CHAPTER 1
March 17
Friday.
“Sa wakas! Matatapos na rin tayo!” maligayang ani ng isang kaklase sa kabilang grupo habang nag-iinat.
“Sa alin ba? Research o buhay?” pabiro kong sabat habang nag-eencode at nagrerevise ng maling gawa ng isang miyembro ng grupo.
“Pwedeng both?” sabat naman ng isa kaya nagtawanan kami.
It’s already near the end of March and everyone is so excited for the graduation and some were wishing for the graduation ball. Porke may mga girlfriend at boyfriend sa batch namin, eh. Wala nang masyadong ginagawa sa mga core subjects. Ang ibang teachers ay umaattend nalang ng class para magcheck ng attendance, ang iba naman ay hindi na. Nagmemessage nalang sa group chats para mag-assign ng magchecheck ng attendance. Some of our subject teachers were probably computing our grades by now. Well, maybe except from our other teachers who are still waiting for our other requirements like projects and research papers to be passed.
Teachers in our school, eventhough it’s a public one, knows how to use their time efficiently. One of the reason why we’re able to finish the required lessons of every subject fast. Iyong tipong kung class hour ay talagang klase lahat.
Today, all we did the whole time is our research. We need to finalize and have it checked by our practical research teacher next week so that we’ll still have enough time to practice for the final defense which will happen on March 29.
“Sino kaya ang magiging valedictorian?” biglang pag-iiba ng paksa noong isa.
My fingers stopped from typing the last sentence to complete the revision of chapter one. That question got me. Tatlo kaming naglalaban sa pagkavaledictorian at ang nakakatawa roon ay dati kong kaibigan iyong isa habang ang isa naman ay kasalukuyang kaibigan.
Truth is I don’t really care about it that much. I’d be so grateful if it will be me but I’ll also accept it if not. I won’t raise hell just because someone is better than me. I’d gladly accept my defeat, just like before.
“Kung hindi si Charise, baka si Talli?”
“Tanga, magaling rin daw ‘yong transferee sa kabila. Halos perfect lahat ng quizzes at exams,”
“Eh, gano’n din naman si Charise, ah?” angal naman ng isa, akala mo inaaway kung magsalita. “Wala, sa perseverance ang vale!”
“Ikaw, Charise?” baling ni Isaac sa akin. “Sino sa tingin mo?”
Pinagtaasan ko siya ng kilay. Ako pa talaga ang napili niyang tanungin, eh, alam naman niyang ako ang pinakamagaling sa pag-acting bilang humbliest person in the whole world. Pero sa ngayon ay totoo naman talaga na hindi ko masyadong pinagtutuunan ng pansin iyon at kung may pagkakataon man ay saglit ko lamang nararamdaman ang pait kung maiisip kong hindi ako ang magiging valedictorian. After all, I did and gave everything I could this year. But of course, the question will always be: Was it enough?
I shrugged my shoulders like it’s just nothing. “Whoever deserves it,”
Sabay-sabay silang nag-asaran matapos ang sagot ko. As usual sa kanila, na kapag ini-english ay akala mo gutom na bata kung makareact, ang iingay.
“English din dapat, Isaac!”
“Hindi niya ‘yan naintindihan!”
“Deserve raw ni Whoever,” pagtratranslate naman ni Alfred. “Sino ba ‘yon?”
“Bobo!” sabay-sabay nilang katyaw sa kaniya na mukhang nagbibiro lang naman.
Nagtawanan ang lahat ngunit kumalma rin kalaunan upang mapakinggan ang sagot ni Tallianna sa tanong pa rin ni Isaac.
