Corner Him

CH 11

Five minutes.....

Six minutes......

For the seventh time, I let out an audible breath.

Pagkatapos nang nakakagulantang pahayag ng school security guard ay agad itong pumasok sa loob ng gate at walang awang iniwan ako dito sa labas. Ilang segundo nakaawang ang mga labi ko. Nang dahil ba sa gulat o sama ng loob ay hindi ko magawang ihakbang ang mga paa ko sa ngayon.

For eight minutes... My shoulder was too weak to even be a courier for my heavy backpack.

There's no chance for me, I guess.

"'Pag ako makapasok ng paaralang n'yan...maniningil ako ng hustisya," pagdadrama ko sa sarili. "Ang mahal ng tuition fee at hindi ba naman ako papapasukin? Anong isasagot ko sa exam? Wala sa nagbanggit? Gano'n?" I couldn't help but to scoffed.

Muli akong tumingin sa itaas ng pader na kung saan may nakauukit na East Pontus High.

"Kung babagsak ako at hindi makakapasok ng awardee.." sabi ko habang maluha-luhang tiningnan ang harap ng paaralan."Ibabagsak ko rin kayo."

And for the ninth time, my audible breath gave up. My extended stay outside the gate seems lousy. As though I'm in a state of contender that got forbidden to be one.

"Tsk!" I looked back once more in front of the school gate. "You set your standards too high, just like you collect tons of money from us. I got entered through uphill admission, yet effortlessly got suspended by a bit of misunderstanding." I commented, appertaining to the rigorous school rules. I let out a heavy sigh.

Indeed, this school is exclusive to middle-class people.

Bigla akong natigil nang may taong tumabi sa akin. Saktong pagkalingon ko sa kanya ay nagsalubong ang tingin namin.

"Are you trying to find excuses just to skip your religious class?" he asked suddenly with cautious eyes. "You must've remembered this day."

Napakurap ako ng dalawang beses. At bahagyang nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko.

"Bakit?" Hindi ko mapigilang magtanong sa lalaki. "Do you think I'm a sinner?"

"Hmm..." he threw a glance at me again. "What a conspicuous question," he commented. "I'm in no position to judge a person's deed-neither a judge to punish mankind foolishness."

Natigilan ako sa lalim ng sagot n'ya.

Teka!

Who is he?

Akmang aalis na sana ako nang muli itong magsalita.

"By the way, since you're here, you might as well consider this a chance for you to get inside," he said encouragingly and looked in front of the school gate. "I'm the doorkeeper for someone like you who is prohibited from the groundless suspension," he said, taking a pause and smiling a little. "But, alas, your only choice is to participate in my religious class," he then took a few steps forward towards the gate.

Hindi ako determinado na sumunod sa kanya kaya sa ikalawang pagkakataon ay muli na naman akong naiwan. Akmang lalayo na ako nang muli itong magsalita na ikinatigil ko ulit.

"If you refuse to participate in my class, do as you please," anito at walang anuma'y pumasok na sa loob ng paaralan.

Bahagyang tumaas ang sulok ng labi ko. "Ha. Heaven blessed my patience," napangiti ako at agad na sumunod
sa kanya. "Whewz!" Inayos ko pa ang pagkakawit ng backpack sa balikat ko pagkapasok ng gate.