It was a bright Saturday morning, and all the students from their strand were gathered for their club’s clean-up drive. Mapa-grade 11 man o grade 12 ay naroon para maglinis ng kani-kanilang room. Even their teachers were there to help them clean.
This was the project Ansel and Elijah were talking about a few days ago. Naisip ng club nila na magsimula muna sa mga sa light projects hanggang sa mapuno na sila ng ideas sa mga susunod na araw.
Nasa loob ng room nila si Ansel kasama ang dalawang kaibigan at ibang mga kaklase—habang ang iba naman ay sa labas naghanap ng lilinisin—nang may tumawag sa kanya mula sa pinto. Agad naman siyang lumapit dito.
"Kuya Ansel, attendance daw po ng Grade 12 Aristotle," ani Hazel at iniabot sa kanya ang attendance sheet. "Sa iyo na lang din daw po ibibigay ng grade 12 presidents lahat ng sheets sabi ni Kuya Elijah."
"Okay, thanks. By the way, make sure to roam around the building. Isama mo si Warren, baka may hindi pa kasi nalinisan."
"Noted. Una na ako, kuya. Dadaan muna ako sa room namin," sabi nito at tumango.
Before going back to his task, he looked for his name on the paper and signed beside it. Binigay niya ito kay Reis at ipinagpaalam na kailangang pumirma ng lahat ng pumunta sa event bago ibigay sa kanya.
He returned to carefully sorting through the books and papers that needed organizing inside their classroom. Beside him, his friends Kino and Reis chatted about their plans for the weekend.
"Matutulog ako pag-uwi," sambit ni Kino
"Paano ka makakatulog sa dami ng quiz next week?" sagot naman ni Reis at tinaasan siya ng kilay.
"Kaya ‘yan i-clutch. Ikaw, Sel?"
"May tutor ako mamaya."
"‘Yan pa tinanong mo, e, maraming notes ‘yan. Kahit siguro nag-tu-tutor ‘yan, nagagawa niya pa ring mag-advance reading tsaka mag-review."
Well, that's true. Ansel is the type to handle his time management wisely. Kaya nga kahit maraming ginagawa, he still finishes everything on time. He doesn't waste time.
"Sipag talaga."
Nang matapos silang maglinis sa loob ng silid, nag-umpisa na siyang ikutin ang room ng ibang section para makuha ang attendance sheet.
Natapos na niya nang makuha ang sheet ng apat na section—Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Confucius—at naiiwan na lang ay ang section ng 12-Pythagoras.
Section nila Jaren.
Upon his arrival, he saw Soren standing at the door. Nakatayo lang ito habang nags-scroll sa cellphone at parang may hinihintay sa loob.
"Uy! Si secretary prince charming pala ‘to."
"Ang dami mong alam."
"HAHAHAHA! Bakit napadaan ka? Hinahanap mo si Jaren? Nasa loob teka. Ja! Tawag ka ni An—"
He interrupted Soren. "Teka, hindi. Kukunin ko lang sa president nila yung attendance."
"Ay. Wala na palabas na rin naman siya, e."
Ilang sandali pa ay lumabas si Jaren kasunod ang isang babae. Hindi niya napansin si Ansel dahil si Soren agad ang hinanap.
"Oh, ayan na pandakot. Ibalik mo ‘yan ah. Ikaw presidente ng Plato tapos wala kayong pandakot—"
The girl behind Jaren walked to him. Medyo nagulat siya dahil bigla na lang siya nitong kinausap.
"Ah, you’re the guy I sat with! Akala ko namamalikmata lang ako, isa ka pala talaga sa secretary ng club," she said, her eyes full of enthusiasm. She gave a piece of paper to Ansel. "Here. Attendance ng 12-Pythagoras."
BINABASA MO ANG
Tutoring Hearts
Romance"I've found my heart learning to love you more each day. Who would have thought it has been yours to teach and guide all along?"
