After three days, our workload had increased with the tasks and assignments assigned by the professors. Lahat ng professor ay may pinapagawa samin, talagang nakakastress.
As we gathered in the classroom, anticipation filled the air as we waited for the next professor to arrive. Nag-aantay kami kay Prof. Smith para sa discussion niya.
Maingay ang mga colleagues ko kasali si Charlotte na kung saan-saan napapadpad makachismis lang.
Maya-maya pa ay bumukas ang pintuan, agad namang nagsibalikan ang mga colleagues ko sa table nila saka tumahimik.
Akala namin si Prof. Smith na pero iniluwa ng pintuan pero si Ma'am Rhea pala.
All of us went completely silent.
With a confident stride, she entered the room, taking on an authoritative aura as she stood before us.
Ayan na naman, tumitibok na naman ang puso kong parang baliw.
Crossing her arms, she announce, "In two weeks, there will be a painting competition, and tomorrow, all of you will create an artwork to compete. Come prepared."
Nagkatinginan ang mga student sa isa't isa, shocked. Pati na rin ako ay nabigla, competition?
She continued with a stoic demeanor, locking her piercing gaze on us. "Only one student will represent our school, and the chosen student tomorrow will be the proud representative of Silvestre University," she declared.
"I will personally train the chosen student for two weeks before the competition." She asserted, with composure.
Then, without further ado, she dismissed us.
Lumabas siya but before that, she looks at me, para bang sinasabi ng mata niyang galingan ko.
Don't worry, my wife. Gagalingan ko.
2 weeks of training with her, saan ka pa?
We now had to prepare ourselves to showcase our artistic prowess in hopes of becoming the university's champion.
Lunch na at nasa room pa rin kami, iniisip kong paano kami mananalo bukas sa sobrang dami ng art student at siguradong lahat kami ay may kanya-kanyang way sa pag-gawa ng art.
"I've heard there's a lot of art student who will participate tomorrow," Sabi ng isa kong colleague.
"Totoo nakapaskil na sa announcement chart ng school," dagdag nung isa.
Nasa table ko si Charlotte, hindi rin siya lumabas kasi pati siya nawalan ng gana dahil sa kaba. She's sitting on my table, as usual.
"Frey?" tanong niya.
"Ano na naman?" sagot ko. I'm sketching on my notebook.
"Sa tingin mo," sabi niya sabay tingin sakin, "may makukuha ba sating dalawa?"
"Kung papunta sa langit ʼyan ayaw ko muna," biro ko, "gusto mo ikaw?"
"Baliw!" naiinis na sagot ni Charlotte. "Seryoso nga!"
Natawa ako tapos natawa rin siya pero agad naman kaming nagseryoso saka iniisip ang dapat isipin para bukas.
"Hindi ko alam," I answered. Tinitil ko ang pag sketch ko sa notebook. "Rinig mo naman na maraming art student ang sasalang bukas para maging representative ng school."
"Oo nga but you'll do your best naman, diba?" tanong niya.
"Bakit ako lang? dapat ikaw rin!" I exclaimed.
"I see a sparkling determination on you, alam ko namang gagawin mo lahat para sa professor natin." She stated.
Natigilan ako nang marinig ko ang mga katagang ʼyon kay Charlotte.
YOU ARE READING
Sinking Deep (GL)
RomanceGL-Sapphic Diclaimer: This story is written in Taglish. Rhea Blee Isfaela, an art professor at Silvestre University, is known for her sophistication and high standards. Her position as an art professor gives her influence, but it also makes clear th...
