Agad kong binuksan ang laptop at ikinabit sa projector. Hinintay ko itong lumabas sa white board, at may kung anong pinindot upang may lumabas na palabas dito.
Pinause ko muna ito at tumingin sa kanila.
These people doesn't even know what poverty is. I know there's a possibility, cause Ethereal city doesn't have poor people. Mediocre maybe, but poor? Nah.
You can't express or perform something that you don't even understand.
"Listen, I'll make all of you watch this movie, it's about poverty. Try to understand and analyze it. After that, in our next meeting, prepare to perform again. I want it right, if you can't do that, expect me to have no mercy. Are we clear?" madiin kong sambit.
Bakas ang pagtutol sa mga mukha nila kaya muli akong nagpatuloy sa malamig na tono.
"Your grade for today's performance will not be recorded, but if all of you perform badly again, there's no another chance. Remember, you're all performing arts students, don't disgrace this school anymore" at saka ko plinay ang palabas.
Matapos ang buong araw kong klase, agad akong nagtungo sa main office, which is kung nasaan ang president's office, at padabog na umupo sa swivel chair.
Pinindot ko ang phone line at tinawag si Harold at Evelyn.
Nang makapasok ang mga ito, agad akong nagsimula. Ipinaliwanag ko sa kanila ang gusto kong mangyari, ang magkaroon ng bagong rules and regulations ang school. It's time to act. Sinabi ko rin sa kanila na ipaliwanag ito sa ninong ko at sa mga taong parte ng school organization.
I will not be present to explain it to them. For now, I'm invisible.
Matapos, mabilis naman nila itong naintindihan kaya dali-dali na silang kumilos. Habang ako, ay hinilot ang sintido.
Napatingin lang ako sa phone ng tumunog ito kaya agad ko 'tong sinagot.
"Yes daddy?"
"Hija, how are you there?"
Napangiti ako sa tanong nito.
"Okay, as always"
"I've heard from your ninong that you had some difficulties there. I'm really sorry anak, I shouldn't let you handle that school. You graduated master's on another country but you ended up in there"
"No daddy, it's fine, really"
Narinig ko ang paghinga nito ng malalim.
"Kung di lang dahil sinimulan ng lola mo ang school na 'yan, I will not make you handle that school. She really cherished it. That's why sa'yo ko 'yan pinamuno ngayon because I believe in you anak. But now, hearing from your ninong what's happening to you, I'm starting to regret"
"Daddy, don't worry, it's part of my plan. I may not like this school at first, but after staying here for days, I saw that there's a potential here. It just need some cleaning up. So make your head at ease, and let me handle this alright?"
"Alright. I believe in you" sagot nito sa kabilang linya. "By the way, there's another reason why I called you anak, Bennett's were inviting us to attend their grandson's party. I wanted to decline it but recently, there's a project in our company that needs their assistance, so I said yes. Are you able to attend?" pagpapatuloy ni daddy.
Saglit akong natahimik bago sumagot muli.
"I don't know daddy"
"It's alright if you can't hija. I understand"
"Thank you daddy"
"Alright I will not disturb you anymore, take care of yourself there okay? If anything happens, just call me. I love you anak"
"I love you too daddy"
Matapos ang tawag, I opened my laptop and started reading news about Bennett's.
It's been years when I last attended their party so it's a suprise right now.
My daddy also knew what happened before and he still supports me. And I'm glad I have him.
