It somehow became a habit during vacation. Sa tuwing pupuntahan namin si kuya sa bansang iyon, parang natatak na sa akin na kasama siya sa ipinunta namin... o akin.. ipinunta ko.

His usual aura is still the same as ever. Strictness is already etched on him in the first place, nasanay naman na ako roon at maging sa pagiging masungit niya. Though, I admit I still felt nervous and shy whenever I wanted to start a conversation with him or kapag magpapaalam akong sumama muli sa kanya. Siguro ay nasanay na rin lamang siya, I'm glad that until now he hasn't ask me to stop from coming near at him.. wala naman din akong ginagawang masama..

Matapos ko mag-ayos ay saktong nakita ko si Kuya Duke na papaalis na, agad akong tumakbo papalapit rito.

"Kuya Duke, s-sama ako..." pag-aalinlangan kong sabi rito nang makalapit ako. There's a huge chance of him not agreeing, he didn't want to be disturbed inside the university.

Tumaas ang kilay nito at ipinwesto pa ang isang kamay sa kanyang bewang, "Who said you can enter our university? Hindi ka naman nag-aaral doon?"

I pressed my lips and cleared my throat. "Visitor's pass," simpleng saad ko.

Kumunot ang noo nito, "Kukuhanan pa kita? I don't want to be late, Sap."

Mabilis siyang tumalikod at akmang lalabas na pero agad ko itong hinarangan na nagpaikot sa mata niya, ang taray talaga ni Kuya.

"No.. I already settled it online.. Kuya, please? Nagpaalam na ako kila Dad, they agreed.." marahan kong paliwanag.

Sana pumayag siya, hindi ko naman siya guguluhin doon. Gusto ko lang makita kung paano sila sa loob ng university, sayang naman ang pass ko. Isang experience din iyon...

"Give me acceptable reason, then," saad niya at ngayo'y nakahalukipkip na naghihintay sa isasagot ko. Sometimes Kuya is really demanding compared to our parents. Nagmamadali na siya pero heto nanghihingi pa ng dahilan.

"I won't disturb you. I... I am just curious of how an international famous university looks and uh.. the.. life inside..." I explainedm.

Kunot-noo lang akong pinagmasdan nito. He's probably thinking there's something wrong with me because this is.. well not really me.. To be curious at a place where there are lots of people..

Napalingon kami sa isang gawi nang maramdaman ang pagdating ni Dad.

"Duke, take Sapphire with you. Nagpaalam na siya sa amin. Aren't you proud that she's now being open to her surroundings?" Dad interjected.

I smiled sweetly at him kaya naman wala nang nagawa si kuya at isinama ako.

Mangha akong napatingin sa university na nasa harapan namin ngayon. Wow, ang laki din pala rito. Naging madali lang naman ang pagpasok ko dahil kinailangan ko lang pumirma para maconfirm ang pag-register ko online saka na ako binigyan ng temporary ID.

"Are you going to stay here during my class hours?" Kuya inquired.

Lumingon ako kay sa kanya at bahagyang ngumiti. "No, I'll just stay 2 hours or 3.... tas babalik na ako,"

Nagpalingon-lingon ako sa paligid, ang lawak! The place is so neat and spacious, alam mong hindi ordinaryo ang lugar pagkapasok pa lamang.

His eyebrows arched. "And how?" pagtataka niya. "Do you have your phone with you? Baka mawala ka nanaman, Sap."

Napatawa ako. That's already a year go, why can't they forget about that... I'm not that careless.. anymore.

"Kuya naman e, can we go to your class already?" pagpilit ko.

Nawiwirduhang umiling na lang siya bago kami pumunta sa unang klase niya. All he has for today is afternoon classes, napangiti ako nang makita ang nakapaskil sa pintuan, even their subjects have a permanent room with the name on their doors.

Nang minsan ko kasing tanungin kung anong subject siya nagtuturo, iyan ang binanggit niya. According to him, he isn't a professional teacher kaya naman hindi siya recognized as professor but more of a mentor or instructor.

As we went inside, napatingin agad ang ilan sa amin. Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Zeno, siguro hindi inaasahan na pupunta ako rito. Nginitian ko naman siya samantalang si Kuya ay dumeresto sa pwesto niya.

He walked closer to me and crossed his arms. "And why there is a little girl, here?"

Ngumuso ako bago itinaas ang I.D. Tinaasan niya lamang ito ng kilay at tamad na tinignan ako muli, "Allowed daw mags-sit in.."

He sighed and fixed his hair bago itinuro ang table sa dulo. "You behave, sit there." His strictness, now again is much more evident.

I just nodded at him and proceeded to the place he pointed. Agad din naman siyang bumalik sa harapan at nagsimulang magsalita nang kung ano man ang patungkol dito.

As expected, he is really a strict teacher when teaching too.

The way he stands at the front shouts intimidation, kita ko rin naman iyon sa ibang estudyante. They are all eyes up and ears ready sa mga ipinapaliwanag niya, I mean I would be too if I belong in this school.

Maski si Kuya Duke ay ganoon rin, he maybe doesn't get affected to Zeno's stance but still can't erase the fact that he should respect him. Isa pa, Zeno has a lot of knowledge to share... every student shouldn't waste the opportunity to learn from him.