So Near Yet So Far

Europe

Tuesday..

"Class.. I, myself , also got no idea what had gotten into our chairman's mind why he wants to challenge your knowledge about a certain country. Facts about it."
Umiiling iling na sabi ni Ma'am habang nakatingin sa isang maliit na box.

"See this box?" then itinaas niya yung maliit na box.
"This contains strips of paper with a particular country written on it.. So to be fair with you guys, I will pick one." then bumunot siya.

"Class.. You are in Prime section. I expect that you will not disappoint me okay?"

Disappoint?

"Uhm.. The Principal is going to watch how Prime section rocks! And also all chairman or head of every subject are going to watch you. I expect that you'll gonna show a very impressive performance to them okay? Is that clear?" Halatang medyo kinakabahan si Ma'am.

"What? Pati principal and all of the chairman of every subject!? My ghad."

Nakakakaba to..

"Class quiet. Ang nabunot ko is... Europe."

"Good thing, Europe nabunot."
"Well..."
"Challenging..."
"Goodluck guys."
"Victory is in the air.. I'm gonna win their attention."

Yeah, gannito sa prime section, pasikatan sa talino. Tsk.

Hays.. Di ko rin naman maideny na nakakakaba nga.

Lalong kinabahan kasi nasgsidatingan na ang "guests"

"Let this challenge... Begin!"

This is it.

Marami ang nagbigay ng facts about Europe geography, people, plants, animals, religions and politics. Halos lahat kami nakapagbigay na.

My God!Sana pwede mag google. xD Kaso bawal eh.

Katahimikan..

"More?" nahahalata ang pagkadismaya ni Ma'am nang wala ng sumasagot.
.
.
.
.

"Ma'am.." si Gab.

Ayun, nabuhayan ulit ng loob si Ma'am sa ipinakita niyang ekspresyon.

"Europe has it's Iron Gates. Those are the spectacular walls of rock in the Samaria Gorge, on Greek Island of Crete."

Wow. No wonder why inilipat siya sa section na 'to.

Tahimik lang ako ng kausapin niya ako kaya tiningnan ko siya. "What now? Ikaw Top 1 diba? Bakit nganga ka?" then he smirked.

WOW. as in WOW.
Yabang naman niya! Nakakapang-init ng dugo. Minaliit niya ako. Never pa mmay nangmaliit kay Sab ! Ngayon lang.

"Hinahamon mo ako ah?"

Tumayo ako. Tumingin sila lahat sa akin. Sobrang tahimik.

"What MR. GABRIEL COBY PARK has said, the Iron Gates, in the Samaria Gorge, is Europe's largest ravine." sabi ko.

Tumayo ulit si Gab. Confident masyado. Humarap siya sa'kin. Nakakainis ang mga tingin niya. Yabang talaga.

"In Europe, the ice of Norways Jostedal Glacier melts into the sparkling blue waters of a lake and it is the largest glacier on the European continent." aniya. I smirked. It's now my turn.

"Other famous European glaciers are the Mer de Glace and the Aletsch, both in the Alps."

"Whoa. Alien sila."
"Kuya Kim version si Gab. Grabe sila."
"Mukhang walang paawat."
"Intense."
"Exciting 'to."
"Lalo tuloy akong naiinlove kay Gab."
"Sab's rreally great."

Maya-maya, natahimik sila. Nagpatuloy pa kami sa pagsasagutan ni Gab.

Tanging boses lang naming dalawa ang maririnig sa classroom.
Para bang ang nanonood sa amin ay nanonood ng beauty  contest na lahat ay kinakabahan malaman kung sino ang winner of the year at kung sino ang papangalawa lamang.

Magsasalita na ulit sana ako ng may isa sa mga guests ang nagsalita. Napatingin kami sa kaniya.
"You guys are awesome.  Unbelievable."

Nakita kong napangiti si Teacher.

"Dahil mukhang walang paawat sa inyo, just answer the following questions I am going to ask." teacher said.

So hindi pa pala matatapos ang "challenge" kuno na ito at hindi pa rin matatapos ang pagyayabangan namin nitong katabi ko.

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To be continued...