Margin of Error

Chapter Three

Nagsimula na ang culmination at kami ang ikalima na magpeperform. Sa kasamaang palad the three professors in our department were invited dahil kaibigan nila pala yung professor namin sa arts appreciation. I sighed and shook my head ng mamataan kong dito nakatingin sa akin ang professor ko. She is sending me daggers through her stares na parang tumatagos sa buto ko. Wala naman akong balak tanungin kung bakit ganiyan siya makatingin sa akin. 

Dahil sa init sa loob ng gym ay pinaypayan ko ang mga kaibigan ko at ibang kaklase.

"Thank you, my love." Pagpapasalamat ni Irish sa akin kaya niyakap ko lang ito at hinalikan sa noo. We've been like this since first year kaya hindi na awkward sa amin ng ganito. Irish has been the sweetest in the entire group which I cannot help to adore her a little bit more. 

"Kayo na, goodluck my girls." I said as they were heading to the stage. Malakas kaming pumalakpak sa kanila. 

They started performing their dance with a lively music. It was only a minute and half the performance last but the ending was breathtaking because Irish showed her abs in a very sexy manner of dancing. Everyone cheered because of what she did, lalo na ako. 

Masaya silang bumalik sa booth namin. I immediately hugged the girls and jump out of the excitement.

"You did it girls. I am proud of you all." I kissed Irish's cheeks afterwards. 

"Proud sa atin pero kay Irish lang may pa kiss." ani naman ni Rena kaya inismiran ko ito. 

After they performed the next stage of the culmination will be the professors to judge our booths. The dancers rested while, me and my team prepared for the explanation of our booth. 

May anim na judges at ang tatlong iyon ay kilala talaga namin dahil sila ang mga professors namin sa department. The judges stood in front of our booth. An old professor approached us more closely and picked a raspberry and ate it. 

"Did you buy this in Carmen?" She asked and I smiled at her. 

"No Ma'am, actually that is from Sogod." I answered and she nodded in response. 

"Wow, there soil can grow raspberry?" She said in amazement. I gave Jonas a wink because it was his idea. Later on, I discussed the reason and concept of the booth. All of them were listening carefully even Miss Castro. She keeps on looking at me with a bored look kaya minsan ay nacoconscious na talaga ako. 

"That's basically it." Pagtatapos ko sa mahabang paliwanag sa booth namin. 

"Is this a poem?" One of the professors asked so I nodded.

"Feel free to read it po." 

"Sino ang gumawa nito?"

"I am the one who wrote that po, it is a poem about the bahay kubo miniature." They started reading the poem and with their look, they are quite impressed with our booths. After they wrote down our scores in the clipboard ay nagpaalam na sila na aalis na. 

"Masasama kaya tayo sa top 3?" Aljune asked but I smiled tirely.

"Hindi, look at others." I said pinpointing the other booths.

"Pero ang galing nang pag explain mo Mayor." Ani naman ni Remy. Pero I think talo parin kami dahil hindi naman kabonggahan yung design namin compared sa iba. 

Isang oras din ang lumipas at itatanghal na ang mga mananalo. Everyone was cheering up for their own section habang kami naman ay tahimik lang sa gilid at nagmamasid. Dumapo ang mga mata ko sa masungit kong Professor, she is looking at me too. Glaring, is the right definition if I may describe it. 

Nag-anunsyo na ng mga nanalo at gaya ng iniexpect ko ay hindi kami nanalo. I smiled at my classmates. 

"Still, congratulations everyone. You did well. I am proud of you all." Binigyan ko sila ng yakap at natawa naman sila. Kitang mga hindi sanay sa word of affirmations at physical touch. 

Umalis na kami ng gym para makapagpahinga narin dahil ilang araw din ang ginugol namin para sa performance na ito. 

"Cr lang ako guys." Paalam ko sa kanila at dumiretso sa CR ng Admin building dahil maganda at malinis ang CR doon compared sa building namin. 

I went inside on one of the cubicles here in the first floor. Umihi na agad ako dahil kanina ko pa ito pinipigilan. 

"Yeah, I scored them the lowest possibly can." I heard a familiar voice said it. 

"That's bad, Eli." Natatawang saad ng isa nitong kasama.

"What? She deserves that. How much did you score her?" 

"I am not scoring her, but her block is. They got a high score. I love the concept and the meaning behind it. I even wandered bakit hindi sila nanalo. Yun pala ay dahil sayo." 

"That Cruz deserves that." Napantig ang tenga ko dahil sa narinig ko ang surname ko. Now, it really makes sense. At some point I did hope na manalo kami. Hindi muna ako lumabas pero mga ilang sandali pa ay wala ng ingay sa labas kaya lumabas na ako. 

Nagulat ako ng pagbukas ko ay nakatayo pala roon yung chairman namin. She looked at me with the same reaction. Gulat din siya na makita ako. I smiled at her a little bit and bow my head a little and went out. 

Everything makes sense now. Dumiretso na ako sa building namin na nakalutang ang ulo ko. 

Saan ba nanggagaling ang galit ni Miss Castro sa akin? I think this semester I am really into trouble dahil kahit professor ay may galit na sa akin. I sighed before brushing it off. My friends don't need to know this.