Beat of Yesterday

33

A few years ago.

Xianne.

Sa tagal ko nang teacher no particular student has ever amazed me, lalo na sa subject ko. Because my subject isn't only about physical education, but it also contains heath, arts, and music. So if you plan to amaze me, make sure you're good at all of these.

Lahat ng mga sinasabi ng mga co-teachers ko na magagaling, pumapalya sa subject ko. They're good at academics, at leading, and a bunch of other things, but not in physical education.

So when I heard her name, kahit sinasabi ng mga co-teachers ko na iba sya. To me she's just the same as the rest of them, just a quieter version.

"Nakanino si Alvarez?" Tanong ng isa kong co-teacher, si Miss Clarisa.

"Nasa akin." Sagot ni sir Jake.

"Ano ba yan!" Reklamo nya. "Okay lang, nasa akin naman si Huang."

We're currently looking at our class advisory for this school year, mabuti nalang at hinati-hati nila ang mga matatalino at hindi pinagsama-sama sa iisang section. Naalala ko last year how muntikan na mag resign si sir Jake dahil sa kulit ng mga anak nya kase sya ang adviser ng last section.

Mabuti nalang wala akong advisory non.

"Ikaw Jane? Sino sa'yo?" Tanong ni Ms Camille, I quickly browse through my list only to find a familiar name na palaging binabanggit nila saakin.

QUIZON, Hydrangea.

"Si Jia." I simply said.

"Lucky." pakikisali ni Ms Amira. "Every english teacher would love to handle that gal. She's too good when it comes to writing."

I just shook my head, looking at my class list sakto lang naman ang lineup namin. May mga makukulit, matatalino, and students na magaling mag lead.

Last year I was mainly handling the lower levels, ngayon lang ako napadpad sa upper level. Though same lang ng faculty ang mga high-school teachers kaya kilala ko na ang mga makakasama ko, however it's my first time meeting the students from the upper levels. Ngayon ko palang makikilala ang mga estudyanteng sinasabi saakin nila sir Jake.

"That girl is responsible, she'll definitely help you when it comes to your advisory Jane."

The first day of school comes, halos lahat sila wala akong kilala, yung mga iba nakakasalubong ko na some are from the student council kaya kilala ko sila. But most of them remained strangers to me.

When the flag ceremony ended agad kong sinimulan ang pagpapakilala sa sarili ko bago ko sila sabihan na mag pakilala sa harapan, para makilala sila at para makilala ko narin ang mga estudyanteng sinasabi saakin nila Ms at Sir.

When a lady stood up, from her aura and presence kilala ko na agad ito.

"Hello everyone, I'm Hydrangea Quizon. I love to read, write, paint, and play instruments. I'm also a fan of sports, specifically volleyball and swimming. I hope to be civil with you all. Thank you."

...

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." I said way too many times now.

"Are you sure Jane? I can come to you right now-"

"Jake, it's fine. I'm fine. I just need a time off and I want to rest for quite sometime. I'll call you later." I said before ending the call.

I'm currently at my favorite hotel with a swimming pool, kilala na'ko ng mga staff rito at alam nila na kapag pupunta ako rito nais kong magswimming or magrelax lang,
I usually go here whenever I feel down, and today's one of those days.

I don't know these days kung anong nangyayari saakin, I don't feel the same anymore kahit wala namang nagbago saakin. I can sense na there's something na kulang, but I can't particularly pinpoin kung ano ba ito o sino.

When these thoughts come to mind, my remedy is swimming, swimming helps me to ease my thoughts and to sort them out, lingo-lingo na'kong pumupunta rito. Pero hanggang ngayon ganon parin.

After putting away my phone I didn't hesitate to jump sa pool, once I got my whole body soaked, I began doing laps around the pool without any pause.

When I finally felt na hindi ko na kaya, inangat ko na ang ulo ko to catch up my breath. Nasa pool parin ako nang mapansin ko ang isang babae na nakaupo sa may upuan malapit sa pool, I can tell na magswiswimming sya but she's on her phone.

I immediately thought na baka kaya hindi pa sya nagbabasa is because I've been consuming the entire pool, hindi kase ako sanay na may kasabay ako kase tuwing pupunta ako rito ako lang magisa ang nagswiswimming sa gabi.

Dahil don ay agad na umahon na'ko at pinuntahan ang mga gamit ko, that's when I realized na wala pala akong tuwalyang dala, I won't be able to go back sa kwarto ko kase mababasa ko ang mga sahig.

Damn.

I'd have to wait for my whole body to dry up before I could go to my room, but because it's night time and I just got out of the pool, the cold breeze isn't helping.

I looked at the lady who's still on her phone kahit nakalabas na'ko sa pool, she's sitting in the same spot with a towel on her lap and her phone in one hand.

Mukha tuloy akong ewan na nakatayo lang, I'm trying my best to dry myself para makaakyat na'ko and to not make it awkward for the girl. She's probably waiting for me to get out kaya hanggang ngayon hindi parin sya nagbabasa.

Busy akong nagpipiga ng rushguard ko when I felt someone tap my shoulder. When I turned around it's the same girl na nasa upuan a few minutes ago.

"Eto." She said, handing me the towel that was once in her lap earlier.

"Hindi ka po ba lalangoy-"

"Hindi. Tatambay lang sana ako rito, gagamitin ko dapat yung tuwalya bilang kumot. Pero nang makita kong wala kang tuwalya,  hindi ko na ginamit. Bagong laba 'yan don't worry." She explained.

"Thank you, anong room nyo po?"

"Sa'yo muna, tsaka mo na bigay saakin pag nagkita tayo ulit."

:)