If I End Up With You

CHAPTER 14: History, Her Story

"Paano mo ba minememorize yun?" Tanong ni Oliver, napapakamot ulo. "Kahit anong gawin ko... hindi ko kaya."

Paula and Oliver were at the very corner of Cordova Public Library, nakapwesto sa isang desk na medyo tago at natatakpan ng ilan pang malalaking shelves. Sa lamesa ay patung-patong na mga librong pinaghihiram ni Paula, which she thought would help in their review. Philippine history, Spanish Colonization, Old English history, the history of western music, Genghis Khan and the great empire of China at kung anu-ano pang historical ek ek that would probably show up in the exams.

Indeed, medyo advance na yung mga tinuturo niya kay Oliver, pero sapat lang naman.

Sapat para maipasa niya ang exams sa College at makapasok sa mga gusto niyang Universities.

Paula made up her mind na tutulungan niya si Oliver na makamit ang pangarap nito. She would do her part.

This is the least she can do for the man she loves.

"KAYA YAN, ano ka ba?" Paula put on a sympathetic face. "Konting konti nalang. Ulitin natin, last na talaga, para tumatak na sa isip mo."

"AYAW NA!!!" Oliver lay his head on top of the table, sideways, at pumikit. "Suko na ko. Tulog nalang tayo."

"Ayyyh," Paula put the down the book she was holding. "Matatapos na, konti nalang. Kayang kaya mo to!"

"Di na, ibabagsak ko na to."

"OLIVER!"

"Hahahaha, joke lang." tawa tawa siya, hindi pa rin dumidilat. "I think I've had enough. Overloaded na sa information yung utak ko."

Paula smiled. He's so cute when he's frustrated, she thought.

"Paano mo ba nagagawa yon?" tanong ni Oliver.

"Ang ano?"

"Ang magmemorize ... ng napaka bilis."

Napa-isip si Paula. "Teka, paano nga ba ... ?" sabi nito. "Uhmm, minsan, from repetition. Pag madalas mong marinig, maalala mo. Minsan naman through stories-- pag naalala mo na yung buong pangyayari, answering the test is just like recalling a story and telling it through writing the answers on the paper. Pero what works for me the best is remembering what the paper looks like."

"The paper?" minulat na ni Oliver ang kanyang mga mata in curiosity.

"Oo," patuloy niya. "Kunyari itong page na to," Paula shows the book. "Tititigan ko ito ng matagal, babasahin ko ng madalas, bubuklatin ko lagi. Tapos pagdating ng exams, aalalahanin ko nalang kung anong itsura nitong mismong papel, kaya babasahin ko nalang yung nakasulat dun sa papel."

"WOW!" Amazed na amazed si Oliver. "MERON KANG PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY!"

"SSSSHHHHHHHHHH!" Sabat ng librarian na bigla nalang napadaan.

Tumango si Oliver, hiyang hiya, at umalis na rin ito agad.

Natawa si Paula. "Ingay mo raw kasi, hahaha~"

"Eh ang astig kasi," sabi ni Oliver, pilit na hinihinaan ang boses pero mejo malakas pa rin. "Kaya pala parang napakadali lang ng lahat para sayo. Haaaayyyy... sana biniyayaan rin ako ng ganyang talent."

Namula ang mga pisngi ni Paula sa papuring natanggap.

"Bakit, gusto mo ring maging nerd?" pang aasar na sabi ni Paula.

But Oliver smiled at her only. "Gusto kong maging matalino. Like you."

Oliver. Ngiting ngiti na ang puso ni Paula. Oh, Oliver, If only everyone is like you who appreciates every single glorious effort, edi sana hindi naging basura ang high school life ko.