Entwining our Frayed Strings (Strings #1)

Chapter 6

"So your topic is: Who are better leaders? Men or Women?" Sabi ni Ma'am sabay sandal at relax sa kanyang upuan.

"Men are basically better leaders." Panimula ni Hans and all of the boys in class burst cheering. "Tracing the history of old civilizations and world leaders, most of them are men. Thus, ancient civilizations cannot be formed without its leaders --- Which are men."

Matapos ang sagot niya ay nagsipalakpakan lahat ng lalaki which annoyed me so sininulan ko na rin na magsalita and reason my side.

"Yes, if we consider the leaders of the past, most of them are men. Pero maayos ba ang pamamalakad? There were wars and chaos back then and all of those are results of having men as leaders."

"Pero, you did not mention the good-" Pinutol ko ang sasabihin n'ya dapat dahil 'di pa ako tapos magsalita.

"Women are as good and rightful to rule back then but they we're not given the opportunity. For example. Most of the countries with female leaders were the first countries to recover from the pandemic."

Napuno muli ang classroom ng sigawan at palakpakan which boosted my confidence. Nararamdaman ko na unti_unti nang nawawalan ng pasensya si Hans dahil namumula na s'ya at galit na galit 'ata sa'kin. Nakita ko s'yang lumapit kay Ralph at may binulong at napansin kung umiiling si Ralph.

"Kung wala ang lalaki wala rin ang babae!" Bato niya sa'kin."

It was pathetic. Napakalayo ng sinabi niya sa topic namin. Sasagot na sana ako ngunit nauna sa akin ang nasa likuran ko, si Ashilea.

"Why so? Baka kayo nga ang wala kung wala kami. Women can reproduce sperm out of her bone marrow to inseminate her eggs. Pero kayo, mga lalaki, you cannot and can never produce egg cells."

Alam kong lumalayo na ang pinag-uusapan nila sa talagang topic namin but that was a savage. It was damn slayable may pa bone marrow-bone marrow pang nalalaman.

"Stop! Lumalayo na kayo sa topic natin. Let's change it." Inabot muli ni Ma'am ang kaniyang garapon. "Your new topic is... Should LGBTQIA plus especially transgenders have restrooms of their own? Why and who not?

"It's a no for me." Lakas loob na sagot ni Ashilea. "If we have gender neutral restrooms all around, separated from the male and female, it will highlight one's gender identity which will lead to embarrassment and further, to discrimination."

Kahit may point s'ya ay nais ko pa ring pumanig sa 'yes' side ng argument na ito pero huli na ang lahat, nakapagdecision na s'ya.

"I object." Sabi ng malalim na boses ni Ralph. "Having a gender neutral is excellent to avoid violence and serve safe spaces to other people especially women. Most of LGBTQ people tend to be confused on which restrooms they will use. Having a gender neutral restroom is also giving them a space in our community-"

"Time's up, let's give them a round of applause. Graded na kayo. Take your seats."

Nagpalakpan ang kuwarto pero mukhang mainit pa rin ang tingin ni Hans kay Ashilea.

Ikaw kasi! Lumalayo sa topic eh.

*****

"Ang bobo." Halakhak ko pagkalabas namin ng campus. "Nilayo niya yung topic."