"I like your shoes today."
I crossed my legs and arms before giving Trixie a lazy look. It's been days since the last time I saw and spoke to Ean. And Trixie has been asking me about him.
"Trixie, for the very last time Ean is busy and he's not coming back." Ito ang paulit-ulit kong linya sa kanya.
Trixie huffed and crossed her arms. "I was not asking about Kuya Ean." Tumingin ito ulit sa gladiator boots na suot ko.
"It's really nice and I want one." Aniya
"Sorry even if I'm willing to give you one. There's no kid size of this kind of shoes." I pouted my lips sadly to tease her.
"Whatever! When I grow up I'll buy hundreds of it!" Inis nitong salita saka umalis.
I can't help but laugh. Of course I was just joking at her. Teasing that brat somehow made me forget about Ean. Hay, Ean. Nakakainis. Inis na inis ako sa lalaking iyon. Pero ang pinakanakakainis ay kung bakit imbes mag-invest ako ng galit sa kanya ay natatabunan pa rin ng kalungkotan ang aking nararamdaman.
That night. I waited for his answer. I asked him why? Kung bakit niya ginagawa iyon? Siguro naman may reason diba? Lahat ng bagay mayroong rason. O baka naman nag-assume ka lang, Romee? God! I sighed heavily.
"You'll be shock if I'll tell you. You're not ready yet." Ang kanyang sagot sa akin. Which left me more confusing that I already am that night.
Pa-mysterious din ang lalaking iyon e'! Porket ubod ng gwapo ay ganun na. Porket ubod ng hotness ay ganun na. Porket ubod ng appeal ay ganun na.
Wala sa sariling napasampal ako sa aking noo. I groaned. Ean Mikhael Knowles! What the hell are you doing to me? Nakakainis lang isipin na ngayon ay kahit wala siya ay nagagawa niya pa rin akong inisin. Ang swerte-swerte niya dahil nakakapasok pa siya sa isipan ng isang katulad ko. E' ako kaya? Is he even thinking about me? I bet not.
Kasi sino ba naman ako? I'm just a bully. A pain in the ass. Kaya ito! Dito niya ako dinespatsa. Malayo sa kanya so that he wouldn't even be stress about me.
"Teacher Romee?"
Napatigil ako sa pagsampal sa aking noo saka napaangat ng tingin. Nagulat ako ng makita hindi lamang si Bryce kundi lahat ng bata kong pupils. Lahat sila ay nakatayo sa aking harapan. Even Trixie. Okay? Anong meron?
"Uhm.. what's going on?" I asked while sitting properly, placing both of my hands on my lap. Like I was caught on doing something wrong.
"These are the rest of my lollipops there yours now, Teacher Romee." Ani ng batang si Bryce saka inabot sa akin ang isang bag ng lollipops.
Tiningnan ko naman ang lollipops saka si Bryce. I'm still confused. But then I also took noticed of all the children also holding something. Kung hindi bags ay mga lunchbacks naman. I was stuck dumbfounded on my seat. I don't know what to say.
Like anong meron? Bakit tela nag-aalay sa akin itong mga batang 'to?
"Ito naman po, Teacher Romee! Baked cookies ni Mommy." Masayang wika ng isa pang bata.
At isa-isa na nilang nilapag sa aking table ang kanilang mga alay. What the hell? Kung hindi lollipops ay cookies naman. Typical. Mayroon ring nagbigay ng cake at brownies. Lahat foods! At lahat sweets! Oh my, my poor teeth.
"But what are these for?" Tanong ko. Finally nahanap ko na rin ang sarili ko from the trance of shockness and also kalituhan.
"My god! Obviously that's a farewell gift po. You don't really look that old cause you have black hair and your skin are yet wrinkly. Don't tell me you forgot, Teacher Romee." Sagot naman ni Trixie. At aba! Nagawa pa akong tingnan from my head down to my body.
As much as I love to talk back to this annoying brat I cease myself from doing it. Now that I remembered, oh my goodness! Last day ko na pala. I didn't even notice cause I was too preoccupied on thinking about Ean.
I looked at all the sweets they gave me then to all the children in front of me. I feel like crying. Hindi ko inaakalang dadating ako sa ganitong point na ayaw ko silang iwanan. Sino ba naman ang mag-aakala e' hate na hate ko nga itong ginagawa ko. Naiinis pa nga ako dito sa mga batang ito kasi super duper kulit and I can't stand it cause nakakahaggard.
But look at me now? Who would have thought na masasanay ako sa ganitong gawain? Ni hindi ko nga man lang naisip na last ko na ito. Dapat ma-excite ako but no I felt sad pa.
My lips starts to tremble. "T-thank you! I really appreciate your efforts on giving me these sweet gifts. I-I..." I bit my lips. Waving my hands to fan myself trying to stop the tears from falling. "I promise that I'll eat all of these."
All the children stared at me innocently. Some of them are tilting their head like trying to figure out on what's happening to me while I saw Trixie rolling her eyes. Hay naku! Even this brat I will surely miss her too.
Tumayo naman ako saka umikot sa table making me stand in front of them. "I'm not a fan of speeches so I'll go straight to the point. Thank you, Kids. Thank you for respecting me and treating me like a real teacher even though I'm far from being one. Always remember that you have all became special to me. I will miss you all." I then crouched down and open my arms. "Now gimme ey hug!"
All the kids crashed me into a bear hug. Walang pakealam ako sa aking porma ngayon. Kahit halos matumba na ako at nakaupo na sa sahig. I don't care! Basta mayakap ko lang ang mga makukulit na mga batang ito.
They were all muttering that they'll miss me. Some began to sniffed and cry. Bryce is already crying, my god! These poor baby boy. Isa rin itong batang ito. Mamimiss ko talaga ng sobra ang kacutan nito!
"Oh my god! Are you crying?" Gulat kong tanong kay Trixie who is obviously crying but I just can't believe it.
"Don't laugh at me! You should feel lucky that I wasted my tears to you." She pouted and sniffled.
Well, I still laughed. Saka ko ginulo ang kanyang buhok na himalang hindi naka-pigtails ngayon. I sighed. These is too much drama in here that I am dealing right now. Featuring children. How cheesy and eewie. Okay! I have enough.
"Okay! Now.." I slowly pushed myself away from the kids but they keep on squeezing me! Maybe hugging them was a wrong idea.
Before I lost my composure on the state I am in. Someone cleared his or her throat.
"Now, now we wouldn't want our Teacher Romee squeeze out of air, would we?"
