Implicit of x^2+y^2=9

x=1

It's the first day of our second semester as freshmen, and as the class mayor, I need to get to campus early. Part of my job is to pick up the keys from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics Office so we can use our classroom. Nakakapagod, lalo na't kailangan ko pang iwan ang ID ko doon just to get the key.

I stepped out of my apartment and headed to the bus stop. The trip to the university usually takes about thirty minutes, but on days with heavy traffic and too many passengers, you really need to allot at least an hour.

The first jeep that passed was already full, so I waited for a mini bus. Luckily, one arrived right away. I hopped on even while it was still rolling forward — baka mapag-iwanan pa ako.

When I finally got to the university, I opened my bag for the guard's inspection before going in. Hassle, yes, pero for student security naman kaya understandable. I went straight to the Engineering building, where the office was located. Knocking on the glass door, I greeted the chairman of DMS, Sir Palma. He's handsome, intelligent, and always so approachable with students. Kahit hindi pa niya nahawakan ang block namin, kilala ko na siya — and he knows me too. Honestly, happy crush ko talaga siya dito sa university.

After getting the key, I didn't stay to chat. My first class starts in thirty minutes — Calculus 1 at 7:00 a.m.

I made my way to our building, climbing all the way up to the fifth floor. May elevator naman, pero mukhang nagtitipid ang President ng university kaya hindi pinapagamit. By the time I reached our floor, I was already catching my breath.

"Hi guys!" I greeted my classmates waiting outside the room.

"Good morning, Yor!" they replied in unison. I unlocked both doors and we all went inside.

Once everyone settled into their seats, I walked to the front of the room.

"Good morning, everyone. I hope you had a great rest during your vacation. I already reached out to all our professors. For our first class, we'll have a newly hired professor, so let's make sure to give a good impression — though I know we always do." I said with a laugh.

"Oy, sabi-sabi nila Magna Cum Laude raw yung prof natin," ani ni Angel, kaya kaniya-kaniya na silang nagkomento. Bumalik naman ako sa upuan ko, sa tabi ng kaibigan kong si Angel. Dalawa kasi silang Angel sa room — yung isa, certified marites, at itong katabi ko ngayon, tahimik lang sa umpisa.

The door suddenly opened, revealing a stunning woman in her mid-twenties. Her eyes swept across the room as if searching for someone, then briefly landed on me before she walked gracefully toward the center. Her figure was striking, and she carried herself with elegance. Mas matangkad siya sa akin ng mga apat na pulgada, pero dahil naka-heels siya ng mga four inches, halos magka-height lang kami. Or maybe five — I wasn't even sure.

She cleared her throat, and instantly, the entire room fell silent, all eyes fixed on her. She was undeniably beautiful. Her pointed nose only added to her sharp, refined features.

"I am Elena Cruz, your instructor for Calculus 1. A graduate of BS and MS in Mathematics from Cebu Normal University. For today, we will have a pre-test to gauge your prior knowledge of this course. Please get a short bond paper."

She turned to the whiteboard and began writing equations. I quickly grabbed some bond paper from my bag. Angel and Jinky immediately borrowed, and before I knew it, halos lahat na ng kaklase ko humihingi. Ayun, instant sugar mommy ng papel si mayor.

"You have thirty minutes to answer this," she announced.

I started with Test 1. It was easy — all about functions. But when I got to Test 2, things got harder. Limits. Wala pa akong prior knowledge doon. Test 3 was the killer: proving trigonometric identities. I hated proving, and trigo was never my strong suit.

I tried to focus kahit wala na akong masulat. I'm not brainy — average lang ako when it comes to math. Sometimes I excel, pero kapag sinuswerte lang.

"Time's up. Submit your papers to your mayor," Miss Cruz instructed. One by one, my classmates handed me their sheets before returning to their seats.

"Mayor, keep those for now. I'll get them later after class," she said, erasing the board.

"Since this is our first meeting and I already introduced myself, it's your turn to introduce yourselves. Tell me what you expect in this subject, and what you expect from me." Her voice was calm, gentle, almost reassuring.

"Ganda ni Miss," bulong ni Angel. Nasa gitna namin siya ni Jinky kaya agad ko siyang nilingon, at sabay kaming nag-thumbs up.

"First... who is Kaethrien Alba?" my instructor asked. I raised my hand, but she didn't seem to notice.

"Never mind. Let's have your mayor introduce herself first." She looked at me directly.

I stood up. "Good day, Miss. I am Kaethrien Alba, seventeen years old, the mayor of this class. My expectation in this course is that I will learn more and be more patient with numbers. As for you, Miss Cruz, I don't have any expectations." I sat down quickly, flashing her a polite smile.

Her brows furrowed. "Why is that?"

I blinked, confused. "Pardon, Miss?"

"Why is it that you don't have any expectations of me?" she asked again, her eyes searching mine.

This time, I smiled wider.

"I don't set expectations from people, Miss. I'd rather be surprised by what they can offer than waste time hoping or assuming. Assumptions should be in Math, not in life." Direkta kong saad.

She gave me a single nod before moving on to my classmates.

Natatawa na lang ako habang pinakikinggan ang mga kaklase ko. Kahit saan, may kalokohan talaga. Buti na lang hindi masyadong strict si Miss Cruz — minsan pa nga ay natatawa rin siya sa antics nila.

"Class dismissed. See you on Wednesday. Please have an advance study on limits. And you, Mayor, please follow me."

She headed to the door, and I quickly gathered my things. Naririnig ko pa ang tukso ng mga kaibigan ko — baka raw pagalitan ako. Mga tanga talaga. Napailing na lang ako, natatawa pa rin.

Buti na lang, naabutan ko siya sa hallway.

"Miss," I called. She only gestured for me to follow.

Nasa likuran lang ako, halos napapajog pa dahil ang bilis niyang maglakad. We entered the DMS office — tahimik at walang katao-tao, most likely because the professors were out teaching.

"Mayor, I'll also be the adviser of the two-block day section of BS Statistics freshmen. If you have any concerns, you can approach me, and I'll help. Technically, college doesn't require advisers, but I'll be monitoring your block and your grades."

She spoke while arranging papers on her desk.

"Yes, Miss. That will be noted," sagot ko, sabay abot ng mga test papers namin.

"You may go now," she dismissed me.

I nodded, stepped out, and fished for my phone. My classmates were already in the canteen. Buti na lang nasa baba lang ng EN building, so I went straight down to join them. Since we had an hour break, magbabrunch na lang ako para tipid.

"Hey guys," I greeted, sliding into the seat between Jinky and Angel.

"Rein, nag-order na kami. Order ka na rin habang konti pa ang tao," Angel said, busy munching on her hotdog.

Tumayo na ako, dahil mukhang patay-gutom na rin silang lahat. "One tortang talong, one rice, at isang C2 po," I ordered. Kuya quickly handed me my tray, and I went to the cashier to pay.

"Ganda talaga ni Miss. Sana nag-picture tayo," narinig kong sabi ni Rena as I walked back to the table.

"Mukhang may lahi si Miss, eh," sabat ni Clyde.

"Maganda si Ma'am," dagdag ni Jermz, "pero sana hindi pangit magbigay ng grades."

We all burst out laughing—only to freeze when Miss Cruz herself walked into the canteen, passing right by our table on her way to the counter.

She is indeed a beauty.