𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗚𝗼𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱
-Kinzel
*Typographical errors ahead*
"Okay class, magsi upo na kayong lahat."
Agad namang nagsi upo ang mga kaklase ko. Unang araw namin ngayon sa college at siya ang prof namin sa english. Maganda siya kahit na may edad na.
"Since this is your first day, I won't be very strict. I want you to know me better and I want to know you all. Para naman magkaintindihan tayong lahat and no hard feelings." She laughed a bit
May iilan sa aming natawa rin. I was observing her, mula sa pagtayo ni ma'am hanggang sa mga mannerisms niya. She likes tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Here's a piece of paper and write anything you want to ask me as long as it is PG-13. Wala akong pakielam kung 18 na kayo. I want it all PG-13 got it?"
We all answered 'yes ma'am' in unison.
Hmm.. Ano ka yang isusulat ko. I took a glance at ma'am at muling ibinalik ang atensiyon ko sa piraso ng papel. I wrote something hoping na mabunot niya iyon at sagutin.
We all pased the pieces of paper na inilagay naman ni ma'am sa isang kahon.
"Are you all ready?" Tanong niya sa aming lahat. Akala mo naman pa raffle ito sa hiyawan ng mga kaklase ko.
"Ma'am! What is your full name?" She said out loud nung binasa niya yung nabunot niya.
"Bakit ia add mo ba ako sa FB?" She chuckled.
"Pwede ba ma'am?!" Tanong ng isa naming kaklase. Natawa lang si ma'am.
"Reliana Horacion. Pero tawagin niyo na kang akong ma'am Reli or Ms. Liana. Kayo bahala as long as that's pertaining to me."
Napatungo ako sa sinabi ni ma'am. Reliana? Saan ko ba narinig ang pangalang iyon?
The while class went silent again as she took out another piece of paper.
"Ma'am ilan taon na kayo? I'm 34 na." She smiled at us.
"Talaga ma'am?! Patang nasa 27 ka lang po!" Sigaw na naman nung lalaki sa likod.
She took out another paper after another. Totoo nga sinagot niya lahat ng tanong namin. Even the weirdest one's like ma'am are you still single? Ma'am Reli said yes.
"Okay! Last one phew..."
"Ma'am are you happy?" Agad aking napatingin kay ma'am Reli. That's my paper! She locked eyes with me for a second at ngumiti.
"Hmm.. Happy? Paanong happy? With work? With life? With myself?"
"Ma'am lahat!" Geez! Sino ba yung lalaking yun?!
"I'm happy with my work kasi andito kayo with me. I'm happy with my life kasi I still have my friends and my family. I'm not happy with myself though.." She made a soft chuckle.
"ma'am bakit?"
"Hala, bakit ma'am?
We all made our different reactions pero natawa lang siya sa amin.
"Because I let her control me." She smiled.
Lahat kami ay naguguluhan sa sinabi ni ma'am Reli.
"Hinayaan kong ikontrol ako ng aking ina. I let my friends take over me. Hinyaan ki ang sarili kong gawin ang mga gusto nila. At kung kailan gusto ko na gawin ang mga gusto ko huli na ang lahat.."
She leaned a bit on her table at inupo ng kauti ang sarili niya doon. She let out a sigh. Tahimik lang kamk at nag aabang ng kwento ni Ma'am Reli.
"Bata pa lang ako hinayaan ko na ang sarili kong sundin lahat ng utos ng mom ko. I'm not saying na huwag niyo sundin ang mga magulang niyo pero at least have a mind of your own."
A mind of your own..
"I was in college noong pinadala nila ako sa probinsiya para doon mag aral. I met a guy. He was carefree at parang wala siyang problema. We became friends then eventually.. We became lovers. Napakasaya ko. I never felt happiness like that when I'm with him."
"Ayieeeee! Pumapag-ibig si ma'am!"
"Ms. Liana! Sino po yung lalaki!"
Hindi pinansin ni ma'am ang mga reaction nila. She just continued her story.
"But happiness always comes with a price nalaman ng mommy ko yun at pinauwi ako sa manila para doon mag aral. I said no to her. That was the first time I rebel against her. My lover and I went on run. Tinataguan namin si mommy pero there's no point of running away we both faced her. Akala ko love always win. My mom didn't accept Robi. I told her na lalayas ako and she will never see me again or even her future grandchildren. I asked my friends for help pero tinalikuran nila ako ng malaman nilang magpapaksal aki sa isang mahiral na magsasaka. When everyone turned their back on me.." Ma'am Reli smiled bitterly to us.
"I said ayos lang.. I still have Robi with me. I still have Rhea with me.. My baby in me.." Tears started flowing from her eyes.
"Akala ko ayos na ang lahat pero nakunan ako. Hindi ko naalagaan ng mabuti ang bata sa loob ko. I was in the hospital for weeks always sleeping. By the time i felt okay. Nagising ako.. Nasa bahay na ulit ako. Binalik na niya ako sa mga magulang ko. He left a note saying sorry at nagkamali siya sa pagsama sa akin.. Then I—"
The school bell rang.
Ma'am Reli wipes her tears at tumayo ng maayos at pinagpagan ang sarili.
"Okay class. See you tomorrow! Magle lesson na tayo." She laughed.
Paalis na sana ako sa room kasi akako na lang ang natitira doon when..
"Rhealani Corpuz?" She called out.
At that moment I knew who she was. Kaya pala sobrang pamilyar ng pangalan niya. She was supposed to be a Corpuz just like us.
"Yes ma'am Reli?" Those letters I saw sa bahay ni Tito Robert. I could still remeber what was written on the envelope..
'For my Reliana'
She smiled at me "Pakisabi sa tito mo na maging masaya siya.." She took the ring from her pocket.
"Pakibalik ito sa kaniya.. Gusto ko nang palayain ang sarili ko.."
Pagkabigay niya nuong singsing ay lumabas na rin siya ng room.
She was supposed to be tito Roberto's wife... But it all gone wrong when they controlled her.
