Marianne Constancia
Second year.
The first year of college comes with many changes and challenges. These changes can include the subjects I would take, the food in the cafeteria, study habits, time management skills, and much more but this time I'm going through a lot of effort, my best effort to strive what's really the best. I know I failed once but twice, I will never.
So, starting this year I kept an eye on my grades at all times, and aimed high with my average grade. These goals were important to make, because I would not be where I am now without them. It was challenging to change and still is, but I am not going into debt for average grades and minimum effort.
"Another year to accomplish," I whispered to myself bago paman bumaba para kumain ng agahan.
"Good morning, Yannie!" bati ni Tita Mildred sa akin, bungad rin ang pagmumukha ni Yohan sa gilid ng mesa katabi ang mama niya.
"Good morning po, wala po si Tito?" ani ko at napakamot lamang saka umupo na sa tabi niya.
"Maagang pumasok sa trabaho, halika na't kumain muna tayo ng breakfast." Ani rito.
"Sige po,"
Kaagad din akong napaupo at pumuwesto na ng komportable. I literally saw Yohan keeps on staring at me.
I wasn't comfortable about his stares.
"Anyways, iha, second year na pala kayo ni Yohan, right?" tanong ni Tita Mildred.
I nodded. "Yes po, Tita Mildred. We've been promoted to second year and I know this year will be a tough one." I forcefully smiled.
"How are your grades?" aniya.
"O-Okay naman po, Tita. Medyo frustrated lang po kunti but I'll try harder po this time."
"Alam mo iha, iyang ginagawa mo ngayon, that's the best of what you did, already. Huwag mong masyadong pressurin ang sarili mo, they're just grades. The grades that you're striving now, hinding-hindi na iyan magagamit once mag-apply ka na sa trabaho. Promise me, iyang naranasan mo ngayon, wala pa iyan sa mga naranasan ko noon." Tita Mildred genuinely smiled at me, I feel much better hearing those words from her.
"Thank you, Tita. I am hoping po na lahat ng ginagawa ko is masaya ako ron na walang bahid na puro achievements lamang ang habol ko." Sambit ko.
Tita Mildred just smiled at me as I looked at her.
She's so pure.
"Iha, pupunta ka na ba ng school? Sabay na kayo ni Yohan." Suhestiyon niya dahilan para mapakamot ako sa ulo ko.
"Uhhh..."
"Yes, Mom. Sasabay na ako kay Marianne." Yohan just smirked saka tumayo na at kumuha ng isang pirasong tinapay. "Come on, baka ma late pa tayo." Dagdag pa niyang tugon.
"Tita Mildred, aalis na po kami." Saka hinila ako kaagad ni Yohan papuntang labas ng bahay.
"You have a very beautiful hand, Yannie. It would surely suit mine. Right?" Blushed crept unto my cheeks when I intertwined our fingers with each other.
"Teka lang, pinagsasabi mo, Yohan? Bakit 'Yannie ang tawag mo sa akin, aber?" I annoyingly raised my eyebrows.
I just shook my head. Ngumuso siya pero hindi nagsalita. At muling bumaba ang tingin ko sa magkahawak naming mga kamay. Tanaw ko rin maliliit niyang ngiti na kumawala sa kanyang labi.
"Bagay, hindi ba?" aniya.
"Huwag ka, hindi bagay. Bahala ka nga diyan!" mayamaya ay kumapiras na rin ako ng takbo palayo kay Yohan.
Hindi ko na kaya itong nararamdaman ko, parang sasabog ang puso ko sa kaba. Kapag nasa tabi ko siya, halos hindi ako makagalaw at makapagsalita. I felt my tongue is twixted and I can't utter a word, nor say what I wanted to say to him.
"Hoy, Marianne!" dagdag niyang sigaw sa akin saka sinabayan ulit ako sa paglalakad.
❛ ━━･❪ ⚘ ❫ ･━━ ❜
"BAKIT late ka?" pabulong na tanong sa akin ni Ysabel.
"Bakit? Masyado na ba akong late? Anong meron bakit sobrang tahimik?" pagtatakang tanong ko.
"Are you aware of our subjects this year? How about the instructors?"
"Oo, nabasa ko na syempre sa ORF. Ano bang meron?"
Ysabel drew a long sigh.
"Akala ko makakahinga na tayo ng maluwag dahil wala na tayo sa puder ni Mrs. Sendajes pero may bago na naman." Reklamong boses ni Ysabel, she even pouted at me.
"You mean may bagong terror teacher na naman?"
"Oo, sa math subject pa talaga—"
"Mathematics in the Modern World ba tinutukoy mo?" tanong ko ulit.
"Yup, and what's saddens more is... I suck in calculations. Mahina ako don, Marianne. Baka masigaw sigawan pa ako e." Malungkot niyang boses.
"Bakit ka naman sisigawan?"
"Hindi mo ba alam, si Sir Juanito Mendoza ay gay." Ysabel almost whispered to me.
"A-Ano?" gulat kong sambit, mabuti na lang tinakpan niya kaagad ang bibig ko kundi na yari na ako sa mga kaklase ko.
"Yes, Sir Juanito Mendoza is a potato gay. Hindi natin alam baka mas malala pa siya kay Mrs. Sendajes. Sabi pa nga ng taga Filipino major, mabangis daw siyang magturo." Paliwanag niya sa akin, hindi ko alam kung nananakot ba siya or nagbibigay ng warning.
"Nananakot ka naman, Ysabe—"
Biglang napatigil si Ysabel sa pagsasalita nang sinenyasan niya akong tumingin sa may pintuan.
Sir Juanito Mendoza was already here in our classroom. He looked very intimidating. Sa sobrang tahimik namin, nalimutan na naming tumayo para batiin siya.
"Good day, students!" pagbati niya sa amin dahilan para makaramdam ako ng sobrang kaba.
"Good morning po, Sir!" sabay kaming tumayo saka agarang ding bumati sa kanya.
I could all see the eyes of my classmates being terrified. Feeling anxious about being in a new environment is normal but having a new instructor like we can have some tips on how to navigate the stress of the new academic year is really a drastic environment for all of us.
Even though the new school year has begun, I still haven't adjusted. I must adjust to having new instructors but this unfamiliar aura terrifies me.
"You may now sit down," Sir Juanito Mendoza commanded. "First of all, I want this class to focus punctuality, I don't want anyone inside this class to be late. Time is very gold, kung malalate kayo, may matututunan pa ba kayo? I'm sure you are all aware that you're all in college and not a high school student anymore. My rules on my time should be followed and if not, pwede kayong magdrop sa klase ko. My goal is to impart knowledge beyond compare, is it clear?" mahabang paliwanag ni Sir, halos kami ay napatahimik at hindi makapagsalita. Sino ba namang mag-aattempt magsalita 'di ba?"
"Is it clear?" pag-ulit niya.
"Y-Yes po, Sir!"
"Mabuti kung gano'n. Since this is our first meeting, pagbibigyan ko muna kayo ng oras. We will not have a class today. Kung ano man 'yang pinagkakaabalahan ninyo, gawin niyo na dahil sa oras na ng pagtuturo ko, hind niyo 'yan pwedeng gawin. Maliwanag ba?"
"Maliwanag po, Sir!"
This will be a long semester ahead. Hindi ko na alam kung kakayanin ko pa ba ito. But I know deep inside, I will never be the same. I will strive harder this time.
Yet, he is a strict instructor but I know he is just training us to meet deadlines in an interesting and productive way and by not accepting inappropriate behavior, strict instructor like him can bring out the best in us. Instructors who are strict give every student the same opportunities and treat them equally. Although they are affable and engaging outside of the classroom, strict professors are meant to push us academically.
