All the hard work, for love.

Part Two

Isang malalim na buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan ni Nira habang nakamasid sa bintana. Base sa posisyon ng araw, she assumed that it was only 2:30 in the afternoon. At para makasigurado, tinignan niya ang wall clock na nakasabit sa pintuan. Tama nga ang hula niya, alas-two thirty pa lang ng hapon. Muli ay nagpakawala ito ng malalim na buntong-hininga.

”Bakit napaka-bagal ng pag-inog ng mundo?” mahinang sambit niya.

“Bibilis ang inog ng mundo kung makikinig ka sa klase ko.”

Wide eyes, she turned her head and saw Mr. Cortez standing in-front of her. ‘Oops!’

“Sir! Nakikinig ako ha! How can I not pay attention to your discussion? It’s math! My most hated subject!” madramang sagot niya dito.

He gently tapped on top of my head the book he’s holding. “At proud ka pa sa lagay na yan? Maging proud ka pa din kaya if I announce to the whole class your grade in my subject?”

“Ay sir! Paninirang puri na yan!” gilalas na sagot niya.

“What?” nagugulumihan na tanong nito. “Paano naging-,” hindi nito natapos ang sasabihin dahil may kumatok. A head peeked out from the door.

“Sir Cortez, the Head Mistress is asking for you.” Wika ng ulong nakasilip.

“Okay. Susunod na ko.” Bumalik na ito sa harapan at humarap sa buong klase. “I guess the rest of the time will be free period.” Sabay-sabay na mahinang nagdiwang ang buong klase. Napangiti na lamang si Mr. Cortez. “I can feel the love from this class, parang gusto kong umiyak.”

“You know we love you sir!” tugon dito ni kaklase A. “It’s the subject you’re teaching that we hate.”

A chorus of that’s right, tama and yes came from the whole class. Tumatango ang ulo na sang-ayon naman niya.

“Well, Nira kindly pointed that out a while ago.” He said while looking at her. She flashed him an innocent smile in return. “O siya, siya. See you tomorrow class. And please keep it toned down, may nagka-klase sa kabilang kwarto.”

“Bye sir~!” sabay-sabay na wika ng klase.

Nang makalabas na ito ng pinto ay nag kanya-kanya na ng umpukan ang lahat. Luna turned her chair around to face her.

“Hindi ka na naman makapag-antay ng uwian?” tanong nito.

“Oo eh. Alam mo naman kung bakit.” Matamis ang ngiti na sagot niya dito.

“Paano, sa uwian niya ulit makikita si my labs. At makukulit.” Singit ni kaklase B.

“Si my labs na walang alam kundi sungitan siya at supalpalin.” Nakangising ani ni kaklase A.

“Tibay mo rin talaga Nira no? Di ka ba nahihiya or nasasaktan sa ginagawa niya?” ani naman ni Kaklase C na halata sa mukha ang pagtataka.

“Makapal lang talaga ang mukha ko.” Natatawang sagot niya sa mga ito. “Isa pa, wala namang masama sa ginagawa ko, ‘di ba? Wala naman akong inaagarbyadong tao o tinatapakang nilalang sa mga ginagawa ko.”

“Aren’t you getting tired of it? Everytime na nilalapitan mo siya, daig pa nito si atlas na pasan ang mundo ang nagiging hilatsa ng mukha nito.”

“Sa ngayon lang yan. He’s just being shy. Alam niyo naman ang mga lalaki. He’ll come around eventually.” Puno ang kumpiyansa na wika niya.

“That frightening optimism, that’s a talent that I don’t know if good or bad.” Nailing na komento ni Luna.

Nginitian niya ito ng maluwang. Napaka-swerte niya at ito ang naging best friend niya. Even if at first, she was scandalized of her acts, she got used to it and accepted it in the end. ‘It’s not as if nakaka-iskandalo talaga ang mga strategy ko.’

“It’s good for me po.” She assured her. “Let me tell you guys a secret worth keeping your entire life.” tumataas-taas ang kilay na sabi niya sa mga ito.

The whole class suddenly turned quiet. ‘Guess everyone is listening to our conversation.’ With a wicked smile on her face, she eyed her classmates.

“You guys want to know?”           

“Heck yes!”

“Well then come closer!” habang ina-aksyon niya na lumapit ang mga ito sa kanya. Isa-isa namang lumapit ang lahat sa  kinauupuan niya at ni Luna. Scrapping of chairs and table were heard.

“You see… He, Andrei…..” pabulong na bitin niya sa mga ito.

“What, what?” they whispered back.

“Kanina, while I was pestering him, his words not mine.”

“Yeah? Go on!”

“He… SMILED AT ME!!!” impit ang tili at nakapikit pa na bunyag niya. ‘Eeek! Kinikilig talaga ako pag naalala ko!’

She realized that there’s no sound at all. When she looked at their faces, it was all blank. No reaction. Nada. Wiped clean of any emotion. They just stared at her. Nagpatuloy ang walang ekspresyon na pagtitig ng mga ito sa kanya sa loob ng isang minuto hanggang sa hindi na siya nakatiis.

“Guys?” swaying her hands in their faces. “I’m waiting for any violent reaction here? Hello? Tao po?”

Nagtinginan ang mga ito, as if the seconds their eyes met, they all came to an understanding. Suddenly, their blank faces were adorned by pity. ‘Pity? They’re finding me pitiful?’

“Nira, we know it’s hard.” Mahinang sambit ni Luna. “But you must not escape reality! Stop dreaming while wide awake!”

‘Huh?’

“She must be getting desperate.”

“Yeah. At the very least, babae si Nira. The emotional impact of continuous rejection is still hard.”

“No matter how must optimism she possesses, a heart can only take much.”

“Poor Nira.” Sabay punas sa imaginary tears. “She needs a break.”

“Wa-, wait guys.” Naguguluhan na tanong niya. “Can someone explain to me what this ganging reaction is?”

“She must really love Andrei to keep going like this.” Pambabalewa ng mga ito sa tanong niya.

“She really does. Tanging magagawa lang natin ay laging iparamdam sa kanya na andito lang tayo lagi para suportahan siya. No matter what happened.”

Sabay-sabay na nagtinginan ang lahat sa kanya. Their eyes are either looking at her pitifully or moist with unshed tears. That’s when it hit her. ‘They don’t believe me!’

“Naman oh!” Nanlalaki ang mga mata na reklamo niya sa mga ito. “Di kayo naniniwala sakin!? Wait, it’s not interrogative. It’s declarative. Di kayo naniniwala sakin.”

“Nira,” ani ni Luna sabay hawak sa mga balikat niya. “Dreaming is not bad unless it’s too much.”

“The heck!” bulalas niya. “Totoo ang sinasabi ko! Sure, it was very sudden and it was only for a bit. But I swear! He did smile! Kitang-kita ko ang, though di ganun kataas, na pag angat ng gilid ng labi niya! My eyes are always trained on his face, you know it! Especially in his lips! Those red and sometimes pinkish lips, 100% free of cigarette’s stink. Kaya di ko mapapalampas ang ngiti na iyon! And, and…” dire-diretsong paliwanag niya. “Don’t look at me like a pitiful child! Damn it!” humihingal na pagtatapos niya sa litanya niya.

Right after her long outburst, laughter boomed in the room. So loud that it left her speechless. May kaklase siyang napa-upo sa katatawa, meron namang pigil na pinaghaha-hampas ang lamesa at meron ding lantaran ang pagtawa na kita na ang ngala-ngala sa luwang ng pagkakabukas ng bibig nito.

She just realized what happened. ‘They had me!’ Di makapaniwalang sigaw ng isip niya. Pinagtrip-an siya ng mga ito!

“Oh well,” naiiling na nakangiting wika niya. “This is one of the reasons why I love this class.”

~~

I know I should have introduced Nira but I planned for you guys to get to know her as the story flows. :) So, there. :) Thanks a bunch! :)