Ophelia (Overseas Series 1)

Kabanata 1

#OpheliaKab1

"See you next week, Kadey!" I enthusiastically said as I waved to my last student fetched by his parents. They motioned him a goodbye wave and a flying kiss for me, which he did, when he's already inside their car. So cute!

Aaaaaah finally! The week's over!

Before I went back to the classroom, maigi ko munang tiningnan ang buong paligid, just to be aware baka may stalker ako at bigla akong kidnapin. Dapat alam niya na hindi ako madaling kidnapin and that I am always cautious to my surroundings. Praning na kung praning pero ayaw kong maging isang missing person dito sa Amerika at maging headline sa Pilipinas.

Together with my two teaching aids, Lauren and Mich, we did our routine kapag wala na kaming natitirang estudyante. Lauren, a red-haired woman with a bigger built, is arranging all the toys and materials na ginamit namin sa araw na iyon while Mich, a petite blonde woman with a huge frame of glasses, is cleaning the entire classroom to prepare it for next week's class. Ako naman being the main teacher of this special education class, I started writing each of my student's progress report for today na isang mahalagang bahagi para sa kani-kanilang individualized educational program.

"We'll get going, Ms. Velez!" Paalam nila Mich and Lauren after they finished their respective tasks. "Bye! See you next--" Hindi pa man ako tapos sa sasabihin ko, sinarado na nila ang pintuan ng classroom as if hindi nila ako narinig na nagpapaalam.

Sanay na ako.

Hindi madali ang buhay sa Amerika. You have to constantly prove yourself that you are worthy of whatever position you are given. There's this silent pressure that you have to unwaveringly show them that a small Asian woman deserves whatever opportunity their beloved and great country, America, has given you. Hindi naman lahat pero may mga iilan talaga na ipaparamdam at ipapakita sa iyo na silang mga puti ay mas angat at mas may karapatan kaysa sa mga may kulay.

I ignored the feeling of pity and indifference they made me feel for the nth time, and decided to just continue what I was doing kasi ayaw kong magbitbit ng school works sa apartment. Limang taon na ako rito but it was just later last year that I was selected by the school administrator to be the main teacher of this class after Mrs. Wright retired. I was okay being a teaching aid but Mrs. Wright thought I was actually doing a great job, so she recommended me to be her replacement, clearly disappointing those other teachers who are waiting for her teaching position, including Mich and Lauren.

"Mukhang may hindi na naman hinintay ng mga kasama niya," a teasing voice is suddenly heard in now my silent classroom. It is Monet.

"Nasanay na ako, masanay ka na rin." I answered her as I surveyed my bag just to make sure that I did not forget anything. Ayaw kong may makalimutan at bumalik dito para kunin ang kung anuman ang nakalimutan ko. Natatakot akong may serial killer na naglalagi o ginagawang hideout ang school tuwing walang tao.

Monet is another Filipina teacher. Mga isang taon pa lang siya dito pero mas matanda siya sa akin ng ilang taon at may anak na iniwan sa Pilipinas. Isa siyang teacher aid, pero hindi kagaya nila Mich at Lauren, nagkakasundo at nagtutulungan silang mga aids at main teacher para matapos ang mga gawain nila. Naghihintayan din tuwing uwian—na ni minsan hindi ko naranasan kina Mich at Lauren.

Tinitingnan ni Monet ang ilang laruan para sa fine motor skills ng mga bata, nang lingunin niya ako. "You should tell them that it's your last school year here. For sure, magiging linta ang mga yun sa'yo at magbabakasakaling i-recommend mo sila kay Principal Spencer. Malakas ka pa naman dun." Pang-aasar pa niya na may kasamang kindat at patay-malisyang halakhak.

Hindi ko na siya pinatulan kasi hahaba ang panunudyo niya sa akin at sa principal namin na pwede na maging lolo ng lolo ko. Lumabas nalang ako sa pintuan at kunwaring isasarado na iyon kahit nasa loob pa siya. Tawang-tawa naman si Monet na nagmadaling lumabas bago ko pa totohaning isarado ang pintuan. Habang hinihintay akong matapos maglock ng classroom, walang habas siyang nagkuwento sa bonding kuno nilang teachers sa ibang classroom. Nang-iingit yarn?