One Step Ahead

04

She felt anxious inside their professor's faculty. Pinatawag siya nito dahil sa dalawang linggo nitong pagliban sa klase.

Nakauwi na ang kaniyang lola sa probinsya, binigay rin nito ang account ng kaniyang mama sa bangko para may ipangtustos ang kaniyang mga tito sa lola niya. Sinabi nitong may pinagkakakitaan naman siya at mas kailangan ito ng lola niya para sa mga gamot.

Every day is a struggle for her, especially going back to school. It is not the same anymore, and she felt more insecure about herself for being stared at.

"Ms. Ligaya, tumawag ako sa local residence niyo and hindi rin sila aware about your absence in class," he told her.

She shivered as her professor held her arm, "You know how much I care about my students. Lalo na sa top student na katulad mo,"

"P-pasensya na po, s-sir. M-may importante po kasi akong pinag-iipunan," she stuttered.

She had never been used to be treated like this. Kahit sa pagiging top student ay hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala lalo na't hindi naman siya parating nasa loob ng classroom, especially sa class ng professor na ito.

"Ano iyon ija? Puwede ka namang manghingi ng tulong sa akin. I will gladly lend some money for you," he said with concerned tone.

"Hindi na po, maraming salamat po sa pag-aalala. Babalik na po ako, may klase pa po kami," she declined politely.

"Before that, here," he took something out of his cabinet.

"Palagi ka nalang naka-PE attire sa klase ko. I guess you struggle to provide a uniform so I bought you one. You don't have to pay for that, basta huwag mong pababayaan ang pag-aaral mo, ija," he told her.

Another set of uniform for her, mayroon na siya nito sa kaniyang locker ngunit hindi niya nais isuot.

"Ang ganda-ganda mo, Ms. Dawn Ligaya," she stepped back when he tried to carress her face.

He chuckled, "Suotin mo 'yan, ma-minusan kita kung hindi ka magpapalit. Purga na ako sa PE uniform mo ah. You really try to stand out in my vision,"

Tumango ito at saka umalis. Nagkuskos ito ng braso dahil sa kilabot na naramdaman. She knows his motives to her, she is his prey in this academic year, he is the main reason why students are so pressed to her.

He is obsessed with her, ang clearance niya sa mga studyante niyang kailangang maghabol ng requirements ay picture ni Dawn. More specific for students who are bastards like him, picture of her kissing their feet.

She played dumb, as if hindi niya alam na siya ang target, na ang professor niya ang mastermind, dahil ayaw niya ng gulo.

Dumiretso ito sa banyo para magpalit ng damit bago pa ang klase. As she tried the uniform, she frowned. "Sinadya ba talaga niya ito?"

Panay ang paghila nito ng laylayan ng skirt dahil sa iksi nito. Malamang ay papagalitan siya ng guard kung sakaling makita nila ang suot nitong palda.

Habang naglalakad ay may nakasabay ito sa corridor. Nag-abot ito ng jacket sa kaniya. He gestured her to tie the jacket around her waist for protection.

Napakunot ang noo nito nang mafamiliarize ang kasabay. He checked the name embroidered to the jacket. Agad niya itong binawi at umiling. "Thank you nalang po,"

"Use this," he insisted.

"Hindi na, salamat," she said as she sprint.

But get blocked by a lady, "Hi, ikaw ba si Dawn Ligaya?" She asked.

"Bakit?" Tanong nito.

"Totoo nga, dito ka pala nagkaklase," she looked at her from head to toe. "Gusto ko lang makita nang mata sa mata ang favorite ng professor kong unfair,"