Lunch and Recruitment

RINGGG!

The bell rang, and the room slowly came back to life.

“Alright, class dismissed,” Ma’am Semana said as she began packing her things.

Students stood up grabbing their bag and moving the chair back while the others stayed behind, surrounding Ma'am Semana.

“Ma’am, about the last problem I have a question."

"What is it?"

“Ma’am, can you check mine?”

"Is this answer also correct ma'am?"

"One by one first okay? Fall in line those who had questions."

Mika watched them for a moment, then stood up.

Beside her, Ken closed his notebook.

“I’m going to eat lunch at the cafeteria,” she said.

“Hmm,” he replied. “I’ll go to the south side the second cafeteria.”

She blinked. “South side?”

“You don’t know?”

“No.”

He gave a small shrug. “It’s better if you see why.”

“Huh…?”

But he was already walking away.

A few minutes later…

Mika stepped into the cafeteria.

“Whoa...”

It was packed.

Students everywhere. Senior high, high school and college students who are from the engineering department and also from other departments.

Voices of students everywhere. Some engineering students are pointing out their solution on why it was better to do it rather than their professor's way and some of them also occupied one table with a huge one paper in there and they were drawing.

Some college students from other departments are talking about their subjects and their professors and trays clattered it shows that the whole place is loud and alive.

“I guess I learned the hard way… huh?” she muttered.

“Excuse me.”

“Ah... sorry.”

She quickly moved aside to let someone pass.

Then she looked around.

"Just one seat... One vacant seat... Please God."

She walked slowly, scanning every table.

Full.

Full.

Full.

“Ah...”

There.

There's one empty seat. She quickly walked over and placed her bag on the table.

“Okay...”

Now the problem came.

“How do I order…?”

If she stayed, she would definitely lose the seat.

If she left someone would just take it.

“This is bad...”

She opened her bag.

Zzzzip!

Inside, she found a small umbrella.

“This will do.”

She placed it on the table.

Then she closed her bag and put it on her seat.

“Please don’t take my seat…”

It was a gamble.

But she had no choice.

She made her way to the food line.

She grabbed a tray and stood behind a few students.

“Wow... There’s a lot of food.”

Her eyes looked around the dishes in front of her.

Adobo.

Menudo.

Hotdog.

Luncheon meat.

And different dishes lined up behind the glass.

Students ahead of her pointed and ordered.

"This one, kuya."

"With rice?"

"Yes, kuya."

"Should I go for the adobo or menudo?" Said from the other student ahead of her.

"Dunno. I think I'll just go with chicken."

"Then I'll go with chicken then."

"Hahaha! You really copy me everytime."

She stepped forward when it was her turn and pausing for a few seconds to think on what to order.

“Fried chicken, kuya."

"What flavor, Miss?"

She looked at the flavor menu in front of her.

Garlic, butter and the other two flavors.

"Original. No flavor, kuya."

“With rice?”

“Yes.”

The man grabbed a piece of fried chicken and scooped rice into a plastic clamshell container. He closed it and placed it on the counter for her.

She picked it up, put it on her tray, and stepped forward to the cashier. She opened the container slightly, and the cashier glanced at it.

“110 pesos.”

She reached into her right pocket, grab her wallet and paid the exact amount. She also grabbed a plastic spoon and fork then picked the tray up and walked away.

Step by step, she made her way back, her eyes went into her seat, checking if someone had taken it.

"It’s still there.”

Her shoulders relaxed.

She placed the tray down on the table, put her bag back to her table and sat down.

“Thank you.”

She closed her eyes for a moment and prayed quietly.

"Thank you for the food."

After that she was interrupted.

“Excuse me…"

She looked up.

"Are you Mika Aizawa?”

“Huh...?”

A boy stood there.

He had a neat hair not too long just enough to look clean and formal. He seemed to be the same age as her and he smiled small with slight and stiff.

“Yes, that’s me but How did you—!”

“Last week, you applied for the System Development club.”

“What...?”

He fumbled a bit with his phone before finally holding it up.

“There... uh... here.”

On the screen was an online form with her name on it.

Mika Aizawa.

“Oh…”

So this was the old Mika.

“Did I?”

He nodded quickly. “Y-yeah. You did.”

“Ah... sorry. I’ve been busy this week. A lot of things happened.”

"Yeah... I mean, that’s... yeah, that’s normal,” he said, nodding a bit too much. “I was a first year too before.”

He looked away, slightly embarrassed, then cleared his throat.

“Ehem... Can I sit here?”

“Oh, sure.”

“Thanks.”

He sat down across from her, placing his phone on the table, then immediately picking it up again like he didn’t know what to do with it.

“So, um… what year are you, kuya?”

He shook his head quickly.

“Ah... no, no, please don’t call me that,” he said with a small, awkward laugh. “I’m just second year. Just… second year.”

“Oh...”

She blinked.

Second year... So that means he survived the first year hardship of engineering.

“So,” he continued, then paused. “Sorry... uhm... about the club.”

"Yes?"

He rubbed the back of his neck.

“Are you still… sure about joining?”

Mika froze as she looked at him.

Then at the tray.

Then down at her hands.

In her mind, “I’m not really…”

Not Mika.

Not the one who applied.

In her mind, “But…”

This body.

This life.

In her mind, “If I’m here…”

Then she shouldn’t just ignore it.

“That wouldn’t be right.”

She immediately looked up after that.

“Yes, I will join.”

His eyes widened. “R-really?"

“Yes.”

“Thank you... Thank you! Thank you!” he said quickly, then stopped himself. “…Sorry. I... uh...”

He let out a small breath to calm himself.

"We… needed one more member,” he added, voice softer now. “So… thank you.”

“Huh...?”

"Finally we have a sixth member,” he said, this time more calm.

“Sixth…?”

"Yeah… the others backed out,” he said, scratching the back of his head. “First years from other sections.”

He looked at her again. “You won’t back out too... right?”

Seeing his expression, Mika smiled.

“No, I won’t and... I want to be part of your club.”

She extended her hand.

He froze.

“Ah…”

He stared at her hand for a second too long.

Then quickly wiped his palm on his pants before shaking it.

“My name is Eron. Eron Dacan."

“Mika.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too.”

He pulled his hand back a bit too fast, then immediately grabbed his phone.

“Can I add you on Facebook? I’ll put you in the group chat for System Development."

“Ah... sure. My name in FB is Mika Aizawa."

He searched.

“Is this you?”

He turned the phone toward her showing a profile picture of a pink tree.

“Yes. That's mine."

In her mind she can't help but sigh to herself.

“Haa... What a close one."

Last night, she checked her accounts.

Mostly though.

"Our seniors actually... uh... tried contacting you on Teams,” Eron said. “They wanted to um... get your Facebook so they could add you to the group chat for Sys Dev.”

“Ah… I’m sorry.”

"It’s okay,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “I mean... It’s not really a big deal. They just uh... needed to reach you.”

“I was busy…”

In her mind,

"I forgot to check that app."

She was indeed too busy checking everything else like her message to her mother and to her father in Japan currently.

He nodded. “Ah... I sent the friend request."

She checked her phone.

There is the friend request from him.

Eron Dacan

Confirm or Delete

She click confirm.

“Okay, you’re in,” he said, nodding to himself. “Oh I forgot not yet not in, but I’ll add you.”

A second later after that.

“There.”

“You can ask anything there,” he added. “About first year, subjects… if you’re having a hard time with College Algebra, Precal, or Python, we’ll try our best to help.”

“Thank you. I’ll ask if I need help.”

"Yeah… yeah.”

He nodded, then stood up immediately.

“Ah! um... I have to go,” he said. “I have a quiz in Differential Equations.”

“Oh... Good luck then, Eron."

“Thanks... Mika."

Then he quickly walked away and Mika watched him leave.

“Second year…”

She picked up her spoon.

“Must be hard.”

She looked at her food.

“But…”

She took a bite.

“That’s not my problem right now.”

She smiled a little.

“I’m first year so I’ll just…”

She looked around.

Students talking, laughing and eating.

“Enjoy this and live this life.”

[>>>>>>>>>>>]

“Alright, class review for our next meeting next week Friday because there will be a long quiz,” the professor said as he grab his laptop and left the classroom.

Eron closed his notebook and stretched a bit.

“Circuits 1…”

He exhaled. “Still alive… I guess”

He packed his things and stood up.

“Lunch… then review for Differential Equations.”

He stepped into the hallway but then.

“Eron.”

He stopped. “Ah...”

Four familiar persons stood near the wall.

His seniors.

“Come here,” one of them said.

Eron walked over. “Good afternoon.”

“Afternoon,” the girl replied with a small smile.

She had long black hair and wore glasses. She's calm but those black eyes of her sometimes are sharp especially if it's about assigning tasks or if there are important meetings.

Ate Camille. The ICPEP president.

Beside her stood a tall guy with his arms crossed.

“You’re late,” he said casually.

Kuya Marco. A Third year student.

Another guy raised his hand with a relaxed grin.

“Relax, bro.”

Kuya Jace. Always chill.

And the last one leaned back against the wall.

“You’ve got a task today.”

Kuya Neil. Same vibe as Kuya Jace very easygoing type of guy.

Eron nodded. “What is it?”

Marco stepped forward. “That freshman girl.”

Eron blinked.

“Freshman?”

“The fourth freshman who applied to System Development,” Marco said. “She’s not replying on Teams.”

Camille sighed lightly. “We’ve been messaging her since last week.”

Jace pulled out his phone and showed it.

“Here.”

A profile appeared on the screen. Mika Aizawa with her face.

“Oh…” Eron muttered. “So she’s real.”

Neil laughed. “Of course she’s real.”

Marco looked at him.

“Your task.”

“Now?”

“Yeah, now.”

Eron hesitated.

“B-but I have a quiz later in Differential Equations.”

Marco smirked.

“And?”

“I need to review and be rea—!"

“Wrong answer,” Camille cut in.

Eron froze and she adjusted her glasses.

“You’re a second year now, Eron.”

“Yes..."

“And you’re not a freshman anymore.”

It was true and he couldn't find any words to speak against to it.

Jace chuckled. “This is part of it now.”

Neil nodded. “Yep, org life.”

Marco crossed his arms.

“Find her in the cafeteria."

Eron looked at the picture again.

“And talk to her?”

“Ask her,” Marco said. “If she’s still joining.”

“And add her to the group chat if she said yes,” Camille added.

“Okay.”

Marco smirked again.

“And maybe…”

He leaned slightly closer.

“You’ll end up liking her.”

Eron blinked. “W-what?”

Jace laughed. “Ohhhh!”

Neil grinned. “Freshman, bro.”

Eron looked away. “No, I’m not intere—!"

Camille suddenly spoke.

“Name three girls you’re friends with right now.”

Eron froze. “W-what...?

“Three girls,” she repeated.

“Umm..."

He paused.

“…I don’t—”

Jace whistled. “None.”

Neil laughed. “That’s not good.”

Marco smirked. “Too focused on academics.”

Eron scratched the back of his head.

“I’m just busy.”

Camille tilted her head slightly.

“Busy… or avoiding?”

“I'm not avoiding...”

But his voice was weaker.

Then Jace spoke, softer this time.

“Still thinking about your first year days?”

Eron didn’t answer.

Marco clicked his tongue.

“Tssk... Differential Calculus.”

That word alone made Eron’s chest feel heavy. It was a traumatic experience that he don't want to experience it again.

He looked down.

“Yeah..."

Neil leaned against the wall.

“You passed.”

“Yeah, I did..."

“First take,” Jace added.

“Yeah...”

Eron tightened his grip on his bag.

“But they didn’t.”

No one spoke for a moment.

“…Most of them shifted,” he continued quietly. “Some became irregular and I don’t see them anymore.”

He gave a small, forced laugh. “Maybe they hate me.”

Jace shook his head. “They don’t.”

“You don’t know that.”

Marco looked at him.

“Do you hate yourself?”

Eron froze for a moment.

“...Sometimes.”

Silence until Camille stepped forward.

“Listen.”

Her tone turned more serious.

“You passed because you worked for it.”

“But they tried too—!"

“Not enough,” Marco said bluntly. “That’s reality.”

Eron stayed quiet.

Jace nudged him lightly.

“You think passing is something to feel guilty about?”

“It just feels wrong.”

Neil spoke.

“Then what? You wanted to fail with them?”

“…No.”

“Then?”

Eron had no answer.

Camille sighed.

“You’re not helping them by feeling guilty.”

“I know.”

“You’re just hurting yourself.”

Eron looked down.

“After third semester of the first year… I thought I’d feel happy but I didn’t. I

It just felt… empty.”

Jace gave a small smile.

“Then maybe you need something else.”

“…Like what?”

Neil grinned.

“People.”

Marco smirked.

“Start with that freshman.”

Eron blinked.

“Huh...?”

Camille crossed her arms.

“Go to the cafeteria.”

“Talk to her.”

“Add her.”

“And try not to overthink it.”

Eron sighed.

“Okay.”

Marco grinned.

“That’s better.”

As Eron turned to leave.

“Wait,” Jace said.

He pulled out his wallet.

“300 pesos. He fumbles.”

Neil laughed and took out his.

“200. He succeeds.”

Marco smirked.

“300. He won’t even talk properly.”

They all looked at Camille.

“President?”

She adjusted her glasses.

“100.”

“For what?” Jace asked.

“That he’ll do it but he’ll overthink it after.”

“That’s accurate.”

“Yeah, sounds like him though."

“Very Eron.”

Camille sighed. " Haaa... You guys are really into this…”

Then she looked at them sharply.

“But when it comes to org contributions, you guys are always late.”

Jace coughed. “Ehem! Ehem! Uhm…”

Neil looked away. “Busy...?"

Marco scratched back of his head. “Next time...”

Camille just shook her head.

Meanwhile, Eron arrived into the cafeteria.

“Okay…”

He looked around.

“Find her. That's my task today."

It was full of students.

“This is hard… How will I even find her in the first place?”

He walked to one table.

“Excuse me…”

“Are you Mika Aizawa?”

“No.”

“Ah! sorry.”

Next table.

“Excuse me..."

“No.”

“Sorry.”

Next.

“No.”

“This is embarrassing…”

But he kept going.

Table by table.

Even when people from the next table stared at him.

Even when his voice got quieter from getting embarrassed doing it again and again.

“This is impossible... How will I even tell my señiors about this?"

He was about to give up until he saw her sitting alone with the tray in front of her. She had short browned hair with glasses.

“That’s her...”

He took a deep breath.

“Okay. I better not fumble this. Just a simple question then it's done.”

Step!

Step!

Step!

Step!

Step!

“Excuse me…”

She looked up.

“Are you Mika Aizawa?”

[>>>>>>>>>>>]

2:20 PM

The class had just ended.

Mika closed her notebook slowly.

College Algebra… the last class for today.

Done for today and tomorrow is Saturday.

“Alright class, see you next meeting,” the professor said while packing his things.

Chairs move back to forward to the table, Bags getting zipped as students stood up one by one.

Mika stayed for a second then she stood up too.

“Time to go home…”

She adjusted her bag and walked out.

Step! Step! Step!

The hallway was noisier now as students were discussing on what to do for the weekend and some of them ahead of her are just gonna go home like her and she went down the stairs.

5th floor… 4th… 3rd…

Her hand lightly held the rail as she went down step by step until she arrived in the 1st floor.

The fresh air hit her as she reached the ground level. She walked straight into the exit of the academic building.

Then she stopped.

In front of her was the university garden.

It was large and wide.

There were patches of grass, trees scattered around, and cement paths in between.

A few benches were placed under the shade

“Nice...”

She walked toward it.

No one was sitting on the bench in the left side so she sat down.

“Finally…”

She took out her phone.

Long press on the group chat and it became a preview mode.

Messages appeared without marking seen.

Sys Dev

[Marco]: @Eron Dacan where are you

[Neil]: bro probably died during the quiz.

[Jace]: differential equations got him cooking or he got cooked.

[Camille]: Focus. Stop bothering him.

Mika blinked.

“Oh…”

She was worried until a new message appeared.

[Eron]: Finished the quiz.

“…Ah." Then suddenly her finger slipped.

She tapped the chat.

Everything was marked seen by her.

“Ah...”

Instant regret.

The chat instantly changed.

[Marco]: OHHHH SHE SAW IT

[Jace]: SHE?? SHE SAW IT??!

[Neil]: HAHAHAHAHA

[Camille]: @Mika Aizawa, good afternoon.

Mika froze.

“I just wanted to check…”

Then...

“Hey.”

She looked up.

Eron was there.

He had just come out from the acad building too.

He looked tired with dark eyes.

He walked over and sat beside her on the bench.

“You saw it?” she asked.

He nodded.

“Yeah.”

Silence for a second.

Then on the group chat.

[Marco]: THEY ARE TOGETHER IN THE GARDEN!!!

[Jace]: OH????

[Neil]: LMAOOOOOO

[Camille]: Why are you all so fast?

[Marco]: I’m in admin building window view bro I SEE THEM

[Jace]: SAME I CAN SEE THEM TOO LOL

Mika slowly turned her phone away.

“They’re watching us...?”

Eron looked at his phone too.

“Yeah...”

Then he sighed. “They’re annoying.”

Mika blinked. “You’re not surprised?”

“I am,” he said. “But also not really.”

He leaned back on the bench.

Mika looked at him.

“How was your quiz?”

Eron paused a bit thinking on what happened during his quiz earlier.

“…It was okay.”

“That sounds unsure.”

“It is unsure.”

Mika let out a small laugh.

“That’s honest.”

Eron looked at her for a second.

Then looked away.

“…How about you?” he asked.

“Me?”

“Third week of college life,” he said. “How does it feel?”

Mika looked at the students coming in and out of the acad building.

In front of them was a hallway that led straight from the building to the garden and toward the plaza, so students were constantly walking through it.

The leaves moved a little in the wind.

“…Happy,” she said.

“Happy?”

“And exciting.”

Eron stayed quiet for a second.

“I see...”

His voice was soft and Mika looked at him.

“Is that bad?”

“No,” he said quickly. “It’s not bad.”

Then he paused. “…It’s good.”

But his eyes didn’t match his voice fully.

Mika noticed that.

“You don’t feel the same...?”

Eron hesitated then smiled a little.

“It’s just… different for me.”

Silence again.

A soft wind passed between them.

After that Eron suddenly reached out and patted her head.

“Eh....?”

Mika froze completely.

Her body stiffened.

“…Just keep it up,” he said quietly. “And be happy.”

Mika blinked.

“…Why did you do that?”

Eron quickly pulled his hand back.

“Sorry... I just...”

But then...

[Marco]: OH MY GOD HE DID IT

[Jace]: HE PAT HER HEAD????

[Neil]: THAT’S MY BOY HAHAHA

[Camille]: …

[Marco]: WHO WAS DOUBTING HIM EARLIER HUH?

[Jace]: NOT ME BRO I NEVER DOUBTED HIM

[Neil]: SAME SAME I KNEW HE COULD COOK

[Camille]: You literally said he would fumble earlier

[Jace]: I DIDN’T SAY THAT

[Neil]: LIAR

Mika stared at the phone.

“They’re lively.”

“Yeah... They are.”

But then, Jace messaged again.

[Jace]: MY SONNNNN

[Marco]: THAT’S MY BOY

[Neil]: I KNEW HE HAD IT IN HIM

[Camille]: You all need help.

Eron buried his face in his hand.

“I’m going to die from embarrassment.”

Mika looked at him.

Then laughed a little.

“It’s not that bad.”

“It is that bad.”

She smiled.

“But you did well.”

Eron looked at her and felt something.

“Did I?”

Mika nodded.

“Yeah...”

Another silence.

Not awkward just calm.

Eron leaned back again.

“You’re weirdly easy to talk to,” he said.

Mika blinked.

“Is that good...?”

“It’s not bad.”

Then he added softly.

“It feels normal.”

Mika looked at the garden again.

“Normal,” she repeated.

Eron nodded.

“Yeah.”

Then he stood up slowly.

“I should go,” he said. “I still need to review later.”

Mika nodded. “Okay.”

He looked at her for a second.

Then he gave her a warm smile.

“See you, Mika."

“See you, Eron."

He walked away.

Mika stayed on the bench.

The group chat was still exploding.

But she didn’t open it anymore.

She just leaned back.

“…Normal life,” she said softly.

The wind moved again.