FEAR CONSUMED JOVIE when she saw a large truck coming in her way. She was unable to move. Itinukod niya ang palad sa semento upang makatayo ngunit agad siyang napadaing. She remembered her bruises in her palms. Tampulan siya ng tukso kaya't ang lokong mga kaklase niya, pinagplanuhang patirin siya. It was successful and here she is.
Pauwi na siya galing school. Paika-ika pa siya kung maglakad dahil sa sugat na natamo. She was about to cross the high way but her legs weakened. Napaupo tuloy siya.
Jovie just closed her eyes, praying to the heavens that in her next life, she wanted to be born in a rich and nice family. Iyon ang nasa isip niya habang hinihintay ang pagsalpok ng truck.
Is this how she will die? What a shame, Jovie.
She waited.. waited and waited. But a large hand held her waist and pulled her. Napatayo siya dahilan para bumalik sa katinuan.
Jovie looked at her right and saw a man, almost her age. O kung hindi, siguro ay isa o dalawang taon ang agwat sa kan'ya.
"Salamat.. " mahina niyang sinabi at pinagpag ang palda.
His eyes narrowed.
"That's the only thing you will say, kid? It's odd that you're not even hysterical. You nearly died. "
Ngumiti lang siya. Hindi naman siya takot sa bagay na iyon. It's just sad that she may die in a way she didn't expected to be. She doesn't want to die in unfair. Kung mamamatay siya, she wanted to die in peace!
"Natakot din naman ako. Hindi lang siguro halata. " Nginitian niya ang lalaki. "Salamat nga pala ulit!"
Jovie woke up from her dream. Or maybe not. It isn't a dream. It's her memories. What a great memory to start the day.
It's Monday today. Maaga siyang nagising ngayon. She was really excited to see Rania. To see how much she grows. But at the same time, she was scared. She's afraid that she might break down as soon as she will see her daughter. And there's something she wanted to confirm.
She wanted to see if Rania knew her.
Malawak ang ngiti niya kahit nasa biyahe siya. Is Rania tall now? She's 7! Matangkad na iyon! And probably pretty!
"Good morning, Teacher.. " bati ng ilang mga estudyanteng papasok na rin sa sari-sariling mga silid. She greeted back the kids before going to the office to log in.
"Aga, ah?" Teacher Joshua talked to her. He's a Math teacher. Estudyante rin niya ang anak nito.
"Yes. May kailangang asikasuhin sa room. " Napatigil siya. "Josiah isn't with you?" tukoy niya sa anak nito.
"Mamaya pa iyon. Ihahatid ng asawa ko. "
Pagkatapos makipag-usap sa mga teachers na maaga rin ay naglagi na lang siya sa room niya. Some of her students already arrived at medyo naging maingay na rin. Inayos niya na lamang ang mga upuan at maayos na sinalansan ang mga textbooks na nasa likod. Her students even helped her in arranging the books.
Hanggang sa napuno na ang room. The flag ceremony ended and she told them to behave while she will go at the principal office for a while.
"Estudyante mo iyong transferee, ano? Nasa loob. Kind of aloof. Ayaw magpaiwan. " Si Liah nang madaanan niya ito.
Doon siya napatigil. She totally forgot! Of course, Rania's with a guardian!
Sumasakit na ang ulo niya sa kaba. It can't be him. Ayaw niya.
Jovie did breathing exercises before pushing the door. Nanlalamig siya. Ngunit namamawis. She still can't believe she will meet Rania again. The last time she saw her daughter was 6 years ago. Wala na siyang nagawa nang mabalitaan na dinala ito sa Seatle.
Jovie saw a little girl sitting at the sofa. Nakayuko ito at nakatingin sa sapatos. She bit her lips. You can't cry here, Jovie. Save that when you're home.
"You're here, Teacher Jovianna. " Si Mrs. Melendez, ang principal. Humarap ito sa bata. "Rania, she's your Teacher Jovie. She will accompany to your class. "
A pair of blue topaz eyes looked up at her. Napaawang ang labi niya nang makita iyon. She knew that it was pretty when Rania's still a baby but it was more mesmerizing now. It reminded her of someone. Alam na alam niya agad kung saan nakuha ni Rania ang pares ng matang iyon.
"Hello, Rania.. " she whispered. It was hard to restrain herself from hugging her daughter. Napakaganda ng anak niya. She has the chance to fully see her daughter's face. Napangiti siya. They are the same. They both have a mole under the side of the lower lip.
Maliban doon ay wala ng nakuha ang anak sa kan'ya. She smirked. Damn, Daniel. Our daughter looks so much like you.
Hindi sumagot ang bata at tinitigan lang siya. She sighed and scanned her eyes inside.
"Her.. guardian?" tanong niya.
"May naiwan daw sa kotse. Rania's grandmother.. "
Kinabahan agad siya sa sinabi nito. Although kind of relieve that it isn't Daniel or something.
"Ayan na pala si Mrs. Lozales. "
Napatingin tuloy siya sa pinto. Pinagsiklop niya ang kamay lalo na nang gulat na tumingin sa kan'ya ang ginang. Umiwas siya ng tingin. Takot na baka kung anong masabi nito. O kaya.. planuhing pag-aralin sa ibang school si Rania.
"Who is.. " Nabitin ng ginang ang sasabihin.
Jovie need to be professional. Kaya't nahihirapan mang ngumiti ay nagawa niya.
"I'm Teacher Jovie. I'll be Rania's adviser, Mrs. Lozales. " Maayos niyang ipinakilala ang sarili bilang guro.
Matilda Lozales nodded. Shock is still written on her face. Parang may gusto pang sabihin ngunit pinilit na lang na hindi at lumapit kay Rania.
"Lola needs to go, Rania. Behave in your class, alright?"
Rania nodded. "Yes, Lola. "
It was the first time she heard her daughter talk. Nanginginig ang kamay niya at pinilit na pakalmahin iyon. Please, Jovianna. Do not fucking cry.
"Please take care of my granddaughter, T-Teacher. " Sumulyap ito sa kan'ya. Matilda Lozales cleared her throat.
Nawala ang tinik sa lalamunan niya nang makaalis ang ginang. Napatingin siya kay Rania na kuryoso ang matang nakatingin lang din sa kan'ya.
Jovie smiled softly. "I'll take you to your class, Rania. You will meet your classmate. "
Tumayo si Rania pagkasabi niya noon. May hawak hawak na tumbler ang bata at tumayo lang ito sa tabi niya. Napangiti ulit siya sa inasal nito at siya na mismo ang naghila ng bag nitong roller.
"You like Princess Jasmine?" She asked when she saw the design of Rania's bag.
"Yes.. " Sinagot nito ng tipid ngunit bahagyang natigilan. "Yes po.. " dugtong nito.
They were slowly walking. Tahimik lang sa gilid niya si Rania at hindi naman nakatingin sa kan'ya kaya't palihim siyang nagpunas ng luha. She didn't realized she was already crying. Just how long you waited for this, Jovie?
"Teacher.. "
Kumurap siya nang bigla siya nitong tawagin.
"Hmm?"
"I want to go home. "
Napatigil siya sa paglalakad nang tumigil din ang bata. Rania went near her and held the hem of her uniform. Nanlaki ang mata niya at napatingin sa kamay nitong hawak parin ang dulo ng damit niya.
"Let me go home, Teacher. I'll give you my Papa's number and please call him, Teacher. Please say I don't want here and he should fetch me. "
Napabitiw siya sa hawak na bag. Tulala siyang napatingin sa anak na namumula ang mata habang nakatingala sa kanya. Lumuhod siya para magkapantay sila.
"Bakit ayaw mo dito?"
Namumula ang ilong nito. Bumuhos ang pangamba sa kan'ya dahil doon. Because Rania's as paper as white, she could clearly see the tears forming in Rania's eyes. It feels like a stab in her chest.
"Don't you want here? You'll meet your classmates. They can be your friends. "
Kumikibot-kibot ang labi nito tanda na naiiyak na. "I-I.. just want to go home, Teacher. Please call my Papa. I don't want here.. "
Napabuntung-hininga siya at tumayo. "Alright. I'll call your Papa but we need to go in Teacher's room, okay?"
Tumango ang bata sa kan'ya, may luha parin ang gilid ng mata nito. She sighed and took the handkerchief in her pocket. Lumuhod ulit siya para mapunasan ang luha nito. Rania's eyes stared at her as she do it.
Nakarating din sila agad sa room. The room became silent when she went in.
The kids started to sing and dance to the morning song. Hinayaan niyang ganoon bago pumunta sa desk niya nasa pinakalikod. Sumunod si Rania sa kan'ya.
"I'll let you talk to your Papa but after this you will introduce yourself to your classmate. Is that fine?"
Rania nodded again. Masaya ang mata nito habang hinhintay siyang magdial. Kabado siya pero.. hindi naman siguro siya makikilala? Iyon na lang ang pampalubag loob niya. Agad naman niyang ibibigay kay Rania ang cellphone kaya't hindi naman siguro magiging matagal ang pag-uusap nila?
Wala na siyang nagawa dahil masayang nakatingin sa kan'ya si Rania. It was like her daughter's anticipating for it so she can't be a coward.
After a couple of rings, finally someone picked up.
"H-Hello?" Siya na mismo ang nauna. Natahimik ang sa kabilang linya, siguro'y naghihintay sa sasabihin niya. "I-I'm Rania's new.. adviser. S-She wanted to talk to you.. "
Hindi pa man nakakatanggap ng sagot ay agad niya iyong ibinigay kay Rania.
"Papa?" tanong ni Rania nang walang boses. Tumango siya kaya't ngumiti sa kan'ya ang bata.
"Papa, you work?" rinig niyang sabi ni Rania.
Napainom tuloy siya ng tubig nang wala sa oras. What kind of situation is this..
Hindi nakaloud speaker kaya't hindi niya marinig ang kabilang linya. Well, it's not like she wanted to. She'll just probably distracted for the whole day.
"No, Papa. I didn't cry! And I didn't gave teacher a hard time!" Lumakas ang boses ni Rania.
Napangiti na lang siya at hinayaan mag-usap ang dalawa. Siya naman ay nakisali na lang sa mga bata.
"Teacher!" Tawag ni Rania kaya't lumapit siya.
"Done?" tanong niya.
Binalik nito ang cellphone sa kan'ya at ngumiti. "Papa wants to talk to you, Teacher. "
Ano.. daw?
Tuliro tuloy siya habang inilalapit ang cellphone sa tenga.
"I hope my daughter didn't gave you a hard time. She's kind of stubborn. If something happened with her, give me a call. "
Ah..
"Miss?"
"Y-Yes. I'll give you a c-call if something happens. "
Napatigil ulit ito. Ngayon umabot ng ilang segundo.
"Thank you, Miss. " Ibababa na sana siya ngunit may pahabol ito. "What's your name?"
Nahigit niya ang hininga at dali-daling pinatay ang cellphone. Huh! That's so close!
"Class, try to get along with her, alright?" The kids answered in monotone. Humarap siya kay Rania. "Go on.. "
Rania looks uncomfortable. Mukha itong nahihiya at lumingon sa kanya. Nginitian niya ito.
"I-I'm Raninya Solaris Lozales. You can call me Rania. I-I'm 7.. "
Dahil likas na makukulit ang mga bata, may ilang nagsitaasan ng kamay.
"Yes, Kahlil?"
Tumayo si Kahlil. "Teacher, you said we'll raise our hands if we have a question and I have one for Rania!"
Napasapo siya sa noo at lumingon kay Rania. Mukha namang ayos sa bata kaya't sinenyasan niya si Kahlil na magtanong.
"Why do you have blue eyes? Galing ka ba ibang bansa?"
Rania looked at her again. Siguro ay nahihiya pa ito sa kaklase.
"I-It's blue topaz. I have the same eyes with my Papa. "
"Where do your father work?" Nagsunod-sunod na ang mga tanong ng bata.
"He's a lawyer!" Kalaunan naman ay naging positibo na ang pagsagot ni Rania.
"How about your Mama?"
Natigilan si Rania sa tanong na iyon. Pati siya ay hindi alam kung anong gagawin.. o sasabihin. Yumuko si Rania dahilan para bumigat ang nararamdaman niya. Akmang tatapusin na ang mga tanong nang sumagot ito.
"M-Mama.. uhm.. " Rania trailed off. "She.. She sings! Papa said she sings a lot! Always!"
Napakagat siya sa labi at pinatigil na ang mga bata sa tanong lalo na nang mamula ulit ang tungki ng ilong ni Rania tanda na naiiyak na ito. They went back to their respective seats ganoon din si Rania.
"Teacher, I need another paper, please.. " Inabutan naman niya ng bagong bond paper si Camille.
With their English class, she just let them draw the things that can make their happy after she read them the story of a man who buy happiness exchange of large sum of money. He was a magician. Binibili nito ang emosyong kasiyahan ng mga tao. After that, those who sell their happiness suddenly became cheerless and grey. He bought a lot of happiness as he traveled on different villages. But at the end of the day, no matter how many happiness he bought, he is still lonely. The moral lesson of the story is that your happiness starts with yourself. You can't all depend your happiness into others.
"Teacher, did Mr. Magician found his happiness at the end?" Minnie asked because the story only ends when the magician gave back to the people all the happiness he bought.
Jovie smiled. "When Mr. Magician gave back all the happiness, the villages became lively again. And as he stare at the dancing crowds, he unconsciously smiled. He then decided to build a circus so he can share the joy to many. "
Jovie was happy that her students were very interested with her class. Tahimik rin ang mga bata habang gumuguhit. Jovie looked at Rania who is silently coloring her paper.
"Tomorrow, you will present this to Teacher, alright? And you'll tell me why the things you drew makes you happy. " She announced when the bell rangs for the break time.
Students answered, 'Yes, Teacher', in monotone again before they line up and went out for their snacks. May ilang hindi lumabas at nasa loob lang ng room dahil may sari-sariling baon. Napailing na lang siya dahil naririnig niya na ang usapan ng mga bata tungkol sa kung anong bibilhin nila.
She isn't hungry so she just stayed at her desk and fixed her table. Jovie saw that Rania stayed. Binuksan nito ang bag at kinuha ang baunan.
Napangiti siya. She wanted to capture some pictures of Rania but she didn't. First of all, it is not good. You know, taking pictures without someone's permission. Siguro naman ay magkakaroon din siya ng litrato nilang dalawa. Maybe group pictures o kapag naging malapit na siya sa bata. That way, she can ask for a picture, right?
Lumingon si Rania sa kan'ya kaya't nginitian niya ito. Ilang segundong nakatitig si Rania sa kan'ya bago ito bumalik sa kinakain. She saw that Rania's eating a sandwich and a yogurt. Napanguso siya nang maisip na gusto niya ring lutuan ng pagkain ang anak. Pero hindi naman niya alam kung paano iyon ibibigay. And also as a teacher, there should be no favoritism.
Lumapit si Mika at Camille sa kan'ya habang may hawak hawak na mga pagkain. Ngumiti siya sa dalawa at nakisabay na rin sa pagiging madaldal ng mga ito.
"Teacher, I just found out that I'll be a big sister!" pagkuwento ni Mika.
"Really?"
Tumango-tango ang bata. "Yes, Teacher. But I still don't know if it's a boy or girl po. "
Inabutan niya ito ng tissue nang kumalat sa labi nito ang ketchup.
"Thank you, Teacher. "
Lumapit na din ang iba sa kan'ya na may baon nanamang mga kuwento. Sa halos isang buwan niyang pagtuturo sa kanila, ugali na ng mga itong makipagkuwentuhan sa kan'ya kapag nasa room siya at nakita ng mga ito na wala siyang ginagawa.
"Zeke, what happened to your uniform?" puna niya nang makitang marami ang dumi sa uniform nito.
"Nalaglag po siya sa duyan, Teacher. " Si Josiah ang sumagot.
Worried, she scanned Zeke to see if there's a bruises. Nakahinga siya nang makitang wala naman maliban sa madumi talaga nitong uniform.
Ilang minuto lang ang recess at ganito na ang nangyari?
Jovie opened Zeke's locker for his extra uniform. Inutusan niya itong magpalit na sinunod naman ng bata. She took an extra towel and wipe his back. Pagkatapos ay nilagyan niya ito ng powder.
"Teacher! Me! Me! Braid my hair!" Si Camille ulit.
Pinaupo niya ito sa maliit na upuan at inumpisahang ayusan ang buhok. Habang ginagawa niya iyon at dinadaldal parin siya ng mga estudyante niya. Kung ano na lang yata na maisip nilang kuwento ay sasabihin sa kan'ya.
Napatingin siya kay Rania na tahimik lang na nakatingin sa kanila. Kinukulit ito ni Zeke at Josiah.
"Done, Camille. " Pinahawak niya ang maliit na salamin sa bata.
Nagulat siya nang lumapit si Rania sa kan'ya at inabutan siya nito ng suklay. Nakaawang ang labi niyang napatingin sa anak na tahimik lang umupo sa maliit na upuan.
"Braid din, Teacher. "
Palihim siyang suminghot at inabot ang suklay nito. The moment she touched Rania's hair, she almost cry again.