Heartful Whispers

Kabanata 21

"Good bye Teacher Coli! Good bye classmates! See you tomorrow! Don't be late! Don't be absent! Be good! Study your lesson!"

They kids cheered and ran to their gurdians waiting outside. Ang iilan ay nag ba-bye pa ulit sa akin bago tuluyang lumabas ng silid. I smiled at the few of them who are still peeking at me while nodding to their mothers. I waved for a goodbye.

Tinignan ko ang oras sa cellphone at saktong lunch time na. Inayos ko pagkakahanay ng mga upuan at nagwalis saglit. May mga nakaiwan na naman ng iilang lapis at krayola sa kanila. Itinabi ko ang mga iyon dahil siguradong may maghahanap kinabukasan.

"Coli!!!!!"

I sighed and chuckled a bit upon hearing the voice. Nilingon ko ang pintuan upang datnan ang parating na kaibigan.

"Sabay tayo lunch! Walang tatakas!" Si Ericka, co teacher ko.

Malaki ang ngiti niya nang sumilip sa pintuan bago tuluyang pumasok. Totoo pala iyon, na may mga taong magiging tila liwanag ng araw sa araw araw mo. My past few years here in the province became happier because of her. Ericka was a personified sunshine.

"Kanina pa natapos ang klase ko, may kumausap lang sa aking magulang." Kwento niya bago umupo sa upuan ko sa harap.

She stretched her arms while yawning. Napabuntong hininga siya bago nagpatuloy.

"Luluwas na raw ng Maynila. Ang energetic pa naman ng estudyante ko na 'yon. Nakakalungkot na mawawala siya sa klase."

Itinabi ko ang walis at lumapit sa kaibigan. I hugged her while standing. Sumandal siya sa braso kong nakayakap at bumuntong hininga ulit. Tinignan niya ako.

"Crush ka nga pala ng batang iyon."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Tumawa siya kaya natawa na rin ako. I removed my hug from her and shook my head. Tumatawa pa rin siya.

"Totoo nga! Nine years old crush ka! Actually hindi lang siya. Saka diba pati rin sa klase mo merong may crush sa'yo! Nako mga batang 'to!"

I smiled. One of my students even confessed to me last february on hearts' day! The kids are adorable. Marunong nang humanga. What they do not know is that.. I admire them, as well, as a child willing to learn and share what they have, may it be in foods, crayons, and knowledge.

"Tara na kain. Daanan natin bag ko sa faculty. Dumaan muna ako sa'yo. Ganoon ako ka excited makita 'yang ganda mo," she winked at me.

Natatawa akong umiling at itinulak na siya papalabas. Tawa pa rin siya nang tawa habang naglalakad kami sa hallway. Natahimik lang nang marating namin ang faculty.

"Hintayin na lang kita rito," ani ko dahil alam kong mag-aayos pa siya sa loob.

I took my time looking at the green looking ground with healthy plants and trees. Some are saying that when you become a teacher, it feels like you are going to be a student again, an endless studying. Manatili ka sa eskwelahan, papel, panulat, at blackboard pa rin ang katuwang.

Well, all professions require learning. Even after finishing the degree and being hired, you'll still have to learn things whether you intend to or not. Matututo pa rin. May aaralin pa rin. Kaya lahat ay mananatiling estudyante dahil ang pagkatuto ay hindi natatapos. Inside or outside the school, we have to remain teachable, because a hundred or even thousand people can possibly learn from us.

Sa tatlong taon kong nagtuturo, it has become an other half of me. Teaching felt like a companion, and so I took learning as a passion. After all, you cannot teach what you do not know.