That One Time

Chapter Three

Chapter Three
Menace

"Good morning po, Ma'am. Pinapatawag n'yo raw po ako?" I said politely after I entered the office of my subject teacher in Filipino. I was told by a student that I should visit Ma'am Marasigan's office after I finish my last class in the morning.

Binigyan naman niya ako ng ngiti bago nagsalita, "Magandang umaga rin sa'yo, Kleighn. Alam mo namang papalapit na ang Buwan ng Wika at magkakaroon na ulit ng mga kompetisyon. According to the memo I received a while ago, we have three competitions: Sabayang Pagbigkas, Pagsulat ng Sanaysay, at Pagbigkas ng Talumpati. " I bit my lower lip to prevent myself from smiling after hearing the words 'Sabayang Pagbigkas'. Looks like I have another competition to join. 

"And since you're the secretary of Class Aquino, I want you to list all the students who want to join Sabayang Pagbigkas in your class." She handed me a form and I immediately accepted it. I gave it a glance, figuring out that it was a registration form.

"Dapat ay hindi kasali ang grade ninyo, but the principal suggested that we should include freshman students too. So far, I need 15 students from your class. Saka na lang tayo magdaragdag kapag kaunti lang ang sumali sa ibang grade," sambit niya. Then she gave me a stern look. "Kapag nakapaglista ka na, dalhin mo agad sa'kin ang form para makapili na ako ng isasali."

Tumango naman ako. "The instructor had been complaining to me before about the students. Ang iba raw ay matitigas ang ulo at hindi nakikinig tuwing rehearsal," she added. "I'll keep that in mind, Mam," I answered with assurance.

"Wala na naman akong problema roon sa dalawang kompetisyon dahil may nakausap na ako. Si Hannah ang sasali sa Pagbigkas ng Talumpati, at si Kelszey naman ang sa Pagsulat ng Sanaysay." I inwardly smiled. My best friend is going to participate in an individual competition and I'm just so proud of her.

"I'll give the piece that you'll need to memorize and present kapag na-finalize na ang mga kasali, okay?" She smiled at me. "That's all, Kleighn. You may go."

Magalang naman akong nagpaalam bago lumabas . When I entered our classroom, it was chaotic and noisy, as usual. Agad naman akong pumunta sa unahan at sinubukang kunin ang atensiyon ng lahat. Ngunit kakaunti lamang ang nakikinig sa akin at puro abala sa pakikipag-usap ang iba. Despite that, I started talking, "Pinatawag ako ni Ma'am Marasigan dahil gusto niyang ilista ko ang mga interesadong sumali sa Sabayang Pagbigkas."

The moment I mentioned the words 'Sabayang Pagbigkas', all of them went silent and turned to me. I subtly chuckled when I successfully grabbed everyone's attention. Of course, we all had experience joining that competition as a section, and we've been a victor since our intermediate years so I'm pretty sure they'll participate.

"As I was saying, who wants to join? Sa Buwan ng Wika raw gaganapin pero hindi ko alam kung kailan dahil hindi naman sinabi ni Mam Marasigan," I asked them and held my pen. Nagsitaasan naman ng kamay ang aking mga kaklase at agad akong naguluhan kung sino ang mga isusulat. Almost three-fourths of the class were raising their hands.

Hindi ko mapigilang umismid nang makita ko sina Miggy, Echo, at Rondel, ilan sa mga pasaway kong kaklase, na puro nakataas din ang kamay.

"15 lang daw yung kailangan ni Ma'am dito sa Aquino dahil kasama pa ang ibang grade. So those who want to join so they can only skip and slack off in classes, I suggest you bring your hands down," sarkastiko kong saad saka tumingin sa iba kong kaklase.

Nagsimula akong magsulat ng kanilang mga pangalan. I included those students that I know are reliable and can keep up with the practice. Nang mapadako ang tingin ko sa mga kaibigan ko, lahat sila ay nakataas maliban kina Taylynne, Elle at Daxenne. Maging si Kelszey ay nakataas rin, kaya tinanong ko siya.