pardon me, professor?

{22} st. scho

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[1 - A Leonie POV Backstory]

Went from Naga to Manila, I just transferred here sa St. Scholastica for high school. And to be honest, naninibago ako. Karamihan sa mga kaklase ko, magkakaibigan. While me? I always stay sa corner lang ng room.

I was always the one getting called whenever it's recitation. My classmates would look at me each time I get called and I can answer.

Sometimes, I get the gossips a lot. They think I was weird dahil magisa lang ako palagi and I don't even talk that much sa mga kaklase ko dahil nga; I am too shy and my trust issues are high up.

But, I started interacting when one of my extroverted classmate was the first one to move. Umupo nalang siya bigla noon sa tabi ko nung lunch time dahil imbes na kumain ako, I just read books there at the corner.

It was Maricelia who interacted first, I would call her 'Mari' always, "Hi! Bakit magisa ka palagi?" That was her first words to me. Of course, I don't want to be rude so I stopped reading and looked at her.

"Hi.." I shyly answered her call. She just giggled and kept on interacting.

"Hello! You're Leonie diba? Ang ganda mo pala!" Ah, I thought she was going to say mean things; but I was wrong.

"Thank you.." I softly thanked the compliment I got from her. She was looking at the book I was reading, "To Kill A Mockingbird".

"Oh wow! That book is so good! You're reading it din pala?" She said. At that moment I knew, I found someone that likes this book; it's my favorite book after all.

"Yes.. favorite ko 'to." I said as she just took the book and let out a sigh, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view— until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

She just recited one of my favorite quote from the book. I was just looking at her with my eyes glowing from the scene. You're also beautiful too..

"Ah, the justice system has always been unfair na talaga ever since, ano? The rich gets away with it, the poor remains, and it also applies to races. The prejudice is a major problem talaga but even though the world is full of hatred and yung prejudice nga, hindi dapat mawala yung faith in human goodness,"

I was just listening to her talk about the book and the reality of this world. And I am fascinated on how someone here can have the same interest in terms of books as me.

"Yeah.. the world is cruel.. but we should never let the faith in the good disintegrate. Alam kong meron pa ring kabutihan sa mundong puno ng kadiliman. Ayun ang tanging liwanag sa dilim," After saying that, Mari just smiled wide at me.

And upon the smile I received, this is one genuine and glorious smile that is in front of me, "Lunch tayo together! Hindi ka palabas labas dito 'pag lunch eh!"

She places the book down above my table again as she took one of my wrists and pulling me up to stand, "Wha-" I expressed out of confusion.

As I stand up, she starting pulling me towards the exit of the room— with her still holding my wrist and I was just running behind her through the hallways; which is a rule violating scene.

"Hey! Wait! Anong pangalan mo ulit?" I forgot to ask her name so I asked while we were still running to the cafeteria, she looked behind me with a smile and said, "Maricelia! Call me Mari nalang!"

Maricelia.. what a charming name..

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[Lunch]