I Can Only Love You Reluctantly (A LIGHT NOVEL)

Chapter 4

Yra, for the nth time, sighed while staring at the piece of paper in front of her.

"Familiarize yourself with the sports terminologies. Read a lot of articles about sport. Don't worry, marami tayong samples sa office. Hahanapin ko na lang mamaya."

"Thank you Chief. Pasensya na, first time ko kasi talagang magsulat ng live event. Kinakabahan pa ako."

"It's okay, ganyan talaga 'pag baguhan. But after a while, I assure you sisiw na lang para sa 'yo ang magsulat."

Yra secretly rolled her eyes while listening to the conversation between Chief Ed and the new sport news writer.

Ganyan din ang sabi sa kanya noon ngunit hanggang ngayon nahihirapan pa rin naman siyang magsulat ng sanaysay. Lalo na sa assignment niya ngayon.

"Hindi ka pa aalis?"

Nabaling ang tingin niya sa nagtanong na si Chief Ed. Noon lang niya napagtantong dalawa na lang silang natira sa silong ng malaking payong sa rooftop.

Pagkatapos ng meeting nila kanina'y pinaalis din sila sa office dahil papalinisan daw nila ang aircon nito. Dumiretso tuloy sila sa rooftop upang doon mag-usap-usap tungkol sa kani-kanilang assignment.

"Christopher Cruz," basa ni Chief Ed sa maliit na piraso ng papel na nasa harapan ni Yra.

Mabagal naman na tumango si Yra. Hindi na siya nag-aksaya ng oras na itago rito ang kawalan niya ng gana.

Chief Ed or Edward gets along well with all the journalists under him even with his silent and shy personality. His best trait is that he knows when to be silent and shy, and when to talk to a person. Kaya nga siguro komportable si Yra sa kanya.

"He's... a great professor, and..."

Yra couldn't help twitching her mouth. O 'di ba, pati si Chief Ed nahihirapan ding i-describe siya.

Christopher Cruz, do not be deceived by that seemingly holy name. He is actually a devil in disguise. He is not only a language teacher but also a science expert. Nagtuturo din siya ng philosophy. College teacher talaga siya pero minsan ay pinapatawid siya sa Senior High building para magturo.

"He recently went to Thailand for a meeting regarding our exchange student and teacher program. But don't worry, your focus isn't about the program, it's his life as a teacher and his teaching style."

'Yon na nga ang pinoproblema ni Yra. She didn't experienced firsthand ngunit base sa naririnig niyang kuwento ng mga kolehyong tinuruan nito, bagama't pinakamagaling itong propesor ay siya rin ang pinakauna sa listahan ng ayaw na ulit nilang maging guro. Halimaw daw kasi itong magturo. As to what the definition of 'halimaw' for them, Yra really has no idea. Pero ang alam niya, hitsura pa lang nito ay nakaka-intimidate na.

Feeling thirsty, Yra opened her bag and brought out a two bottles of mango flavored drink.

"Gusto mo?" She offered the one to Chief Ed.

"Mango? Thanks." Ngumiti ito bago tanggapin ang iniaalok niya. "You no longer like strawberry?"

"Hmm." Tinusok niya ng straw ang ibabaw ng bote. She took a sip and while enjoying its flavor, she remembers her favorite drink in the past.

Strawberry ang una niyang nakilalang drinks noong bata pa siya kaya 'yon ang palagi niyang binabaon sa school. When she was about to graduate in elementary only did she was introduced to other flavored drinks.

Hindi naman sa hindi na niya gusto sa strawberry, sawa na kasi siya. Mangga naman ngayon ay pinaka-paborito niya. Ngunit teka, paano nalaman ni Chief Ed na gustung-gusto niya noon mg strawberry?