The Thomasite

Chapter 2

"Don't tell Mom."

That was the last thing I said before I left Erika in the car. She called my name twice but I never looked back.

Kagabi niya pa akong pilit kinakausap tungkol sa nangyari kagabi. I don't know if she's asking if something happened between me and Seth or if she was asking about my visions. I never told her anything about my visions, though. Not even my own Mom. Pero sinubukan kong kausapin si Mommy dati tungkol doon pero pinainom niya lang ako ng sleeping pills and it never worked.

So, why should I tell Erika or anyone about my visions? Sarili ko ngang ina hindi naniniwala eh.

I immediately found my room. I was greeted by my blockmates. May mga kakilala ako at may mga bago naman sa paningin ko.

Uupo na sana ako ng mahagilap ng mga mata ko si Seth.

Nakaupo siya sa likuran.

Blockmate ko siya?

Oh, God, no.

AB Journalism din siya? Shit.

I looked around at maayos naman ang tingin sa akin ng mga blockmates ko. It's a good thing that he kept his mouth shut or else I'll be damned. Ilang beses ko siyang nahuli na nakatingin sa akin. He's not looking at me like I'm a snack, he looks at me like I'm some kind of a weirdo.

A tall and slender woman came in.
Our professor in Media Law and Ethics.

Nagsiupo na ang mga kaklase ko. Napalingon lahat sa pinto ng may pumasok na estudyante.

"Erika?" BS Biology ang course niya sa pagkakaalam ko. So, what is she doing in the College of Arts and Letters?

Naupo siya sa bakanteng upuan sa likuran ko. "Hi, Camille." She smiled at me like nothing happened earlier.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" The professor started giving out papers containing our syllabus.

"Nag-shift ako." She replied like Biology didn't matter to her. Since we were kids, I'm fully aware that she loves Bio. What the hell happened?

I mouthed, 'why?'

She answered, "I don't want us to be separated."

I ate lunch with Erika. Since may vacant time naman namin ang 1:00-2:00, we've decided to finish doing the requirements to get my COE.

"I still can't believe that you sacrificed Bio just to be with me. I mean-there's no way you're a lesbian-"

She cut me off, "Hindi ako tomboy noh! You may be perfect and everything pero hindi ako maiinlove sayo! Jusko naman, Camille. Mahiya ka naman."

I laughed at her reaction. "That was a joke. Nabigla lang talaga ako" Nagbayad na ako sa cashier at naupo kami para antayin yung receipt. "O baka naman may bet ka dun sa block namin?"

She rolled her eyes, "Oh, I wish."

Nakuha ko na yung receipt and the last step to get my COE is to go back to the registrar.

"Is there a possibility that you shifted courses just to ask me about last night?"

Napatigil naman siya sa paglalakad. "Let's see. Tell me."

I grinned, "Ayoko"

Bumalik kami sa room kasi wala pa raw yung registrar. Bumalik na lang daw ako ng 5 PM. Not a minute late, not a minute earlier.

Erika said once again, "Tell me when you're ready"

I replied with a devilish smile, "There's no way I would tell you."