ONE week passed full of introductions, observation, familiarizing the school rules and regulations, and orientations, I can say that the school is full of enthusiastic and friendly people. Every morning, my classmates approached me and tell me about their culture in the class and after class, they will teach me how to do the school group chores. Apparently, there is no bullying in the class as I saw in dramas (minority perhaps). Not bad for the first week in public school.
'Di ko lang maiwasan na mag-alala kasi hindi pa rin sinasabi ni mama kung ano'ng nangyari at kung bakit siya umiiyak. Naging busy siya sa paggawa ng empanada at dinideliver niya sa mga stores kaya hindi ko na siya inabala. I puffed in frustration, my head bowed while walking in the hallway.
I was really lost with all my thoughts and worries until my head bumped into something hard. I looked up and staggered backward when I met a very serious face. He's wearing a black shirt and a dark blue maong pants instead of the school uniform.
He has cold black eyes that were almost emotionless, a small perfect fit nose that complimented his heart-shaped face, and a glassy white skin. He's a pretty guy that when you compare it to girls' beauty on campus, he's far more beautiful than a girl. He has this attractive aura but a dangerous one at the same time. 'Yong tipong crush ng bayan pero hindi madaling malapitan ‘tsaka mahirap pakitungohan.
Napaawang ang labi ko nang makitang nalaglag ang mga aklat na dala niya. I immediately apologized and bend to get all the books on the floor.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." He was silent and was still standing like a statue like he didn't see me.
After I picked up all the books on the ground I handed it to him, he just passed over me as if nothing happened.
I continued walking and was about to get inside the room when I found out that my Percy Jackson's book was gone on my hand. I'm certain that I was holding it earlier while I was walking in the hallway then my eyes widened when I remembered the incident earlier.
Since the teacher was still not in the classroom, I immediately went back my way and stopped when Mr. Mark caught me wearing that suspecting look like I'm going to cut class. He's our MAPEH teacher and he's carrying an acoustic guitar approaching my way. I was taken aback and went back to the classroom and decided to search for the book later after class.
All my classmates settle down as the teacher entered and I caught sight of the guy I bumped earlier sitting at the last row. My eyes almost popped out from my sockets when I saw my book on my armchair. I let out a relieving breath and I snapped out of it when the teacher coughed.
"Ms. Engracia please take your seat." My eyes roamed around when my classmates looked at me and I took my seat without a doubt. I placed my palm on my flaming cheeks because of embarrassment.
"For this quarter, all of you must learn how to play the guitar by partner. But before that, is there anyone in the class who knows already how to play this musical instrument?"
I was about to raise my hand when Queenly suddenly point her index finger above my head and like a flash of lightning, the class went crazy. Everyone shouted "SAMPLE!" while clapping their hands. The boys started to clear the center aisle as Christian placed a white chair at the center and the class formed a circle surrounding me. According to the girls, he's a well-known playboy so it's much better to keep a distance from him.
I have left no choice at siniko pa ko ng malakas ng katabi ko kaya muntikan pa akong mahulog sa armchair. I stood directly when Mr. Mark handed over the guitar to me then proceeded to the white chair.
Nang makaupo ako ng maayos, I started to press my fingers on the strings forming the first chord then I started strumming the strings releasing a very relaxing melody. I switched my fingers to change chords while repeating the same strumming pattern. I cleared my throat and started to sing with emotions completely forgetting my nervousness.
The song I played was Enchanted by Taylor Swift.
While singing, I watched my fingers switching to new chords while my right-hand strumming then my eyes landed on one person. The guy I bumped earlier that I don't know the name. I avoided eye contact and looked into my fingers focusing on the song.
I don't know why I'm stealing glances to him, it's so unusual and very not me. The class was silent, even the boys were listening then I caught on my peripheral vision Christian staring at me but not enough to distract me on playing the guitar. I took a deep breath when I reached my favorite part of the song, the bridge. A smile was drawn on my face when the girls sang with me.
After the last strum, I smiled and take a bow before returning the guitar to Mr. Mark. I heard a round of applause and the boys cheered. Nakakagulat pa nang buhatin nila ang mga armchair nila and the class went crazy.
"Okay class please return your seats," instruct ni Sir kahit na ang ingay-ingay pa ng iba.
"Ms. Engracia, when did you learn playing guitar?" I was about to take my seat when Sir asked me so I remained standing and answered him.
"My father taught me when I was 10." I saw their astounded faces forming an 'o' before I took my seat.
After a quick discussion and demonstration, Mr. Mark chose a pair for the music lesson and my pair was Adrian Martinez which is I don't know who. I turned back and asked the person sitting behind me.
"Who is Adrian?" She giggled and pointed the person. With my surprise, our eyes met before he stood and left the room.
Madaling natapos ang klase at umuwi na kami kasabay sila Queenly. Parang routine na nga namin maglakad every after class sabay tawanan sa mga funny moments na naeencounter nila sa school.
Siyempre, hindi naman maiwasan na pag-usapan nila ang mga crushes nila sabay tili pa. Muntik pa kong matapilok nang nalakasan ang pagtulak ni Queenly sa akin dahil sa kilig. Buti nalang nakabalance agad ako. Nagsorry naman siya kasi kinikilig nga daw siya no'ng Adrian. Ewan ko sa kanila! Actually kanina pa nila bukambibig 'yang si Adrian. Nagulat naman ako nang hinampas ako ni Judy.
"Sofia, feel ko crush ka ni Christian. Kung makatitig kasi siya sayo, wagas parang wala ng bukas, napansin niyo ba?" she asked confirmation to her friends and they answered in unison.
"YES GIRL!!"
Para akong nabingi. Hayst! Ang ingay talaga basta babae mga kasama mo.
Pagdating ko sa bahay, nadatnan kong nagluluto si mama ng paborito naming chicken curry kaya patalon talon si Mary at pinapamadali akong magbihis sa kwarto. Pagkatapos ko siyang bihisan nagmamadali siyang lumabas at kinuha ang papel niyang may 5 stars at perfect score sa quiz.
Pinakita niya iyon kay mama and after a while, I saw her smiled genuinely but there's a glint of sadness beaming in her eyes. Niyakap namin siya ni Mary at kumain na kami ng haponan.
Pagkatapos kong magligpit ng pinagkainan at maghugas ng plato ay nagsimula na kong magsolve ng math problems. After solving, nagreview na rin ako sa Chemistry at nag-advance reading in Literature. I yawned and relaxed for 15 minutes while listening to my timeless classics playlist.
The music paused when my phone vibrates. On the notification is the same unknown number that I ignored since the first day of school. This time, I received concern messages instead of the usual pick up lines that I find uninteresting.
From: 0912678****
Kumain ka na ba? Is everything alright?
Niligpit ko na ang mga gamit ko at hihiga na sana when I received another message.
From: 0912678****
Ang ganda mo palang kumanta and tumugtog ng gitara.
Napaupo ako agad ng maayos when I realized what the girls told me this afternoon. Hindi kaya si Christian 'to? I waved my hands in the air erasing the thoughts dahil ayokong mag-assume. Imposible naman 'yon kasi may girlfriend ang tao. Napatingin ulit ako sa phone ko when I heard it vibrating again.
From: 0912678****
Good night Beautiful
THE next morning, I received another good morning message from the same number. Naiinis na talaga ako sa mga messages na natatanggap ko araw-araw. Nakakaistorbo kasi sa study hours ko at ito pang matindi, napagalitan pa ko ni mama kagabi kasi akala niya may textmate ako. I cleared my inbox tutal puro TM advisories lang naman nando'n tsaka 'yong unknown number na hindi ko nirereplyan kahit isa.
The class was silent upon entering the room and that sounds new but suspicious. Ano naman kayang meron? Supposedly ang gulo-gulo tapos maingay ang classroom kapag wala pa ang teacher then suddenly napakatahimik nila ngayong araw.
Ang iba ay nagbabasa habang 'yong iba naman ay nagbubulongan. Then, I accidentally glanced on Adrian reading a Literature book. As far as I could remember, wala namang oral recitation or quiz ngayon bakit ang tahimik ata? Nakakapanibago lang kasi.
I ignored the silence. Instead of asking what's cooking, I opened my book "Les Miserables" and read. I stopped and hid the book inside my bag when the teacher greeted the class.
"I'm sorry class I'm late. Since we still have 35 minutes left, we will utilize the time to elect your class officers."
Tahimik pa rin ang buong klase pero 'yong iba nagbubulongan pa rin at wala rin naman akong pakialam kung ano'ng pinagbubulong-bulongan nila.
"The nomination for President is now open," announce ng teacher pagkatapos magsulat ng mga position ng classroom officers sa whiteboard. Nanahimik lang din ako at nagpalinga-linga kung sino ang nagnominate. May tumayo sa likod kaya napatingin ang lahat sa kanya.
"I nominate Ms. Engracia for President."
Para akong nasamid sa narinig ko. Bakit naman ako ang napiling nominee? Kainis ha! At heto pa ang mas nakakairita, the playboy smirked at me na parang ikinagwapo niya. Ano bang kasalanan ko sa kanya? As far as I remember, wala akong atraso sa kanya. Napatayo ako ng wala sa oras at halatang nainis talaga.
"I nominate Mr. Montes for President." Halatang nagulat rin siya sa ginawa ko. Akala niya ha. Ano'ng tingin niya sa akin, easy-easy lang? 'Di ako gano'n!
"I close the nomination," sabay napa YES! ang mga kaklase namin na para bang ngayon pa nakahinga sa araw nato. Siguro, dahil hindi sila ang napili as nominee for the position.
"I second the motion," rinig kong sabi ng isa pa naming kaklase then I threw Christian an intimidating glare.
Unfortunately, dahil mas nakalamang ako ng 1 point sa votes, ako ang naging class President at siya naman ang Vice-President. We turned over on the election proper to continue electing the subsequent vacant positions.
I rolled my eyes when he tried to get the whiteboard marker from me. Hindi naman mapigilan ng mga classmates naming maghiyawan at mang-asar but I maintained my composed look as best as I could until the election was over. Bumalik na kami sa mga upuan namin at may announcement daw si Miss.
"For this school year Nutrition Month, the school will prepare a program. On the board is the list of contests that's why we elected the set of classroom officers. Officers! You are in charge para pumili ng contestants that will represent the class. Ang makakalaban niyo ay, of course, other sections. I think that's all. Class Dismiss."
At bumalik ang usual ingay ng klase. Kaya pala ang tahimik kanina dahil sa election. Apparently, dahil sa sobrang inis ko na naging President ako ng classroom ay umalis ako agad at dumiretso ng library.
Napakapa ako sa bulsa ng skirt ko when I sensed my phone vibrating. Without a doubt, 'yong unknown number na naman ang nagtext kaya nadagdagan pa ang inis ko sa araw nato.
From: 0912678****
Congrats President!
Ang sarap itapon ng phone ko sa sobrang inis kaya nagdecide akong magpalamig nalang sa library tutal absent naman 'yong next subject teacher namin. Just as I expected, hindi nga matao ang library perfect para magrelax.
I took a seat and start to read again Les Miserables. Napatigil ako sa pagbabasa when I noticed Adrian at the other side of the room still reading the same Literature book. He seems like the studious type of student and the silent type of guy.
"Stop staring," he coldly said.
Napakurap ako sabay iwas when I realized what I did. Fudge! Nakakahiya baka isipin pa niyang pinagnanasaan ko siya. Crap! That's not me, really not me! Hindi na ko nagrespond at nagbasa nalang ulit. My reading stopped when my phone vibrated again.
From: 0912678****
Wag ka ng mainis oi.
Ba't ba ang sipag-sipag nitong magtext? RK ata palaging may pangload unli palagi. I stashed the phone back in my pocket and fixed my face on the book. I glanced back on Adrian's seat but he's gone.
"Nasa'n na 'yon? Eh kanina nando'n lang siya ah."
Napatayo ako and checked the time. My eyes almost popped out of my sockets when I realized that I'm 5 minutes late for the last subject this morning. I ran immediately back to the room and used the backdoor to avoid getting noticed by the teacher but just before I could reach my armchair, someone called my name that caused everyone to notice my presence.
"Hi President!"
Napatayo ako ng maayos and slightly bow as respect.
"I'm sorry Miss, I'm late." I pursed my lips.
Buti nalang di masyadong strict ang teacher. I threw a death glare to the playboy. Kanina pa talaga niya ko iniinis eh.
Napatingin naman ako sa announcement na nakasulat sa right uppermost portion ng white board. Ang nakasulat do'n,
‘Attention! Meeting after class 4 pm @Classroom - President’
What the eff! At sino namang loko-loko ang naglagay niyan at ginamit pa talaga ang position ko? Napapikit ako sa inis sabay kapa ng bag ko para kunin ang tumbler.
"Fudge! Nawawala ang tumbler ko." I gasped at dali-daling hinanap sa ibang sulok ang tumbler pero wala talaga.
Patay ako kay mama nito. Ayoko ng magpabili ng bago dahil sabi nga niya kailangan naming magtipid. Kulang nalang at sabunotan ko ang sarili ko dahil hindi ko talaga mahanap ang tumbler ko. Napatigil sa pagdiscuss ang teacher ko nang mapansin niya akong hindi mapakali sa upoan ko.
"Ms. Engracia, are you alright?"
Lumapit ang teacher sa armchair namin ni Queenly kaya napatayo ako para sagutin si Miss.
"Miss, my tumbler is missing."