The Perfectly Imperfect

Kabanata 07

I began crumbling the paper while looking straight at him.

This is not good. My feelings, and the idea of him. I need to stop this illusion because if I won't, I may fall apart and it will be my downfall. I know this is not love, this is just an infatuation because to be honest, he's handsome and smart.

But this is not love, you can't love someone you just met. I must stop this infatuation, I need to get myself back.

I saw a strong and strange emotion in his eyes when I completely crumbled the paper. His eyes were full of melancholy and at that moment, I know that he was hurt. But why?

I just don't care. Sino ba siya sa 'kin? Hindi ko naman siya kaibigan, so he don't deserve my attention.

I stood up and throw the paper in the trash bin and when I get back to my seat, I put my bag in the chair beside me indicating that I don't want a fvcking seatmate.

And that day, he became a stranger again.

"Nakakatulong pa ba ang assignment sa improvements ng isang student? Who wants to answer?" our professor randomly asked.

I raised my hand but the professor called Isaac who raised his hand too.

"No, sir. In fact, there's some students who admit that assignment is one of the reason why they are experiencing stress. And there's no need for assignment because all the answer is already on the internet. We can find answer by just clicking the search button, there's no effort at all," he uttered.

I raised my hand again and the professor called my name so I stood up with confidence.

I looked at Isaac then to my all classmates and last to my professor. I smiled sweetly before I started talking.

"Just like what he said, the answer is on the internet already. Therefore, doing assignment is just a simple task for us to do. So I disagree with him, assignments can make a student responsible. For us to succeed, we need a little effort. And searching on the internet for us to finish our assignments is considered as an effort, too. Because we gain learning upon doing it," I confidently uttered.

Nakita kong tumango-tango ang professor sa sagot ko pero hindi ko mabasa ang nasa isip niya. Uupo na sana ako nang magsalita na naman si Isaac.

"Are you sure all students gained learnings upon doing their assignments? At saka, imbis na maging pahinga na ng mga estudyante ay iginugugol pa rin nila ang oras sa paggawa ng assignment. Hindi naman sa lahat ng oras ay pag-aaral lang ang dapat atupagin."

I look at him and smirk in annoyance. "Mister Villegas, as a student it is our responsibility to do the task that is given to us. In your answer, it seems like you're encouraging the students to be lazy. No offense."

Nakita ko rin ang inis niyang pagngisi bago magsalita, "No miss Mallari, I'm not encouraging them to be lazy. What I meant is, they need rest sometimes because their world is not only revolving for their studies. Unless, they are one of those students like you who needs validation. No offense."

Inis akong napatawa. This guy is really getting into my nerves.

"It's not just the validation, mister Villegas. But being responsible in school may lead to successful future. The schools are preparing the students today for them to be prepared for tomorrow. Halimbawa na lang niyan ay kapag may trabaho na ang mga ito, they can't just avoid paperworks because they don't want it. And I didn't said that they don't have the rights to get tired and to take a rest," I calmly uttered even I felt my anger rising.

I saw his bright smile again so I avoided looking at him.

Luckily, the bell rang. I rushed to the comfort room to make myself calm down, I locked myself in one of the cubicle and lean into the wall. I felt my hand trembling and it is also cold.

Damn that Isaac. I really don't want arguing with someone, it makes me uncomfortable and nervous.

"Grabe talaga kanina, hindi ko alam kung saan ako papanig eh. They both make sense."

Natigilan ako nang may marinig na nag-uusap sa labas. Halos hindi ako gumalaw para hindi makagawa ng ingay.

"Come on, syempre kay Isaac ako. Sipsip lang talaga si Davin but for sure, she is already tired in studying."

"Uyy oo, kay Isaac din ako. Buti sana kung lahat ng estudyante kasing talino ni Davin."

"Duhh, she's not smart! Masipag lang talaga siyang mag-basa at mag-aral kasi nga, gutom sa validation."

I heard them laughing and I let myself cursed them in my head. These insecure bitches.

"Syempre sisipagan niya talaga kasi kapag hindi niya na-meet ang expectations ng lola niya, sa lansangan ang bagsak niya."

"Of course, balita ko pa anak daw siya sa labas—"

I open the door and I saw them being shocked upon seeing me. Seems like they just saw a ghost.

I walked towards the mirror and wash my hand. Totally ignoring them.

"D-Davin nandiyan ka pala," usal ng isa.

I didn't mind them, who are these people anyway? I don't even know their names. They don't deserve my attention.

When I'm done washing my hand, I left the comfort room and go to the cafeteria.

Upon walking I heard some students murmuring something. They can't just stop being like that, maybe because it is part of a human nature.

"May mga taga-ibang school daw sa office, nakita mo kanina?"

"Ano ka, nasa cafeteria sila. They are good looking pero anong ginagawa nila rito?"

"I don't know, maybe they are just visiting."

"Stupid! They are here to find some dancers."

Napailing-iling na lang ako at binilisan ang paglalakad. When I arrived at the cafeteria I saw that there's so many students unlike the usual.

Of course there's new faces, what did I expect?

I didn't mind them and I begin finding a spot and when I found a table, I made an order.

Tahimik lang akong naka-upo habang nagi-scroll sa phone. Until the students began screaming and giggling.

"Yun oh!"

"Naks naman, bagay kayo!"

Kumunot ang noo ko kaya wala sa sariling napatingin ako sa pinanggalingan no'n.

Noong una ay hindi ko nakikita ang dahilan kung bakit kinilig ang mga estudyante pero nang mahawi ang mga nakapaligid dito ay halos manlambot ako.

My mind got blank and all I can do is to watch the scene in front of me with an excruciating heart.

And there, I saw a very familiar guy. Kissing with a beautiful and lovely girl from the other school.

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