Aurora Borealis

Chapter 61 - Not The Same Tomorrow

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The school bell rung. I stood by the door and watched as the kids ran after one another in the classroom. Some of them stopped by to greet me 'good morning'.

"Teacher, bakit may mga visual aids na nakadikit sa board?" tanong ng isa sa kanila nang makapasok na ako. Nilingon ko naman ang mga cartolina at mga drawings na nakadikit sa board.

"Kailangan kong mag-demo sa inyo para makapasa ako sa university namin. I'll be glad if lahat kayo ay tutulong sa 'kin na magparticipate. Alam ko namang magagaling kayo." wika ko sa kanila. "Sa ngayon, mag-behave muna kayo."

"Kapag nakapasa ka po ba dito eh dito ka na po talaga magtuturo?" tanong naman ng isa.

"That depends. Kailangan ko pang pumasa sa LET para magkalisensya ako. Pero kung tatanggapin ako ng Academy, why not?"

"Sana ikaw na lang po yung teacher namin ulit."

Kumurba ang ngiti sa labi ko. "Gusto niyo ba ako pa rin ang teacher ninyo next year?"

"Hanggang college!"

Nailing na lamang ako habang natatawa sa kanila. "Hindi puwede. Para ko kayong sinusundan no'n."

"Teacher, may jowa na po ba kayo?"

I almost bit my tongue. "Bakit napunta tayo sa usapang jowa? Ang babata niyo pa. Kayo ah, Grade 4 pa lang kayo puro gan'yan na naiisip ninyo."

"Pero meron na po ba?" pigil ang paghagikhik na tanong nila sa 'kin.

"Y-Yeah."

"Ayie~"

"Shhh!" I placed my finger on front of my lips. "Nasa kabilang room lang yung mga nagde-demo."

They shrugged their shoulders and lowered their voices. "Pogi ba jowa mo, Teacher?"

I propped my arm on the handle of my wheelchair. "Well, yeah."

Well, he looks more human when he's fixing his hair. But I'm more used to seeing him in his disheveled hair. He's handsome for me, either way.

"Anong pangalan niya, Teacher? Mayro'n ba siyang fb account?"

"Secret."

"Ehe..."

"We're in a private relationship, so kaunti lang yung masasabi ko tungkol sa kaniya." I tried terminating the conversation.

"Siguro si Sir Matias yung boyfriend niya."

I really can't stop these children. Even including some of my co-student teachers in this conversation.

"Ang i-issue niyo ha? May girlfriend na si Sir Matias." wika ko.

"Private nga ih. Baka artista 'yung jowa ni Teacher." sagot naman ng isa pa sa kaklase niya.

I'm feeling uneasy as I glanced at my watch for the third time. The observers aren't yet here because there are other student teachers who applied here in Astra for demo teaching.

After weeks of assisting some of my previous teachers here, I learned a lot from my experience when they're letting me to be a substitute for some of the classes in their jam-packed schedule.

Maraming estudyante na rin akong nakakaclose. Some of them interacted with me through my social media accounts. Unlike before in our time in Astra, they're more respectful and disciplined.

Di naman nagtagal, dumating na ang mga mag-o-observe. For some reasons, the children looked more relaxed. Perhaps the nonsense talk earlier about boyfriends helped establish the mood.

So far, I've been managing to conduct the demo despite times where there are dead air. I can't help it if they're starting to get nervous because this is a Math subject.

What distracts me is the guy who kept on passing and sneaking beside the corridors of the classroom back and forth like he's just running some errands. Pasimple siyang sumusulyap sa classroom at maski ang mga teacher na nasa likuran ay napapagod na kakabati sa kaniya at mukhang nahihilo na rin sa ginagawa niya.

What is he, a supervisor?

The demo turned out fine, though. I let the kids take a break to eat as the teachers and a professor of mine discussed their observations with me.

"How's the demo teaching?" bati ni Aero sa 'kin na nakatayo sa may poste at nakapamulsa sa kaniyang mga slacks.

"How's sneaking and peeking at my class going?"

"Oh, you noticed?"

"It's the elephant in the room." I retorted.

"I passed!" niyugyog ko ang kaniyang mga kamay kasabay ng di-mapagsidlan kong pagkasabik.

His face lit up as he's about to embrace me although I stopped him halfway. "Good job! Congratulations, dear!"

"The kids helped me."

"They did great in cooperating with the class." his fingers fidgeted. "Does that mean that you'll be working here soon?"

"My pupils asked me the same question."

"They grew fondly of you, I suppose."

"I'm not sure about working here."

"Why?" he turned his head towards me.

"West's asking me to come overseas. As much as I wanted to join you in your work, I'm torn between looking after him or teaching here." tugon ko.

He fell silent. I don't know what he's thinking, but whatever that is, I'm sure it's something sad.

"I understand."

"H-Huh?"

"I said it's okay, I understand. Your brother needs you as someone he can lean on." he patted my head as he smiled.

"Aren't you agitated that we might not be going to see each other more often?"

"Sort of. But I don't want to be selfish. You shouldn't hesitate to choose him. He was there with you before I came in your life, so you should also be with him. Just don't pick other men there." naupo siya sa pasimano at tumunghay sa may poste.

"Why would I pick other men?"

"Yeah, you're right. Let me correct it. Don't let other men pick you."

"Are you kidding? No one would swoon over a cripple like me." I faked a laugh.

"So you're saying that I don't exist?"

"No, no, that's not it—"

Something soft crashed to my lips. A soft groan escaped from him as he tranced his fingers to cup my chin. I'm lost to where I'll look, but all of a sudden, it was locked in his amorous gaze.

Little by little, my eyes closed. I felt a light spark of tingling feeling in me. I ran my fingers on his hair and tousled it softly.

Gosh, I love him.

He turned away from the kiss before anyone could see us. His eyes are looking more gloomy.

"My first kiss..." I muttered. "You..."

"You'll miss that." he grinned.

"And I'll miss you, too."

"I highly doubt that." he scrunched his nose. "We'll talk everyday."

We both cracked in laughter.

"Yeah, and that's how I'll notice the days when you're there and not."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm still hesitating whether I'll leave because you're not going to be there." I held my skirt and gripped it tightly.

"It's not like there would be difference. I'm still here for you no matter what."

"You're there by my side when I figured I want some directions in my life. 'Til now, you're still here." I grabbed his hand and clasped his fingers in between the gaps of mine. "Dear... I'll always notice when you're missing."