[UMIKA]
5 years later...
I was fidgeting with my hands while making my way in the halls of the president of our institution here in Siargao Prep School. Grabe ang pagkabog ng aking puso dahil ito ang unang beses na pinatawag ako sa opisina nang biglaan.
Wala naman akong nilabag na patakaran noong nakaraang mga araw. Wala naman akong pinagalitang estudyante o nakaaway na mga magulang. Kaya bakit ako pinatatawag?
Nang matapat ako sa pintuan ng opisina ay huminga muna ako nang malalim bago kumatok.
"You can do this, Umika." I whispered to myself.
After three knocks, I heard the President's voice letting me come inside.
"Good day, Madam President." I greeted.
"Good day to you too, Ms. Vallesteros." She said while smiling back at me.
Ngunit ang kanyang mumunting ngiti ay walang nagawa upang mapakalma ang puso kong labis na kinakabahan. I think namumutla na pa nga ako while being here inside her cold room.
"Please, have a seat. Mukha malalapit ka nang himatayin sa iyong kinatatayuan, Ms. Vallesteros." She said while slightly chuckling.
I took the left seat in front of her table.
She began talking again. This time her expression becoming serious than earlier.
"Alam mo ba kung bakit kita pinatawag ngayon?" Tanong nito.
Agad naman akong umiling sa kanyang tanong dahil hindi ko naman talaga alam ang dahilan kung bakit ako pinatawag. I was just teaching my afternoon class nang kumatok ang isa kog co-teacher telling me na pinatatawag ako.
"Well, don't worry I have some good news for you." She said slightly leaning in front of her table.
Good news? Nang marinig ko iyon ay labis na relief ang aking naramdaman.
"Tungkol saan po ba ito, Madam?" tanong ko at sa tingin ko'y may bakas pa ng galak ang aking boses. I displayed a smile while waiting for her to continue.
"I'm transferring you to our Manila branch. The offer there is much hefty than here. Marami ka ring magiging benefits na maaaring makatulong sa iyo at isa pa, it can boost your career." She said.
Marami pa siyang sinabing mga maaring benepisyong matanggap ko ngunit ang isip ko ay tila natigil sa kanyang unang sinabi.
I'm transferring you to our Manila branch.
Her words echoed in my head. Ngunit imbes na tuwa ang madama ko ay tanging panlalamig lamang ang nadarama ko. My smile faltered.
"P-Po?" I stuttered while asking, I had to be sure na tama ang narinig ko.
"Our Manila Prep School branch had a shortage on their faculty members so they asked for us to send some. I've seen your potential, Ms. Vallesteros kaya naman isinama kita sa listahan ng mga ipapatransfer ng ating institusyon." She explained.
Muntik sana akong matuwa sa sinabi niyang papuri ngunit ang balitang ito ay labis talagang nagpagimbal sa akin.
Limang taon na rin ang nakalilipas nang tinakasan ko ang lahat sa lugar na kinalakihan ko at kung saan ako unang natutong magmahal. I fled after that scandal dahil hindi ako handang harapin ang kahihiyan ng aking katangahan. At sobra rin akong nasaktan.
Returning to Manila is like letting those hurtful memories to come back too.
Hindi mapakali ngunit tahimik lamang ako sa aking kinauupuan at hindi alam ang sasabihin.
BINABASA MO ANG
Willing to You
RomanceUmika Vallesteros, a girl who is head over heels with Lael Shawn Cordero ever since she was seven years old. She liked or even love him for almost twelve years but the guy doesn't seem to have mutual feelings about her. Until one night, she realize...
