A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED

1 | the class idiot

Ano ba namang buhay 'to? First day of class, late ako! The corridors were already empty when I got inside Malcolm Hall.  My classroom was at the end of the hallway of the second floor.  I ran up the stairs and was still catching my breath as I reached the top.  I was half-running but had to slow down since my footsteps seemed to echo in these empty halls.  There were muffled sounds coming from behind closed doors as I passed by several classrooms.  Sana late ang professor.  I took a deep breath before I pushed the door, not trying to make a sound.  Sana di ako mapansin.

"Ms. Araneta, it's good of you to join us today," the pale looking woman with salt and pepper hair sarcastically greeted me.  She must be in her late fifties, looking dignified in her dark suit.  She picked up the card laying on the desk, reviewed it and placed it on top of the bunch she held on her left hand.  "It's Ms. Araneta I assume.  Ikaw na lang ang wala dito sa attendance."

I was perspiring after having ran all the way from the parking lot to get here, but I could feel that I was sweating even more now that all eyes were on me.  "Yes, Ma'am." I was still standing by the door.  My feet seemed to have been glued to the floor and I could hardly move.

"Take your seat here." She pointed to the seat in the middle of the front row.  The person occupying the seat transferred to the second row.

I quietly followed as I was instructed and took the seat right in front of the professor, placing my backpack on the floor, beside my chair.

"The facts, Ms. Araneta," her voice exploded in my ears.  "Can you tell us the facts of the case of Javellana vs. Executive Secretary."

I glanced at the person seated beside me before standing up.  He was going through several pages of his notes.  What the...! As I looked up, the professor was looking right back at me.      

"Have you read the case?" her voice was even louder this time.

"Uh..." I could feel blood rushed to my face... though I wasn't quite sure if it was out of fear or embarrassment.  "I have not read the case, Ma'am."

"Ms. Araneta, assignments have been posted on the bulletin board in the main lobbies of Malcolm and Bocobo Hall, if you only cared to look.  You thought this was going to be introductions being the first day of class? You thought there was going to be a lecture?" She was throwing me death glares.  "Class, may I remind you, you are no longer college students.  This is not your undergrad class.  I do not care if you are hotshot athletes or whatever background you might have.  In this class, you live by my rules... or you're going to fail."

How I wish I could vanish into thin air right now or teleport out of this nightmare.  I didn't even dare to turn around so I didn't have to see the faces of my classmates who must still be looking at me.  I was feeling like an idiot.

The professor shuffled the class cards she was holding like a deck of cards and pulled one out from the middle of the stack.   "Mr. Sebastian, facts of the case."

"The case of Javellana, Ma'am?" someone said with a soft voice.  Must be from the very back of the room.

"I don't remember asking about some other case," the professor was still on a roll.  She must have woke up on the wrong side of the bed. 

"On September 21, 1972, Marcos placed the Philippines under martial law..." he started.

The professor frowned.  Dissatisfaction written on her face.  "Mr. Sebastian, hindi ka pa yata kumakain ng almusal.  Gutom ka ba? 'Di ko maintindihan ang binubulong mo dyan.  Stand up and make your voice louder.  Siguraduhin mong maintindihan ni Araneta ang kasong ito, because I will hold you personally responsible," she said sarcastically.  She turned to me.  "Sit down, Ms. Araneta."