Kriiingg!

9

"Great presentation. I like your work too, it's very unique."

The teacher commented and clapped her hands to praise Alice, my classmate, works. Nagprepresent kami ngayon ng works namin na ginawa namin sa bahay nina Clint.

Eventually, hindi ako ang nabunot na mag-explain and I was a bit worried.

"Do you have any questions?" The teacher asked and I immediately raised my hand. I saw how Alice pursed her lips when I stand up.

"I love your work and I'm very curious. How did you come up with that idea regarding the topic?"

"Good question." The teacher said so umupo muna ako. "Alice..your answer is?"

I saw Alice bit her lips and looks like she's very nervous. I don't want to be rude, or what they call "pabida" pero 'yon talaga ang kadalasang naririnig ko. Masyado daw akong competitive o ano.

Alice is not that smart but she's very good in speaking and communicating. She's great during her presentation but it looks like she lacks knowledge.

The bell rang and she wasn't able to answer my question. She looks so sorry while staring at her groupmates. Luckily, hindi naman sila nagalit. I know it's rude but it's part of studying.

"Ang competitive mo naman."

Narinig kong sabi ni Clint sa tabi ko pagkaalis ng teacher.

"Huh?" Hindi ko masyadong naiintidihan ang sinabi niya.

"Sabi ko ang competitive mo." Ulit niya at binigyan ako ng pagkain mula sa bag niya.

Napatitig ako sa kanya dahil sa sinabi niya. Tanging mga kaibigan ko lang ang nakakapagsabi na competitive akong tao dahil kilala na naman nila ako.

On other people's side, they can immediately tell na natural na matalino ako based on rankings or so but for my friends, they can tell na I'm competitive kahit hindi nakikita sa personality ko.

I think it's just because they know me too well and because of my mindset na gusto kong patunayan sa sarili ko na kaya ko. That's why nagiging competitive ako pero hindi ko naman ipinapikita sa kanila. Parang natural lang 'yong lumalabas sa'kin na ayaw kong nalalamangan dahil palagi akong nasa tuktok. Kumbaga, alam kong makakatanggap na naman ako ng judgments sa mga tao kapag bumaba ang rank ko kaya iniiwasan kong mangyari 'yon. And I'm shock na napansin 'yon ni Clint.

"Pano mo nasabi?" Tanong ko at yumuko, afraid na mabasa na naman niya ako ulit. Ganun ba ako kadaling basahin?

"Kasi kanina, diba pina-explain sa'tin kung bakit at pano tayo naka-come up nang ganong idea sa project natin.. tas nong bumunot si Ma'am kung sino ang mag-eexplain sa group na'tin, si Ella ang nabunot at nakita kong nadismaya ka kasi plus points 'yon tsaka---"

"Nadismaya akong si Ella ang nabunot because I know she's not really good when it comes to speaking in front." Putol ko sa kanya.

He's partly right but that's not really what I am. Kanina kasi, gusto ni Ma'am na ipa-explain 'yong gawa namin but siya ang pipili kung sino sa pamamagitan ng pagbununot ng pangalan. "Nadismaya ako because Ma'am would based our grades on the member's answer and the presentation."

Umiling naman siya kaagad. "Patapusin mo muna ako please."

Tumango nalang ako at tumawa naman siya bago nagsalita.

"Mali ako sa isang so here's my second observation.. Competitive ka dahil kanina, maganda na ang pagkakareport ng group nina Alice, then siguro nasa isip mo na tataas na ang grades nila compared to us so maybe your competitive mode turned on and then nong sinabi ni Ma'am na pwedeng mag raise ng question, nagtanong ka kaagad ng mahirap na tanong para that way, kabahan sila at boom, bababa ang grades."