My Lonely Girl

My Lonely Girl: Chapter 33

CHAPTER 33

Stella's Point of View

MY EYES widened the moment I walked inside the office of our English teacher. The room was so clean. Ang bawat gamit sa loob ay nakaayos kaya hindi naging makalat tingnan ang paligid. My gaze wandered to the woman who was sitting on her chair. She stopped from writing as she raised her gaze at me.

She told me to go here but she didn't tell me why. I wanted to know why she asked me to so I went here.

I smiled and greeted her, "Good afternoon, ma'am."

She flashed a smile at me and said, "Oh, good afternoon to you, Miss Ortaleza. Thank you for coming here."

"Ah, ma'am," I said, "May I know kung bakit n'yo po ako pinapunta rito?"

She offered me to take a seat. I sat on the chair in front of hers as I watched her look for something. When she was done finding what she had to, she placed on the table the bond paper with a lot of printed words on it that she was holding.

Is that for me?

"Declamation contest is about to come so it's time for English teachers like me to choose our own contestant for that contest," she started. I'm starting to have an idea about why she asked me to come here. "To tell you the truth, sa simula pa lang, pangalan mo na ang sumagi sa isip ko, Miss Ortaleza. I've been noticed that you are good at speaking and reciting. I want you to experience something new that will surely help you improve your skill. That's the reason why I told you to come here, gusto kong sabihin sa 'yo na ikaw ang napili kong contestant para sa darating na contest. Is it okay with you, Miss Ortaleza?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Wait! Let me process everything I just heard. It's too much to absorb, yah know? What? Sasabak ako sa gano'ng paligsahan? Kahit kailan ay hindi ko pa naranasang humarap sa maraming tao at doon mag-perform. Hey! Hindi kaya ako mahilig makisalamuha at i-expose ang sarili ko sa kanila. So, papa'no na?

It would be my first time once I agreed. But if I did, ibig sabihin kailangan kong mag-perform sa paraang "hindi" ko gusto. But if I didn't, imagine how she would react and how disappointed her reaction would look like. Medyo nakakahiyang tumanggi. Parang rude kasi kapag hindi ako pumayag.

Why it has to be like this? Challenging! promise.

"Ma'am, saan po gaganapin 'yong contest?" I asked, trying to make myself look calm and normal. "in one room po ba kung saan contestant at 'yong mga huhusga lang ang nandoon?"

And why did I ask that sort of question? 'Cause I was hoping na gano'n na lang 'yon! Kapag nagkataon, it wouldn't be hard for me to decide and say "yes." Mas okay 'yon kaysa marami ang makakanood sa akin habang nagpe-perform.

"No! Sa stage mismo, Miss Ortaleza," nakangiting sagot ni ma'am habang ako nama'y tila hindi makagalaw at hindi alam kung paano magre-react. Sinira no'n ang maliit pag-asang meron at pakiramdam ko'y nagsisimulang gumuho ang paligid ko. "Almost everyone will watch so you should be confident enough to face them all. Lakasan mo ang iyong boses upang marinig nilang lahat. Don't be shy 'cause you are talented and amazing, Miss Ortaleza. Kailangan mong palaguin ang kung anong meron ka. Give your very best shot and don't worry 'cause I'll be there to support you. It's your chance to be better and I hope, you won't let me down."