Anthology

First meeting AU: Your Handwriting Sucks (Chesnine)

Prompt: I'm the grader for this class and you have literally the worst handwriting I've ever seen. I'm tracking you down to warn you that if you turn in another paper like this I'll have to give you a zero because I cannot understand anything you have written.

Day 7 of my October Ficlet Writing Challenge.

***

"...okay that's all for today. Bukas pa babalik si Sir Abarquez so better study for a surprise quiz."

Janine winced as the whole auditorium collectively sighed at her announcement. Pang finals exam kasi ang mga surprise quiz ni Prof. Abarquez sa Philippine Literature at hindi kayang i-review overnight. Kakaunti nga lang ang pumapasa sa lecture classes ng professor.

Of course, she knew that. Isa rin siya sa mga minalas na bumagsak sa quizzes two semesters ago. She'd hated Prof. Abarquez then; Phil Lit kasi ang pinakamababa niyang subject no'n, and that cost her honor roll standing.

Now, a year later, siya na ang student assistant ng kinaiinisan niyang prof. Himalang nagkasundo sila ni Lean (see, first name basis na sila?), at marami siyang natutunan sa halos six hours nilang magkasama thrice a week.

Ang tanging reklamo lang ni Janine sa pagiging student assistant ni Lean ay...

"Uhhmm...wait. Mr. Chester Sison?" she called out as the students leave the auditorium. "Please stay for a moment. I need to talk to you about something."

Chester Sison. Yan ang problema niya.

To be more specific: Chester Sison's handwriting.

Look, she doesn't hate the guy. She barely knew him. Sa handwriting lang siya naiinis. Ang pangit pangit kasi. Okay, her handwriting is not that neat, but compared to his? Mas readable pa. His handwriting was worse than a chicken scrawl.

Lagi niyang hinuhuli ang lahat ng handwritten papers, quizzes and exams ni Chester Sison kapag nagchi-check siya. It takes her almost 30 minutes para mabasa at maintindihan ang papers ng estudyante. Binibigay niya kay Lean ang papers kapag hindi na niya kaya, at himalang bumabalik sa kanya ito na may matataas na grade. She's not sure kung binabasa at naiintindihan ba ni Lean 'yon o hinuhulaan na lang ang grade. Either way, that saved her from migraines.

Sinubukan na rin niyang lagyan ng comments ang reaction papers, in red and green ink. 'Please write legibly!' 'Next time pwede bang itype mo na lang ang paper mo?' Pero ayun, walang pagbabago.

She couldn't help but wonder what this Chester Sison guy looks like. Hindi naman siya judgmental by nature, pero based sa sulat nito... either isang jock o tamad lang mag-aral at magsulat ang lalaki. Or maybe he's a genius. Ah ewan, basta kailangan niyang makausap 'tong Chester Sison or else sasakit na naman ang ulo niya sa pagchi-check ng surprise quiz sa mga susunod na araw.

"Miss, ano po 'yon?"

Tumigil si Janine sa pagchi-check ng attendance sheet. "Mr. Chester Sis--"

His last name died inside her mouth when she looked up at him.

One thing's for sure: walang-wala ang totoong Chester Sison sa mga naimagine niya. In fact, he looked so normal. And kinda cute.

Nabawasan ng 10% ang inis niya sa pangit na sulat ng lalaki.

"Uhh...yes, that's me," Chester said.

Ano nga bang sasabihin niya? Right, the handwriting. "Uhhmm... about nga pala sa quiz bukas?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you please write legibly tomorrow?" she said bluntly. "Honestly, nahihirapan akong basahin ang sulat mo--"

"So ikaw 'yong nagcocomment sa papers ko?"

"Yeah, that's me. Nababasa mo naman pala eh, ba't di mo maayos ang sulat mo?" That came out a bit harsh, but she didn't apologize. Kailangan ng rude awakening ng lalaking 'to. "Look... I'm the one who checks your papers, and sorry pero hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang sulat mo. Like...ever. Nahihirapan akong mag-grade eh."

Chester fell silent for a moment, taking in the things she said. "I'm sorr about the handrwriting. Mabilis kasi akong magsulat eh. Di bale, aayusin ko na bukas. Babagalan ko na magsulat para 'di ka na mahirapan sa pagcheck." He even flashed a panty dropping smile to seal his promise.

Uhh...bakit nga ba naiinis si Janine in the first place?

"Good, good." She waved off. "Sana maintindihan ko na talaga or else bibigyan kita ng zero."

"Noted."

****

Isa si Chester sa mga unang nagpasa ng quiz papers kinabukasan.

Muntikan nang mapasigaw sa inis si Janine dahil walang pinagbago ang sulat ni Chester sa papel.

She looked for him inside the auditorium, only to find him smirking right back at her.

Asshole.