20000 Milliseconds (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 1: Seatmates

Chapter 1: Seatmates

I hate my life. I mean, it's not kind of boring but it's definitely not fun either. I grew up being away from the society. I don't talk that much. I don't have a lot of friends, and more. It's a choice though, whether you want to become a loner or if you socialize with other people that talk shit on you when you turn your back around. Guess it's the biggest mystery of why people are called plastics.

I feel envious somehow. Like I didn't get to enjoy the things normal teenagers like me, do: clubbing, drinking, sleepovers, relationships— name it. Kaya hindi na ko magugulat if someone actually dies after telling him my life story. Hanggang prologue nga lang siguro. I sighed. Still, it's my choice to be like this. Not just because I want to, but I also am afraid of their judgments. Good thing I grew up with an open-minded family, so coming out wasn't that hard in our household. However, once you step your foot out of your doormat, everything will be different.

Our society's fucked up, that's for sure. Muli akong napabuntong hininga. I am taking a rest under the shade of a tall pine tree while sitting on the green bermuda grass. The cold breeze of the air was touching my skin softly as if a feather falling from the heavens. Tanaw mula rito ang malawak na grass field ng campus, kung saan may pine trees rin na nakapalibot dito. I can even hear the faint and muffled voices of the students and administrators coming from the rooms and the hallways. Hindi gano'n ka-tahimik, pero pwede na. Sana araw-araw ganito. Sana araw-araw na walang professor para makaalis ako sa room naming parang pinugaran ng World War II dahil sa ingay. Hindi naman ako tamad, hindi talaga. I just took an opportunity to take a break from our raging classroom full of ancient soldiers and fake goddesses.

I was about to close my eyes when the bell rang. Putangina.

Agad akong tumayo at tinahak ang daan papunta sa second class ko. I even bumped into some students while rushing through the hallway. Ugh, this is the moment I regretted coming out of the classroom. Sana nakinig na lang ako ng music gamit ang noise canceller kong earphones doon. Rather than fitting myself in a swarm of running students.

I successfully arrived in our room. Walang galos o nawawalang darili sa kamay. Muli akong napalingon kung saan ako nanggaling. Curse you, hallway.

Stares are on me while I walked through our classroom, papunta sa pwesto ko sa pinakadulo kung saan may bintana. Who doesn't want this space here? It's so serene, and you can easily daydream while staring outside the window without them knowing. And of course, I'm a loner so, I would choose this spot. Ilang minuto pa lang ang lumipas ay dumating na ang professor namin para sa class na 'to. He's an old man in his fifties, but still standing tall like he's in his thirties. Well, what do you expect from a gym teacher? Still, the old marks on his face are noticeable and he has this stern look while scanning his eyes through the whole room. I looked away when his eyes landed on mine. Creep.

"This is your 2nd year here in the campus. I hope you know already why are you here and why do you need to graduate. Sana maging mabait na kayo, at sana hindi na ko na kayo makita sa detention office," he said while looking on the group of men sa first row. Nagsipagyuko lang ang mga ito at pinigilang tumawa.

Saka ko lang naalala. First day of school ulit ngayon, pero hindi na kami freshman. We're on our sophomore year. Ang bilis lumipas ng panahon. And things happen when you least expect it.

"And you already know that I don't tolerate late–" Naputol siya sa pagsasalita nang biglang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang isang lalaki na may kulay mais ang buhok. Kasasabi niya lang na ayaw niya sa mga nale-late, e.

Natahimik kaming lahat nang makita ang nandidilim na mukha ni Professor Ersen. May ibang kinakabahan, ngunit mas lamang ang tinginan ng mga babae sa bagong dating. Saka ko lang rin napansin kung sino siya.