The Scent of an Orris

Chapter 27

[Please bear with me for the unedited state of this chapter. I have not yet had the chance to make any revisions. Thank you for understanding, and lots of love to all]

"Ma'am ito po lahat?" Tanong ko sa kanya habang nanlulumong nakatingin sa mga nakabox na libro

"Do you have any complaints or would you like me to include the books in the storage room as well?"  Napasimangot naman ako habang umiling-iling

Nandito ako ngayon sa library ng building namin at kailangan kong dalhin ang mga napakaraming libro sa kabilang building dahil punishment iyon dahil sa nakipag-away ako

"How about our review for today, ma'am?" Tanong ko sa kanya habang nakatayo malapit sa entrance ng library

"We don't have a review today, and you need to focus on that. Your review should not be used as an excuse to avoid your responsibilities" mas lalo akong nanlumo sa narinig ko dahil hindi ko siya makakasama ng matagal.

I thought I would be able to spend this afternoon with her since we didn't meet  her today for her subject, as usual Ma'am Monica took her subject on behalf of her.

Dahil sa nanlulumo ako ngayon, wala akong magawa kung hindi tingnan nalang siya. Her attire exuding professionalism. She wore a perfectly fitted pencil skirt that accentuated her figure, paired with a crisp white long-sleeve blouse. It seemed as though she could easily be mistaken for a panelist in prestigious thesis defenses.

As my gaze shifted, I couldn't help but notice her neck. In the past, she often had visible red marks on her skin due to her condition.  But, today, her neck was all clear and free of those red marks. A grin spread across my face as I thought about how my recent hug might have had something to do with her better condition.

"My hug can cure your struggle with cold urticaria, isn't it?" I asked her while smiling confidently. Her eyebrows shot up at my question

"If you believe that, I will recommend you to some people I know who also suffer from cold urticaria. You can hug them and try to help them feel better. Perhaps you'll find your purpose in life and make a difference in society" My smile quickly turned into a frown at her response, but I didn't want to let her get to me, so I mustered up another smile.

"I was born  just for you, so that you wouldn't have to struggle with cold urticaria" I said to her, as if challenging her. Buti nalang talaga walang masyadong tao dito sa library ngayon

"Since the day you were born, I've always had this sense that my happy and comfortable life would be disrupted because of my irritation towards one of my students" taas kilay niyang sabi sa akin at nagcross arms pa ito

Ang sungit talaga niya at halatang ayaw magpatalo, dahil doon ay nanahimik nalang ako at pinagmasdan siyang basahin ang mga papel na nasa kamay niya. Napakabusy na professor, hindi ko naman siya masisisi dahil sobrang sipag niya.

Technically, she is no longer responsible for administering student punishments in detention. But since she's our SC advisor, she gave us some time to monitor.

"Miss Amor" sabi ko at tumigil ako saglit para tingnan ang reaksyon niya at hindi nga ako nagkakamali, inalis niya ang atensyon niya sa papel na hawak niya at binaba niya ng kaunti ang salamin niya para tingnan ako na para bang sinasabing ayusin ko ang sasabihin ko "Miss Mah-"

"Ma'am pinapatawag niyo raw po ako?" Biglang bungad naman ni Ate Joyce sa pintuan kaya nabaling ang atensyon namin sa kanya

"Wait outside" tipid na sabi naman ng professor bago bumaling sa akin at para bang hinihintay ang sasabihin ko