Our Highschool Life: The Love Section

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴇʟᴇᴠᴇɴ° ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ

KRISTY.

Three weeks has already passed. Three weeks of hell. Wala naman masyadong nag-iba sa status ng classroom. Ganun parin. 

"So ngayon, ia-announce ko na ang performance task ninyo this quarter," she announced. Oh, nice. Curious ako. "Sabayang pagbigkas. Kayo na ang bahala sa topic. Maliwanag ba?"

"Yes, Ma'am!"

Itinaas ko ang kamay ko. 

"Yes, Ms. Salvador?" 

"Ilang groups po ba, Ma'am?" I asked. Usually kasi, girls versus boys talaga 'yung groupings because all hell would break loose if ever imi-mix kami.

"Oh no no." She smiled at us. Bakit parang 'di ko gusto 'yung ngiti niya ngayon? "Gagawin niyo 'to as a class."

Napuno ng mga bulungan at mura 'yung classroom namin. Paano namang hindi?

Gagawin niyo 'to as a class...what the fuck?

Good grief, I don't even consider this section as one! It's more like an arena to me. Para nga kaming nasa Hunger Games—everyone's competitive as hell!

This time, si Mop na naman ang tumayo. "Ma'am, 'di ba pwede na boys versus girls nalang? Mas madali 'yun," he suggested. For once, I agree with him.

"Don't you like change?" sagot ni Maam sa kanya, halatang disappointed. "Change is essential for growth, class. Now, if you don't want it, how will you grow?"

Natahimik kaming lahat. She continued.

"Let this performance task be a challenge to you all. Pass together or fail together." Tumingin siya sa direksyon namin. "Matt and Kristy? You'll be the leaders for this. I expect you both to lead well. That's all for today. Class dismissed."

And then she walked out of the room.

We tried to hold a meeting for it, but it was a mess. Di kami nagkaintindihan. Both sides had different opinions and it was so frustrating! Napa-walk out tuloy ako sa sobrang inis. Sinundan naman ako agad nung tatlo.

"Kuya Kent's really not joking when he told me Grade 9's going to put me into a hell hole," I fumed while stomping my feet. "Really? Bakit ang kitid ng mga utak nila? Can't they just...agree for once? Para naman sa grado!"

"Well, ano namang aasahan natin sa kanila? Mga gago naman talaga sila," pagsasang-ayon ni Iris na nakasalubong na yung kilay.

"Pabibo rin yung si Allen kanina sa meeting eh. Mukha namang palaka. Sarap sapakin."

"Alam mo, Kristy. Just a thought." Napatingin ako kay Yssa. She looked irritated, pero out of us four siya yung pinaka-composed. "I don't think we could make this one successful if you and Matt won't lower your prides down."

"And was it my fault!? Never naman kaming nagkaintindihan!" 

There's no way I'd bow down to him 'no! In his fucking dreams.

"But both of you are leaders."

"And was it my choice!?"

"The hell, Kristy. I'm trying to help here. Don't raise your voice at me!" 

I was about to yell back nung sumabat si Francess sa amin. "Wag nga kayong mag-away," sita niya. 

I let out a deep breath to control my frustration. Tingnan mo, muntik pa kaming mag-away ni Yssa? Pambihira.

Huminga ng malalim si Yssa bago nagsalita. "What I am saying is...you and Matt should talk this out. Would you rather receive a failing grade? Lahat tayo damay dito. Leaders kayong dalawa. Susunod kami sa inyo. Kung kayo mismo hindi magkaintindihan, paano nalang kami?"