My Favorite 30

Chapter 20 : It's you

Ever since that day, palagi na akong chinecheck ni Miss Fierra. She's so worried that she's always asking Miss Rue to check me if the latter saw me.

Andito ako ngayon sa table n'ya dahil sinabihan n'ya akong pumunta ako dito after ng class n'ya sa'min. I don't really know how to say no, that's why I decided to go.

"How are you feeling? I am so worried about you. Uminom ka na ba ng tubig? Kumain ka na ba?" Nag-aalalang tanong n'ya sa'kin.

Tumango ako nang walang energy. Pagod na pagod talaga ako this week at last week nang dahil sa festival dance na 'yan. Bukas na kasi ang performance namin, kaya ang karamihan sa mga teachers ay binibigay na lang ang time nila para makapagpractice kami.

Pagod ko s'yang tinignan at kitang-kita ko ang pag-aalala sa kan'yang mukha. Lumapit s'ya sa'kin at hinarap ako. Marahan n'yang ipinulupot ang braso n'ya sa leeg ko at isinandal ang ulo ko sa dibdib n'ya.

I can hear her heart beat, it's fast, and it weirdly syncs with mine. I closed my eyes as I wrap my arms around her waist. I just feel like I really needed to get some energy from her hug.

"Break the hug kung kailan mo gusto, okay?" Sabi n'ya na ikinatango ko.

"What if ayaw kong bumitaw?" I asked quietly.

"Okay lang, hindi naman ako ang lagot kay Miss Ingrid eh." Sagot n'ya na nakapagpatawa sa'min.

We stayed hugging for I don't know how long, but we just broke our hug when we heard footsteps infront of the door.

"Ay, dapat pala tumuloy na lang ako sa pakikipagchikahan sa hagdan." Sabi sa'min ni Miss Rue na may halong pang-aasar. "Anyways, sorry for the interruption sa bebe time n'yo—papasok lang ang disney princess. Isipin n'yo na lang na hindi ako pumasok dito."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Miss Fierra at sabay na tumawa. Miss Rue is so cute! I want to pinch her cheeks. Umupo ako dahil ang sakit na talaga ng paa ko.

"Miss, I'm so tired." Nakangusong sabi ko at ipinulupot muli ang mga braso ko sa balakang n'ya. "Buti na lang last day na ngayon ng practice, but I'm so nervous for tomorrow."

Nginitian n'ya ako at hinawakan ang pisngi ko. "I'm sure you'll do great, Zari. We will watch you guys tomorrow, nando'n kaming lahat. Pero hindi ko pa rin kayo mapapagpractice kasi hinahabol ko talaga yung lesson ko."

"It's okay po, I needed some time to rest din po eh. I always use your time po to rest habang nagtuturo ka."

"Buti hindi ka nags-space out or nawawala sa focus. I can see some of your classmates na lumulutang na talaga ang utak nila habang nagtuturo ako."

I smiled. "I always find math interesting because of you. You explain it well—and you're one of my favorite math teachers."

Tumaas naman ang kilay n'ya. "And who's that other teachers pa?"

I chuckled. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because I need to!"

Ngumiti ako nang nakakaloko dahil sa reaksyon n'ya. Is she jealous that I have other math teachers na favorite? She's so cute!

"It's just you." I said while smiling at her. "You're my favorite math teacher, wala nang iba."

She looked away while biting her bottom lip. "I- I.. mean, it's okay if you have another favorite pa."

I tapped her waist. "Well, ikaw lang eh. Pa'no ba 'yan?"

"Thanks." She said while blushing so hard. Her whole face is red dude, her ears are redder. "For making me your favorite teacher."