HOME VISIT (editing)

Chapter 1

I'm quite used to these gazes as I pass them. Their stares felt like they want to eat me whole. Just going to ignore those shits because I'm late again for my first class.

I remember how terror our teacher is. They must not make that terror pedagogue boil his blood.

"Hoy, Andres!"

I clenched my fist. Hindi na ako nakailag nang pinatong niya ang kamay niya aking balikat. What's with this idiot? He even shouts my name.

Hinawakan pa niya talaga ang mukha ko!

"What's wrong with you, dude? Lumayo ka nga!"

Inalis ko ang kamay niya na nakapatong balikat ko. Nakakadiri.. "Don't you dare touch me."

"You're being over dramatic again. I'm clean, don't you worry. Ang tapang mo naman masyado!"

Rolling my eyeballs to him made him laugh even more, "Tigilan niyo ako ng mga alipores mo. Late na ako. I gotta go!"

"Wait," he stopped me from running by grabbing my arm and I can't help myself but reclaimed my body part. "I heard si Mr. Perez ang…?"

"I don't think so, as if I'm going to memorize all their names."

"Be good from now on, Andres. That man is a terror. Pinatakbo lang naman niya ang estudyante niya sa hallway back and forth for two hours just beacuse he can't answer a damn question."

I shrugged my shoulders off, "well, that's the student's fault. If it were me, I'm one hundred and one percent sure I can answer his question even I just woke up."

"Wow," he laughed. "Wake up, nananaginip ka pa rin."

"Gotta go," bulong ko nang matapat na kami sa pinto ng room namin. He nodded.

I knocked on the door. I saw that man again. Heartless and cold.

"Late again," he mumbled.

Oh, I can't describe his voice. Seems like a morning voice. Is this his first talk of the day?

"I'm sorry, Sir. I… I was… ahm,"

"Don't bother. Get in."

"O…kay,"

Hindi ko alam kung anong meron sa boses niya at sumunod agad ako sa kaniya.. He's reading a book while his other hand is on that white board scribbling some notes.

"I need you all to listen to this discussion. A long quiz is waiting."

Hindi na bago sa amin iyon. Lagi naman siyang nagbibigay nang mahabang test. Kadalasan kahit hindi pa namin napag-aaralan ay kailangan mag-test muna kami.

"Uy,"

Humawak sa balikat ko si Gracie saka siya bumulong-bulong sa tainga ko na parang akala mo kaming dalawa lang talaga ang nakakarinig.

"...lagot ka kay sir. Tsk! Bukod sa marami kang activities na na-miss, marami siyang pinasagutan sa amin na quiz. One hundred fifty items. Sayang yun."

Umirap lang ako saka ko siya nilingon. "Wala akong pakialam."

Guwapo sana si Sir kung hindi lang masama ang ugali. Mahilig magpa-iyak ng mga estudyante.

Yumuko na lang ako para maiwasan ang tingin na iyon na para bang mangangain nang buhay. Gusto ko nang umuwi agad. Pag-uwi ko, hindi na muna ako papasok ng one week.

"Andres,"

Narinig kong bumulong sa akin si Gracie kaya nilingon ko siya. May sinesenyas siya.

"Ha?"