Fierce Love

CHAPTER 4: ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY

It all started with numbers. The ancient story of numbers tells us how ancient people kept track of what we have today. It's interesting to look back when there was no standardized measurements for us to compare things. Mathematics is all around us, just like cells, they are the basic building blocks of our living things and for everything in our daily lives. Mathematics is a powerful tool for us, by means of using it, people can make sense of the world and it makes our life orderly that prevents chaos. Learning mathematics trains our mind to seek different kinds of solutions in a logical way.

Mathematics is considered as the nerve-racking subject of all for most students, a subject that no-one likes, but that's not the case for me. This nerve-racking subject gave me wings to fly high. I can't blame others if they are scared and have difficulty with this subject. We have different aspects and perceptions about it, but the most important thing is to create your passion in learning. Don't just find your passion--cultivate, explore, and develop it.

I remembered how my mother screamed those numbers to me, somehow, I owe my mother for introducing them to me at such a young age. I could capture words into my ears when I was four years old. The first thing I heard was the word "logic" which is similar to reasoning.

"MUCHI!!!!!!!! Gising na baka ma-late ka sa school niyan, first day of training niyo pa naman," sigaw sa'kin ni mama, and you heard it right, I'm Muchi. Ever since I was a child, they already called me Muchi and I don't know the reason why they called me by that nickname. My mom once told me that my cheeks was so rosy and fleshy that's why they come up with Muchi as my nickname, urghhh.

"Heto na po babangon na," pagsagot ko kay mama. Matapos makapag-ayos at lahat-lahat dumiretso ako ka-agad sa school dahil ipinapatawag ako ng adviser namin sa Science.

"Good morning Ma'am," masayang bati ko kay Mrs. Siyensiya, nakakakonsiyensiya naman kung tatawagin ko si Ma'am na Ma'am Siyensiya, just kidding.

"Good morning Love, pasensiya na kung ang aga-aga pa at pinatawag na kita rito ka-agad," balisang sabi ni Ma'am.

"Naku, ok lang po iyon sa akin, siya nga po pala bakit niyo po ako ipinatawag?" Balik tanong ko kay Ma'am.

"Our department will also have an upcoming Science Quiz Bee Competition this coming September 19. Unfortunately, same day ang Math Trail and Science Quiz Bee, umaga ang sa Science, hapon naman ang Math. Nasabi ko na rin ito sa coach niyo at pumayag naman siya, ikaw ngayon ang tatanungin ko. Kaya mo bang pagsabayin ito?" Hindi ako makapaniwala sa aking narinig, totoo ba 'to o nananaginip na naman ako? Minsan talaga gusto ko na lang kainin ako ng lupa huhuhu.

"Sa tingin ko po ay kaya ko naman, mapagsasabay ko po sila, I can manage my time naman po. Grabe Ma'am, hindi po ako makapaniwala," maligayang sagot ko.

"Shookt na shookt ka ba?" Natatawang sabi ni Ma'am. "Yes po, at the same time natatakot po kasi first time ko lang pong sumabak sa mga patimpalak na ganito," mangiyak-ngiyak na paliwanag ko.

"No, don't worry, Math and Science Department Teachers' believes in you," nakangiting tugon sa akin ng aking butihing guro. "Makakaya ko po ito, I believe in myself too po," uttering those words as I knew that I can do what I said.

After my conversation with Ma'am Siyensiya I went straight to the Math Department. I greeted all the Math teachers as soon as I open the door, so are they. "Grabe, nakakakaba palang pumasok at makakita ng mga gurong hitik sa kaalaman pagdating sa Math," bulong ko sa isip ko.

While waiting for our grade 7 representative na si Andrew Madrid, the Math Head Teacher came, asking for Pastor. Laking gulat ko ng marinig ito. "May estudyanteng Pastor?" Nagtatakang tanong ko sa grade 10 representative ng Math Trail na si Ate Jo Ana.

"Ano? HAHAHAHAHA Si Pastor iyong nakita mong nagbubuo ng rubiks cube sa upuan ni Ma'am Abad, coach ng mga lumalaban sa rubiks cube, and by the way hindi siya Pastor na leader ng Christian congregation, it's his surname, Lloyd Shanin Suri Pastor," natatawang sambit ni Ate Jo. Ako naman eto natulala na natatawa, hindi ko naman kasi alam na surname niya 'yon.

"Ahh I see, I thought there's a clergy student here, sowieee po," mangiyak-ngiyak na natatawa kong sambit. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa sinabi ko huhuhu, pati mga teachers natawa sa tanong ko, isang malaking kahihiyan.