Knock Again, Professor [GL• #1]

Chapter 10 [FLASHBACK]

Time flies so fast, and the days, weeks, and months pass by like in just a blink of an eye. Parang kailan lang nung una kaming magkita ni Sam, and we eventually became really close to each other. Kapag umaalis siya para sa school niya overseas ay nag-papaalam siya sa akin, she will write a letter or we'll eat outside para personal na magpaalam.

I am always patiently waiting for her to comeback, and nung recognition ko nung second year high school she gave me a new sketchpad and a charcoal pencil, na ang naging laman naman ay puro sketch ko sa kanya.

We've been friends for two years, but there was just something. No matter how I want to introduce her to my family, she even tells me na huwag magkwento about her, which makes me confused, but I choose to respect her decision. I never asked her personal questions, especially about her family. Hinihintay ko siyang magkuwento, pero kahit kailan ay wala siyang nabanggit puro grandparents niya lang.

I was content and genuinely happy with Sam, and I hope that we will stay that way forever. Our age gap wasn't really an excuse for us not to be close together. And she never treats me like a kid because the way she talks to me is very formal. Even with our status, she doesn't really care if I am poor and indeed she is well-off.

She knocks at my heart, and I could say that at this age, I could tell that she already has a special place here. She just doesn't know about that because I am scared to tell her so. Basta nakakausap ko siya ay okay na iyon.

We are now at the orphanage, and Sam invited me to come and see the children.

There was a feast here, and kahit nahihiya ako ay sumama nalang, dahil wala rin naman daw kasama si Sam. She will also teach the kids here about art, kaya maraming art materials ang binili niya sa mall.

"I've never been here," said Sabi Ko.

"Really? Well, that was nice then. Ikaw lang din naman ang una kong dinala rito," she plainly said. My heart unconsciously beats because of that.

We went in, and the nuns politely gave their greetings to us. May ilang personel na kumuha nung gamit na dala namin, kaya hindi na ako nagbuhat pa.

"Hi, Madam Pendleton." maligayang bati nung isang madre at kinamayan si Sam. "Mabuti ho at nakarating kayo ng maluwalhati."

"Thank you for the invitation, sister Giovan." tumingin si Sam sa mga nasa likod ni sister Giovan. "And to all your warm welcome, me and my partner gladly appreciate it."

Wait, what?

Partner?

Of course, partner, as in kasama ngayon, don't assume Saji, hindi ka type ni Sam, and you both are straight.

"Mabuti ho at sa loob na tayo, nang makita kayo ng mga bata." mahinahong wika nung isang madre.

Pumasok kami at doon sa isang malawak na silid kung saan maraming mga bata ang sumalubong sa amin. Ang iba ay yumayakap pa sa legs ko.

Si Sam ay yumuko at binuhat pa ang isang batang babae na sa tingin ko ay nasa dalawang taong gulang palang. Ang masilayan ang ganitong eksena ay mas lalong nagpahumaling sa akin kay Sam. Hindi siya maarte kahit na may rason siya para maging ganun.

May kung anong pinapaliwanag si sister Giovan kay Sam at hindi ko naman iyon pinakinggan dahil kay Sam lang halos ang tingin at buong atensyon ko. Ang sarap kasi niyang tingnan at hindi talaga ako mag-sasawa.

She even kissed the kids cheeks, which made me wish na sana ako nalang iyong mga bata. I envied them.

Pinamigay namin ni Sam ang mga art material at nang matapos ay nagsimula na siyang mag-discuss about art, she leveled herself in a way that the kids could understand, and even though she wasn't fluent enough, ay sinubukan niya pa rin ang magsalita ng tagalog at hindi sinamahan ng English.