story chapter 4

CHAPTER 4
RECALLING EMPRESS SCHUCK


Narrator: Meanwhile inside the bus, I was listening to my I Pod Nano, but then the bus made a stop. Several passengers hopped off, then the bus moved seconds later.

I looked at the back section again, and noticed the white elder lady left. At last! An available seating beside the Filipina hottie. I quickly headed over there and immediately sat beside her.

The girl looked at me, smiling.

Girl: Hi.

Jay: Hey, you look familiar. Have we met?

Girl: Ummm… didn’t you used to go to Cypress?

Jay: Yeah. Clearly we met in the fall of ’07. I think we had class together for world history.

Girl: (after short pause) Yeah… (points to me) Ikaw ba si Jay?

Jay: (pointing back at her) Got it right, Miss…

Girl: Empress. Empress Schuck.

Jay: That’s right. Haven’t seen you around much these days.

Empress: Really? I thought we used to hang out a lot back then. Diba?

Jay: Yep. But then I haven’t seen you on campus after winter break.

Empress: Yeah, I had to transfer sa Fullerton college cuz the requirements for my major weren’t in Cypress.

Jay: Ilang semesters ka dun sa Fullerton?

Empress: Like two or three. Basta, a year and a half. Ng tapos ako yun general ed ko sa Cypress for two years, tapos sa Fullerton yun major ko.

Jay: Anong major mo?

Empress: Oceanography.

Jay: I see…

Empress: Yeah. Hey, what school do you go to now?

Jay: Cal State Fullerton.

Empress: Talaga? I go there too! It’s already my second semester dun eh.

Jay: Yeah? It’s my first going there!

Empress: First semester, ah?

Jay: Mm hmm. You ride the bus all the time?

Empress: Nah. Usually I drive, but my car’s at the autoshop right now.

Jay: How come?

Empress: Engine fix. Takes up to five or six days. May complication kasi sa accelerator yun engine ko. It’s been roaring so loudly ever time I hit the gas pedal.

Jay: Ahh. Ganyan rin ang problema yun ibigan ko nung ng sakay ako sa coche niya pag punta sa fitness.

Empress: Really? Wow…

Jay: Hey, ayus nang tsura mo ngayon, ah?

Empress: Talaga? Paano mo malalaman?

Jay: Eh dati para kang punk rocker dahil na suot mong tattoos sa braso mo, tapos may piercings pa, and the way you dressed.

Empress: Hah (laughs), dati pa yan, ah? I didn’t look that much of a punk, pero I did wear a few tattoos back then here and there.

Jay: Well you look beautiful now, my dear (laughs).

Empress: (laughs) Thanks, pero masyado ka parang fiancé ko.

Jay: (smiling) Na alala mo ban a I used to have a crush on you?

Empress: Ako? Asus… matagal nay an, ah?

Jay: Pero may boyfriend ka noon pa, diba?

Empress: Ahmm… not really. Nung ng kilala tayo sa Cypress, ng date kami ni Enchong. Kilala mo siya, diba?

Jay: Yeah. (nods)

Empress: He asked me kung tayo na ba, pero I looked at him more of a friend, so we just stayed friends.

Jay: Hmm… pero may boyfriend kana ba ngayon?

Empress: Wala. Bakit? Ikaw?

Jay: Wala rin girlfriend. (smiles)

Empress: I heard na gusto mo si Erich ngayon. Friend ko siya.

Jay: Yeah? That’s nice to know.

Empress: Dude, wala pa siyang boyfriend. I’m not kiddin’ you!

Jay: I know, huh? (excited tone)

Empress: Ng ligawan mo na siya?

Jay: Several times. Friend ko rin siya eh.

Empress: Gaano katagal na kilala mo si Erich?

Jay: Last two years. We became close friends last year.

Empress: Ah ganun? Well that’s quite touching. I can already see you guys being together.

Jay: Us? (in surprised tone) Together? Nah… (laughing)

Empress: Abaaa… kakahiya ka pa dyan. Aaminin mo nga na she’s the perfect girl for you. (laughs)

Jay: Paano si Matteo?

Empress: Don’t worry about him. Basta, go for her. Do it, Jay.

Jay: We’ll see…

Empress: Jay and Erich… equals JAYRICH!

Jay: Hah, nickname yan ni Jason Richardson sa Phoenix, o?

Empress: J-Rich? Naku, di bagay yan sa kanya. Mas bagay yun nick sa iyong dalawa. Ahhh… (acting lovestruck)

Jay: Oh Empress. (lightly shoving her, as she laughs) Tigilin muna yan, o?