Marianne Constancia
"Last day na pala natin sa internship bukas."
"Last day na nga! Sobrang bilis ng oras 'no? Noong una nahihiya pa akong humarap sa mga estudyante ko pero ngayon iniisip kong mamimiss ko na talaga sila." Malungkot na boses ni Kaye.
"Okay lang 'yan! Parte din 'yan ng journey natin bilang mga future guro. Cheer up, Kaye! Balang araw magiging proud din tayo sa mga batang 'yon." Napabuntonghininga na lamang ako habang tinititigan ko ang mga litrato kasama ang mga estudyanteng tinuturuan ko.
"Nakakamiss lang kasi, Marianne."
"I will surely miss those kiddos, ended up looking their pictures and probably cry over the edge realizing how much I love them."
I can't help but feel sad. We're about to graduate days from now— review, take board exams and definitely look for a job. We need to accept that sometimes growing means growing apart and settling things beyond college mindset. To be the best version of who we wanna be.
Napatingin na lang ako sa labas.
"Mrs. Sendajes is on her way to our classroom." Parang natatarantang sambit ni Felicity.
"Ano ba 'yan, Feli? Hindi ka pa ba sanay kay Mrs. Sendajes?" pangaalaska ni Pres sa kanya.
"Syempre nasanay, I just made it like we were in our first year 'no!" nguso nito.
I just laughed because that was the sole reason in my mind, too.
Ilang minuto pa'y dumating na si Mrs. Sendajes, may dalang checklist at ang nag-iisang paborito namin— clearance.
"How's everyone? Did you enjoy your teaching internship experience?" ngumisi si Mrs. Sendajes.
I've never seen Mrs. Sendajes smiled like this. She rarely smiles, not even when she got a new promotion. I think we are her biggest achievement so far that's why she smiled genuinely.
"We're gonna miss them, for sure and it was a great and fruitful experience. Thank you for guiding us, Mrs. Sendajes!" diing sambit at yumuko si Francheska para magpasalamat.
We also did the same thing as Francheska, we are beyond grateful to Mrs. Sendajes. Kung wala ang guidance niya, siguradong nahirapan kami sa paghandle ng mga estudyante. She was indeed our lifesaver.
"Thank you as well my dear students. Your batch is the closest to my heart and I'm very grateful to have all of you. Anyways, I got the list of students who are included in the Latin honors. I'm sure all of you are very excited."
My heart almost stopped beating, sobra akong kinakabahan sa list ng Latin honors. What if this time hindi pa rin? What if?
Napaubo si Mrs. Sendajes. "Please do stand as I call your names. Noreen Camos, Francheska Madrigal, Daniel Marquis, Tricia Lagatano..."
Noreen was peeking my face, she could sense that I was getting nervous. My hands are shaking and my heart begins to palpitate again when I starting to lose hope.
"And also to the special teacher awardee, Marianne Constancia." diing sambit ni Mrs. Sendajes.
"I heard my name?" mahinang boses ko na may pagdududa.
I think.
Nabingi yata ako, totoo ba? Ako? Nasa listahan ng latin honors? I heard my name being called, it was my name!
"I knew it, congratulations sa lahat!" biglang tayo ni Ysabel. "Pero sino po ang Summa Cum Laude?" dagdag pa nitong tanong.
So very talkative, Ysabel but Mrs. Sendajes just smiled at her.
