Arch of the Centuries

17

The next morning, I woke up early as usual. It became a habit of mine to get up at exactly 7 o’clock in the morning to exercise before heading to School.

I don’t even need an alarm clock because my body clock has already adapted to it.

I'm still laying on the floor beside her bed, wrapped in the comforter I made last night.

I waited around five minutes more before getting up on my supposedly comfortable bed… or should I say comforter?

“Ganda mo naman matulog,miss.” I murmured, as I watched her sleeping deeply.

Napansin ko ang mga sinag ng araw na nakadapo sa kaniyang mukha, kaya’t marahan akong naglakad papalapit sa bintana at tahimik na dahan-dahang sinaraduhan ang curtain folds.

Incase na tanghali na ito magising, upang hindi direktang nakatutok sa kaniya ang tindi ng liwanag mula sa sinag ng araw.

I carefully proceeded towards the side of the bed after finishing the blinds, trying not to make any noise in order to clean up the mess I caused the night before.

First, I folded the comforter that i was using, then I tidied up the pillows leaving the space clean and clear.

Not gonna lie, my back kinda hurts a little. All my life I’ve never had any experience sleeping on the floor with only blankets as a sleeping bag, not until now.

Actually, it isn't that bad. It's good to try something new once in a while.

I was glancing around the room and noticed how spacious it is.

Since my body is aching, I thought of doing some work out, silently.

I moved to the back and did some stretches to ease and reduce my body pain. I’m checking her from time-to-time to see her movements. I tried to keep the sound of my footsteps to a minimum whenever she moved.

After 15 minutes of stretching, I collected up my things and gave her one final look before leaving the room.

I went first to the hospital’s front desk to pay for her medical bills, good thing I saved up extra cash from my part time modeling job last month.

The next thing i did was to drive directly sa dorm to take a shower and get ready for School. It’s Tuesday, can’t be late, terror pa naman substitute professor namin.

While taking a shower, I couldn't stop thinking about what had happened the day before. Memories from the past keep playing in the back of my mind as I feel the cold water pouring slowly through my body.

Even now, the sound of her voice as she uttered my name sends shivers down to my spine.

Before eating my breakfast, I got out of the shower and dressed.

Habang nakatulala sa kawalan, biglang nag sink-in sa utak ko kung gaano ka bigat ang pinagdaanang trahedya ni Mika. Ang mas masakit pa, Justice was not served. Kagaya ng nangyari kay kuya Ken. Nakatakas rin ito, na hanggang ngayon ay malayang nakakalabas at hindi pa rin matukoy ang katauhan.

I drove na papuntang UST then I parked my baby on Carpark. Before going to my room, I went first sa Main building to find Mika’s professors, I Informed them about her accident yesterday and that she won’t be able to attend class since she’s still hospitalize for two more days.

Thanks,God, they immediately grasped the situation. Out of all, only one of her professors would give her a special exam to compensate for her two days worth of absence, other than that, everything’s good.

After that, I attended my first class na. Biochemistry na naman, mukha na naman ni Mrs. Villamor ang una kong makikita sa umaga.

“Last time we had a discussion about microbiology. So for today, you will have a group activity about our topic last time. I assumed I already grouped you, right?”

“Yes, ma’am.” sabay-sabay nilang sagot.

“Okay, now go to your respective areas.” she instructed.

Mrs. Villamor split us into eight groups, each with seven persons.

The eight microbiology fields are represented by eight groups. The main theme given to our group was immunology.

I walked na to our designated area,

“Hi, Vince,” someone stated while smiling.

The chairs are arranged in circle, with only one chair available. I had no choice but to sit down.

“Do you remember my name?” she asked, the same girl who called my name earlier.

“What’s your name again?”

She frowned as I uttered those words.

“I’m Xandra, we had a little talk last week, can’t you remember?”

“Sorry, but no.” I said, seriously.

“Sabagay, sino ba naman ako para maalala mo, I’m not that important naman.” she replied with a fake smile.

I don’t know what’s with this girl. We’re not even close to begin with, she’s weird.

I ignore her. “Let’s focus on the group project, guys.”

First, I gave a brief introduction about immunology since I have knowledge on it. I explained how important this branch is in medical and biological sciences.

Everything is going well, but this girl named Xandra is driving me nuts. She keeps bringing her chair closer to mine, while I do the exact opposite thing. She's not paying attention to our group discussion; instead, she's starring at my face with her chin leaned over her right palm, and I'm starting to feel like an icecream that's about to be devoured.

“What’s wrong with you?” hindi na ‘ko nakatiis pa at kinompronta ko na siya.

“What do you mean? I’m doing nothing.” sagot naman nito.

“Exactly, you’re doing nothing.” singit naman ng acting leader ng group namin.

Xandra reacted to it and gave her a bad look.

“I bet you didn’t even know the topic na napunta sa group natin.” dagdag pa niya.

“Savage.” rinig kong banggit ng katabi nito

Everyone reacted to it. Some are laughing while the other ones are closing their mouths trying to endure it, but I know deep inside their laughing their a*s out.

“Oh, ba’t hindi ka makasagot?” dagdag pa niya.

“I know, okay? Microbiology.” sagot ni Xandra.

“Nagpapatawa ka ba? What I mean is anong branch ng Microbiology ang napunta satin?” insultong tanong nito.

Hindi na nakasagot si Xandra, napatahimik na lang ito bigla.

“Mrs. Villamor!” that same girl called our professor.

“Is it possible to remove the non-participating member from the group?” she asked.

We’re all shocked. Everyone on our group stare at Xandra, she’s nervous and trembling. I bet there will be a scene.

“What’s the matter?” tanong ni Mrs.

“Nothing ma’am, just asking.” she smiled.

“Yes, you certainly can. I'll allocate those who aren't participating in the activities to a more difficult assignments.” she announced.

“You heard it, Xandra?”

“I’m not low to humiliate you infront of the entire class. However this is a warning, ayaw ko ng mga pabigat na kagroupmates.” she said, without stuttering.

“Xandra, next time focus tayo sa activity ha? Hindi sa lalaki. Para ka kasing linta diyang dikit ng dikit kay Vince.” she added.

“Opzzs. Mic drop!” someone murmured.

“Nice one, leader.”

Tumayo na ako at ngumiti sa leader namin. I think that’s a good lesson for that girl na rin. I packed my things and went directly sa Cafeteria to eat lunch with my buddies.

******

“What’s up, bro.” bungad ni Drake as he sit beside me.

“Asan yung dalawa?” tanong ko naman sa kaniya.

“Ayon,” sabay turo sa food counter.

“Still getting their lunch.” he said

Drake snatched my fish fillet off my metal plate and ate it without my consent while i was busy sipping my lemonade drink.

“Thanks,” he grinned from ear to ear.

That’s our friendship, we don’t need permission as long as we know that it won’t hurt any of us. And it’s a give and take relationship.

He picked up his barbecue flavored chicken wings and drop it on my plate.

“I thought…”

“Favorite mo yan diba? ‘Di ka kasi naghahanap, meron sa menu!” he teased me.

“Here they are.” biglang sulpot ni Renzo.

“Andito lang pala kayo, kanina pa kaming naghahanap.” pasok ni Lance.

They sit with us on the same table. Nothing beats the friendship of four handsome, hot and foolish men like us.

“I heard you went to the hospital yesterday. Kaya ba hindi natuloy xylo natin kagabi?” Lance asked habang kumakain.

“And where did you heard that?” I asked, confused.

“Sources. You know, you might be a cold hearted guy but a lot of people really admire you.” he became serious.

Dapat ba kong matuwa sa sinabi niya? What they only see is outside. I’m actually an iceberg at the sea, that only tip is visible but deep down I’m actually big and fragile.

“Ako rin naman sikat.” Drake being dramatic is so funny.

“Stop daydreaming.” basag trip ni Renzo.

Drake stop eating. He made an eye contact with Renzo, and started acting like a crybaby.

“Ughh, ang panget naman ng baby na yan.” pangaasar pa ni Renzo habang nakasimangot.

Heto na naman silang dalawa, Drake being the funny guy while Renzo being the serious type. Baka mabalitaan ko na lang nag dadate na pala ‘tong duo na ‘to.

“Kidding aside, bakit ka nasa hospital, Vince?” seryosong tanong ni Drake.

“Because of an accident.”

“Ha? Kelan? Saan? Paano?” sunod-sunod nilang tanong.

“Kalmahan nyo lang.” sigaw ko sabay batok isa-isa sa mga siraulo kong kaibigan.

“Hindi naman ako na aksidente, Actually I saved someone’s life. I rushed a girl on my Auntie’s Hospital yesterday.” pagpapaliwanag ko.

“A girl?” tanong ni Renzo’ng nanlalaki ang mata.

“o baka naman, girlfriend!” pang-aasar ni Drake.

Tumawa ang dalawa at nag high five pa.

“Ano kayang dahilan kung bakit isusugod ni Boss Vince ang girlfriend niya sa Hospital ng kaniyang tita? dahan-dahang tanong ni Drake, nakaka asar yung boses.

“Buntis?” seryosong sagot ni Lance na lalong nagpasigla sa dalawa.

“Buntis raw!” sabay tawa ng malakas ni Drake.

“Vince, ang batang ama.” dagdag pa ni Renzo.

I’m so f*cking done with this guys. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nakakatagal pa ko sa tatlong ‘to, e. Specially kay Drake at Renzo!

Pinipilit kong hindi tumawa dahil lalo lang nila akong pag ti tripan pero hindi mapigilang sumilip ng mga ngiti ko sa labi.

Eto talagang dalawang ‘to una-una pagdating sa mga kalokohan. Hindi mo talaga maiintindihan kung anong pumapasok sa ulo ng mga ‘to, para silang may sariling mundo.

“Girl! Not girlfriend.” I cleared.

“Okay, okay. So what happened?” pagkukunwaring seryoso ni Renzo.

“I was driving kasi yesterday palabas ng University until I saw her walang malay malapit sa Carpark.”

“Actually I’m happy after all those troubles. Ganon pala pakiramdam kapag nakapagligtas ka ng life. I felt like im a real medical student na.” I said, I didn’t notice i was smiling while telling the story.

“I’m glad you’re happy.” Lance flashed a genuine smile. He knows everything I’ve been through.

Perhaps kuya Ken is grinning up there; I may not have saved him, but I'm sure he's glad I was able to save someone's life.

“Nagtext si Coach may practice daw tayo mamaya.” Drake said after checking his phone.

“Nagpaalam na ‘ko, I won’t be able to attend, again.”

“Buti pinayagan ka? I mean marami ka ng namissed na practice games.” Lance uttered.

“Good thing nga mabait si Coach. I have something to attend kasi later after class.” I said.

“Ano yon?“

“You’ll know after ng practice nyo. I’ll text you guys later. Bye!” I winked and left the Cafeteria since my second to the last class is about to start.