Chapter 7:
Sir Rye’s POV
Hindi natatapos ang araw ko sa loob ng classroom. Marami rin akong organizations na hinahawakan. Isa na rito ang English Club ng College of Education. In-charge rin ako rito. It’s an organization composed of English Major Students. Nasa loob kami ng office ng club and we are about to start our meeting. However, wala pa rin ang ibang officers. Ako at si Joe pa lang ang nandito.
“Musta love life, Joe?”
“Sir, ang tagal-tagal ko na kasing nanliligaw, pero hanggang ngayon, puro thank you lang ang sagot ko,”
Natawa ako sa reaksyon sa mukha niya. Isa siyang frustrated suitor na mayroong malaking problema sa nililigawan niya ngayon. Isang manliligaw na nawawalan ng pag-asa. Actually, giving him advices is really some of my forte as their teacher.
“My dear student, if you really love someone, learn to wait. Maybe you are not meant to be together for today, but meant to be forever someday,” I told Joe.
“Pati ba naman kayo Sir, naniniwala sa ganyan? Nawawalan na nga ho ako ng pag-asa. Ginawa ko naman ho lahat. Pati ‘yung mga tips niyo sa akin, kaya lang, wala pa rin,” seryoso ang mukha niya.
“Alam mo, Joe. Hindi naman ikaw ang mawawalan kung hindi ka sagutin ng nililigawan mo. Maybe, the best consolation is you have done your part. Nagsabi ka ng feelings mo. Kung ayaw niya, so be it. Nauna ka namang nabuhay sa mundo nu’ng wala siya di ba?”
“Tama kayo d’yan Sir, pero may hindi pa kayo sinasabi. Paano kung sagutin niya rin ako. Thank you lang naman ang sinabi niya, hindi I reject you di ba?” I let him think of this. Mabuti naisip niya ang bright side.
“Matalino ka, Joe. May point ka. Basta, at the end of the day, you must accept and respect his decision. Kapag sinabi niyang Tama na, eh di, itigil na. Marami ka namang ibang bagay na pwedeng gawin,”
Tinapik ko siya habang sinasabi koi to. Ang akala kasi ng mga babae, gano’n kadaling manligaw. Aba, gumagastos rin kami sa bawat date at regalong ibinibigay namin. At sobrang malaking sampal sa mukha kung hindi lang rin nila ‘yon tatanggapin. Anyway, hindi naman panliligaw ang problema ko. Si Rebecca.
Maya-maya, nagdatingan na rin ang mga officers. I won’t name them anymore. Si Joe lang ang kilala ko dahil most of the officers are girls. Hmm. Lahat ng napipibilangan kong club, nagiging all-girls kapag ako na ang adviser. Anyway, it’s not a problem for me. As long as I am doing my job as their adviser.
“Good morning, Sir Rye. My name is Pamela. I’m the new president of English Club. These are my co-officers,” then she started to point and names her colleagues.
“Nice to meet you guys. I’m Railey Medrana. Call me Sir Rye, or Sir Medrana. Whatever you want,” I did a gesture that made all of them—except for Joe—smiled. I just, smiled? What’s their problem.
Halos walo kami sa loob ng room. Habang nire-relay na ni Pamela or Pam, ‘yung mga plano nila for this semester, nakikinig naman ako. ‘Yun nga lang, I could not concentrate because I am still thinking when, how, or where to talk with Rebecca. Should I text her or not? Until now, I don’t want to be the first one to move.
“Sir, do you agree with the program on our General Assembly?” Pamela asked. Matangkad siyang babae. Napapansin kong tinitignan siya ni Joe ng matagal. Well, dahil siguro siya ang President ng Club.
“Do whatever you want,” I answered. She smirked. Anong gusto niyang sabihin ko? Nagagandahan ako? Where in fact, I am not really paying attention. “That’s good,” I added. And that last statement made her smile—I mean everybody smiled.
This is the problem with girls. I think, they badly need attention. Like Rebecca. And I am now hating our status right now. I have a lot of things to do, and her presence is all I need to be cheered up. Kaya lang, every time that we meet, lagi na lang mainit ang ulo niya. Girls’ issues—I don’t know. It sucks.
“Sir, this coming Tuesday na po ang General Assembly. All Education Students Major in English would be attending the Assembly. They are also required to pay the membership fee,” Pamela said.
“Fine. What do I need to do, then?” Sumandal ako sa upuan ko. My head hurts.
“Sir, you just have to give an opening remarks. Our theme is about, “Getting Stronger @ 13.” This is our theme for this sem’s assembly. 13 years na po kasing nag-eexist ang English Club. Our team also wants to have intramurals after the general assembly. Bale Sir, we’re having a lot of activities for this sem.”
“That’s good. Make sure all your plans are noted. By the way, I noticed that Joe is not participating. Give him a chance,”
And when I say “Joe” to “Pam”, everybody chuckled. They said, “Ayeee” in chorus.
“Do I have to know something?”
“Sir, si Joe at Pam kasi. Hahahaha” one of the girls said.
I get it. Nang tumawa ang lahat, napansin kong si Pam na pala ang tinutukoy ni Joe na nililigawan niya. “Oh. I see. Good luck Joe, tandaan mo lang ‘yung sinabi ko sa’yo kanina,” at miski ako, palihim na natawa sa kanya.
After the meeting, nagpaalam na ako sa kanila. I told them na may tutorial class pa ko sa faculty room. Five college students na may problema sa isang English Subject ko. It’s one of my subjects kaya okay lang na mag-over time to teach these pupils.
I went to Faculty Room. We’re the only people inside this room. Ako, at ‘yung limang students ko. Our Faculty Room is air-conditioned kaya I prefer staying here. Ayoko ng masyadong mainit. Anyway, if I’ll be making effort naman, I want to do it somewhere na convenient.
“Sir, can I say “Sorry” if what I really mean is “I love you”?” Sa tanong ng batang ito, I think, love na ang tinututor ko sa kanya. Lahat silang lima ay nasa isang mahabang lamesa. Ako ‘yung nasa may center. Then, I am now giving them a pre-test to know their knowledge before I formally start my lesson.
“Well. If you aren’t sure with what you’re gonna say, better shut up,” nakasimangot siya nang narinig niya ‘to. Ano bang gusto niyang marinig? Hmmm. “Relax, Keith, ang ibig ko lang sabihin, isipin mo muna ang sasabihin mo para hindi ka malito at hindi rin malito ‘yung sasabihan mo,” sabi ko dahil parang nabigla siya sakin.
“Thank you Sir,” sabi ni Keith. May kasama rin siyang kaklase niya dito. Sina Faye, Kimmie, Lhyn, at Joane. Muntik ko nang makalimutan ang pangalan nila dahil sa dami ng estudyante ko. Thanks to their IDs, dahil nabasa ko mula ro’n ang pangalan nila. Knowing the names of the students is a way para mas mapalapit pa sila sa teachers nila. Syempre, it would lead to learning. Going back.
“Continue answering those activities. 10 minutes lang for that,” I told them. And they are now answering the work sheets. Am I really this busy? After kasi ng tutorial na ito, balak ko pang pumunta ng isang book store para bumili ng librong kailangan ko sa klase bukas.
“Sir, kumusta na kayo ni Rebecca?” Faye asked. She’s seating near me.
“Tsaka, Sir, ‘di ba nagpropose kayo sa kanya? Nandun po ako nun eh!” Sabi naman ni Lhyn.
“Ang sweet no’n Sir. Akalain niyo ‘yun. Parang pang-pelikula lang,” Joane said.
“At ang pinaka the best pa Sir eh nung nagbigay ka talaga ng sweet words,” Kimmie.
“Class. I am here to teach your lessons, not to entertain your questions.”
At pagkasagot ko lahat sa kanila, napayuko lang sila at nagpatuloy sa pagsagot. Nakita ko rin silang nagbubulungan but I don’t care. May mga bagay na mas mabuting ikaw lang ang nakakalaam bago mo ipagsabi sa iba. Mahirap na, baka maudlot pa.
After 10 minutes, natapos na rin ang pinapagawa ko sa kanila. Isa-isa na nila itong pinasa. I told them to go home and to close the door when they leave. And they did what I told them. Napasandal ako sa upuan ko. Napaka-stressful ng araw ko as a teacher. Ito ang hindi naiintindihan ni Rebecca sa akin.
Aalis na rin ako ng Faculty Room. Kaya lang, dumatin na naman ang isa kong co-teacher. She noticed the chocolates I had on my table. Medyo marami naman kasi. Bigay ng lima kong estudyante. She looked at me and said, “Tsk. Tsk. At dito niyo pa talaga sa classroom ginawa ‘yan,” I ignored her. Matanda na kasi si Ma’am. As in, matandang dalaga rin kaya medyo ayoko na siyang patulan.
Maya-maya, pumasok na rin sina Anna, at Rain. Umupo na sila malapit sakin. Inilapag nila ang mga gamit nila sa lamesa. At kanya-kanyang hanap ng paraan para ma-relax sa place nila.
“Sobrang stressful hawakan ng Debate Club mo, Rayling,” –Rain
“It was better when Rebecca’s still there,” –Anna
Nang mabanggit ni Anna ang pangalan ni Rebecca. She stopped. Automatic na tinigil niya ‘yung sentence niya. I just looked at her. Hmmm. “Sorry,” she smiled as she say this.
Pumasok na rin si Chloe. She’s seating beside me. Lumapit na siya at napatingin naman si Rain at Anna sa akin. Nakita kong medyo nagtataka sila kung bakit sa tabi ko siya umupo. Anyway, I managed to smile and just signed something to them.
“Hi Sir Rain at Ma’am Anna,” Ma’am Chloe said.
“Oh, well. Hello,” Ma’am Anna said.
Nginitian niya ang dalawa. Tsaka siya lumingon sa akin ng nag-hi rin ako sa kanya.
“Tara, Rye. Sabay na tayo mag-lunch,” at hinawakan niya ako sa braso.
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