VALID PASSION

|12|

CHAPTER 12

The stage giving us an 'ill at ease' because of students around us. The loud, crowd and nervous. My hands and knees started to tremble. I wasn't expecting like this, I felt like the air's deficient.

All the grade seventh candidates are already at stage. They're six candidates per section with their own white board, marker with erasers.

"So ladies and gentlemen. Let the mathematical competition begin!"

"Give me a one basic properties of real numbers?" Naunang nagtaas ng white board na may sagot ang isang lalaking studyante.

"The Closure Property." Aniya

Ten difficult questions gives me a goosebumps! Dahil lahat sila ay matatalino hindi nagkakalayo ang scores nila. Hindi mag-aakila na isang puntos lamang ang itinaas ng lalaking nag wagi. Same on eight grade, with eight section they're all bright and clever. All students cheer them up! All their friends clap their hands for them. All of them gave their best they could to prove their selves.

"SO LET'S CLAP OUR HANDS FOR THE NEXT STUDENT COMPETITORS FROM NINETH GRADE!"

I let out a big sigh. As I walk and ascend at the stairs to the stage as they mentioned my name. My heart beating so fast and sounds like a drum. My knees trembling, I started chase my breath.

I saw how Niala and her friends cheer me up?

Friends?

The questions started to flow from announcer's mouth. When I look at Liza's position, I saw her staring at me and rolled her eyes. I saw other candidates with their brows met, as usual they are feeling hinky about the situation because they have two candidates in one section. When I look at the crowd, I saw some students clapping their hands.

I'm looking for someone when Niala and her group waving their hands at me and they got my attention.

Troy giving me 'fighting' hand sign and I saw Nick with his peace sign, looks like he's taking a selfie. I saw Lenard's hands messing Niala's hair.

Niala is so cute.

They look cute together actually.

Then, when I saw who I was looking for, she started to give me a thumbs up, and for the first time, she let away her big, genuine smile, Ms. Cabrera. 

For some reason, I felt strange feelings. A simple sign, smile and supports giving me a huge encourage. I felt like the simple support from them gave me wholesome comfort.

Nabawasan tuloy ang kaba ko at tanging iniisip ko lang ay ang nakakalitong presensyang nararamdaman ko galing sa mga ngiti nila.

Despite of being unbothered, there still someone who will support my existence. It was my first time, seeing and feeling this scenes.

Since I have NONE of this before.

I felt weird.

"For the BONUS Question! The faster is the mightier!" The emcee chuckled. "WHAT IS THE CUBE ROOT OF 7-2-9, 729?"

My half of my brain functioning. Calculation is one of the students weekness, lalo na't walang calculator or scientific calculator sa aming upuan. Utak ang siyang malamang sa oras na 'to. Sampung segundo ang bilang para sa sagot.

Nang sinulat ko na ang sagot ko ay bigla kong tinaas 'yon. I saw other candidates still writing their answers. Sa wakas, ay naunahan ko na naman sila. If we multiply the 9 by itself in three times, 729 is the answer.

"YES, NINE IS THE ANSWER. 9 IS THE CUBE ROOT OF 7-2-9!" I saw Niala jumping, sense of celebrating. Nakita kong pumapalakpak si Troy, Nick at Lenard kasabay na pagtawa niya sa reaksyon ni Niala.