Misfits Series #2: Clear Your Heart

New, Nomination

Nagising ako sa lakas ng alarm na nasa ilalim ng aking unan— ang gandang idea, grabe. Pinatay ko ito at muling umidlip ngunit kaunting minuto pa lang ang lumipas ay muli na naman akong nabulabog sa paulit-ulit na ring ng alarm. napilitan na lang talaga ako tumayo at bumangon, bago ko pa mabato ang cellphone ko.

Nan-lalabo ang mga mata matapos kong buksan ang aking cellphone. And, oh la la, shi— I’m already late.

Agad akong nag-ayos habang sumigaw, “Ba’t hindi niyo ko ginising!” I ran downstairs while fixing my uniform, grabbing two pieces of bread as I glare at my parents who’s nervously chuckling.

Before I left the house, I smiled at them. “Hay, mga ulyanin na talaga, have a nice day! Bye, bye!” I closed the door and ran for my life, partida malapit lang bahay ko— late pa rin, buwiset.

I looked behind when I heard my name. “Akira yung mood swing mo, level up na, ah!” sigaw ni mama sabay ngiti, tumawa na lang ako at mas binilisan pa ang takbo.

I breathed heavily seeing our school gate, I stopped for a while to catch my breath when I saw the guard, it seemed like bagong guard pa lang siya? And he’s basically pushing a student?! Hey, leave the hoodie man alone. Instinctively I stepped up.

“Kuya guard, anong problema . . . po?” Lumingon sa akin si kuya guard pati na ang lalaking estudyante.

“No ID. No entry.” Ipinakita ko ang ID ko at agad niya akong pinapasok pero napa-tango lang ako at hinatak ang lalaki sa gilid ng gate.

“Wala kang ID? Problema na naman,” I said as he look at me puzzled.

He was about to say something when I got close to his ears and whispered, “Kita mo yung bintana na ’yan? Mag-antay ka muna doon tapos ihahagis ko yung ID ko, isabit mo lang sayo tapos ipakita mo lang yung lace, sumabay ka sa maraming tao . . . gets?”

Tumango lang siya pero parang natatawa pa? He’s not even thankful! Pero pumasok na ako at agad na tumakbo papunta sa bintana para ihagis ang aking ID, kinuha niya ito at nginitian ako— and well, I felt appreciated, at least.

Matapos nito ay pumasok ako sa aking classroom habang nag-dadasal pa sila . . . nice. Dahan-dahan akong pumunta sa aking puwesto, ibinaba ang aking bag at nakisabay sa kanila.

“. . . amen,” we said simultaneously as I give a slight chuckle.

Hindi napigilan tumawa ni Ranz matapos akong makita. “Bilis mo ah . . . lapit-lapit na nga ng bahay mo late ka pa rin?”

Napansin ko ang bakanteng upuan sa tabi ko nang biglang bumati ang aming guro. “Good day as some of you knows we will have a nomination on who would participate on the upcoming mister and miss elegance!”

Everyone started to murmur when someone knocked on the door, our teacher gladly opened it and turned at us. “Oh, another surprise! We will have someone to join us this school year! Mister Valdez please introduce yourself!”

Wait?! Siya?!

Pumasok ang lalaking nakita ko sa gate sabay tanggal sa kaniyang hoodie. “Hello, I’m Jamie Valdez,” he said as silence fill the whole room, yet after seconds . . . girls started screaming, pati na si Stephanie? Oh— the fangirls.

He looked at me, mischievously smiling, creepy dude! “Jamie, you’re gonna sit with . . . Akira,” said by our teacher as he walk towards me.

“Hi, Akira Agustin!” He greeted me seeing how the others is as surprised as I was . . . I mean how did he know my name— ay ’yong ID!

“Oh, so you already know Akira?” our teacher asked curiously.

“Yes ma’am, she’s kinda my first friend here,” he said as he sits beside me too naturally.

“Akira, give him a little tour later . . . and to continue! The pageant!” I looked at Ranz who’s ready to nominate himself, the confidence dude— how? Pahawa naman.

“Okay, girls, two participant for girls, anyone?” Everyone started nominating there besties while Jamie? I guess continued to stare at me, strangely uncomfortable. This won’t be an easy year!

Ngunit nagulat na lang ako nang marinig ang pangalan ko. “I nominate Akira Agustin!” I looked around to see who it is and saw Sheena laughing with her friends.

The teacher wrote my name— seryoso ka ma’am? The girls at the back laughed, looking at me— mocking me.

“I mean you took that seriously ma’am? I was just joking ma’am. Look at her! I don’t think we can win with . . . this.” She glanced at me, rolling her eyes.

Before my teacher could even stop them, Ranz and even Stephanie spoke as Jamie whispers, staring at me with a bland look. “Are you seriously gonna put up with that?”

He’s right— I stood up without even thinking. “Pardon me ma’am but I must ask Sheena,” I said as my teacher nods— sana tumanggi ka na lang ma’am.

“You’re right hindi ako maganda, ikaw, ikaw na ang pinagpala sa looks pero, is that really ang batayan at standard ng pagiging maganda? Physical attributes? Clear skin? Curvy body? You think that’s beauty?! Well, sorry but you’re wrong! Do you think joining pageants requires beautiful appearance? I mean yes— but is that really the definition of beauty. Perfect bodies? Pageants looks for people who could be an inspiration! An inspiration that you can never be!”

All of them were rendered speechless, I look behind, seeing how surprised Ranz is, and turned at Jamie who’s been smiling in satisfaction, I guess? I sat down as he get close to me yet again and whispered, “That’s how you do it, magaling.” He gently patted my head, as I blush slightly! What— this creepy dude, he actually . . . helped me?

The teacher stopped the nominations and finally started the voting. “Who votes for Sheena?” Almost all voted, she smirked at me, already knowing that she won.
The rest got one vote, they only got it to those who nominate them but I think I won’t even get a single vote— well hindi talaga.

“Okay, lastly who votes for Akira—”

“That long speech for nothing, sino pa nga ba’ng bo-boto sa ’yo?”

“Kami bakit? We vote for her!” My three friends stood up.

Sheena held back her laughter. “I don’t think your gonna win with three votes, do look and compare it to mine,” she said as politely as she can.

Ranz countered, “You’re not even listening . . . the two who got the most votes win, lumingon ka sa board, look!”
I’m second? With three votes?! Oh my goodness— puwede mag back-out habang maaga pa?

“Sheena, Akira you will be the our section’s representative for girls! Now boys, choose who’s the right partner for the two girls.”

Agad na tumayo si Ranz at itinaas ang kamay niya. “Ma’am, I nominate myself!” We were quite dumbfounded seeing the dejected look from our teacher.

“I’m afraid you can’t join, since you’re the last season’s winner, kasama ka sa magiging judge this year.” His face literally dropped as he look at me with a slight frown.

Out of a sudden, tumayo ang lalaki sa tabi ko. “How about me? Puwede po ba ako?”

END