Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

I was super late for BA 170 class. The teacher’s seat was not occupied yet so that was a relief but I still felt anxious as everybody in the classroom stared at me like I had an extra head.

I realized this was the first BA 170 class since last week’s brawl, and so much had happened since then that I never even worried about today. I hoped it would be forgotten by now.

“Psst. Vinnie. Here!” said Gian, seated in the far back with two people I recognized from the Ephemere team. I closed the classroom door behind me and sprinted towards them, not missing how Summer Tiu looked at me from head to toe as I passed her.

“Hi,” I said, out of breath. “Thanks for that.”

“Did you get into another fight again? Gulo ng bangs mo, eh,” Gian teased.

“I just overslept, ano ba. I was using my arms as a pillow and the bangs were in the way,” I said. “Where’s Miss Co?”

“No idea. There wasn’t any email or post in the learning hub either. Which is really weird,” Gian said, and then checked his watch.“Well, we have fifteen minutes until we can declare this a free cut.”

“Sakto. I’m hungry. Let’s get tapsilog after.”

Just then, Cholo’s voice cut through every conversation in the room. “Miss Co had an emergency on the way here and won’t be able to attend today’s class,” he announced, holding up his phone. She probably messaged him. “She says she’ll be uploading the material in the Learning Hub. We’re all free to go.”

My classmates stood up, causing a lot of noise as everyone left the room and talked about how they were going to spend the free cut.

“Pass muna sa tapsilog, Vinnie. I might just grab my groupmates for a case meeting while they’re still in the building. I better see your face in the midterm refresher for Managerial Accounting next week!” Gian said, running off towards the door.

“I’m game for tapsilog,” someone said behind me. I turned and found Cholo there and I couldn’t help but make a face.

“With you ?”

“Why not? We can talk about Ephemere. I can drive us there. Tara?”

I wanted to say no but the thought of getting a jeepney in the midday heat did not appeal to me.

Ugh. I was supposed to just have a quiet lunch. Now it turned into an Ephemere meeting with Prefect Brat.

So who is the ‘annoying little piece of work’ now and why do I seem to be the unluckiest thing on this planet?