Sinking Deep (GL)

CHAPTER 13

"Were you heading to cafeteria?" she asked, still holding my hand.

"Yes Ma'am, maglu-lunch po." I answered.

"I'm going to the professor's cafeteria, but since you're here, let's go to the student's cafeteria," she said, smiling.

"Wait, there's a separate cafeteria for professors?" I asked, feeling a bit puzzled.

"Yes, didn't you know about it?" she replied.

"No, I had no idea," I admitted.

"It's a cafeteria exclusively for professors, where they can have their lunch in peace," she explained.

"Bakit nag-lunch kayo nun sa cafeteria ng mga students?" I inquired.

"Because I wanted to see you," she said, winking playfully.

Nanghamblot pa siya ng mga kasama para makita ako ta's ʼyong kasama niya ayaw naman ako makita tapos ʼyong isa nababagot, kitang kita naman e naaalala ko.

Kinuyog niya ako, "let's go" she commanded as she holds my hand guiding me through the hallway papuntang cafeteria. Wala akong magawa kaya magpahatak nalang din.

Malapit na kami sa cafeteria nang makasalubong namin si Ma'am Rhea at Sir Montejo, magkasama but this time hindi sila magkahawak ng kamay. Kami ni Ma'am Vivien ang magkahawak ng kamay.

Nang malapit na kami sa kanila ay nararamdaman mo ang nakakapaso niyang tingin sa akin, she then moved her gazes onto my hand kung saan hawak ni Ma'am Vivien.

Halos magkasalubong ang kilay niya nang tiningnan niya ako ulit, pagkakuway binom-bastic side eye niya si Ma'am Vivien and rolled her eyes.

Napapansin ko ang mga ʼyon kasi nasa kanya lang naman ang attention ko.

"Crixel? I thought you already have lunch?" tanong ni Sir Montejo.

Pagkasalita ni Sir Montejo ay napatingin ako dito at inalis na ang tingin sa babaeng parang sinusunog ako sa mga tingin niya.

"Not yet but I'll have lunch with Ms. Mercedez," sagot ni Ma'am Vivien.

Pagkarinig ni Ma'am Rhea ay napatingin ulit ito sakin, her intense gaze on me again.

Tiningnan ako ni Sir Montejo saka nagsalita, "Napapansin kong napapaamo mo na ʼyang si Ma'am Crixel mo," ngising sabi niya sakin.

Ngumiti lang ako nang pilit kasi hindi ko kinakaya ang tingin sakin ng isa d'yan.

"Well I guess? she's the only exception," Ma'am Vivien replied.

Upon hearing it, Ma'am Rhea linked her wrist with Sir Montejo's arm, "Let's go, Gab, I'm hungry."

I saw how she linked her arms on him. Nasaktan na naman ako. In response, I tightly held Ma'am Vivien's hand, making it quite evident.

Ikaw lang ba marunong?

Her eyebrows furrowed as she locked her intense gaze on me and my hand, which was now tightly holding Ma'am Vivien's hand.

I noticed how she clenched her jaw and averted her gaze from me.

"Aʼright, let's go?" tanong ni Sir Montejo kay Ma'am Rhea.

"Yeah," tipid na sagot nito sa lalaki saka tumango.

Napatingin si Ma'am Vivien sa kamay kong siya ang humawak kanina but now ako na ang humahawak dito. She smiled, a gentle and full of hope smile.

I smiled back, I couldn't ignore her evident smile.

Lalagpasan na namin sila Ma'am Rhea at Sir Montejo and same as them na lalagpasan kami. As we walked, Ma'am Rhea was on the left side of Sir Montejo, and I found myself on the right side of Ma'am Vivien. Ma'am Vivien guided me to her left side to pass them, and as they passed us on the right side, I felt Ma'am Rhea's hand briefly caress mine before they moved ahead of us. Naramdaman ko ang malamig niyang kamay na dumapo saglit sa kamay ko.