COMPILATIONS OF ONE-SHOT STORIES

WE ARE BOTH CHEATERS

WE ARE BOTH CHEATERS

“Good morning, class! Please bring out a one whole sheet of paper and a ballpen. We are going to have a long quiz.” Our teacher in Math subject announced the moment she stepped inside the room making her class gasped because of the surprise quiz. 

Argh! I Really hate surprises.

I roamed my eyes around the classroom. All of my classmates has this ‘I’m fvcked up’ reaction as they prepared their one whole sheet of paper that even the best painter in the country can’t paint their faces.

I chuckled. I smirked when my eyes stopped at her. Mayroong isang munting ngiti ang naglalaro sa labi niya habang pinapaikot ng mahahaba niyang daliri ang kaniyang ballpen.

She’s prepared too. I can tell.

Napatigil ako sa pagmamasid sa paligid ko at muling tinuon ang tingin sa harapan nang magsalitang muli ang aming guro.

“And also‚ I want your table clean.” She said and emphasized the word ‘clean’. “Take off those unnecessary things and put them on your bag. If possible, only your one whole sheet of paper and ballpen should be seen on the top of your table.” Dagdag pa ng guro bago ito umupo sa teacher’s chair na nasa harapan at isa-isa kaming tinapunan ng tingin.

She has this strange emotion on her eyes that I can’t read. An emotion that’s telling something about... about... like some things.

Isinulat ko ang aking pangalan sa aking papel habang hinihintay na magsimula ang aming pagsusulit. Nang hindi parin umimik ang guro ay pinaglaruan ko muna ang takip ng aking ballpen.

Pinagmasdan ko ang paligid. Nakakabinging katahimikan ang bumalot sa loob ng classroom dahilan para tumayo ang mga buhok sa batok ko.

“And by the way,“ Tumayo muli si Teacher Diana at saka naglakad palapit saamin at dahil ako ang nasa harap, muntik ko nang nahigit ang aking hininga nang tumigil ito sa mismong harap ko.

“Before we start our quiz, I want to ask you all if who took my answer keys on my table. Iniwan ko iyon sa lamesa ko kahapon at kaninang umaga, wala na. I know nobody enters my room except my class on my period and that’s you guys. Now answer me. Who took my answer keys on my table?” Tumiim ang bagang nito nang walang kahit na isang pangahas na sumagot sa tanong niya.

“Answer me, Grade 9, section A, ang tinitingala at hinahangaan ng ibang section. Sinong kumuha sa answer key na naiwan ko saaking lamesa kahapon? We won’t going to start this quiz if nobody will tell me who. Alam na alam kong isa sa inyo rito ang kumuha noon.” Muling saad nito.

Nobody answered her. Nobody talked. Nobody made even just a simple noise. Everybody just stared at her. Just staring. No answering. No talking.

“Fine!” She snapped. “Walang aamin? Okay. In the count of three, all those bags of yours should be here infront.”

“One...” She started counting and all the students in her class stood up and put their bags infront.

Hindi ako tumayo. Nanatili akong nakaupo habang pinagmamasdan ang mga kaklaseng naglalagay ng bag sa harapan.

Tinapunan ko siya ng tingin at nahuli ko siyang nakatitig saakin. We stared at each other until she’s the one who broke our staring contest and stood up, put her bag in front and then went back on her seat.

Nang mapansin kong lahat na ng kaklase ko ay nailagay na ang kanilang bag sa harapan, saka lang ako tumayo at nilagay ang bag ko sa tabi ng bag niya.

“Lahat ba ng mga gamit ninyo ay nakalagay sa loob ng bag ninyo?” Teacher Marilou asked. Everyone nodded.