#CTG01 Chapter 01

"Bakit ganyan itsura mo? Mataas naman grades mo," Rory said. I quickly threw the booklet inside my bag and grabbed my codal and began reading again. 86. Not good enough. Too low for my dad... but of course Rory would not understand me because she has an understanding father... and a supportive boyfriend.

I had my family... but they weren't as supportive as one would hope... but I guess they're fine... They motivate me to work harder... because if not, baka palayasin ako sa bahay.

I was religiously trying to memorize every word in the codal, but Yago sat beside Rory. I badly wanted to stuff his mouth with papers to permanently shut him up. I didn't care if he wanted to talk all day long... My problem was that he's always near me. Hindi ako makapag-aral! Hindi siya nauubusan ng sasabihin!

I harshly stood up and walked out of the door. Ang ingay! Pumunta ako sa pinaka-sulok ng hall at saka doon nagmemorize. The midterm grades were already out... And for some, my grades might be good... But I wasn't some. I needed to be the best. That was the only option.

I was on my third round of reciting the provisions when my professor arrived. Mabilis akong naglakad pabalik sa classroom. The recitation began as soon as our professor finished checking the attendance. I was praying na sana matawag na ako dahil nag-aral naman ako... but as my luck would have it, I wasn't called for recitation.

"Cha, sama ka?" Rory asked.

"No."

Tumawa siya. "Grabe? Hindi pa nga ako nagsasabi kung saan."

"Nope, not interested," I said as I grabbed my things. I was aware of where they'd go—to the Chinese resto near our school kung saan madalas silang kumakaing apat. It's like some double date, so why the hell would I join them?

"Sige na?"

"No," I said.

"Magkaaway ba kayo ni Katherine?" Rory whispered.

"No," I replied. Just because we're not friends didn't mean we're enemies. She just wasn't comfortably around me... so that made me uncomfortable around her, too. She looks at me like I'd jump on Jax anytime. Ano'ng tingin niya sa akin? Hayop na walang control?

Jax doesn't like me.

And I value myself enough not to make myself look pathetic by pining over someone who's already with somebody else. Wala namang shortage sa lalaki, as far as I am concerned.

"Then sama ka na sa amin? Libre ko na! Sumama ka na, please!"

"Mag-aaral ako."

"Walang pasok bukas!"

"So? Excuse ba 'yun para hindi mag-aral?"

"Gusto mo bang ma-burnout?" Rory asked. "Come on... Two hours lang, promise. Ihahatid ka pa namin ni Yago pabalik dito sa school if gusto mo talagang mag-aral ulit."

I looked at Rory. She's unbearable. Kagaya ni Yago. No wonder they're together.

I knew she wouldn't shut up about this and would probably make it her life's mission to get me to eat dinner with them, so I conceded. Sabay-sabay kaming naglakad papunta sa parking. Nauna akong sumabay kina Yago at Rory dahil pinuntahan pa ni Jax si Katherine para hintayin.

I sat on the back of Yago's car and crossed my arms.

"May papakilala ako sa 'yo," Rory said.

"Not interested," I replied.

"Grabe! Gwapo at saka matalino!"

"Busy ako."

"Busy din siya mag-aral! Med student!"

"Nope."

"Ano ba'ng type mo?" Rory asked and she continued to interrogate me hanggang sa makarating kami sa resto. She's so talkative! Sa susunod, kapag nagdismiss, dapat dumiretso na akong lumabas para hindi na ako nahahatak sa ganitong bagay. I could've read a chapter by now instead of engaging in this pointless conversation with Rory.

"Hintayin muna natin sina Jax bago tayo mag-order," Rory said. "Gusto mo ba engineer? Doctor? Lawyer? Judge? Ano?"

Huminga ako nang malalim. God. Patience.

"I don't need to be in a relationship right now, Rory."

She smiled. "Di naman in a relationship agad... Friends muna... Malay mo..."

I ignored her and just grabbed the glass of water and drank it until it's finished. Thankfully, Yago was there to entertain Rory. I grabbed my codal and quietly read as we were waiting for Jax and Katherine.

"Tagal niyo!" Rory said.

"Sorry," Katherine replied. She looked at me and her eyes widened a little... as if naman gusto kong nandito ako. Hinatak lang naman ako ni Rory. She should be mad at Rory. And she should really start trusting Jax. That guy only has eyes for her.

"Iñigo!" Rory said.

"Sorry. May paper kasi kami ni Kitty," he said.

Katherine smiled warily. "Sinama ko siya, ha? Si Jax kasi ang kulit, e. May gagawin kaming paper ni Iñigo sa Legres kaya sinama ko na si Iñigo dito..."

I began to ignore everyone at this point and re-focused my attention on my codal. My grade in Insurance wasn't what I wanted. I needed higher grade if I wanted to continue staying in the star section. I didn't want to know what my dad would say kapag nalaman niya na napunta ako sa regular section.

I was saw him punch my brother when he got delayed from his graduation in med school... I didn't want that for myself.

As soon as the food arrived, I ate quickly. It's only 6:30 and 10pm pa naman magsasara iyong library. I could finish by 7pm and be back at the lib at 7:30.

"Mabulunan ka naman," Rory said. "Nga pala... Magkakilala ba kayo ni Iñigo?"

I looked at the guy sitting across me. He was looking at me like he was trying to place where he saw me. I forced myself not to roll my eyes at him. I'd seen him a lot of times in the hallway... but I guess I wasn't that striking for him to remember.

"No," I answered just to cut his misery.

"Oh!" Rory said, clapping her hands. "Cha, si Iñigo. Iñigo, si Cha." I simply nodded at him and finished my last hakaw before reaching for my wallet and placing money on the table.

"Aalis ka na?" Rory asked.

"Yup."

Tumayo na ako. They were all watching my move. Bakit ba kasi ako nandito?! This felt so weird!

"Sabay na tayo?" Iñigo offered.

"No, thanks," I replied.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Rory. "Sabay na kayo! Same naman kayong sa school babalik yata?"

Iñigo nodded. "Yup," he said, then looked at Katherine. I almost rolled my eyes when I saw how his eyes almost twinkled when he looked at Katherine. Nakita ko rin kung paano hinawakan ni Jax iyong kamay ni Katherine sa ibabaw ng lamesa nang mangyari iyon.

"Send ko sa messenger mamaya 'yung link nung sa gdocs," Iñigo said.

Katherine nodded. "Okay. Text mo rin ako para makapag-online ako. Magsesend ako ng link ng source."

While they were busy talking, I took that as my cue to quietly slip. I didn't want to ride in Iñigo's car. We're not friends. And I didn't like owing strangers.

Nasa labas ako at naghihintay na makapagbook ng sasakyan nang mapa-talon ako nang may magsalita sa tabi ko.

"Did I offend you or something?" he asked.

"No," I said. My hand was on my chest, trying to calm myself down dahil sa gulat sa bigla niyang pagsasalita sa tabi ko.

"Then why do I feel like you're mad at me?"

"That's just your imagination," I said.

"Totoo? Kung tignan mo ako kanina, parang gusto mo akong patayin," sabi niya na natatawa.

"Importante ka ba para patayin ko?"

Mas lalo siyang natawa. "Oo nga naman... But I'm Iñigo Borromeo, you are?"

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. The hell! Why was I pissed that he didn't remember me? I didn't want him to remember me! But I was always with Jax back during first sem and he's always with Katherine. Palagi kaming nagkaka-salubong sa hall.

"See... that murderous look on your face again."

"Can you please just leave me? Hindi ako sasabay sa sasakyan mo," sabi ko sa kanya sabay pakita na naka-kuha na ako ng sasakyan pabalik sa school.

Tumawa siya. "Wala akong sasakyan," he said. "Mukha ba akong mayaman?"

I subtly studied him. He's wearing white polo shirt, black maong pants, and brown oxford shoes. He looked like one of those boys who call their daddies when they get in trouble.

"Sasabay sana ako sa 'yo para hati tayo sa pamasahe."

"Close tayo?"

"Pwede naman."

I stared him down. He laughed.

"Come on... Ang liit ng college of law... Can't we be friends?"

"Mas matanda ako sa 'yo."

"Ilang taon ka na ba?"

I didn't want to answer that. I skipped a few year levels. I graduated early... but I didn't want to tell people that I'm young. I felt like they'd treat me differently... respect me less...

"I'm your senior," I said instead.

"Well, then I'm your junior... Be nice?" he asked.

Thankfully, I didn't have to respond to that question because a car pulled over in front of me. I knocked on the driver's window and asked him if he knows my name. When he verified my identity, doon lang ako pumasok sa sasakyan. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang pumasok din si Iñigo doon.

Seriously! What's with the people around me and their inability to comprehend my words? Kapag sinabi kong ayoko, ibig sabihin, ayaw ko. I wasn't playing a game or being vague.

"Get your own ride!" I said, annoyed.

"Share na tayo? Hahatian naman kita sa bayad."

"I don't want your money."

"Please? Kailangan ko ng maka-balik agad sa school, e."

Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko at huminga nang malalim. Inner peace... I needed you right now.

"Fine," I said through gritted teeth. I should've really gone for the break and ran to the library. None of this would've happened kung nasa library ako at nag-aaral.

Because Iñigo startled me when I was booking the ride, instead na sa mismong harap kami ng SCA bumaba, medyo may kalayuan pa iyong napagbabaan kami. Kailangan ko pa tuloy makasama ang isang 'to.

"May tip ka ba d'yan sa Crim Law 2?" he asked while we were walking.

"Wala."

"Sungit? Classmate ka nila Jax, 'di ba? Ibig sabihin matalino ka rin."

"So? Ano'ng kinalaman nun sa 'yo?"

Tumawa siya. "Baka may tips ka sa Crim. Ang hirap, e."

"Magdrop ka na kung mahirap."

Tumawa na naman siya. "Ang seryoso mo naman masyado."

"Pakielam mo? Naaapektuhan ba 'yung buhay mo?"

He laughed again. Entertainment na ba ako ngayon?

"Ano na lang pangalan mo?" he asked and before I could reply, he said, "Hindi maaapektuhan ang buhay ko, pero hindi ako makaka-tulog sa curiosity."

I was rolling my eyes so hard. Did he have short term memory? I was just introduced to him earlier. Cha. One syllable. Bakit hindi niya matandaan?

Wala naman akong pakielam.

Ano naman kung 'di niya matandaan? Sino ba siya?

"Ayaw mong sabihin? Itatanong ko rin naman kay Kitty mamaya, so might as well tell me your name," he said, smiling while we were walking.

I heaved out a heavy breath. "Fine. It's Charisse Faith—" But I was unable to finish my name because a car stopped in front of us, and suddenly, Iñigo's on the ground, unconscious because someone broke a bottle against his head.