I've been at high school almost three years so I already knew the routes. But... I don't have any friends that I can count on. May mga kaibigan naman ako pero alam kong hindi ko sila mapagkakatiwalaan sa mga bagay bagay na patungkol sa pamilya ko. I know that they were no harm but, I just couldn't help since I once—nope, I encountered trice a situation where they only approached me to be close with my cousins or brother because they were good looking. I'm good at being myself. Mas nag-e-enjoy pa nga 'ko kapag ako lang mag-isa, kaysa sa may kasama. Though of course, I could feel the loneliness but I guess that's part of the life. I just need to be patient and wait for the right time to have a trusted friend whom I can share everything without thinking their motives. She's just in the dark part of her life that's why she can't face the light. I spent the remaining time reading almost half of the book when I heard the first ring of the bell. I stood up to return the book where I got it earlier. Kahit naman p'wede hiramin ang libro, magbibigay lang ng details, hindi ko na ginawa. Marami pa 'kong books sa bahay na hindi halos nagagalaw, kailangan ko muna matapos ang mga 'yon bago mag-imbak na naman ng panibago. My shelves are full, mayroon na nga rin sa lamesa ko at lumiliit ang espasyo do'n. The bell didn't stop even when I got out of the small library, it lasted for a minute. There are three rings of bells. The first bell indicated that the gate would be closed so no one would enter and exit there anymore, all of the gates in the University. The second was to notify the students to come to their perspective rooms and any minutes from that the class would start—and that's the time when the third bell will ring. Since I am in my fourth year of high school, the sophomore rooms are on the right wing while the junior high are in the left. In between that year level, there had wide spaces around the perimeters of that year. The front of it was an arch. Then, sa gitna, lagpas lang ng field naroon ang arch papasok sa College departments. Para naman makatawid sa bawat level, tatawid sa tulay na hindi naman kataasan o kahabaan kung hindi dadaan sa field. Fish pond lang halos ang nasa ilalim ng tulay, p'wede pang tambay-an ang gilid. Pero sa totoo lang, hindi pa 'ko nakakapunta sa iba't ibang year level. Ni-hindi ko pa nga nalilibot ang kabuuan ng University sa sobrang laki nito. I just heard of it from the others but I saw the bridge when Ate told me to meet there. It was full of lights and trees. May mga upuan at lamesa pa ro'n sa gilid ng tulay. The small Library was located beside of the building where I am roomed since it was near the college dept.. Well, I'm in the first section so we're roomed at the first building of the fourth year's. I'll be fast if I take the right stair but I'd like to walk past on the other side because I can pass the other rooms. Wala akong tao'ng hinahanap do'n o kung ano, gusto ko lang makita ang ginagawa nila. They're chaotic and super energetic, unlike to the other sections. Makikita talaga ang kaibahan ng ugali ng mga tao. "Crush mo si Gyu?" Rinig kong tanong ng babae sa kasama niya. Parehas silang nasa hallway, doon mismo sa railing. Pinapanood ang mga estudyanteng naglalakad sa field. "Shh! Baka may makarinig sayo!" "Ano naman? Ako nga crush ko si Dean 'e!" Oh, they're talking about the music club members. They perform every time na may events na nagaganap dito sa school. I haven't seen them performing again after the moving up last year so I don't know the things. I planned to watch them perform last even but sadly, I couldn't because I was sick that time. I became familiar with them because of the people around me talking about them. Especially my classmates. Anytime 'ata sila ang topic ng mga ito. Kuya Thallus' car was in front of the gate when I exited at the gate near the college dept..Ate Thali's waving at me from the passenger window. "How's the school, bebe gurl?" Bungad ni Ate pagpasok ko. Nilapag ko ang bag ko sa tabi 'saka nagkabit ng seatbelt. Nakita ko pang nanonood si Kuya Thallus sa'kin at tumango nang makitang naka-ayos na 'ko. "It's fine, Ate," I responded. "Ah!" Pag-da-drama niya na may tono pa. "Bakit fine na naman? Kahapon, fine din! Maigsi ba bukabularyo mo, 'nak ko?" I just laughed at her and didn't say anything anymore. Hahaba lang ng hahaba ang sasabihin niya kapag sumagot pa 'ko. Kuya will just shut us up if that happens. "Sino nga pala Adviser mo, Thally ko? Anong section ka?" Tanong ni Ate na hindi na-u-ubusan ng katanungan. Nagb-browse siya sa phone niya. I looked at her. "Why?" "Ah, sagutin mo na lang!" Parang nabubugnot pa 'kong nilingon ni Ate pero nakanguso naman. 'Saka niya binalik sa bag niya yung phone. "Miss Calano. Section 1." "Hala! Section one ka?" Nanlalaking mata na nilingon ako ulit ni Ate. Nilagay niya pa ang braso niya sa beverages holder sa gitna nila ni Kuya. 'Saka niya nilingon ',to. "Walang nag-section one sa'tin! 'Di ba? 'Di ba?" Kuya scoffed. "I did." "Bardot!" Singhal ni Ate bago tumingin sa'kin. "Nag-section one daw, 'e nilapat lang naman do'n kasi nakipag-suntukan sa kaklase! Section three ka, hoy! 'Saka aning grade ka no'n? Six!" "Whatever suits your mouth, Thalian," Kuya answered back with a shrugged but there's a mocking smirk in his lips. I didn't give attention to them anymore when Ate began to activate her mouth again and just focused on the road as Kuya drove us home. Mom cooked food and Dad was already in the dining when I finished showering. Naka-sanayan ko na maligo pag-uwi. Ilang minutong pahinga 'saka maliligo bago bumaba para kumain ng dinner. Our University has whole day classes, well, since it's semi-private, ginawa nang whole day ang klase para hindi naman lugi sa binabayarang tuition. Hindi man gano'n kalaki pero s'yempre para maging fair naman sa mga hindi afford ng buo yung mga bayarin. The class will start at eight in the morning until five in the evening. Almost ten hours ang kabuoan pero we only have eight hours of class. Ang natirang two hours ay para sa lunch at break time. Though, may kalahating oras lang sa break dahil ang natira do'n ay nakalaan para sa pag-lipat ng classroom. May extra time din naman tuwing morning kung maagang makakapasok kasi five in the morning the gate will open and the it'll be close by eight in the evening. "Dad, we have an outing this Saturday," Kuya spoke when we were in the middle of having dinner. "With?" Thalinio Norris is the youngest among his other four siblings. "The Brent's. Kuya Izen came home last night, he invited us to be with him at the private resort. We're all boys." "Oh, Dad!" Ate raised her hand. "May lakad din pala kami nila Grethel 'saka Cathy!" Dad hummed and looked at me. "How about you, Thally? Do you have somewhere to go, too?" I shrugged. "I don't know if I'll buy the book myself before they disappear or I'll just ask Ate to buy them since she'll go there naman." "Your Mom and I planned to date somewhere." He announced. "I don't want you to be alone here." "P'wede kang sumama sa'min kung gusto mo, Thal!" Ate said as her energetic body moved. I shook my head. "If that is your plan for Saturday, maybe I'll be with my friends or something." At 'yon na nga ang nangyari nang sabado. I woke up with no one in the house, only a few maids. Nag-iwan ng pera si Daddy sa bedside table ko at post note. He wants me to buy whatever I want in that money. Hindi naman na bago sa'kin maiwan mag-isa dito sa bahay. Mom and Dad are always on a date kapag walang trabaho or maagang natapos ni Daddy ang mga trabaho niya. Madalas lang kasi sa bahay si Mommy kaya ang sabi ni Dad noon ay gusto niyang maranasan ni Mommy yung mga hindi nila nagawa dati. Na they go on dates. Travelling whenever they are both free. Si Kuya naman, palaging nasa barkada o kung hindi naman nasa loob lang ng subdivision pero wala sa bahay. Ate Thalian is also like that. Palaging kasama ang mga pinsan naming ka-edaran niya. Ate Grethel and Ate Cathia. Kaya, in the end, ako pa rin ang na-i-iwan mag-isa. A doorbell snapped me out, making me sighed and continue eating the food Mom cooked. Seeing the maid walking towards the living room where the main door was, I didn't stand up anymore. "Yo!" I looked up at the voice at the entrance of the kitchen. It was the twins. Hezlea and Hezeia. Younger than me but just a year—though it was just some months since I was born in August while they are in January. "What are you two doing here?" I asked as I pushed a little the plate full of pancakes. Hezlea is older but Hezeia's the mature one. Lea sat beside me while Zei just leaned on the counter where I was eating. "Dumaan si 'te Thalian sa bahay para sabihing samahan ka namin kung saan ka man pupunta." Umiling ako. "Baka hindi na 'ko umalis." That's the plan. Though I'd like to visit the newly opened coffee shop outside the subdivision, it's just that, I don't want them to know my plan. Hindi sa ayaw ko makasama sila, I mean sila yung pumunta dito kasi sinabihan ni Ate pero hindi sila mismo ang pumunta dahil naalala nila 'ko. They were my cousins but I know that they have a different plan so I don't want to hinder that. Unless it was them, the ones who wanted me to join them not because someone told them to. "Kayo? What's your plan for today?" Lea shifted her seat as she put down the pancake she bit, and pointed the fork she was holding to Zei. "May group project si Rhia later so, ako lang makakasama mo?" Dalawang beses akong umulit tignan sila. "You mean... hinatid ka lang niya dito?" "Yep!" Lea even nods. Kaya pala iba ang suot ni Zei kaysa kay Lea. Casual lang naman parehas pero 'di makikita ang pinagkaiba kung hindi sila kilalang kilala manamit. "Pero alam ko Nia's have something to do in her room today," Zei said. See? May iba't ibang ginagawa ang mga tao. Ayaw kong maka-abala pa. "Do what plan you have." I smiled. "I've got nothing to do or go naman! Kaya, you're free." Alone. I am sitting alone inside the coffee shop outside the subdivision. I ordered the first thing on their menu and so far so good naman. I know this is not the best selling but it's already nine of out ten for me. What else is their best-selling drink? Hindi masyadong maingay sa dulong part kung saan ako nakaupo. The Coffee shop inside was in the shape of a 'U'. The middle part was the counter. The walls we're made of glass even the door. Reading the lesson we will probably tackle the next day on my laptop. I felt a gaze but I didn't bother to look up then, until someone who was wearing a pair of white sneakers came in the peripheral of my vision making my eyes look up. A man—I'm sure he's he—wearing a black jacket with a hood that is above his black cap. Hindi naka-zipper ang jacket kaya kitang kita kung ga'no kasakto sa kan'ya ang suot na shirt sa loob. His black ripped jeans emphasize his cool honey skin tone. Taking off the ear pod from my left ear which side he was on as I smelled his herbaceous scent making my heart beat a loud one and it continued in weak pounds but fast. The pineapple scent in him was overpowering the earthy smell with a hint of sweetness like fruity something but wasn't the pineapple, there was also a faint aroma of vanilla in it. "Yes...?" I asked even though my heart was still palpitating fast. He's wearing a black mask but I saw how his undereye moves a bit together with his beautiful mark beside his not-so-thick eyebrows. "Can I sit here?" Naramdaman kong hindi naman siya gagawa ng masama pero ang weird niya para sabihin 'yon dahil marami pa naman mga bakanteng upuan. Hindi ko na 'yon pinansin pa at tumango na lang bago binalik ang earpod 'saka nagpatuloy sa pagbabasa. Hahaba lang ang magiging usapan namin kung may sasabihin pa 'ko. I took down some notes para may mabasa mamaya if ever na ma-bored ako sa bahay. I don't have any habits but I like reading a book while listening to a calming sound. Though, I like a big of rock music. I took a glance at the man in front of me. His scent is still lingering strong. He's using his phone while his back is resting comfortably on the chair's backrest. His legs were spread under the table. My heart stopped when our eyes suddenly met, it was already too late to look at the other things. Gumalaw ang balat sa paligid ng mga mata niya. "I'm Vinx, you are?" I cleared my throat and started putting my notes in the bag that I bought with me. "Ianna." I looked into his eyes and smiled. "My name is Ianna." He stretched his hands above. I chuckled when I felt my fingers twitch but accepted it anyway. His large hand was warm but the silver ring on his pointed finger wasn't.