"Professor Emery Jimenez!!!" I shouted.
"WHAT!?" pasigaw niyang sagot. Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya at pumulupot sa kanyang braso.
"Mer, talk to me."
"Get off of me." she said coldly.
"Mer, please. I have to tell tou something."
"I already know. You came back to her." she uttered without interest.
"I know everything now. Kung bakit siya nawala, kung bakit niya ako iniwan-" she cut me off.
"Nagpa-uto ka na naman. How many times do you have to be hurt bago ka madala? You never learn." she said at inalis ang mga kamay ko sa braso niya.
"Just please, listen to me first!" I plead.
"No. Paulit-ulit lang naman ang mangyayari. Bibigay ka na naman. Maniniwala. Tapos masasaktan ulit."
"She has her reasons! Hindi lang ako ang nasaktan, Mer! She suffered too!" ngayon ay sumigaw na ako. Hindi niya ako naiintindihan.
"It's too easy to make up things, Danielle! It is too easy to lie! Wala kang patunay sa mga 'yon. They are just words!" sigaw niya pabalik. God, why won't she listen to me?
"No, they are not! I saw how sincere she was when she told me everything. Why don't you ask Miss Lavinia, huh? I know she knows!"
"Don't drag someone else on this issue."
"I am not! I just want you to listen to me!"

"How about you listen to me?!How about you take time to realize that she is lying to you and making things up to get you back? You're too blinded by your love for her na binabalewala mo na ang lahat ng nangyari. You suffered so much because of her! We both suffered, lalo na ako because I saw you! I saw you break down! I saw you drown yourself in alcohol, and I saw you almost give up because of that fucking Anthea Louise!" she shouted. I can see her chest moving up and down because of what she said.
"Mer, please..."
"No, Danielle. Hindi ako tatanggap ng paliwanag mo. And if she ever hurt you again, I'll be gone. I will not stay by your side anymore. Hindi ko pipiliing manatili para sa taong hindi natututo." she said like she's done with me. Nasasaktan ako. Siya ang unang tao na gusto kong maging masaya para sa akin.
"Please, please hear me out..."
"Nah. Save it for someone else."
"Is it because,... you like me?" tanong ko dahil wala na akong ibang mahanap na dahilan para pakinggan niya ako.
She looked at me at mabilis ding nag-iwas ng ng tingin.
"Don't you dare bring it up in this conversation." madiin niyang sambit.
"You know from the start that I...that I love her..." sabi ko.
Nakita ko ang pagkuyom ng mga palad niya. Pati ang pagtangis ng kanyang panga.
"Haha. Yeah, right." she said and walked out the room, leaving me confused and puzzles. "Oh, God. I never thought it would be this tough." I said to myself.

Umupo ako sa swivel chair at minasahe ang sentido ko. Nang pumasok si Miss Lavinia ay umayos ako ng upo para batiin siya.
"Good afternoon, Miss."
"What happened to Professor Jimenez? Nag-away kayo?" she asked.
"Uh, yes. Medyo? It was about Anthea." I uttered.
"Hmm, did she tell you everything?" tumango ako sa tanong niya.
"Emery won't listen to me. Hays. Sumasakit ang ulo ko."