I forced myself to not blink because of the tears pooling my eyes. Sinusubukan kong basahin ang nakasulat sa test ngunit wala na akong maklaro. It's all blur, and I didn't notice I was crying already.
Kahit alam kong ganito ang magiging takbo ng exam ko ay nag take pa din ako. They've given me enough time already. I should have been okay by now, the talk I had with mama should be enought, o kahit hindi okay, at least hindi iiyak-iyak.
Patuloy kong pinupunas ang walang hanggang pag-agos ng mga luha ko. Why wouldn't it stop falling?! Pwede ba, kahit ngayon lang maki cooperate ka! I need to finish this test, first part palang ako.
Sabi nila kapag naiiyak ka daw, isipin mo yung mga masasayang ala-ala na meron ka. I tried think of the happy memories I've shared with Tyler but maybe it doesn't always work that way. Sometimes, the happy memories are the one that hurt us. Because right now, I remember the time when I took my bio exam. I was doubtful of the result, but he was there. He cheered me up.
I was surprised when I felt someone wiped my tears. Siguro kung hindi ako nagmumukmok ngayon ay tumakbo na kaagad ako palabas.
Umangat ako ng tingin at mas lalong nagtaka nang makita si Claude na nakaupo sa tabi ko. Since when did he got here? He looks so worried that for a moment, I felt at peace.
Umiwas ako ng tingin bago pinahid ang kamay niyang nasa mukha ko.
Ignoring Claude, I tried reading the question on the test again but my tears won't stop streaming. I could barely see anything now.
Ano bang ginagawa niya dito? Siguro sa sobrang sama ng pakiramdam ko ay kung ano-ano na ang pinag-iisip ko. Imposible naman kasing andito si Claude ngayon.
"Mr. Villanueva, you're not supposed to be here."
"Ma'am,"
Napabaling ako sa bagong pasok. It's my adviser. She just said Mr. Villanueva, right?
"Leave."
"Can I stay for awhile?" bumaling ako kay Claude na nakatayo na ngayon.
I'm not dreaming. He's really here. Pakiramdam ko natigil ang pag-agos ng mga luha ko dahil sa gulat at pagtataka.
"Ms. Sierra is taking the exam."
"I know. I won't coach, I promise." he looked so determined.
"Kahit na," galit niyang sabi. "You shouldn't be here."
Pumikit ako nang sumumbat pa si Claude. What is he doing? He's the type of a person who would never get himself into trouble. Anong ginagawa niya ngayon at nakakaya niyang sagutin ang isang teacher?
"Claude," I called him when I realized he wouldn't stop persuading because he kept on creating reasons to stay.
Naramdaman ko ang pagtingin niya saakin ngunit nanatili ang mga mata ko sa exam paper. I don't want to look at him because I hate how he makes me feel so at peace when he was the last person who corrupted that out of me.
"You should go." sabi ko
He took a seat before talking to me, "Haze,"
"Mr. Villanueva," my adviser called him with authority.
"Claude." banta ko
"I will, if you assure me you're going to be all right." hindi ko naiwasang tumingin sakanya. His eyes were looking at me with compassion that I almost forgot what's going on here.
