Bittersweet Marriage (Jella)

Chapter 6

Ella POV

Today after finishing the lesson, Tinawag ko si Samantha and asked her to meet me after school. Her face didn't show any reaction but I knew she would understand why I called her. Ayaw ko sanang mangi-alam sa buhay ng mga students ko, but I also can't leave it alone.

When I returned to the faculty, some teachers who were preparing to leave to teach to each class smiling at me. When I got to my desk and put my stuff, in the room it was just me and Alyssa. She also recently finished teaching like me and there is no next schedule again after this.

"Ella! Mag day off ka daw bukas?" Alyssa asked me

I nodded, "Carlos will succeed for one day, I would accompany my wife to the doctor to check her pregnancy."

She nodded, "I hope everything goes smoothly. Already know the gender?"

I shook my head, "Hindi pa namin alam, pero mas okay yata kung surprise." I smiled

After that we were both silent. Alyssa sat drinking coffee and checking her notes while I was silent, thinking about how I should start a conversation with Samantha later.

"Ly.."

Alyssa stop the movement at tumingin sakin, "Yes?"

"kasi si ano.." I don't know whether to ask other teacher was right thing or not, "tungkol kay Samantha"

"Samantha? Samantha Lopez? What about her?"

"this past few days wala ka bang napapansin sa kanya like strange? I mean, from what you see in your class."

Alyssa looked thoughtful for a moment, "Samantha is a good student. I understand that she has no problem with other student. She is also popular among boys."

I nodded, so far, it's also what I heard about Samantha. There is never a negative rumor about her.

"Bakit?" Alyssa asked, "May problem ba sya sa class mo?"

I shook my head quickly, wala naman!" I rush to cover my nervous with my laugh, "Gusto ko lang malaman.."

Alyssa looked curious but she didn't say anything else.

I'm just going to grab the newspaper when the phone rang.

I flinched when I saw the name on the screen.

"Jema?"

"Hey.."

I narrowed my eyes at the sound of her voice, Hindi ako sanay na maka-receive ng tawag mula kay Jema. I hope nothing bad happens.

"Bakit?" I asked without mince words. I knew she could call me kasi nag kamali lang ng pindot.

"My mom just called," She also unceremoniously, her voice didn't sound curt as usual, "She said, gusto nya daw na mag dinner tayo sa bahay bukas."

I sighed, mother-in-law is someone who I known since childhood. Nature doesn't vary much with Jema, It's impossible to resist her desire, "Bakit hindi? Matagal na din nung huling punta natin?"

"ang problema kasi," Jema muttered, "Gusto nya na mag sleepover tayo dun."

I don't see anything wrong with it.

"Why not?"

To my surprise, Jema sounded surprise, "Payag ka?"

"Oo naman."

When she spoke later, she sounded happy, "Thank God! I will call home then. Ah yes, you'll go home before the dinner hour, right?"

I looked at my watch, I have no other schedule today. Talking with Samantha will not take long..

"Yes, I'll be home on time, you want something?"

"Ah no, I'll cook!" Jema sounded cheerful, I couldn't resist to smile, "Let's eat tempura shrimp tonight!"

"Sounds good," I said, still smiling.

She laughed, "Well, bye"

"bye"

I tried to ignore the stares from Alyssa as teasing. I knew she would tease me about this new couple again so I choose to avoid.

For a moment I forget about Samantha. Today for the first time I felt getting married was not too bad either.

When the school bell rang sign, in the blink of eye, school buildings that been deserted become crowdy. The students eagerly settle their stationery and prepare to go home or go to club activities.

Most of the teachers who don't have others duty and not a club mentors are getting home. I despite not having a duty today, still in the faculty room. I tidied up my things and lock the drawer of my desk.

I said goodbye to the teachers who still in the staff room and headed biology lab where I asked Samantha to meet me after school.

I was a little surprise to see that she had been there before me.

Her face didn't show any expression. She looked at me briefly before returning down, avoiding my eyes.

I sighed. This is the first time for me to call a student to meet me after school hours.

"Samantha," I said , trying to smile, "Thank you for coming."

She just nodded.

I allowed her to sit in a chair while I sat on the desk in front of her.

"You know why I call you?"

She nodded again.

I sighed and smiled, I don't want to scare her, "then? Is there a problem? If this is a problem in school, you can tell me. I'll help as much as possible."

She shook her head without looking at me.

I flinched, "then?"

She bit her lower lip and install the expression as if to say something, but feel free. I decided to wait until she says something.

"Ma'am Ella" she looked up slowly, brown colored eyes met with my eyes, "Ma'am Ella already married, right?"

"eh?"

I don't understand the meaning of the question but I decided to nod to answer that question.

"Are you happy?"

Again, I don't know what to say. I looked at her confused. Marriage problem... It has nothing to do with the problem she faced, right?

Before I could answer, she shook her head again.

"Both of my parents... They never look happy"

I was speechless.

I began to understand the problem that she faces.

"Your parents, have a fight?" I asked cautiously. I don't know if a teacher needs to intervene to a problem like this or not.

She nodded.

"My parents, they still retain their marriage because of me. But every day they always fight," she looked at me with an expression that is difficult to understand, "they say for the sake of the child. In fact, they were married, right?"

I can't say anything.

Maintaining a marriage for the sake of the child, it's the thing that I've done.

" Why people should marry someone na hindi naman nila mahal?" Samantha asked, still staring me. Beautiful eyes seemed to glisten, "It is not only going to hurt the feeling of those around them? It is not also lying with their feeling?"

Again, I lost my word.

"Both of my parents. They said they were not going to separate even they didn't love each other, because they think of me. If they really thought about, they were not going to fight every day and my feeling constantly... I ..." She began to sob, "I ..."

I don't know what to do when I saw the tears at my student face.

Suddenly, Samantha Lopez, a student who has always been mature and admire by the teachers and fellow students sobbed in front of me.

Without thinking I put my arm around her slender body and hugged her.

"ssshh," I don't know what to say anything so I just hugged her, patting the back of her head.

"Adults are selfish.." she said on the sidelines of her sobs.

I didn't answer anything.

Maintaining a marriage with person you didn't love for the sake of the child.. I can't tell to Samantha that me and her parents are same.

She was right.

Adult are selfish.


To be continue...