In Between

02

02

“Good morning, class!”

We all stand up when our teacher came.

“Good afternoon, Sir Padua!”

“Ok, you may sit down.” He said. “We will be having a group activity today.”

Oh, I hate that one.

“We will count 1 to 5 for you to group.” He said and pointed out the first student in the first row.

I heard some noises inside the classroom. Mukhang tutol sila sa paggrugoupings dahil malamang mukhang hindi nila makakasama mga kaibigan nila. Ang iba’y nagadvance ng magbilang kung saan sila gugrupo.

“1."

“2.”

“3.”

“4.”

“5.”

“6.”

Tumaas ang kilay ni sir sa estudyante, “Ayy 5 pala sir.”

Lutang. So the numbering goes on and I got the number 4.

“Okay, tumayo ang lahat ng number 1.” Sir announced. “ Pumunta sa first row.”

Sir grouped each number until he said the number 4, I stand up and I didn’t bother to look around to see who’s going to be my group mates.

“Go outside, beside group 3. Look for a leader and do the activity quietly.” Sir announced and we went outside. We formed a circle.

“Okay, so...”

I looked at them one by one, what a bad---coincidence.

“Hi, Selina.”

“Good morning, babe—I mean Selina.”

“Nice to meet you again.”

“Hello, Celine.”

“Pfftt---“

Taylor stopped himself from laughing, he looks---still annoying.

“Ayy, sorry Selina nga pala.”

Napahawak ako ng mahigpit sa hawak kong notebook. This is why I hate having a groupings, I think they won’t participate.

“Okay, so I think I will just do this ‘Alone’, I can do it, it’s not that hard activity to do---“

“So you can act alone? Can you be a protagonist, antagonist, director, and narrator? Huh? Can you?” nahihimigan ko ang panghahamon sa kanyang boses.

I bit my lower lip, hindi ko pa pala nakikita kung anong gagawing activity. Kainis, how can it be possible for them to be my group mates?!

“And it’s groupings, not ‘Individual’” he sarcastically said.

I rolled my eyes to them, “Okay.” And look away.

“I will be the leader.” He said without anybody approval. “So i will be the master in this group.”

I don’t care, do whatever you want.

“So ang activity ay isang ‘Dula-dulaan’, the theme is about bullying...”

Suddenly, I burst a laughed. A literally loud laugh. They all looked at me, thinking that i came from mental hospital. Nang mapansing lahat ay nakatingin ay tumigil na ako.

“What’s funny, Ms. Sirius?” he asked me seriously as if he’s a professional leader.

“Nothing.” I chuckled.