Chapter 5

"The deadline of your thesis will be next month, after sem break. Will that be enough?"

Ani ni sir that made the whole class complain. 

"Sir naman! Finals na this week eh and may school fest pa. 1 month is not enough pa din po." 

Angal ni Sam na katabi ko lang. Nagsi tanguan naman ang mga kaklase ko bilang pag sang ayon at rinig pa din ang iba't ibang komento galing sa kanila.

"Okay guys stop! Stop!" 

He shouted kaya nanahimik ang lahat.

"This week is your finals okay, pero you are all aware that you don't have to take the exam on this subject, thanks to Ms. Sarmento." 

Dugtong niya pa na tumingin sa gawi ko bago magsalita uli.

"We made it clear na exempted kayong lahat it's because Ms. Sarmento won the competition last month. If you can't agree that 1 month is not enough for your thesis, then expect a 3.0 grade."

Diretso niyang sagot kaya ang lahat ay nanahimik. Ilang minuto din ang nakalipas bago ko namalayan na nakatingin na pala lahat ng mga kaklase ko sa'kin. Iisa lang ang ibig sabihin ng tingin na 'yan. 

I chuckled, kahit kailan talaga.

Tinaas ko ang kamay at nagsalita.

"I completely agree with them sir, this kind of thesis really needs enough time to assure that we can make the best, I mean it's always been quality over quantity sir right?" 

I smiled.

"You really are agree with them Ms. President?" 

He chuckles and I nod.

Natawa nalang siya sa amin. Alam niyang nag papaawa lang ang mga kaklase ko sa akin. 

"Okay, 1 month and a half. If who's paper will be chosen will be the one to present it to the panel. Hindi kayo lahat ang makakapag present niyan as break niyo naman na 'yan so I'll choose with the best paper." 

"And, hindi lang basta-basta mga professors ang panel diyan, expect deans from other universities. It is actually a bunos competition. If nanalo kayo, you don't have to give a hard time seeking for a job after you graduate. They will appoint you to their company and hospitals. The EC firm hope." 

Literal na napanganga ang lahat sa sinabi niya.

"Kaya galingan niyo sa ipapasa niyong papers ha? I've been trusting you for years kaya wag niyong sayangin ang ganitong opportunity. Good luck students!" 

He wave his hands before going outside.

D-did he just said EC Firm Hope!? 

Geez that one has a high-end standards! Hindi sila nagpapapasok bigla-bigla ng mga applicants. 

The main building of EC Firm is currently located in Laguna. May EC firm din sa iba't ibang lugar, wala nga lang dito sa Cebu. 

That firm is so damn famous! They even ranked 5 out of million firms in the world! 

EC Firm Hope was known for their all in all building. If I say all, as in lahat ng building ng isang professional ay nandoon na. Bali mukha pa din itong university na may department, lahat ng course ay nando'n. That Firm has their own hospital that is located near at their building. That building was made for all the doctors and nurse that are working for EC Firm. 

They had high standards kaya naman ay piling tao lang din ang nakakapasa sa mga requirements nila for application. Kaya habang college pa lang ay marami ng nagpupursigi upang makapasok sa firm na 'yon.

Sam, Grey and I wanted to submit an application there, pangarap namin makapasok do'n. At ang plano pa nga namin ay kung may isa mang makapasok doon ay walang samaan ng loob. We really go for the same dream and supported each other. 

"Woah! Cancel out na plans ko sa summer break! I will assure to all of you that my paper will be chosen." 

Rinig kong sabi ng isa kong kaklase na si Amber.

She's known to be one of the most competitive student here in university. 

"Ep ep! Count me in, I can't let someone else get my spot." 

Agaw eksena namang puna ni Sam at nagtawanan lang ang lahat. 

We are 70 in the class pero lahat naman kami ay friends ang turing sa isa't isa. It's just that Sam is the only one who's close to me. Kahit naman the department of CAS is known as the competitive one ay never namin pinaramdam sa klase that our stay here in University of Cebu is not a competition, we just wanted to win because after all, we are aiming for high, para once step closer nalang kami in reaching our goals.

"By the way, thank you Pres." Rinig kong sabi ni Lyla, Secretary namin. 

Narinig at nakita ko ang mga pasasalamat ng kaklase at nagsi ngitian sa akin. 

"Nah, every president's duty." I smirked and we just laughed. 

Nagtaka ako ng nagsi upuan silang lahat na animo'y mga batang pinagalitan. Pagka lingon ko sa pintuan ay wala namang professor namin na darating. 

Narinig kong nagtilian ang iilan sa mga babae sa room at nilingon ko kung saan nanggagaling ang mga tingin nila.

Kaya naman pala ay ang mga engineering student ay andito sa department namin. Ang layo ng department nila sa department namin kaya nagtaka ako kung bakit nandito ang mga 'yan.

Ipinasawalang bahala ko nalang 'yon at kinuha nalang ang libro upang mag review. 

Mga ilang minuto rin ang lumipas at walang tigil akong kinukurot ni Sam sa taligiran ko. 

Ang kaninang nanghihiyawan ko lang na mga kaklase ay sinobrahan pa ang lakas ng boses niyon. Anong meron ba? 

Nang magtama ang tingin ko sa hallway ay siya ring pagtama ng mga mata namin ni Grey.

He smiles and waves his hands.

Para akong mabibingi sa lakas ng hiyawan sa room. Alam kong si Grey ang dahilan no'n. 

Kusang napako ang buong katawan ko sa kinauupan ng maglakad ang lalaki sa pwesto ko.

W-what was t-that? Why I've been feeling like this! 

Like he's the only man in my eyes! He's so handsome to be true! 

Papalapit na papalapit siya at malapit na rin sumabog ang puso ko.

H-how can he do this acting like nothing's going on, while I'm running out of breath suffocating by his presence! 

"Hey." His smile widen pagkalapit niya.

"A-ahh h-hey. Oo." 

I sniffed. Umayos ka Mira!

He chuckles at nagulat ako ng pumantay siya ng upo sa'kin saka tinignan ako.

W-what is this? What is he doing? 

Nagulat ako ng galawin niya ang paa ko at kinuha 'yon sa sapatos ko.

"Okay at least I can now breath a lot. Okay na ang mga paa mo. Did you take your medicine this morning?" 

Usal pa niya sabay ngiti that made his dimples visible. 

"A-ah oo oo." 

Even how I tried to calm myself but my voice were really betraying me! 

Binalik na niya ang sapatos ko sa paa at may inilagay na canned juice sa lamesa. 

"Ano 'to?"

"Tsk, juice?"

I hissed of his answer. Aba, kanina lang ay ang ganda ng ngiti nito ah.

"Alam ko. I mean, para saan?" 

I furrowed my brows as I looked at him dumbfounded.

"Nah, just enjoy it." 

He turned his back and started walking out of the room. 

"Aba! Minsan ay nasobrahan ka sa tamis tapos ngayon ay nasobrahan ka naman ng katabangan sa katawan mo!" 

Sigaw ko na nakapag patawa sa kanya and looked at me seriously.

"Just drink it okay? Tsk cinut ko pa ang class ko dahil prinank ako ng mga taga Engineering napaano ka daw."

He sighed.

"Well, now that I know that it's just a prank. I can.. At least go now?" 

Kibit balikat pa niya at tumalikod muli. 

He waves his right hand while his left hand placed on his pocket.

H-ha? Ano daw? Teka ang gulooo! 

So hindi lang siya pumunta dito kasi gusto niya lang? Pero dahil prinank siya ng mga taga Engineering na may nangyari sa'king masama?

Pero bakit gagawin nila 'yon? 

Narinig ko ang mga samo't saring hiyawan galing sa aking mga kaklase.

"Woaahh! Pres ang sweet ni Grey!" 

Tili pa ni Amber.

"Char ang sweet ng mga walang label oh! Oo." 

Pangungulit pa ni Lyla.

"Ay naka ngiti ang bakla oh! Sige na, sige na guys bumalik na kayo sa inuupuan niyo. Time for the next class na." 

Sambit pa ni Sam.

Natawa nalang ako dahil alam niya talaga kung paano pahintuin ang mga kaklase sa pangangatyaw sa'kin.

"May nasagap akong chismis!" 

Bulong niya pa.

"Ang chismosa Sam ah?" 

I chuckled.

"Tungkol kay Grey." 

Nawala ang ngiti ko ng sumeryoso ang mukha nito nang banggitin ang pangalan ng lalaki.

"Oh kita mo, basta kay Grey talaga ang lakas ng pandinig mo!" 

Tawa niya pa at pabiro ko nalang siyang binatukan.

"The engineering students were told to prank Grey." 

Panimula niya pa and I furrowed my brows after hearing that.

"Wait, it doesn't makes sense. I mean, why would they do that? We're not high school anymore to make pranks! Lalo na't malapit na finals natin."

This is confusing me!

"Uso ang makinig noh? Patapusin mo muna kasi ako Mira!"

She shouted jokingly.

"The reason behind that..it's because the youngest daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Lamejo were here, in our university." 

She smiles and my eyes widened.

D-did she just said Mr.& Mrs. Lamejo!?

Tinignan ko si Samantha to confirm what I've been thinking.

"Yup." 

So dim! Really? 

Mr. & Mrs. Lamejo were so damn famous! Imagine that they owned EC Firm Hope!

"So dim Samantha! Were are they!?" 

Para nang mapupunit ang labi ko sa sobrang pagka ngiti at sobrang pagka excite!

I mean, sino ba ang hindi ganito ang mag react kung alam mong iniidolo mo ang kompanya nila at gustong-gusto ko talagang makapasok kami nina Sam at Grey doon.

"Ep ep! Patapusin mo muna kasi ang kwento."

She tries to calm me dahil parang magwawala na talaga ako sa sobrang excitement. 

"So 'yon na nga. The youngest daughter tries to meddled with the engineering students. We are all aware naman na hindi pa na e-expose ang mukha nito sa medya kaya we can't recognize her face yet. Just so you know sina Ken, kapag may nakikitang chiks 'yon eh go agad. The girl felt being insulted kaya nagpakilala nga ito. As for punishment, she asked to prank someone sa law department na pinaka matalino na lalaki kasi ayaw niya daw sa babae." 

She paused for awhile to drink her water and continues.

"So it's a good thing din na papunta ang lahat ng engineering students sa field at dinaanan nalang si Grey and made him believed that something bad happened sa'yo." 

Okay.. 

So that's why Grey came to me suddenly? 

"As for Grey, ayon kausap na niya ang youngest heiress ng EC Firm."

My eyes grew bigger dahil sa narinig.

"Ang dayaaa! Where are they Sam?" 

I asked dumbfounded.

"Nando'n sa Dean's office."

Kibit balikat niya namang tugon.

Eh? 

"Puntahan natin Sam." 

Aya ko pa sa kaibigan.

"I already saw her. Actually I've encountered her once." 

Her eyes twinkled as she continue to describe how they meet. 

"Ang dadaya niyo." 

Naka simangot ko pang tugon at suminghap nalang na umayos sa pagkaka upo. Siguro hindi ito ang tamang oras upang makilala ko ng personal ang isa sa mga tagapag mana ng Firm na 'yon.

I sighed.

"Cr lang ako, 'di ka sasama?" 

Aniya.

"Dito na lang ako. Bilisan mo nalang dahil magpapaturo pa akong mag drawing, remember?"

She nods in response and I smiled. 

Binuklat ko nalang uli ang libro at sinubukang mag focus uli sa binabasang topic.

Ilang minuto na ang lumipas ng hindi pa din bumabalik si Sam kaya lumabas na muna ako para makapag lakad-lakad at para masundan siya.

Ilang minuto ko ring nilakad ang hallway bago naka punta sa mga cubicles.

Walang kahit na anong bakas o anino man lang sa presensya ni Sam. Tinawag ko pa ito ng pumasok sa loob. 

Nagkibit balikat na lang ako at dumiretso na pabalik ng room namin.

Habang naglalakad ay nakita ko sa di kalayuan ang isang pamilyar na pigura kaya naglakad ako papalapit ngunit napahinto rin ng mapansing may kausap itong babae.

"Just think of it Grey. You're so damn qualified in our Firm. Matatangap ka do'n as quick as possible pagkatapos mong grumaduate ng college."

Usal pa ng babaeng kaharap niya.

Kahit bata pa ito ay nakikita ko kung paano na ito mag isip. Some people may find it bastos sa pamamaraan ng pagkasabi niya no'n na para bang kaedad lang niya ang lalaking kaharap. But it's not actually like that. I can sense her respect with elegance while talking to someone. 

"I do really appreciate your offer Miss but I don't want my mother's decision this time. I want to earn my keep so I would like to strive hard for it." 

He respond formally.

"Okay, okay. I will respect that. But tell me or just call the company if you changed your mind hmm, okay?" 

She smiles at walang pasabing niyakap si Grey.

I stunned of what she did.

My tears began to formed and my heart skips. 

It began carrying the emotions inside.

As I saw how Grey responds to the girl's hug, my heart carries the burden. 

It's not because I'm jealous. 

No.

It's because how I saw Grey longing for a sibling.

Grey and I grew up together and I knew a lot of him. Almost everything.

Kahit hindi niya sinasabi, alam kung gustong gusto niya magkaroon ng kapatid. 

He never experienced that.

And seeing him hugging the girl makes me feel his emotions.

  

At least now, kahit hindi niya man ito totoong kapatid, I know that he's happy with the kind of embrace that the kid is giving.

An embrace in the arms of a sister..

Like how Grey embraced me as one..