Chapter 10
Day 55: Sevelanio High (Present)
“Freedom of Information was the given topic in the previous year's SA District Level Journalism. Rice Tariffication Law naman sa Division.” Marwin stated while scanning the pages of the notebook containing the articles I wrote.
I can feel my heart pounding loudly inside my chest. I am just waiting for his feedback regarding my work, bakit pakiramdam ko ay nasa trial ako ngayon. He is my mentor, after all, so his opinion matters. Alam kong hindi siya basta-basta, top student siya ng Sevelanio, SSG President, and leader ng journalism team. I have to please him first before I can even call myself worthy of carrying the title of our school.
“Try to improve your handwriting skills,” he commented before diverting his gaze from me. “Parang kinahig ng manok ang calligraphy mo, Dominguez.” I wanted to deny that fact, but he has evidence on his hands. Wala akong kawala.
“How about my article?”
Tumaas ang isa niyang kilay.
“O-okay lang ba? May kailangan pa ba akong baguhin? How is it?” sunod-sunod kong tanong.
His eyes shrank while looking at me.
I bit my lower lip in frustration. Inaabangan ang pagbuka ng bibig niya. Umangat ang gilid ng labi niya. He handed over the notebook to me. Bago siya umalis sa pagkakaupo sa desk. He waved his hands and walked away. Aba bastos!
“Hoy! Parang hindi kinakausap, ah!” angil ko.
“Argh! Keep the noise down!” Venice exclaimed.
I immediately shut my mouth and even covered it with my palm. Tahimik akong tumayo mula sa silyang kinauupuan ko bago sumunod kay Marwin palabas ng silid. Bakit ba ang hilig niyang tumakas?
“Saan ka na naman pupunta?” Tanong ko nang magawa kong sumabay sa paglalakad niya. Hindi siya sumagot at diretso lang ang tingin sa aming unahan. “Did I pass?” I furrowed my brows nang mapansin ko na naman ang pag-ngiti niya. Gosh! Nagiging weird na naman si Marwin. Parang sinapian ng engkanto.
I grabbed the edge of his sleeves and started to swing them in a playful manner to get him to look at me. “Grey! Grey! Grey!” I intentionally raised the volume of my voice para mairita siya sa akin at mapilitang pansinin ako.
“The weather is so nice today,” malumanay niyang sabi. Bahagya siyang tumingala upang silipin ang kalangitan. I doubt that. Masyadong makulimlim at mukhang uulan kaya sigurado akong sinabi niya lang ‘yon para magkunwaring hindi niya ako naririnig. “I wonder if she brought a jacket for herself.” Bulong pa nito na ikinasimangot ko.
I’m obviously the person he’s referring to.
“Grey! Bakit Grey ang apelyido mo?” Saad ko nang maalala kung paano siya nainis noong unang beses ko siyang tawagin gamit ang apelyido niya. These days, parang wala naman nang epekto sa kanya, pero curious pa rin ako.
Isang malapad na ngiti ang ipinaskil ko sa labi ko nang sa wakas ay lingunin niya rin ako.
“Where is your common sense, woman?” banat niya. Imbes na mainis ako sa tanong niya, natawa na lang ako dahil sa ekpresyong ipinakita niya. He looked pissed off in an instant.
“I lost it; hindi ko pa makita eh.” I replied in a mocking tone.
“Why are you following me?” masungit niyang tanong. “We are enemies; hindi mo ba naaalala?”
