I stood rooted on the spot when I heard what Engr. Yañez said.
Engr. Gilbert Yañez...
My hands felt clammy and I fisted them before hiding them inside my pockets.
"Wait, baka naman nasa klase si Ingrid. Ayokong makaistorbo," he added.
I didn't really pay attention to Engr. Yañez's face as we were talking because I was more focused on Principal Delgado. I could sense a warmth and sincerity in him and I felt a certain kind of connection which I ignored. But now that he told me who he was, I couldn't help but gaze at his face – the face of my father.
"Naka-leave pa rin ang isa sa mga teachers kaya may isang period na walang pasok ang lahat ng third year. Tama ba ako, Aleph?"
"Po?" I transferred my gaze to Principal Delgado.
"Walang klase ang section I sa oras na 'to?"
I nodded mutely.
"Naku, sigurado ang ingay ng mga estudyante ngayon. During my time, parang may fiesta tuwing walang teacher," Engr. Yañez said laughing.
I felt my vision blur and I blinked my tears away.
I saw more of me in him than I ever saw in my mother. His hair is dark brown like mine and it has a tendency to curl at the ends, too. His nose is straight and narrow – a Grecian nose, Ingrid called it, just like mine. His eyes are light brown and they crinkle in the corners when he smiles.
I realized that he was looking at me curiously as if he was trying to figure out why I was suddenly staring aptly at him.
"Okay ka lang ba, Aleph?" he asked. His voice sounded pleasant but hearing him say my name now made my chest painfully constrict.
Ako po pala ang anak ninyo... I wanted to say but smiled at him instead.
"Y-yes po, Sir, I am..." I said.
Kamukha ko s'ya...I quietly thought finally realizing why he somehow felt familiar. Looking at him feels like looking at my older self...
My throat tightened and I cleared it. "S-sige po, Sir, tawagin ko lang po si Ingrid. Excuse me lang po..." I said before I turned to leave.
I intentionally did not fully close the door because I wanted to peek at him one last time.
"O, anong nangyari d'un?" I heard him ask Principal Delgado. "May nasabi ba akong hindi maganda?"
"Natakot yata sa'yo kasi nalaman n'yang Tito ka ng girlfriend n'ya," I heard our principal lightly reply.
"Talaga?" he sounded pleasantly surprised. "Silang dalawa ni Ingrid?"
"Yes. I really am not privy when it comes to my students' love life but Aleph and Ingrid's relationship is what you call the talk of the town because they're so opposite."
"Ibig sabihin si Ingrid kikay dahil itong si Aleph ay seryoso?"
"Oo," Principal Delgado replied laughing. "Besides, si Aleph parating nag-ta-top sa klase, si Ingrid naman sa extracurricular activities."
"Ang sabi nga nila opposites attract," Engr. Yañez gamely countered. "Kilala n'yo naman ako, Sir, I'm greatly supportive of high school romances."
"I know because you and Anne were highschool sweethearts."
"Kaya nga po, Sir, napaka-nostalgic sa akin ang pagbalik ko rito because this is where I first clapped eyes on my wife."
I gently closed the door.
