Nagring na yung bell. Lunch na.

“Winter.”

“Yes, po?”

“Lunch na.”

“Ahh sige po may tinatapos lang ako.” Bakit feeling ko hindi maglulunch tong batang to. 

Winter is 22, you’re 23, stop calling her bata. I reminded myself.

“Ilang minutes pa yan?”

“Po?”

“Ilang minutes pa bago ka maglunch?”

“5 minutes po.” Parang umisip lang sya ng random na number at inaddan ng minutes

“Okay, I will wait for you. Samahan mo ako sa canteen ha? Hindi ko pa saulo yung mga location ng facilities here.” Alam ko na naman kung san yung canteen pero feeling ko talaga di sya maglulunch so isasama ko na lang sya. I also don’t know why I need to make sure na kakain sya ng lunch.

Hindi ka nya Mommy. Again, I reminded myself.

“Tapos na po.” Winter said.

“Okay, tara na.”

I brought my wallet and sabay kaming lumabas ng room. “You’re not going to bring anything?”

“Ahh ito pong ID namin, tinatap lang sya sa machine to buy lunch.”

She showed me her ID. I checked the back and nakaattach din ang isa pa nyang ID.

“Driver’s license? Nagddrive ka na?”

“Yes po.”

“Since when?”

“3 years ago po Miss”

“Wow, I also got my driver’s license 3 years ago. You like driving?”

“Yes po. Healing in a way.”

“Agreed.”

Malayo nga pala yung canteen.

“Ito na po yung canteen.” Tinuro nya sakin kung saan kukuha ng mga utensils at food, at kung saan magbabayad. 

“Where are you going?” I noticed na parang iiwan nya ko.

“Balik na po ako sa classroom?”

“You’re not eating?” I asked.

“Uhmm…”

“Eat with me.” I demanded.

“Po?”

“Di ka ba nagugutom?”

“Hindi pa po-” 

*growls*

Lol ang perfect ng timing. She held her stomach. Haha as if titigil yung pagkulo nyan pag hinawakan mo. I smiled at her and she looked guilty dahil alam nyang alam ko na nagsinungaling sya. 

“You’re hungry. Come on, get your food. I don’t like students who lie.”

Nakita kong nagmasid sya sa paligid. Hmm. What’s the problem? Konti lang naman tao. 

“Don’t worry I won’t talk to you while we are eating. I know you hate questions.” sabi ko na lang para kumain siya with me. 

Mukhang nakumbinsi ko sya kasi dumiretso na sya sa kuhanan ng utensils. Haha bakit parang feeling ko nanalo ako sa isang game between us na di naman nag-eexist.

“Pareho tayo ng piniling food. Same tayo ng taste” Oops, nashock din ako na nagsalita ako, sabi ko nga diba di ko sya kakausapin.

“Oo nga po.” tipid nyang sagot, as usual.

Okay fine. Di na lang ako magtalk talaga.

She eats surprisingly well. 

Natapos na kaming kumain. Satisfied ako, yes, sa food dahil masarap, at dahil napakain ko tong student na to sa harap ko. Then, niligpit na namin ang mga kinainan.

Bumalik na kami ng classroom kahit di pa naman time for next class.

“Winter.”

“Yes po?”

“Samahan mo ako sa CR?”

“Po?” 

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