Through the Light and Dark (Saudade Series #1)

Kabanata 8

Kabanata 8

For the better

It was a defeaning silence when I entered in our classroom. The last day of our prelims was today that's why my classmates were all focused.

Pagkaupo ko ay nakita ko si Rae. It looked like he wants to talk to me but he just remained in his seat. Panay rin ang paglingon niya sa 'kin at naasiwa ako nang kaunti roon.

I took my reviewers out of my bag and started to read and analyze again. I also made my iced coffee and brought chocolates so that my mind would work well.

I closed my eyes tightly and whispered the things I've memorized. Inisa-isa ko ito at sa tingin ko nama'y wala akong nakalimutan. Kung puwede nga lang na isang hawak mo lang sa notes mo at ipahid sa ulo ay kabisado mo na, matagal ko nang ginawa!

Pagdilat ko ay katabi ko na si Rae na hawak-hawak ang reviewer ko. He did the same thing, he closed his eyes to memorize and uttered those things he only remembered.

Napamasahe na lang ako sa 'king sentido nang matapos akong mag-exam. I put my pen down on the desk and looked around. Nasa tatlo pa lang yata kaming tapos. This is the last exam for our first semester.

I smiled a bit when they saw me looking at them. Pag-angat ko ng tingin sa striktong prof namin na nagbabantay, nakatingin siya sa amin.

Mr. Montaño didn't take his eyes off me. I bit the insides of my cheeks as I stood up to give him my paper. Ni hindi ko siya matapunan ng tingin dahil sa takot na baka may iniisip siyang hindi ko naman nagawa.

Bakit ako matatakot?

Iniayos niya ang kaniyang salamin bago ito kinuha. I was waiting for his go signal before going back. Kumunot ang noo niya nang tingnan ang papel ng dalawang nauna sa akin.

His brows met. "Bakit iisa lang ang sagot n'yo?" Nag-angat siya ng tingin at ang mata niya'y mapang-akusa.

I tried my best to calm myself before explaining. "I don't know po, Mr. Montaño. Iisa lang po ang tanong... I am confident with my answers, sa tingin ko naman po ay wala o kaunti lang ang mali ko," I said in a low voice because a lot were still taking their exam.

Tumango lang siya at nginuso ang aking likuran, pinababalik na ako. Nakahinga naman ako nang maluwag nang makuha ko ang bag ko at dumeretso na palabas ng room.

I thought he'll accuse us of cheating on our exams! I immediately texted Von that my exams are already done. Ngayon din ang huling araw ng kanila, sa pagkakatanda ko.

"So... next week, huh?" Von said about our outing next week. Sinundo niya ako sa school at ngayon ay nasa sasakyan niya na ako.

I nodded at him. Naalala ko iyong sinabi ni Harvey sa akin last week. Iisa lang ang kanilang tinutukoy. Birthday yata ni Harvey.

"Pupunta muna ako sa sementeryo." Tipid ko siyang nginitian. Siguro naman ay hindi ko na iiyakan ang Tito ko. I was 15 years old when he passed away due to kidney failure.

We'll have our undas break. Limang araw kaming walang pasok at sa November 5 pa ang balik namin.

He cleared his throat. "I'm free tomorrow... Puwede ba kitang... samahan?"

Kumunot naman ang aking noo. "Bakit naman hindi? Ikaw... Wala ka bang bibisitahin?"

Kaagad naman siyang umiling. "May ibang araw pa naman doon. Besides, kailangang kasama ko si Yvonne."

Tinanguan ko na lang siya. My phone beeped. Tinext ako ni Arianne, saying that she's with Aya and Vannah inside our school.

I rolled my eyes. Akala yata nila ay hindi pa ako tapos mag-exam!