IN THE MIDST OF TEMPEST

ITMOT 8

TUTOR

Acy

“Get out,” he said when he released my arm. Nakayuko na ang ulo niya ngayon. I know he's crying, dahil sa mga luha nakita ko pumatak sa sahig. He’s silently crying. I can't  figure out the real reason why he acted that way. Parang ang babaw na man kung tungkol lang ‘to sa picture.

“I said, get out!” he repeated when he noticed that I didn't even move.

“Sorry talaga,” muli hingi ko ng tawad bago lumabas sa kwarto. Nagpakawala ako ng buntong-hininga pagkalabas ko.

Tumungo ako sa aking kwarto, at dumapa sa kama hanggang sa tuluyan na ako nilamon ng antok.

Kinabukasan ay maaga ako nagising. Hindi na ako nag-abala magluto ng agahan ko, sa canteen na lang ako kakain, ayaw ko kasi maabutan ako ni Xoren.

Hangga't maaari ay gusto ko na lang siya iwasan kahit na mahirap dahil nasa isang bahay lang kami.

"Class!" pagkuha ng atensiyon sa amin ni Mrs. Ortiz. “May bago kayo kaklase.”

Mrs. Ortiz gestured someone to come inside the room. And it was him. Sa kasamaang-palad, magiging kaklase ko pa siya.

“Kindly introduce yourself, Mr. Valiente,” Mrs. Ortiz said when Xoren already  next to her.

Xoren nods. Atsaka inayos sandali ang sarili, then he faced the class. He cleared his throat, and started talking.

"Hey, guys," He smiled. "I'm Xoaquin Renezo Valiente, a former student of Saint Gabriel University. I transfer here, for some reason. And I hope I can get along with you guys. That's all. It's my pleasure to meet new faces."

Everyone bestowed him a welcoming  applause except for me.

"Okay, thank you, Mr. Valiente," wika ni Mrs. Ortiz. "There's a vacant seat from the back."

Sinusubok yata ako ni Lord, ang bakante upuan na sinasabi ni Mrs. Ortiz ay ang katabi ko. Argh!

"Okay, ma'am," Xoren let out. He started walking towards my direction, and he quietly sat on the vacant seat.

My eyes were fixed on the front, I tried my best not to glance at the person beside me, eventhough I am curious about what he was doing.

"Do you understand class?" tanong ni Mrs. Ortiz nang matapos siya magturo ng kaniyang lesson.

"Yes, ma'am" sabay na tugon ng mga kaklase ko.

"Okay," Mrs. Ortiz let out. "Let's see if you understand what I tackled today. Get a one-half sheet of paper lengthwise"

Dinig ko ang mahihina reklamo ng aking mga kaklase.

“Argh na man!”

“Lampas na siya sa oras, magpa-quiz pa...”

"Okay, ready!" Mrs. Ortiz said.

I looked at my classmates. Ang iba ay handa na magsagot, habang ang iba ay nakasimangot dahil wala yata maiisagot, at isa na ako do'n.

Lumilipad ang aking isipan sa kung saan, kaya wala ako naintindihan sa itinuro ni ma’am. Parati na man, Acy.

I yawned.

"Here!”

My eyes widen while looking at the piece of paper and ballpen which Xoren handing to me.

I don't need it, because I have my own. Subalit, tinanggap ko na lang ito.

"Thanks," tipid ani ko.

I facepalmed.

Nag-umpisa nang sabihin ni Mrs. Ortiz ang tanong sa number one. Napatitig na lamang ako sa papel na pangalan ko lang ang nakasulat. Umabot na sa number five, pero wala pa rin ako naisulat na answer.

I glanced at him. Napatingin din siya sa akin, at tinaasan ako ng kilay. “I will not gave you an answers even I owe you an apology, sorry...” he murmured.

I rolled my eyes at him. Tumingin lang na man ako sa kaniya, hindi na man ako mangongopya.

Nagtse-tsek na sila. I didn't bother to pass my paper, bokya na man kasi ang score ko dahil wala nakasulat na sagot sa papel.

"Okay, kindly pass the paper in front"

"I'm very disappointed!" Mrs. Ortiz blurted out while scanning the score of my classmates. "Only Mr. Valiente got a perfect score. While 2 got a passing grade, and the rest got 1 score."

Tahimik ang buong klase. Ang ilan ay napayuko na lamang ng ulo. Umiinit na naman ang ulo ng aming guro dahil hindi ito nasiyahan sa resulta ng quiz.

"Next time, if you don't understand the lessons," Mrs. Ortiz confided. "Sabihin niyo, hindi 'yon nagkukunwari kayo nakakinig at naiintindihan niyo ang itinuturo ko."

"Yes, ma'am," sabay na sagot namin.

Napailing na lamang si Mrs. Ortiz. Atsaka bumuntong-hininga because of disappointment.

"Kindly read page 45 of the book Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person, and do a 5OO words essay about what you understand," Mrs. Ortiz announced. "Anyway, 'di ba thirty-seven kayo. Bakit kulang ng isa? thirty-six lang ang hawak ko papel. Sino ang hindi nagpasa"

I bit my lower lip, and slowly raised my right hand.

"Ms. Anseco, you again," malakas na wika ni ma'am. "Pang-ilan beses na 'to. I'll drop you in this class."

Hindi ako sumagot nakatungo lamang ang aking ulo. Eh, ano gagawin ko, wala talaga ako maintindihan sa tinuturo niya. Sa kaniya subject lang na man ako laging palakol. She's not good at teaching at. Duh!

"Ma'am!"

Napaangat ako ng aking ulo nang bigla magsalita si Xoren while raising his hand.

"Yes, Mr. Valiente?!"

"Let's give her a chance," Xoren uttered.

I creased my forehead.

Mrs. Ortiz crossed her arms. Interested in what will Xoren about to say. "And what chance I will give her?"

"I'll tutor her until the mid-term exam day arrives. If she will not pass the exam, you can drop her, but if she will, you'll let her continue attending your class next sem, ma'am..."

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata sa sinabi ni Xoren. He will tutor me? No way. At kahit pa turuan niya ako. I will still fail, next two weeks na ang exam.

"Why are you doing this, Mr. Valiente?"

"Nothing, ma'am," He shakes his head. "I just want to help her."

"I admire you, Mr. Valiente. Una pasok mo pa lang, ipinapakita mo na ang husay mo,” wika ni Mrs. Ortiz na puno ng paghanga sa ginawa ni Xoren. “Ang mga katulad ni Mr. Valiente dapat ang tularan niyo, hindi iyon puro porma at paganda lang kayo...Okay, I will agree with you, Mr. Valiente."

"Class dismissed!" Mrs. Ortiz declared to the class. "Bye class!"

Napa-yes ako nang makaalis na ang guro, wala kasi pasok sa next period namin dahil kapapanganak pa lang ng aming guro. Well, every year na man 'yon nanganganak. Tibay ng matris niya, ha. Napailing na lamang ako nang maisip ang guro na every year preggy. The more the merrier yata ang motto ni ma'am.

Hindi pa man ako tuluyan nakalabas ng room, mayro'n bigla humawak sa aking kanan kamay. And it's him.

"Let's go!" aya nito sa akin.

I furrowed my forehead. "Huh?!Saan?!"

"Let's start our session..."

***

Revised
—JUSTCBM—