Chapter 19
"ROTC ka?"
Fortunately, nagawa ko namang iayos ang takbo ng utak ko when the regular classes came back. Oo at nandito pa rin sa akin ang pakiramdam pero nasa sulok na lang iyon. Pinipilit magtago.
"CWTS." Sagot ko sa kaklase kong nagtanong. Unang linggo pa lang ay pinapili na kami ng gagawin namin para sa aming NSTP subject.
"Sayang."
My forehead wrinkled.
Nakapag-ROTC na ako dati. Might as well as try something new.
Nagpatuloy siyang magtanong sa iba pa naming mga kaklase, siguro ay naghahanap ng makakasama. Mahilig kasi ang mga estudyante ngayon sa grupo, lalo na ang mga babae.
"Ikaw, Mae? Anong pinili mo?"
Nag-focus na lang ako sa ginagawa kong notes. Malapit na ang prelims namin at wala pa akong nare-review.
"CWTS." Dinig kong sagot niya, kahit ayaw kong marinig.
We haven't talked nor approached each other. Wala si Derwick, mukhang totoong injured. Iyong ex-boyfriend niya namang malaki ang katawan ngunit parang batugan... hindi na pumapasok, mag-iisang linggo na. Walang pasabi o kung ano man. A relief on her end.
"Guys, sinong ROTC sa inyo?"
I kept my eyes on my notes. There was a bit of an urge to look at my back but I was able to hold it in.
Alam kong may mali sa ginawa ko. I shouted at her. I made her feel like she wasn't important or at least, her safety. And I will admit that it is because partly, I was drunk. To think that I can almost consider her as a friend, it wasn't appropriate. I think of that every now and then.
Mahina akong napamura nang makitang iba na pala ang sinusulat ko sa notebook.
"Class!"
The professor for our Rizal subject came in. She was holding a couple of books and an awkward smile. Naibaba niya ang libro sa mesa sa tulong ng kasama niyang estudyante.
"Thanks." She mouthed before the student left. "Good morning, class! I'm Chelsea Myers. I'm betting you haven't seen me around?"
Some of us said yes, the rest, walang pakialam.
"Oh... well... I am a new teacher, fresh grad, kakapasa lang ng boards. I hope I can get along with you, guys."
Nagsimula na siyang mag-set-up ng kaniyang materials. Not to discredit what Rizal has done to our history but this is a bit... irrelevant to our program. Hindi naman ako history major at mas lalong hindi ako interesado roon. Preschoolers ang tuturuan ko. ABC, 123, shapes, vertical, diagonal, at horizontal lines.
Dahil wala naman akong choice, nakinig na lang ako sa discussion. I can see that she was very nervous when teaching. Nanginginig ang mga kamay niya at nauutal. I understand that she's new, but how can we focus on the lesson when she couldn't?
Siguro'y nakampante na siya matapos ang mahabang discussion. She gave us an activity-crossword puzzles. Wala pang dalawang minuto ay natapos ko na agad.
"You..."
Nag-angat ako ng tingin. She was still in the front. Her eyes darted at me. Tinuturo niya ako gamit ang maiksing stick na mukhang dala niya.
I sighed.
I cannot become invisible at class, huh?
"What's your name?" She stepped closely on my side. May distansya pa rin sa pagitan namin.
"Rhys."
"I browsed the class list. As far as I can remember, there's supposed to be no Rhys here."
Umismid ako. "Harhyson Altarieno."
BINABASA MO ANG
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