Maarte kong hinawi ang buhok kong tumatakip sa kalahati kong mukha at tinaasan ng kilay si kapre na hanggang ngayon ay ngingisi-ngisi pa rin.
Nagflashback sa utak ko ang mga sinabi ni Vien tungkol sakanya.
Family oriented siya? Edi wow! Hindi nga halata sa hitsura niya na mabuti siyang anak maging family oriented pa kaya. Tsk!
Lowkey lang? Oo, yes, tama, true, not false kasi sumobra!
Napaka-private na tao? No comment. Mukha ngang open siya sa lahat eh. Madada at feeling close siya. Charot no comment tapos kung ano-ano na sinabi!
Matured? Saan banda? Bakit hindi ko halata?
Caring? Hindi naman eh! Hindi niya nga naiisip man lang nararamdaman ko every time na binubully niya ako.
Good sense of humor at kaya kang patawanin araw-araw? Corny kamo.
G'wapo? Baka gago?
Matangkad? Well we can't deny that fact.
Napasinghal ako. Why would someone dare to like him in the first place? He's arrogant, evil, asshole and a complete jerk!
Haist sagad hanggang balon-balonan ang galit ko sakanya kaya wala akong makita na kahit isang good traits sakanya.
Ewan. Siguro kasi hanggang ngayon dala-dala ko pa rin yung mga masasakit na salita na binitawan niya para sa'kin.
"Magsimula na tayo. Ready or not stand up, Mr. Martinez and Ms. Ladezma!"
I swallowed hard. Trying to compose my fierce yet calm face.
"Pardon my rudeness, Ma'am? You've said earlier that kap— este Martinez will answer first. Bakit ho kailangan parehas kaming tumayo?" Halos gusto kong murahin ang sarili ko dahil muntik na akong pumiyok dahil sa kaba.
"Ay tumayo ka nalang, Minions. Dami pang satsat," he massaged the bridge of his nose, as if I'm really a big problem.
"Bulag lang? Kanina pa ako nakatayo, kapre!" Balik kong ani at pinanlakihan siya ng mga mata.
"Hahahaha nakatayo kana pala akala ko nakaupo kapa hindi kasi halata." halata ang sarkasmo sa kanyang boses na ikina hulog ng panga ko. Nakuha pa talaga niyang mang-inis kahit nasa gitna kami ng klase.
Nagpalipat lipat ang tingin ng mga kaklase ko sa aming dalawa. I never tore my death glare at him.
Namnamin mo ang galit at inis ko, kapreng Eros.
Nang makabawi at tumaas ang kilay ko. "And so? Kapag may time punta ka din sa E.O. at patingnan mo yang nanlalabo mong mga mata!"
"Hindi na kailangan. Kasi malinaw na malinaw kong nakikita ang kagandahan mo." Banat niya pabalik dahilan upang magsigawan at mag-cheer naman ang mga kaklase namin. Maingay, lalong-lalo na ang mga row kung saan naroon ang mga barkada niya. Lumapit pa siya sa upuan ko. He held my chin. Napaigtad ako ng maramdaman ang bultahe ng kuryente matapos magdikit ang aming mga balat.
Itinulak ko siya ng bahagya at iniwas ang aking tingin. I know my face is now in crimson because of embarrassment but why do I felt like my heart was going to stop?
Me? Beautiful? Of course I know that already! Wala din pala ang gagong 'to sa ganda ko.
Nang balingan ko siya ng tingin, I saw how his lips twitched into a smirk. Napanganga ako dahil sa sunod niyang ani.
"Ngunit kahit gaano kapa kaganda, kung pandak ka wala ka ng pag-asa... wala ka ng pag-asa na tatangkad kapa. Dahil kung pandak ka, pandak ka na talaga. Huwag nang ipilit pa, sabi nang pandak ka na eh. I just want to tell you na accept the fact na ikaw ay pandak na magpakilanman!" He said, mockingly. Anong gusto niya? Away o gulo? Ok fine, I'll give him what he wanted.
"Defeat."
"First blood."
"Double kill."
"Maniac."
Samo't saring reaksiyon ang narinig ko sa mga kaklase ko halatang mga ml player. I felt offended! This asshole! How are dare. How freaking dare him!
Arghh! Nakakainis talaga siya! The way palang kung pa'no niya ako nilalait-lait, alam mo na agad kung gaano kadumi ang ugali!
He started showing his devilish smirk. Hindi ako nagpahuli at halos itaas ang kilay ko sa noo para makita niyang hindi ko siya aatrasan.
Hindi ako pandak sadyang matangkad ka lang ng ilang pulgada! Kung makapang-insulto ka naman, I may be cute size bakit may magagawa ba yang pang-iinsulto mo? Sinasagad mo talaga pasensya ko eh!
"Sa mga nagsasabi na pandak ako, totoo naman. Huli kana naman sa balita kapre. I already accepted the fvck I mean fact! Right, kasi alam ko naman na pandak nga ako, pero kailangan bang ipagduldulan pa sa mukha ko? Ha!" Halata na sa boses ko ang sobrang inis sakanya dahil kanina pa napigtas ang pasensya ko.
"Well, I guess since base from the article no. 1624. Stating the fact of someone's appearance is not illegal or a form of bullying but it's a compliment of someone who is taller than the person who's smaller than it's object." He licked his lower lip na ikihiyaw ng mga kaklase ko. Lumawak ang ngisi niya ng lumobo ang pisnge ko sa inis.
That's it! Nasagad ako.
Lumapit ako sakanya at tiningala siya. Ramdam ko ang galit sa aking sistema. Pigil ang hininga ko ng mag tama ang aming mga mata. His eyes is annoying me-- but at the same, it makes my knees weak.
"Okay lang maging maliit at least hindi nauuntog." Ngumisi ako. "Back when we were still elementary, akala mo siguro hindi ko napapansin 'no? Well, you're wrong. Parati kong nakikita na every time na dadaan ka sa pinto ay lagi ka rin nauuntog hahaha hindi lang ako kumikibo at syempre iiwas lang ako ng tingin, patay-malisya pero sa loob-loob ko buti nga sa'yo and quietly wishing magkabukol ka sana nang mabawas-bawasan naman kahit kunti yang nag-uumapaw mong kayabangan sa katawan. Ano napalakas ba ang mga untog mo at naalog yang utak mo? Tsk may pa- article ka pang nalalaman wal naman katuturan. Next time bago mo ako rin ako angasan siguraduhin mong hindi ka nauntog ha? Most importantly, mind your own business unless anything involves you directly. Dahil gaya ng hindi na maiiwasang pagkakauntog ng iyong ulo, hindi ko na ikakatangkad ang mga pang-iinsulto mo! Matangkad ka nga, g'wapo at matalino pero yung behavior mo? Your behavior disgust me. I asked myself, why would someone dare to like you in the first place? You're boastful, arrogant, evil, asshole and a complete jerk!" I said, making others frown. Annoyance is visible on my voice. Inirapan ko siya at uyam na bumalik sa aking upuan. Pero sa totoo lang gusto kong hatakin siya sa leeg at sakalin ng malala.
Wala sana akong balak pansinin at ipaalala yon pero wala sinagad niya eh. The hell I care?! Nakakainis talaga!
Nagtagisan kami ng titig. I can feel the tension between us. Gusto kong umiwas ngunit tila ba isang magnet ang kanyang mata at pilit ako hinihila pabalik.
Nag-aalab ang mga mata ko habang nang-aasar ang sakanya.
Lahat ng kaklase ko ay nabigla. Hindi ko din naman inaasahang sasabog ako sa harap niya pero anong magagawa ko? Sumusobra na ang ugali niya. Nakakainis ang pagiging pakialamero at pang-iinsulto niya.
Umani rin ng sari- saring reaksiyon ang sinabi ko sa aking mga kaklase. Of course they are in favor of him. Sino ba naman ako para kampihan 'di ba? Lagi naman gano'n, dahil maliit ako hinuhusgahan na agad nila ako. Kapag dinefend ko naman sarili ko huhusgahan pa rin nila ako. Alam kong palihim nila akong hinuhusgahan. Ang sakit lang dahil lulunurin ka nang pilit ng mga taong mapanghusga at palaging kamalian mo lamang ang kanilang nakikita.
Akala nila ang saya-saya ko na naging ganito ako. Dati naniniwala pa akong late bloomer lang ako kaya maliit ako but then my hope just crashed when I turned in high school. Tanggap ko na eh, pero ito na naman tayo.
How did I ended up breaking my own promise to myself? That even the hit was as strong as the thunder strikes, I will remain unaffected. Na kahit gaano pa kasakit mga sasabihin nila sa'kin hindi na ako masasaktan kasi binasura ko na ang dating ako na may marupok na kalooban. But then I forgot that thunder was strong enough to kill or hurt someone. Words are powerful enough to.
Akala ko dati nagbago na ako. Pero nagkamali ako dahil ako pa rin yung babaeng madaling masaktan noon. Ang pinagkaiba lang kung noon pinapakita ko at nasasabi ko na nasasaktan ako ngayon patago nalang.
"Hi baka lang nakakalimutan niyo nandito lang ako. Let's get back to our main agenda today." Malamig niyang ani sa harap habang inaayos ang salamin niya.
I mentally cursed. Lagot ako nito, sana naman hindi maisip ni ma'am ang pagiging disrespectful na behavior na pinakita ko kanina. Kasalanan ko rin naman dahil in the first place may choice naman ako. It's either hayaan ko nalang but I choose to fight back and defend myself. Which is somehow wrong dahil nagpadala ako bugso ng damdamin.
"I assumed that you've already tackle this topic from your previous level on how the thoughts about evolution were developed, the prominent among the said thoughts is Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution on which he stated that the organismal diversity today or the presentday species descended from older species and a common ancestor; this happens through the mechanism of natural selection on which organisms developed a modified behavior, trait or characteristics as they adapt or become "fit" to the living condition presented by their environment. Now, kayong dalawa explain the evidences of evolution and it's evolutionary relationships" Saad niya na ikina hulog ng panga ko.
Hindi naman dahil sa hindi ko alam ang sagot. Kasi ano, kahit malakas loob ko... takot talaga ako sa public speaking. I mean yes, gusto ko maging future educator pero kasi until now takot akong mabash. Ano nalang sasabihin nila kapag nagkamali ako?
Pero kaya ko 'to. Para sa ekonomiya at para sa pangarap! Kailangan kong lupigin ang takot ko sa public speaking, pa'no ako magiging future educator kung palagi akong matatakot 'di ba? Tapos ano naman kung punahin nila ang pagkakamali ko? Pa'no ako matuto kung palagi nalang akong matatakot tanggapin ang pagkakamali ko? Dapat matuto tayong tumanggap ng criticism dahil kung hirap tayong tanggapin ito pa'no pa tayo matututo? We must accept it because accepting criticism lead us to the door of improvements.
"Evidences of evolution and how to use them to infer evolutionary relationships, firstly, fossil record. It says that fossils are the remains of a living organisms that lived in the past. These remains may be in the form of fossilized or preserved bone structure, other hard body parts aside from bones, imprinted activities such as footprints, dungs, nests, or gastric stones. Scientists use these fossils to infer the characteristics, structures, and lifestyle of the ancient organisms. Fossils showed that organisms from the past look very different from the organisms living today. An example is how the unearthed fossils of the horses from different times led scientists to infer that the ancestors of the modern horses have looked different from them. The fossils showed that ancient horses have more toe-fingers because they used to feed on shrubs and broad leaves plants or trees which are usually found on soft marshy grounds. As the land becomes drier and the grass becomes more available, horses evolved to adapt and survive.
We may not have the complete records of fossils from different times in the history of life on Earth, but scientists can still theorize based on the available data using logical reasoning. It is also important to take note that fossils were collected from different areas across the world so as time pass by and the records from fossils became more available, the sequences of prehistoric events made evolution clearer." Halos mapanganga ako dahil sa mahaba niyang ani. No doubt. He's really intelligent. He even started showing his devilish smirk. Ang yabang talaga!
Hindi ako nagpahuli at halos itaas ang kilay ko sa noo para makita niyang hindi ko siya aatrasan.
Nang tumingin ako kay Vien, nakatuon ang atensyon niya sa'kin and she's cheering me up. Tama, kayang ko 'to! Marami na akong napagtagumpayan na pagsubok, recitation lang 'to.
Huminga ako ng malalim.
"Secondly, is which we called comparative anatomy. Scientists have developed classifications for these body structures as deemed useful in the study of evolution. (a) the homologous structure these are body structures from different organisms that may look somewhat similar to each other or have the same component but may perform different functions. For example, the human arm. Sa madaling salita that has different functions but have the same features or bone structures. (b) Analogous structure. Ang analogous structure naman ay these are body structures that look the same and have the same function but have different structures or features. Ang example naman dito are the wings of bats, Therefore, the differences from the bone structures and features of their wings indicate that even if they have wings to serve a common function, they still evolved independently from two distantly related groups of ancestors. Next one, (c) the vestigial structure these are body structures that are still present in some life forms but have no clear functions. Examples are the human's tailbone and appendix. Indicatively, vestigial structures were once useful to the ancestor organisms, but due to changes in different mechanisms of evolution, these structures no longer serve their original purpose yet are still inherited by the descendant organisms as part of the body plan."
Suminghap ang mga kaklase ko matapos marinig iyon. Sarap nilang tanungin ng gulat kayo 'no? Akala niyo puro ganda lang ako? Just like my motto in life; maliit man, maganda naman.
Pero hindi sa lahat ng oras sapat ang kagandahan sometimes kailangan gamitan ng utakan. For me, intelligence is beauty. Being yourself is beauty. Flaws even makes you beautiful. How mannered you are is beauty. Not to mention, a good appearance also makes you presentable. Physical appearance matters to society but what more important is cultivate beauty because it exists as your closest physical connection to God. Remember the line, what is beauty if your mind is empty. Because intelligence stands out. You can't use your beauty when it comes to education.
Bakas rin ang pagkamangha sa mukha ni kapre ngunit agad na napalitan ng nang-uuyam nang makitang nakataas pa rin ang kilay ko sakanya. Tumaas ang sulok ng kanyang labi bago magsalita. "Let's proceed to the third evidence which is the embryology. Embryology suggests that organisms that are closely related seems to have similarities or common traits during their embryonic stage because they have evolved from a common ancestor. For example, the embryo of a human showed vestigial structures such as gill slits and longer tail bone. These are indicative of the shared common descent of humans from other living organisms such as fishes. From left to right, top to bottom are the embryos of fish, salamander, turtle, chicken, rabbit and humans. All are vertebral animals but have evolved to grow differently from each other."
"Ang ika-apat naman ay ang molecular biology. Molecular biology studies showed that the more similar the DNA sequences of organisms are, the more relevant they are with one another.
An example is the 99.6% shared DNA sequence between humans and chimpanzees which indicated that humans and chimpanzees are closely related to each other in the tree of life. It also showed the complexity of DNA because the 0.4% difference makes humans so much different from chimpanzees in behavior and characteristics." Ani ko naman. Salitan lamang kami sa pagpapaliwanag but more like we're on debate since I'm doing my very best para ipakita na mas magaling ako kaysa sakanya.
"Lastly, biography. Scientists study the geographical distribution of organisms on Earth. Their findings suggest that some living organisms are unique to specific places because they have evolved to adapt on certain conditions present in those places; it may also be noted that specie which seems similar despite different geographical location is an indication that those places were once connected before that massive island of the Earth, the Pangaea divided. The pieces of evidences discuss earlier are not only used to prove the claim of the theory of evolution but also showed how they may be used to infer the evolutionary relationship between different biological organisms. That's all." He stated tapos mayabang siyang naupo sa upuan niya. Pumalakpak ako maging ang iba namin mga kaklase dahil sa sinabi niya. He may sound so full of himself but his statement makes everyone and including ma'am to shut their mouth for a while.
As far as I've remember he loves science back then. While I'm not really into it though I read a lot about it kaya maalam ako while him? He's a totally genius guy. Kung hindi lang gago ang ugali malamang sa malamang siya ang natipuhan ko.
Gosh nasabi ko ba talaga yon? Yuck!
I prepare myself for my final say since napapagod na rin akong tumayo. "Biology is indeed an interesting field of study! It teaches me various truth about the development of life, such as the evidences of evolution. What's more amazing is how researchers discovered them and used to infer on the evolutionary relationships of different organisms on Earth. The knowledge from this endeavor may be useful in tracing our history and in foreseeing what will happen to us in the future so that we may recommend ways on how to ease our living. Learning about the pieces of evidence of evolution and the how to use them in inferring evolutionary relationship is an extraordinary engagement! May everyone understand that they showed how life have evolved through time. Thank you!" Mahabang litanya ko bago umupo as the crowd started to clapped their hands for me. Dahan dahan lang akong nag dekwatrong upo at ipinatong ang siko ko sa armchair.
"Very well!" Ma'am said and she gave us a small smile. "I guess we'll continue this tommorow, as you notice wala na tayong oras. Take notes of the said evidences of evolution and their uses on how to infer evolutionary relationships iikot lahat ng tanong sa explanation nila. Sa haba ng ipinaliwanag ng dalawa I don't see any reason para hindi kayo makasagot sa continuation of our recitation." Nang marinig ng mga kaklase ko na ipagpapatuloy na lamang bukas ang recitation agad na bumakas ang excitement sa mukha nila. Maging ako ay nakahinga rin, mukhang may nangyari rin na maganda ngayong araw. At yon ay ang pagiging hindi bokya sa recitation.
"As for Mr Martinez and Miss Ladezma, sumunod kayo sa'kin sa office ko. We'll talk about the happens earlier. The rest review for tomorrow and you may now take your snacks. Goodbye!" Nang makalabas ng classroom namin si ma'am ay napuno ng hiyawan ang buong klase.
Samantalang nangangatog na ang mga tuhod ko. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang mga tingin ng mga kaklase ko at naririnig ko rin ang kanilang hagikhikan.
Humugot ako ng isang mahabang buntong hininga at saka tumayo.
"Upuan taas sabay hampas kay ma'am beh hahaha charot. Cheer up and smile beh I'm sure magiging okay lang ang lahat. Trust the process. Aja!" Vien said.
Ang swerte ko talaga at may best friend ako na laging nagpapalakas ng loob ko kapag pinanghihinaan na ako.
"Thank you, beh! Ang ganda ng advice mo pero hindi ko pa rin yan masusunod. Ikaw kaya sa posisyon ko, try mo? Malapit na nga akong maguidance tapos ngingiti pa ako? Ano baliw lang?" Pagmamaldita ko dito. Dati pa naman akong maldita sakanya kaya alam kong sanay na siya sa'kin.
"Psh maldita yan tuloy hindi na tumangkad!" Pambabara niya na ikinangiwi ko.
Aba't nangigigil talaga ako sa mga taong sinisira ang momentum ko. Grr...
"Hoy babaita slap kita ng hard you want—"
"Minions, arat na. Hinihintay na tayo do'n ni ma'am. Ang liit liit mo na nga ang ingay mo pa." Napalingon ako sa nagsalita at nakita ang isang iritableng kapre. Narinig ko pa na tumawa ng malakas Vien. Lagot 'to sa'kin.
Padabog akong tumayo para sumunod kay kapre.
"Ang bastos mo po, may pangalan ako at hindi yon minions!" Singhal ko dito habang hinahabol ang hakbang niya. Kapre talaga.
Umirap naman ako kahit nakatalikod siya sa'kin. Ang ganda-ganda ng pangalan ko tapos tatawagin niya lang akong minions. How dare him!
"Ah Oo, Jade minions hahaha."
Parang biglang may kumalampag na kung ano sa tenga ko matapos niya akong tawaging minions.
"Tse! 'Wag mo nalang akong kausapin kung wala lang din magandang lalabas na salita diyan sa bibig mo." Matigas kong ani.
Tumawa lamang siya dahil sa ginawa kong segunda.
Nang makarating kami sa office ni ma'am ay agad kaming pinaupo.
Pinatong niya ang dalawang siko niya sa desk at pinakrus ang kamay saka mariin na tumitig sa amin.
"I admit I was impressed by your performance earlier pero hindi ko nagustuhan ang behavior na pinakita niyo. As a teacher, hindi lang ako bumabase sa performance when it comes on grading. Behavior and attitude was included too and I'm disappointed sa pinakita ninyo parehas."
Napalunok at napayuko na lamang ako dahil do'n samantalang nanatili namang kalmado ang gago.
"I was just teasing her, ma'am."
Hindi parin siya nagbabago, gago parin!
"Well teasing still not considered as a good conduct while your teacher is in front, Mr Martinez. Parehas pa man din kayong may ibubuga sa klase. But don't worry hindi ko na ito ipapaabot sa guidance counselor but the both of you will be in the disciplinary actions. Starting tomorrow before and after class, kayong dalawa ang magiging assigned cleaners and you'll be my assistant dito sa library for the whole school year. Are we clear?" Saad ni ma'am.
Ang office ni ma'am ay nasa library, isa ata siya sa namamahala dito.
I guess we have no choice.
"Oho, ma'am."
"Yes, ma'am."
Ani namin. Magalang ang tono nang pagkakasabi ko ngunit sa loob-loob ko gusto ko na siyang sampalin. Charot!
Kasalanan mo 'to, Martinez. Slap kita hard, gigil mo ako eh!
But much better if I'll curse your family for seven generations because damn you!