"Good morning students!"
"Good morning,"
"Morning!"
"Magandang umaga,"
Everyone greeted back like a kindergarten. Iyong tipong hindi sabay sabay magsalita. They're full of energy, they're all excited.
"Welcome and please enjoy your stay here." Sounds like the hotel staffs welcoming us. I think she's the Principal. She looks elegant. Probably in her mid 30's .
"As for everyone, we would like to explain the exam you all took after the entrance exams." Finally! Someone would explain how I became the Vice President...Maybe Louie is joking.
"It was planned not to mention anything about it so it would be your genuine answers regarding the questions," she said.
"Let's now welcome our newly elected officers." She clapped her hands and the students followed her. They're all clapping for a minute.
"Let's meet the Secretary of both President and Vice President," she pointed her finger to the student walking up in the stage, "Mr. Louie,"
Louie bowed down and stand at side. He was smiling ear to ear to everyone. He's serious it's not a joke.
Kinabahan ako bigla. Ayaw kong atakihin ako ng anxiety sa harap ng maraming tao.
"There's a blue curtain in Alice's window," I whispered.
"There's a green tint in her eyes..."
"An orange in the basket,"
"A brown oak wood," I said, still whispering. Trying not to interrupt anyone here.
" A yellow–" I was interrupted when someone said it at the same time.
"A yellow cloud when the sun sets," he continued. As I look back at him we stare at each other's eye. Siya ang unang umiwas ng tingin sa aming dalawa.
I tried that breathing exercises. "And white for air, Bly," he said. Tapping my shoulders three times.
One tap means, breath.
Second tap means, now.
And the last tap means, Bly.
Breath now, Bly...
Like his hands has a magic, I slowly calmed down. My heart beats normally not rapidly.
"Just what in the sorcerers world is this?"
"Vice President..." Napatingin bigla ako sa unahan ng banggitin ang posisyon ko. I tried to fix my poise. My mother taught me to be confident and be elegant at all times.
"Ms. Meira Ortiz," she announced, my name. I walk like it's my runaway show. Confidence is very evident on my face, fierce like a tiger ready to attack her opponent.
When I climbed up the Principal is waiting at me. "Welcome Ms. Ortiz." She offered her right hand for us to shake.
"Thank you, Ma'am," I thankfully respond. I walk at Louie's place. He's smiling at me and waving his hands. I stand next to him and he starts talking.
"You know what? Ang taray ng rampa mo!"
"President!"
" Ang gwapo!"
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
"Mr. Ciaran." A tall handsome man is shaking hands with the Principal. He is undeniably handsome and I don't blame the students for reacting like that. Minsan ka lang makakakita ng gwapong nilalang sa eskwelahan.
He walked not minding the stares of almost everyone. They're like hawk watching their prey. I bet everyone likes him. He stand besides me and I almost forgot that I'm at least more than five one. He's tall...a freaking giant.
Everyone claps their hands for us. Hindi ko narinig 'yong sinabi nong Principal, napatagal ba ang pagtingin ko sa height niya?
"Get your shits Meira"
One by one they start going down so I just followed them. I was at my last step when I slipped. Muntikan na akong matumba ng may humawak sa bewang ko at inalalayan akong tumayo.
He smell good. Kapag ba gwapo dapat mabango?
"Careful, Ms. Ortiz." Inalalayan niya ako hanggang pag-baba, doon niya lang ako binitawan.
"T-thanks...Mr. President," I stutter. I heard some students gossiping about what happened but I couldn't care less. He reached out for my hands before dragging me somewhere. My mind is trying to process that's happening right now, still trying.
I'm currently sitting in one of the bed here in clinic, this is where he dragged me. "You are lucky thay you didn't sprain your ankle," said by the nurse, she's assessing my foot.
The wall here is colored with beige. The ceiling is painted with white while there's a sun designs up there. It also smells citrus with a hint of alcohol.
"What happened?" she asked, looking up at me. I actually don't know how to answer it. Everything happens so fast.
"The stairs, especially the last one is slippery. I guess someone spilled water on it," Ciaran explained. Slippery? No wonder I almost slipped with my face kissing the floor.
"I like your anklet Ms..." she compliment. I look at my anklet hanging down there. She's applying cold compress to my left ankle.
"Meira na lang po," I shyly told her.
"Be careful while you're walking, okay?" I'm free to go. I'm actually late for my class because of my clumsiness. I just nod at her and thank her for taking care of my foot.
Ciaran...Mr. President is assisting me on my walking. I can't put too much pressure in my left foot since it may swell much and end up spraining it.
"Section?" he asked. Sa sobrang lapit namin sa isa't isa amoy na amoy ko na iyong pabango niya.
"Carnelian," I mumbled. I looked away when he almost catch me snipping him. Hindi naman ako aso pero kung maka-amoy ako.
"Thank you, President!" Nasa harap na kami ng classroom ko. He peek a glance inside before looking back at me.
He nod at me before signalling for me to enter. "Welcome. See you in the office," he bid and left me. I guess he's also trying to go to his class as early as he can since he's already late because of me.
"Oh! Meira!" someone shouted. It's a girl with long hair, curly at the ends. She's waving her hands trying to get my attention. She pointed the seat beside her when she saw me looking at her.
I observed around before walking carefully to the girl who called me. I guess she's my seatmate.
"Hi! I'm Pricila Cesrin, Princes with single S," she energetically introduced herself. I awkwardly smile at her, I bet I looked like I'm having constipation.
She helped me settling my bag in the floor and she even wipe the chair I'm going to sit on. I just thank her for her kindness that's freaking out somehow.
"I'm your seatmate..."
"And iyong dalawang iyon, isang mukhang tanga at isang hindi pinapansin 'yong tangang 'yon." She pointed out the guy making silly faces while telling something to someone. When I look to the person the silly guy talking to my breath feels heavy.
Likod pa lang alam kong siya iyon. Wala na sigurong ikakamalas pa ang araw na ito. I was about to stare at him for a long time when my seatmate, Princes, starts to tell me something.
"Alam mo ang ganda mo!" she complimented me. Staring at my face before closing her eyes and opening again and stare at me again.
She's weird.
She's beautiful but weird.