Shades of Love (University Series #01)

Ep07

Celestine Blaze Anderson Pov

When I dropped Zach off at the hospital, I just settled his hospital bills and left without saying goodbye. I don't know, I feel irritated and my blood boils whenever I see his face despite his help to me.

"Damn it! That asshole! I even ended up owing gratitude to that damn guy!" I muttered to myself, annoyed and furrowing my brows as I drove.

"But to be fair, he's really brave and handsome. He fought to the death just for my bag," I said as a smile slowly crept onto my face.

"But, no! It can't be! We're still enemies! He's annoying! Ugh!" I whispered to myself as if going crazy.

***

Zach Aron Alvarez Pov

The Next Day... 7:00 am

I didn't sleep well dahil sa hapdi at sakit ng sugat na nakuha ko sa pangingialam ko kahapon. I look like a zombie because of my eye bags.

Ang nakakainis pa, I have class today. Papasok akong nakabenda ang kanang braso ko na hindi ko naman magawang maigalaw at mapwersa.

Even bathing is difficult for me because it stings sa tuwing nababasa yong sugat ko. Tiniis ko nalang ang sakit at still naligo pa rin kaysa naman mangamoy asim at putok ako sa class.

After taking a shower, I dressed up. Before leaving, I cleaned my wound and applied a fresh bandage to prevent infection.

Sakto lang ang naging dating ko, hindi pa naman nagsisimula ang class.

I entered the room at umupo sa sulok habang naghihintay ng Prof.

I was very sleepy, so ipinikit ko muna saglit ang mga mata ko.

Papikit na sana ako ng bigla akong gulatin ni Charles.

"Sup! Bro." wika nito na may kasamang paghampas sakin.

"Punyemas ka naman oh, nagpapahinga yung tao eh!" saad ko at napakamot nalang sa ulo.

"I've got news for you, bro." sambit ni Charles habang tuwang tuwa.

"What is it?"

"Don't you know yet? It's already the talk of the campus about the upcoming overall ranking. The gossip is, do you know? You're one of the possible contenders for the top 5, and some say you might even come out on top." tuwang tuwa na sambit ni Charles sa akin.

"It's too early to say that charles. Hindi ako nag e-expect ng ganyan and isa pa that is a gossip! Bakit ba gigil na gigil kayong malaman yang top na yan!" I replied habang nakangiti.

"Hays, matutulog muna ako saglit, just shut up your mouth okay? Kulang ako sa tulog." hirit ko kay Charles.

The professor took so long to arrive kaya hindi ko na napansin na nakatulog na pala ako.

In a little while, sa kalagitnaan ng masarap na pagtulog ko, biglang dumating ang Prof.

Our professor for today is none other than Atty. Luis Miguel Anderson.

Pagkapasok nito ay agad syang nagpakilala at nagsimula nang magturo.

Hindi nya pinansin ang mga natutulog, o ang mga law students na hindi nakikinig sya kanya, basta't tuloy lang sya sa pag discuss.

Patapos na ang lesson nya, ito pa rin ako nakahiga dahil sa sobrang antok.

Nakatingin ang buong klase sa akin, especially Ciarra ang academic rival ko.

"Just go ahead and sleep, because after this discussion, you'll be left speechless when Atty Anderson grills you." nanggigigil na bulong ni Ciarra habang pinagmamasdan ako.

Maya maya pa, natapos na ang discussion ni Atty Anderson about the importance ng ethics sa mga lawyers.

Nagulat ako ng dahan dahan kong minulat ang mga mata ko ay nasa tabi ko si Atty Anderson.

"Good morning, boy!" wika ni Atty habang tinatapik ako ng malakas sa balikat.

Nagtawanan ang buong klase, at lahat sila ay nakatitig sakin.

"So-sorry sir." saad ko habang nakayuko dahil sa hiya.

"So, Mr Uhm...."

"A-alvarez po, sir." kinakabahang sagot ko.

"Okay, so Mr. Alvarez. If you know how to sleep while in class, you should also know how to listen while asleep. Here's my question to you. What is the importance of the code of ethics for lawyers, and to you as a law student?" He asked me habang seryoso akong tinititigan sa mata.

Mas lalong bumilis ang t***k ng puso ko. Nanginginig na ang mga kamay ko dahil sa kaba.

"The i-i importance of c-code of ethics to lawyers and to me as a future lawyer is... is." nabubulol at nanginginig ang boses ko habang nakatayo.

"What, Mr Alvarez?" unti unting pagtaas ng boses ni Atty Anderson na lalong mas nagpakaba sa akin.

"That's what happens to those who sleep and act dumb in class," Ciara whispered to me while laughing.

"Shut up, class! So.. what now Mr Alvarez?"

I tried na alalahanin ang mga nabasa ko noon about law, bago pa man kasi ako mag law school ay hilig ko nang basahin ang mga magazines and books na involved ang law.

"Uhmm, si-sir.. The importance of code of ethics to lawyers and to me us a lawyer in the near future, is first, guidance. It provides a framework of moral and professional standards, guiding conduct and decision-making in legal practice and studies.

Secondly Integrity, Upholding ethical standards ensures integrity within the legal profession, fostering trust between lawyers, clients, and the public...." taas noo kong sambit habang ipinamumukha sa kanila na hindi ako tatanga tanga at tutulog tulog lang.

"Okay, that's enough, Mr. Alvarez! You impressed me, it seems like you're a genius, even while asleep, you understand what I'm saying!" saad ni Atty Anderson habang nakangiti sa akin at para bang napabilib ko sya.

"Thanks, Atty!" abot langit kong saya dahil sa compliment na ibinigay ni Mr Anderson.

Tinitigan at nginitian ko lang si Ciarra habang nakikita ko ang mukha nyang inis na inis at miserable dahil hindi ako napahiya sa buong klase. Ciara just raised her eyebrow and rolled her eyes at me.

"Okay, class dismissed!" saad ni Atty Anderson.

After class, I left Anderson Hall and went straight to Haxord Hall, the main library, to search for books and read laws in preparation for our upcoming recitation.

Sa Haxord Hall, muli na naman kaming nagkita ni Luna.

"Hello there, Mr Hot Guy!" wika ni Luna na may kasama pang pagkagat labi.

"Uhmm, Hi Luna!" mahinang bulong na saad ko.

Lumapit sya sa akin, at hinila nya ako sa table kung saan sya nakaupo at nagbabasa. Hinila nya ang braso ko kung nasaan ang sugat.

"Araay ko po, Luna!" malakas na pag-ungol ko dahil sa sobrang sakit ng pagkakahila nya.

Nagulat at nabigla si Shane sa biglang pagsigaw ko.

"Silence, please!" pagsaway ng mga nagbabantay sa library.

"I'm sorry po, sorry." hiyang hiya ako dahil sa nangyari.

"What happened ba ha, Zach. You're shouting like a gay guy! You're disturbing the other students." pagtataka ni Luna na para bang nang-aasar pa.

"May sugat ako dyan, Luna. Ang sakit kaya!" wika ko habang nararamdaman pa rin ang pag hapdi at kirot dahil sa malakas na pagkakahila.

"Opss, im sorry.. peace!" pagpapacute ni Luna.

"Anyway, what happened to you ba ha, bakit ka nagkasugat." pag-usisa ni Luna.

"This is all because of your super kind best friend, Celestine!" naiirita at kunot noong tugon ko.

"Why, what did Celestine do to you?"

"Yesterday kasi, I didn't expect to see her at the mall. Suddenly, someone snatched her bag as she got out of the car! Ako naman tong si tanga at may mabuting puso, I helped her and chased after the guys. Naabutan ko naman sila, but there were many of them, so they ganged up on me, which is why I got hit!" gigil na gigil kong pagkwento kay Luna na para bang isa akong action star sa TV.

"Oh, so how did that become Celestine's fault?" pagtatakang tanong ni Luna.

"Yeah, kasalanan nya talaga. I helped her, yet she's the one who has the nerve to get mad. She doesn't even know how to say thank you even though I almost died trying to get her bag back." saad ko habang galit na galit sa ginawa ni Celestine.

Hindi makapaniwala si Luna sa inasal ng bestfriend nya at napakamot nalang ito sa ulo.

"Ugh, Celestine really! Well, just bear with my best friend, that's just how she is with guys, but she's actually kind." wika ni Luna habang napapailing na lang.

"It's okay with me naman, nabwi-bwisit lang ako sa inasal nya."

"But never mind, teka nga magbabasa pa pala ako." wika ko.

"I'll treat you at the cafeteria after we're done here in the library, what do you say?" pag-aaya sa akin ni Luna.

"G ba!" mabilis na pagsama ko.

I just looked for the books I needed, and Luna and I immediately left the library to go to the cafeteria and continue reading while eating.

Habang kumakain kami, napatanong ako kay Luna, about Celestine's life.

"Uhmm, Luna can I ask you something?" malambing na wika ko rito.

"Yeah sure, anytime Zach basta ikaw!" saad ni Luna na may kasama pang pagkindat.

"Kwentuhan mo nga ako, about Celestine's life." saad ko due to my curiosity sa buhay ni Celestine. Nacucurios ako dahil sa kasungitan at kasamaan ng ugali nya.

"Actually, Celestine is a kind and good-hearted person. I don't know why she's so angry with you. But you know, Celestine wants to be a doctor, but her parents, especially Tito Luis, don't approve. You see, they come from a family of lawyers. And here's the thing, keep it quiet. Tito Luis thinks Celestine is studying at the HN College of Law, but he doesn't know she's actually enrolled in the HN College of Medicine. I don't know how long she'll keep pretending. pagkwento ni Luna.

"Uhmm, I see..." wika ko habang nakatango.

"Why did you ask?" nakataas kilay nitong pagtatanong.

"Uhmm, wala naman. Masama ba? Haha. Kumain na nga lang tayo." pag-iiba ko ng usapan habang nakangiti.

***