Remembering Sir Tisoy

Cloud 9

"Grabe, Mendoza. I took an indefinite leave, tapos malalaman ko na lang na na-suspend ka? And in what way? To take over your class for the time being?" he scolded her over the phone.

"Ugh, seryoso, Fourth? Sa ganitong paraan mo pa talaga ako kakamustahin? After mong umalis to go to who knows where," Maine argued.

Maine and Fourth have been friends since Maine got the job at the school. He's a bit older than her, and he's been teaching at the school for about seven years now. He's basically aided her in the school's teaching life, and she's so thankful that he was there to welcome her with open arms.

"I had to sort some things out, Maine. Kinailangan kong magisip-isip, mag-desisyon."

"Tungkol naman saan?"

"Sa lahat ng bagay. My plans in life, my goals, my relationships. I'm not getting any younger, Maine."

"Does this mean that you've already proposed to Gina? Oh wait no, wala naman akog nakitang updates sa FB niya. Then does that mean you've been thinking about propo-"

"Break na kami," he said aptly, cutting her off at once.

"Ano? Paano?" she asks, her voice's volume raising a little.

"I don't know, Mendoza. I just...realised...a few things," his voice seemed to trail off.

"Like?"

"I don't know. Maybe I'm not ready?"

"Not ready ka diyan. Kakasabi mo pa nga lang that you're not getting any younger, tapos not ready? Baliw lang?"

"It doesn't matter anymore. Let's not talk about this over the phone."

His voice sounded hurt, so she didn't push the issue any further.

"Ok, fine. Maiba tayo, kamusta naman ang students ko?"

"They've been really good. Miss ka na daw nila."

"Hay, I miss them too. I was really stupid, and irrational. I can't believe na pinatulan ko pa talaga si Richard."

"Right, about that. I didn't know na babalik siya dito sa school. Let alone, nakabalik na siya sa school."

"Same here, I only found out last semester."

"You've known for that long? And you didn't even bother to tell me?"

"Excuse you. Diba nga ikaw 'yong hindi nagpaalam ng maayos? And you told everyone not to contact you, that you'll contact them instead."

"But that's different. That's Richard," he said, voicing out the name through gritted teeth.

"O, huy. 'Yan tayo eh. Isa pa sa mga rason kung bakit hindi ko pinaalam sa'yo. Alam kong maba-badtrip ka lang."

Fourth looks back to the time when Richard and him were still best friends. They met when they were still first years in high-school. They had so much things in common, that it was easy for them to connect. However, Fourth was secretly jealous of everything that Richard had. Richard was always one step ahead of him. Whether it be with grades, the basketball team, or the fact that girls were head over heels for Richard. And so, on their last year of college, when Fourth was finally serious about a girl, only to find out that Richard felt the same way for the same girl. They set their friendship aside, and professed the famous, "may the best man win" line.