Fit the Puzzle (Azcona Cousins #3)

33

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Chapter 33

I gracefully bore my eyes on my wristwatch. I was facing the white glass board earlier marking the end of my presentation.

"That's all for today's lecture. Tomorrow, prepare for a short quiz then we'll proceed to the performance task consultation," bago pa nila makalimutan ay sinulat ko na sa gilid ng glass board ang reminders ko para bukas.

I teach Contemporary Philippine Arts from the Regions, and the students call it CPAR. I have an advisory class and handle seven sections of different strands. Until now, I am extremely challenged on how to communicate with them. Good thing they are very willing to adjust, but I am also doing my best to adapt to their first language.

The class representative signaled his classmates to stand up when I was about to leave their room. They bade their respectful goodbyes.

I smiled. "Have a recreative break, class!"

'Yon palang ang una kong klase sa umaga. I first rested at my workstation and checked some activity sheets which I deployed last week.

Tambak na agad ang gawain kahit Lunes pa lang. I was actually late for the flag ceremony even though I risked my life riding a habal-habal, I was not accustomed to riding a motorcycle. Dito lang ako sa Cebu natutong sumakay para hindi ma-traffic dahil sanay lang naman akong sumakay ng jeep o kaya naman ay maglakad para maituring na ring exercise.

Ngayon parang ordinaryong siklo na ng buhay ko ang pagsakay ng habal-habal para hindi ma-late sa trabaho.

The campus of University of San Carlos eats up huge land. Sa pagkakaalam ko ekta-ektaryang lupain ang sukat ng unibersidad na 'to. It takes me an hour and half to arrive on campus. Kailangan pang sumakay ng provided cab ng USC para makapunta ng senior high school faculty.

"Sandwich?"

Alok sa akin ni Albert, isa sa mga teachers ng senior high at baguhan lang din siya katulad ko. Nakakahiyang 'di tanggapin kaya kinuha ko ang sandwich mula sa kanya.

Aside from being a newbie, he shares the same apartment complex with me. Maaga nga lang siyang umaalis kaya 'di ko siya naabutan.

He also worked in Manila, and since he finds this province a promising one, he transferred.

It was not an ordinary sandwich with mayo; it was a clubhouse sandwich. May binigay pa nga siyang caesar salad.

"Ano'ng meron?" tumawa ako. "Ba't may libreng sandwich bigla? May hihingin kang pabor, 'no?" asar ko sa kanya.

His bright smile faded.

"Wala naman," he looked around. Ang tahimik ng paligid namin, malamig na nga, wala pang nagsasalita. The two of us are the youngest ones一and the rest are in their late 40s. He bent his back to level my head. "Wala lang talaga akong kasamang mag-break at kumain ng lunch mamaya," bulong niya.

I grinned.

"A beginner's problem, I see..." in my case, Ma'am Conchi sometimes treats me to lunch or invites me to eat with her. Ngunit mas mandalas na kumakain ako nang mag-isa. Hanggang hapon kasi ang klase ko at pagkatapos pa lang noon ang free time ko para kumain.

Honestly, I've never pictured myself teaching students. However, day by day, I see myself smiling at my small progress.

Umismid siya. "Parang 'di baguhan, a?"

Tumawa ako. "Maganda naman kasi treatment nila sa'kin, Albert."

"Samahan mo 'ko mamaya. I saw your schedule, you have nothing to do later."