KABANATA 1

BAWAT apak ko sa daan ay para rin akong lumilipad. I woke up later than my supposed schedule that's why, right now, I'm like going somewhere like a bat out of hell.

Marie is the reason why this happened and for sure, I'll make sure to have my sweet revenge for her later.

Darn it! I'll just wish that by the time I reach the classroom, he's not there...or he won't notice me!

I glanced at my watch. Hell, I was running pretty late. With each step, my excitement mounted.

What? Excitement? I am supposed to feel the opposite!

Come on, Via!

Inikot ko ang hallway at parang tumakbo ako ng ilang karera sa tambol ng puso ko. Inayos ko nang bahagya ang aking buhok at tiningnan ang sarili sa salamin. Medyo haggard ang mukha ko kaya mabilis akong nagpowder at naglagay lang ng konting tint sa magkabilang pisngi pati na rin sa labi.

Tumikhim ako nang makontento na sa aking hitsura. Naalala ko na naman si Marie. Humanda talaga sa akin iyon mamaya. Late na talaga ako!

Wala naman talaga akong pakialam kung malate ako. Pero…may malalim na rason kung bakit ayaw ko malate ngayon!

I gulped as I reached the corridors and saw the classroom number. The slightly tinted window makes me more anxious especially since my footsteps echoed through the empty corridor.

To be honest, he was the reason why I eagerly enrolled for this literature course. At oo, dahil sa kaniya, irregular ang schedule ko this sem! Ibinagsak ko ba naman ang literature class ko nang malaman kong siya ang magiging prof this semester.

Don't judge me, people! Sometimes, love changes some concrete decisions.

I saw him first in the school’s magazine which was dated 4 years ago sa library namin. Their family owned this school plus they also owned a publishing company kaya no wonder he will also have the same track as his family. Crush na crush ko na talaga siya since I first saw his picture. In fact, ginupit ko pa nga ang page na iyon sa magazine kung saan andoon ang mukha niya para may remembrance ako sa aking crush incase na ga-graduate na ako. I’m already on my 3^rd year so probably, next sem I’d be busy na kaya hindi ko na siya makikita pa.

And, indeed, I am not wrong. As I listened to him speak about his love of literature, I found myself in awe of the man I had only ever encountered on the pages of catalogs. Nakakahawa ang pagiging magaling niya at hindi ko mapigilang kiligin kahit nasa labas lang ako ng room.

Tumikhim ulit ako at kinatok ang pinto ng room. Suddenly, his voice trailed off and I held my breath as his footsteps drew near. Malakas ang nagging tibok ng puso ko. Mas malakas pa yata kesa noong kaninang tumakbo ako mula sa gate hanggang dito sa 4^th floor ng building. Suddenly, the door opened, revealing a dazzling Greek God standing before me.

“Napakaguwapo, putangina!” mura ko sa isip ko.

"Good morning, prof!" As I confidently exclaimed. I felt a rush of excitement as if I could take flight.

"Are you in this class, Miss?" he asked, eyeing me curiously.

I nodded, maintaining eye contact. He tilted his head to the side, gesturing for me to enter.

"On your first day of class and already making a scene… Miss Dela Vega,” he said, scanning my ID and then my face.

Napanguso ako at napansin ang pag-ismid ng mga kaklase sa aking bold entrance.

As I settled into the empty seat at the back, nalungkot ako at isinumpa na naman si Marie sa aking isipan. I longed for a better view of him, but my current position wouldn't offer that luxury. Sayang! Hindi bale, next time, sisiguraduhin kong teacher’s pet ako! Tapos aalagaan ko siya, char!

He continued his interrupted self-introduction. His passion for literature was simply intoxicating, and I found myself hanging on his every word. Amidst the whirlwind of introductions and course expectations, I couldn't help but feel like I was falling for him.

Finally, after the bell rang, I gathered my belongings and made my way out, feeling giddy and hopeful for the next class — and the chance to be near him again.

Iyon ang naging simula ng lahat. I admit, boring talaga ang mag-aral, but thanks to my charming and attractive professor, parang naka-jackpot ako! Gusto ko tuloy magpasalamat sa mga langit para sa swerteng ito? Or I must say...destiny?

Nagising ako sa pagd-daydream nang bumagsak ang notebook ni Marie sa aking mukha. With a smirk on my face, I returned to my cringe-worthy literature assignment, trying my best to focus on the task at hand.

“Ano ba! Nagh-homework ‘yong tao, e!”

Napansin ni Shan ang distraction ko kaya hindi niya napigilan ang pang-aasar sa akin, "Tao ba iyan? Para kang demonyong nakangisi habang nakatingin diyan sa bintana!"

“Hindi, ‘no!” sagot ko pero, deep down I knew the truth. My mind was consumed with thoughts of Professor Ethan Reynolds.

But they knew better. They teased me about my admiration for Professor Ethan Reynolds, the young and captivating professor whose class I have been dreaming of for months.

Noon, pinapangarap ko lang siya. Ngayon halos aabutin ko na lang!

"Hoy, Marie! Huwag mong kalimutang mag alarm kapag aalis ka. Hindi ko kayang ma-late ulit. Kailangan kong patunayan kay Ethan na responsable akong estudyante," diin ko sabay turo sa kaniya.

She playfully tossed a pillow at me. "Ethan, ha? Ethan na lang? Wala nang 'Professor' term, Via? Nawawalan ka na ng respeto, girl!"

Pilya akong ngumiti. "Oh, don't worry, ‘baby’ na iyan sa susunod,” asar ko, Their reactions were priceless, both cringing at my words.

“Malala ka na! Hindi na kita kayang ipagtanggol!” si Shanti at tinapunan ako ng unan niya.

The next day, pushing the door open, I stepped into the lecture hall. Pumili ako ng upuan malapit sa harap. Of course, it has a better view for MY professor! I grin inwardly, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

As the minutes ticked by, the room gradually filled with chattering students. Sa tuwing may naririnig akong nag-uusap tungkol kay Ethan, sinisigurado kong titig na titig ako sa kanila hanggang sa mapansin nila. Kapag napansin nila, iikot na lang din nila ang kanilang mga mata.

Tusukin ko mga mata niyo e!

Nang bumukas ang pintuan ay parang humiwalay sa akin ang aking dibdib.

Dressed in a crisp white shirt and a charcoal-gray blazer, he exuded confidence and charisma. His dark eyes swept over the room, and a warm smile curved his lips as he began to speak.

"Good morning, everyone," he said, his voice smooth and melodic.

Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko habang nakikinig sa usapan. I don't care kung isipin nila masyado akong blunt or what. Basta makuha ko ang atensyon ng pinakamamahal kong si Ethan, ayos lang sa akin. At least, hindi ako katulad ng ibang babae na maganda lang ang mukha - I'm his devoted admirer with substance to spare!

Sa paglipas ng ilang linggo, natagpuan ko ang aking sarili na lubos na nabighani sa mga lektyur ni Propesor Reynolds. Ibig kong sabihin, sinong hindi? Pero let's be real, hindi lang sa mga lecture niya ang na-hook ako. It’s him!

I was an active participant in his classes, always striving to impress him, but all I ever got in return were a few polite words and a round of applause.

It was frustrating, to say the least.

Despite my best efforts, I couldn't seem to catch his eye. He remained as stern and unyielding as ever. 

"Siguro hindi niya type ang mga babaeng kasing edad mo," alok sa akin ni Shan ang isang beer, sinusubukan akong pasayahin.

Kinagat ko ang aking mga labi at walang humpay na naghagis ng maliit na bato sa ilog. "I even dropped this subject last semester para lang mapansin niya ako. Kung alam ko lang..."

"Baka naghahanap siya ng mas mature," sabi ni Marie, binigyan ako ng mahinang sampal sa braso at tumawa.

"Kung ganoon e ‘di hahanapin ko lang siya ng sugar mommy!" I joked, but deep down I knew it was unlikely that he would ever be interested in me.

"I met someone at the club who's looking for a date for the ball. Gusto mo bang ibigay ko sa kan’ya ang number mo?" tanong sakin ni Shan.

Napatingin ako sa kan’ya, hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot ko. Humagikgik si Shan.

"Huwag kang mag-alala, Via. Baka hindi interesado sa love ngayon si Professor Reynolds, kahit na nilalandi landi mo siya. Who knows, baka iba ang type no’n or career oriented talaga?"

Tumango si Marie, nag-aalok ng kanyang suporta. "Don't settle, Via. Hindi lang si Professor Ethan Reynolds ang tao doon. You're a gem, and you deserve someone who can give you what you're looking for."

As much as I hated to admit it, Marie was right. Ethan wasn't interested in me, and it was time to move on.