Chapter 10
Pagkarating ko sa Supreme Student Government Office ay kaagad nila akong pinagbuksan ng pintuan. Mukhang nasilip nila sa cctv iyong pagdating ko. Inangat ko ang braso ko at ipinunas iyon sa aking sintido. Pawis na pawis ang noo ko. Malamang na mukha na akong dugyutin.
Inilapag ko sa sahig ang kahon na dala ko at naghahabol ang hininga silang tinignan pagkapasok ko. Wala namang napalingon sa akin, and I'm thankful for that. Lahat sila ay abala sa kanya-kanyang gawain.
Daig pa nilang office worker sa sobrang busy nila ngayong umaga. Kaya ayokong nagiging officer, mapaschool man iyan o classroom pa lang. Dodoble talaga iyong responsibilities mo as a student.
"That's the paper works—Mrs. Texas told and asked me to bring here." ani ko sa taong pumansin sa akin dito.
"Oh, thank you. But where is Professor Sudalga?" I shrugged my shoulder. Hindi ko naman kase talaga alam kung nasaan siya ngayon.
Silently, my eyes can't help but searched for the SSG president. When I noticed he was not here in their quarter, I looked at the SSG treasurer who was starting to hand over the papers to her co-officer. Pasimple akong umalis sa harapan niya at pumasok sa opisina ni Prince.
Naabutan ko naman siyang nagtatanggal ng suot niyang necktie. Ang kamay niya ay nakahawak na sa pinakabuhol nito habang abala naman ang kaliwa niyang kamay sa paghawak doon sa mga frame na nakadikit sa wall.
"Good morning." Pagkuha ko sa atensyon niya, and he instantly turned to where I am. Our eyes met. But his forehead furrowed as he looked at me, confused.
"What are you doing here Miss Morgan?" He asked, still frowning.
"Here," I handed him the sky flakes I was holding, and kind of averted my gaze.
"What is it?"
"Let's just say, I know how to acknowledge those people who help me." I murmured while peering at the frames he had looked at earlier.
Hindi ko nakita ang reaksyon niya, pero nararamdaman ko namang natigilan siya.
I gently skimmed the medals that hanging on the flank. Parting my lips, my eyes narrowed because most of it are brain opposition. Quiz B, math and science testing, literature, sports, and much more.
I'm not familiar with other symbols, but I guess it really existed. I'm not interested in participating in any activities/program inside or outside of our school. My brain intellect is just enough for perseverance whether to pass or not.
Aaminin ko man o hindi tamad akong mag-aral, pero may time naman na hindi rin. Sa katunayan, nakakasagot ako lagi sa mga recitation. Pero hindi ganun ka-amusing iyong mga answers ko. Sa quiz at test ay sakto lang din naman. Iyong tipong talinong pang-estudyante lang talaga.
Tumataas lang ang grade ko kapag may presentation, project, or reporting dahil doon ako magaling. Hindi kase ako mahiyain tulad ng iba, pero never akong sumali sa mga activities na parang may competition.
Sa totoo lang, naiinis ako kapag may mga student na naglalaban-laban para sa academic objectives. Iyong tipong dahil gusto nilang makapunta sa ranking, o maging top achiever ay nagiging desperada sila.
Hindi ko rin naman sila masisisi, sa performance task at grade kase malalaman kung sino talaga ang magaling at mahusay—which is nagbibigay ng image or nagpapataas ng ego ng isang estudyante. Ayun nga lang ay nagkakaroon ng kompetisyon na dapat hindi naman nangyayare. Nandito kami sa school para mag-aral at hindi mag-away. Matuto at hindi magpasikat lang, makinig at hindi magmayabang.
"Careful." I blinked when I heard his voice behind me. Ngayon ko lang narealize na halos mahulog na ang medal niya sa higpit ng hawak ko.
"Sorry." Napakamot muna ako sa kilay ko saka ako humarap sa kaya.
Seryoso niya akong tinignan.
"You don't need to buy me these..It's nothing," he said referring to the biscuit that- I gave, I looked at the container that was already on his desk. It was on the side of his laptop.
"Not for me, my grandma appreciate what I buy yesterday so.."
"Okay."
I sulked my lips. "But if you don't want to, it's okay. But don't throw it away, sayang kase."
"Why would I throw it away?" Nakataas ang kilay na tanong niya kaya muling sumagi sa isipan ko iyong sinabi ni Duke kanina.
I just sighed, and looked down.
"I won't throw it away, I'm not that bad. I know that you made an effort to buy and bring it to me. Kamsahamnida." I can't help but smiled genuinely, I hope Sir Duke thinks the same.
"Welcome.. By the way, 'yung paperworks niyo nandito na—" I couldn't finish what I was going to say when the door unexpectedly flared. Pumasok ang secretary niya, at hawak nito ang paperworks na gusto ko sanang i-inform sa kanya.
"Uh, president, the paperworks are already—" Her eyes widened when she saw me here kaya umatras naman ako para bigyan sila ng space. "..here. And, all of the officer already have their assigned paperworks so.. here's yours."
"Thanks.. But who brought it? I didn't see professor Duke earlier,"
"Her," bigla ay tingin sa akin nung kausap niya. "It was Miss Morgan who brought it, president."
"Really..?" tila ay nasurpresang sabi naman ni Prince. "Anyways.. you can go now. And again thanks to this one. But please tell them to start right away, there are so many activities this month, so better work hard."
"Yes, president." When the SSG secretary left, I instanly felt his heated gaze on me.
Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya. "Why are you looking at me?"
"Nothing.."
"Nonsense," I butt and he smirked. "I just wonder how you lifted that heavy object.."
I rolled my eyes. "And, what do you mean by that..?"
He chuckled, and shook his head. "Nothing. I mean nothing."
I can't help but somehow glared at him. Bakit parang ayokong maniwala sa lalaking ito? Napakamaloko kase nung ekspresyon niya, parang amuse na amuse sa iniisip niya ngayon.
"Fine.. I yield," Itinaas niya ang mga kamay niya at umakto na 'tila ba sumusuko sa akin.
Napaismid ako. Sabi na nga ba e! Inayos ko nalamang ang shoulder bag na dala ko saka pilit na tumikhim.
"I'm going.." I decided. "Mamaya malate pa ako sa klase at maparusahan nanaman ako,"
Tumalikod ako at akmang aalis na nang maramdaman ko ang pagsunod niya sa akin. Naguguluhan man ay hindi na ako nagtanong pa.
When Prince's office door unfurled, natigilan ako nang makitang nakatingin na agad sila sa amin. Pinagmasdan nila kaming dalawa kaya napalingon ako sa katabi ko. Pero prente lamang siyang nakatayo at nakahawak sa magkabila niyang bulsa.
"G-Good morning president." They stood up, and Prince just nod his head as if dismissing them.
He looked at me.
"I'll bring you to your room." And I shook my head.
"Hajima," pagtanggi ko. "You don't have to actually, malapit lang naman 'yung room ko—" Hindi siya tumigil kakatingin sa akin kaya nailang na ako. "Fine.."
"A-huh,"
Napangiti siya bigla.
Pero nang makitang tila pinapanood pa rin kami nung mga kasamahan niya ay napataas siya ng kilay.
"Stop staring, go back to your works. I'll be back.." He managed to take a step para tuluyan nang umalis kaya sinundan ko siya at magkasama na kaming lumabas sa headquarter nila.
Walang nagsasalita sa aming dalawa. Tahimik lang naming nilalakad ang daan patungo sa room ko. Bawat nadadanan naming estudyante ay binabati at nginigitian siya, lalo na kapag babae. Ngunit kapag napupunta naman sa akin ang kanilang paningin ay kaagad silang napapangiwi.
Grabe ba.. I bite my lower lip, to stop a giggled.
"Professor Sudalga." Kumunot ang noo ko. Tama ba ang narinig ko?
Confuse, I step aside to see who he was talking to. But my eyes widened when I saw that it's really him, Sir Duke. Akala ko nag-iimagine nanaman ako. He was looking at Prince intently, while the guy beside me just looked at him seriously.
Naalala ko tuloy iyong naganap sa amin kanina. He hurt my vulnerable heart today, but nonetheless..
"Good morning sir!" I beamed happily. Pero ni pagsulyap sa akin ay hindi niya ginawa kaya napabuntong hininga na ako.
Napailing si Prince. "Do you need anything Professor Sudalga?"
"We need to talk." distant at malamig pa ring sabi niya kay Prince.
Nagsalubong ang kilay ko.
Akala ko ba magpinsan sila?
"Miss Morgan, I think can't go with you anymore. I think Professor Duke needs something from me all of sudden.."
"It's okay.." nagkibit-balikat ako at nawala ang paningin kay sir Duke na hindi ko inaasahang didilim ang ekspresyon nang magkatitigan kami ni Prince.
"Uhm, if you excuse me.. aalis na ako. Again, have a good day sir." I mumbles to keep my breath steady. Parang ang tensyunado naman kase bigla ng atmosphere.
Humakbang ako paalis ngunit bago ako tuluyang makalayo sa kanilang dalawa ay kitang kita ko pa kung paano sila magtagisan ng tingin. Umiigting ang mga panga nila habang 'di tinitigilan ng tingin ang bawat isa.
Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kamay ni sir Duke, nakakuyom ito.
I gulped.. "Looks like they up on something."
Confirmed, may issue nga ang magpinsan. Hiling ko lang ay maayos nila kung ano man iyon.
Nang makarating na ako sa room ay hindi na ako nagulat pa nang halos kompleto na silang lahat roon. Halata naman iyon sa ingay na narinig ko sa pintuan kanina. Kanya-kanyang kwentuhan ang nabuo sa bawat linya ng upuan, may mga nagtatawanan at nag-aasaran pa.
Tinignan ko ang whiteboard, at mahina akong natawa nang makitang may nagsusulat ng kalokohan dito. Mukhang trip nanaman nung pinakamaloko rito sa klase 'yung board. Napailing-iling ako at nginitian lang ang ibang lalaking bumabati sa akin.
"Are you okay now?" tanong ko kay Harold na tahimik lang na nakaupo sa upuan niya.
"Yes.." he murmured, and I smiled.
Kinuha ko ang chocolate bar na nakabukas sa mesa niya, mukhang kinakain niya na ito kanina. May kalahati pa naman kaya kumagat na din ako.
"So.. saan ka nanggaling?"
"Well, I went to the teachers faculty.." panimula ko sa usapan at sinubukang pasiglahin ang boses. "And you know what? Naabutan ko doon si sir Duke. Sinadya kong magpunta ng maaga sa faculty para sana magkamoment kami kaso hindi rin nangyare. Nung bigyan ko siya ng fruits, as usual tinanggihan niya ulit. But still, iniwan ko pa rin dun iyong binigay ko." I pouted. "You know, manifesting na for once maging marupok siya at tanggapin din kahit papaano iyong mga binibigay ko sa kanya.."
"Pero pakiramdam ko, parang imposible na rin, mukhang nainis ba naman sa akin kanina ei."
He tsk'ed. "And you're okay with that?"
"Okay saan?"
"Na ginaganun-ganun ka lang.." aniya at inismiran ako.
"Sino ba talaga ang tanga sa atin? You're so babo.. syempre hindi! Pero kase 'diba? Let's just focus sa part na, atleast I saw him today and I got his attention kahit na papaano." I defend, and he just let a defeated sight.
"I don't know what's wrong with you, you know?" he point out. "Why do you still like that guy, even thought he always rejected you? Is that even a simple like?"
I shrugged my shoulder.
"I.. I really don't know, Harold. But I only know one thing, I can do everything just him —to like me back."
"You're crazy Nia.." dismayado niya akong inilingan. "that person can't even appreciate you."
"But I really like him, Harold." I saw how annoyance and frustration passed through his eyes when I still keep my words like this, but it soon replaced by a concern.
He finally cracked a little, he loosened his glare and then slightly messed up my hair—which made me smile. He treated me like a little sister, so I knew he would understand me.
"Alright, I understand where you were coming Nia. But I'll be honest here, I won't support you. I know you're hurting when he always rejects you, and in what I heard a while ago when I followed you to the faculty room. I don't know, I definitely not like him for you. He can't even appreciate your effort, or just respect you—and your feelings."
"Harold.." mahabang sabi ko.
"You know me Sonia, I don't like to interfere especially if you like what you were doing but please.. Please, don't stoop so low. Don't go down to someone who can't appreciate you, and see your worth. You're so precious to be treated like that, okay?" Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang bigla ay gusto kong maiyak. My heart hurts, to the point that I just keep looking at him.
Hinawakan ni Harold ang magkabilang balikat ko. "For the first time, sinasabi ko sa'yo na..nandito lang ako. I'm just here, besides or next to you, in your back or at your front—Iintindihin 'yang mga issue and reasoning mo kahit nakakafrustrate, okay?"
Hindi ko alam na nagtubig na pala ang mga mata ko sa naririnig ko mula sa kanya.
Bakit ko nga ba nakalimutang si Harold ito? Kahit hindi niya lagi pinapakita iyong pag-aalala niya sa akin, alam kong may pakealam siya. After all, kahit 'di niya sabihin.. best friend ko siya, best friend niya ako at talagang magbestfriend kami. Kahit palaging nangigibabaw 'yung mga differences namin, may mga paraan pa rin para maintindihan namin ang isa't isa.
L A D Y M | MOONWORTH