"He's a transferee Gayle. He can't be the valedictorian no matter how smart he is."
Napatalon ako ng biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng CR. Larie, my friend went up to me with her concerned eyes when she saw on the verge of breaking down.
I was inserting my report card on one of my books trying to hide it from everyone else, including my mother . Sobra akong kinakabahan ngayong lumabas na ang resulta ng honor list for the third grading period, di dahil sa hindi ako magiging valedictorian, kundi dahil alam ko kung ano ang magiging reaksyon ni mama sa oras na malaman niya to.
This was the first time I was a second honor.
All my life, I was badly pressured by my mother to not just excel in class, but to also stay on top. She would always tell me that if I want to escape our miserable life, I need to study very very hard.
Ako raw ang magaahon sa kanila mula sa kahirapan.
As much as I also want to help them I still believe that no parent should make their children as their investment. Pero hindi ganoon si mama. Natatakot ako na baka hindi niya ako pagpapa-aralin ng kolehiyo kung sakaling hindi ako makakuha ng full scholarship.
She wants me to do good in school but wouldn't support me in the long run. Ironic.
"Hindi pwede Larie, kailangan kong makakakuha ng full scholarship. Kailangan kong gumraduate ng with highest honor!"
Larie knows my situation well. Alam niya kung paano ko pinag-iigihang makakuha ng mataas na grades.
"Alam ko Gayle, mababawi mo pa yan next term." She assured, pulling me into a hug.
"Ayaw kong sabihin kay mama."
"Hindi natin ipapa-alam hangga't maari. Sa ngayon, kailangan mong bumalik sa room para tanggapin ang certificate mo, okey?"
Tumango ako. I took a deep breath and doubled check the book I used to hide my card. I pull myself together and followed Larie back to our classroom.
We sat back at the back corner of the room away from our usual seats. Our adviser was just starting to read the honor list. Nahihiya rin akong harapin ang mga classmates ko. We've been classmates since Grade 7 and they witnessed how I always topped the honor roll. Maging sila ay hindi makapaniwala na nag top ngayon ang kaklase naming transferee.
I glanced at him who was also sitting on the opposite side. I never thought he is this smart because he doesn't look like one. I mean, we should not judge someone's ability through their outward appearance but smart people always do have in common.
And he was not. He doesn't wear glasses. He doesn't bring a bulky bag with books inside. And we never saw him review or study inside the classroom.
He's just like an average star section student. I never saw him as a competition until now.
"Let's start with the student who garnered a general weighted average at 100%, I am proudly awarding this certificate of recognition to Mr. Sergio Esteban Almodovar, With Highest Honor!" Our adviser gleamed with joy. As if he was happy that someone finally defeated me.
I shake off that thought, who else wouldn't be right? One of your student just had an average of 100% Even, I myself didn't make it that high.
I carefully watched our new top 1 as he stood up and walked infront to our adviser. And as if time warped, I watched him so intently, his motions become slower and I was amazed by how he walks so gracefully as if he's walking on a red carpet, aware of all the attention he's receiving, and drowned by the sound of clapping.
