Delaney
"Next is candidate number 7, Professor Natalia Anastasia Medina."
"Pick a number, ma'am."
She pulled it out of the fishbowl and handed it to an MC.
"Number 4. The judge who'll be going to ask you is...Miss Harriet Concepcion. Our Miss Universe 2015."
"Good evening, Professor Medina." She nicely greeted. Wow, ang ganda niya. Pilipinang-pilina!
"Good evening!" Miss Natalia replied with a wide smile plastered on her face. Gosh, she looks fascinating!
"When I joined Miss Universe, my advocacy was about Education. So, here's your question...What is your opinion on Common Core Education?"
She smiled. How lovely.
"Every and any type of education is very important, because as cliché as it may sound, knowledge truly is power. However, it shouldn't be the only type of education we should offer young people. I believe we need to re-prioritize what is being taught and deemed as "most important." We need to offer knowledge on how to face real-life challenges. We need to teach our kids real knowledge about politics, feminism, rape culture, racism, ethnic studies, healthy eating, homophobia, Islamophobia, self-acceptance/love, self-defense classes, among many other things. I know some are sensitive topics, but they're things that we will come across in life and must face one way or another. I believe we need to find more importance in teaching our young generations how to think critically and form their own opinions instead of only teaching them obedience and how to take tests and fill in bubbles." Mic drop, wow! "Thank you."
When she started answering, the crowd went silent. And now, they're all clapping their hands, shouting loudly. Gosh, that was mind-blowing. Her answer was BOOM! Hit the ball! Her intellenge is ugh!
“Thank you for that spectacular answer of yours, Professor Medina!”
“Wow! Just wow!”
She get back to her place at siyang pagsunod naman ng mga mata ko sa bawat paggalaw niya. Hindi umaalis ang mga ngiti niya. Grabe! Ang ganda-ganda! Sa palagi na lang siyang ganiyan. Mas lalo siyang gumaganda.
Lumilibot ngayon ang mga mata niya sa madla at tila may hinahanap ng biglang dumapo ang kaniyang paningin sa isang sulok kung saan mas lalong lumawak ang mga ngiti niya. Nang tingnan ko ang pwestong iyon ay prenteng nakaupo ang unggoy na pinakapangit sa balat ng lupa.
Tila may kumirot sa aking puso matapos masaksihan iyon. Is it normal to feel this way? I know it's still Tine pero bakit nagkakaganito ako? Or am I just being selfish? Kasi ayaw kong makita siyang may iba kasi dapat ako lang? Parang ganun pero parang hindi naman. Ewaaaaan! Hindi ko na alam.
Weird, but suddenly naramdaman ko na lang na medyo uminit ang ilalim ng nga mata ko.
What is it this time, Zielle?! Umayos ka! I said at the back of my mind.
Laking gulat ko ng biglang may yumakap sa akin mula sa likod ko. Nang harapin ko ito'y si Reiz lang pala.
“I saw it, too.”
Kusang kumawala ang maiinit na mga butil sa aking mata matapos marinig iyon sa kaniya. I hugged her so tight 'cause I so need it now.
“Shh, tahan na. I won't say that it's fine because I know it's not. Just cry and cry and cry. I won't get tired comforting you because I am your bestfriend at kahit itanggi mo man, I know it's still her.”
Hindi na ako sumasagot sapagkat mas hinigpitan ko pa ang yakap ko sa kanya. Grabe, ang sakit-sakit!
“Let's call on, Ms. Zielle Delaney Bautista to serenade our Professor's for their last ramp.” I heard one of the emcee's said na ikinataranta ko.
“What the fuck?! Ano iyon, Reiz? T-tapos na akong mag-serenade 'di ba?” Tarantang tanong ko.
“Iyon din ang pagkakaalam ko. Gagi, baka nagkamali lang sila. Wait—Jace!”
“Yes po, ate Reiz?”
“Hindi naman nasabi sa amin na may last serenading pa pala after the Q and A? Hindi nakapag-prepare si Zielle for goddamn sake!”
“I'm sorry, ate. Hindi ko nga rin po alam.”
Dahil sa inis ay tinalikuran na lang nito bigla ang kausap niya. Buang talaga, ang bastos mo sa part na yun bespren.
“Fix yourself, Zielle. Quick!” Tarantang saad rin nito.
Inayos na ang suit ko and put some light make up para hindi mahalata ang namamaga kong mga mata. Nang matapos kami ay dali-dali akong pumunta sa backstage at sumenyas na ready na ako.
I set aside what I feel at nagpaka-professional na lang muna. Hindi pwedeng magmukhang tanga ako sa harap ng maraming tao.
As the red curtain rose and the lights became dim, I stepped forward at kumuha ng buwelo.
Napunta na sa akin ang spotlight at siyang pagtingin ko sa madla. Kinakabahan ako at baka ma-dogshow ko pa ang show namin ngayon dahil baka hindi kayanin ng nararamdamn ko. Mabigat e, sobrang bigat.
(A/N: JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
By: Bruno Mars)
“Oh, her eyes, her eyes
Make the stars look like they're not shinin'
Her hair, her hair
Falls perfectly without her tryin'
She's so beautiful and I tell her everyday
Yeah, I know, I know
When I compliment her, she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so
Sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me, "Do I look okay?"
I say...”
At siyang paglabasan ng mga naggagandahang propesor. If you're watching Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows, it looks like this.
“When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause girl, you're amazing
Just the way you are
Yeah...”
I focused on the crowd at siyang pahtilian ng mga kababaehan kahit mga lalaki ay ganun rin. Ganun na ba ako ka-poganda? Hays, ismol thingz.
“Her lips, her lips
I could kiss them all day if she'd let me
Her laugh, her laugh
She hates, but I think it's so sexy
She's so beautiful and I tell her everyday
Oh, you know, you know
You know I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searchin' for, then just stay the same
So don't even bother askin' if you look okay
You know I'll say...”
I am closing my eyes, feeling every lyrics of the song. As I sway my body at sumabay sa beat ng kanya. Nakaka-hype e.
“When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause girl, you're amazing
Just the way you are...”
Isa-isa ko silang tinitigan at nilapitan. Escorting them and guiding their way in front. Holding their hands that are so soft except for that ine professor. I saw how her forehead creased ng lagpasan ko siya.
“The way you are
The way you are
Girl, you're amazing
Just the way you are..”
I smiled playfully dahil I did it on purpose kung bakit nilampasan ko siya kanina, para masulo ko siya sa line na ito. I hold her soft hands, iginaya sa harap, pinaikot at hinalikan ang kaniyang kamay sa harap ng maraming tao. Hindi ako papayag na hindi ako makakapaghigante. Sige, Nic, magselos ka. Unggoy!
“When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause girl, you're amazing
Just the way you are
Yeah...”
Sa kaniya lang ako naka-focus hanggang sa natapos ang kanta. Kitang-kita ko ang pagngiti niya. Yung kakaibang ngiti niyang nasisilayan ko noon pa man sa tuwing kaming dalawa lang. I missed that smile.
A/N: HAPPY 10K READS! TYSM! LOVEY'ALL!
