The Ruler of Westeria

Kabanata 25

Isla

"Hello? Earth to Isla Claudette Escarra?" I was sent back to reality after seeing Kashmir's frowning face snapping her fingers in front of me. 

"Why do you look disoriented? Dalawang araw ka ng ganyan simula nang makalabas ka ng hospital. Are you still sick?" Umiling naman ako. 

I just opened my folder and tried to review the thesis paper. An hour from now will be our thesis proposal defense at kailangan ko maghanda dahil baka matulad kami sa iba naming kaklase na tinapon sa basurahan ang thesis paper. 

I don't understand why professors are so proud when their students fail, are they proud that they are not teaching them well? 

No offense, but of course lazy students who spared no effort in learning deserve such failing grades, but what about those students who are trying their best but end up failing because their professors are inconsiderable about their situation? 

"Uy, Brent! Bakit ka umiiyak?" Rinig kong gulat na tanong ni Kashmir. Inangat ko ang tingin ko nang makitang nakayukong lumabas ng faculty room ng department si Brent. Halata sa mukha niyang nagpipigil siyang umiyak sa kabila ng pagtakas ng ilang butil ng luha sa kaliwang mata niya. 

"Gagi, inaway ka ba ng professor?" Kashmir guided him to sit on our table as he continued to bit his lower lip trying to control his tears from falling. 

"Ang unfair lang kasi, Kash." Inangat niya ang ulo niya sabay singhot. 

"Why, what happened?" 

"Three days na akong pabalik-balik para tanungin yung panel ko kung kailan siya free. Okay na ako sa dalawa ko pang panel pati sa adviser, ang problema ko na lang sa schedule yung isa kong panel na si ma'am Lory. I suggested na Thursday or Friday kaso sabi niya busy raw siya sa mga araw na 'yon." I flip the page of my paper as I continued to read our thesis paper's chapter two. 

"Halos hindi na ako kumain simula umaga hanggang hapon para hintayin siya at kumbinsihin if pwede niya ako isingit sa schedule niya kaso nagalit lang siya sa akin. Pero narinig ko kanina may nagpa schedule sa kaniya Thursday 1:00-3:00 PM tas sa Friday naman 3:00-5:00 PM. Nakakafrustrate lang kasi akala ko ba wala siyang free time? Mas nauna pa nga ako sa mga yun! Bakit pagdating sa kanila free siya, pero sa akin na ilang araw walang kain naghintay sa kaniya hindi siya free?!" 

Anger and frustration that's what I can hear from his tone. Hindi ko rin naman siya masisisi. It was unfair but he can't do anything about it. He just wasted his time for nothing. 

"Baka naman mga advisee niya ang mga yun kaya inuna niya?" Umiling naman si Brent. 

"Advisee niya ang isa pero yung isa hindi! Sinabihin niya pa akong kasalanan ko kasi late ako nagpa-schedule ng exam sa kaniya. What does that even make me?! Mas maaga ako nagpa-schedule kung in-entertain niya ako kaagad! Even before final exams palagi na siyang busy napakahirap niyang hagilapin!" Patuloy nitong paghihimutok. 

"Marami talagang nag extend ng school year at hindi naka graduate on time dahil si ma'am Lory naging panel nila sa defense. Napaka-busy daw kasi niya e maraming inaasikaso." Tiniklop ko ang folder na hawak ko sabay umayos ng upo. 

"If she's that busy, why assign her as a student's panel? She could've just focused on what's keeping her busy." Palatak ko habang magka-krus ang braso. 

"Wala naman siyang magagawa kasi Isla. It's one of her job. Yung chairman ng department nag a-assign ng designation ng panels each student so technically hindi rin siya makaka-hindi." Nagkibit-balikat na lang ako. They could really say no if their schedules are hectic, mabait naman ang chairman ng department.