Those Memories

Thirty - Hidden

"Are all the sections here already?" Ms. Illaga, their English teacher, asked everyone inside the Ruby Hall's Theater Room.

"Yes, Ma'am!" everybody replied.

Nasa loob ng Theater Room ang lahat ng mga fourth years dahil dito gaganapin ang klase nila sa English ngayong araw. At may mahalaga daw na sasabihin ang kanilang teacher.

"Okay. Good morning class," bati nito sa lahat.

Nagsitayuan sila at binati ito. "Good morning, Ms. Illaga."

"You may now take your seats."

Naupo na sila ulit.

"So, tomorrow's the start of your midyear break, right?" pagsisimula nito. "But, before you all leave and be merry on your two-week break, I have an important announcement."

Napuno ng bulungan ang silid. May iba na mahinang nagmamaktol. Alam kasi nilang mahilig magbigay ng mga assignments si Ms. Illaga tuwing break. Marami pa ngang mga estudyante ang tumatawag dito na "small but terrible". Maliit kasi ito ngunit strikto pagdating sa klase. Nasa mid-40s na ito ngunit hindi pa nag-aasawa.

"I will NOT take away your break if that is what you're all worried about," the teacher emphasized. "I just want you all to prepare for the project you ALL need to comply by next month. That means, you ALL need to participate in this activity or else, you won't pass my subject."

"Ano na naman kaya 'to?" narinig ni Carrie na bulong ng kaklase niyang si Mia na nakaupo sa likuran niya.

"When the break's over, you'll be preparing for the stage play," the teacher continued. Unclear mumbling can be heard all over the place. "You heard it right. A STAGE PLAY. Each section will perform a play by the end of November. Now, I need the class representatives from the 4 sections to come here in front for your topic assignments."

Pagkasabi niyon ay iwinagayway nito ang apat na envelopes. Pumili ng tig-iisa ang mga representatives. Binuksan nila iyon at bumalik na sa kanilang inuupuan.

"Anong topic natin?" tanong ni Carrie kay Ali nang makabalik ito mula sa harap. Pero bago pa man ito makasagot ay nagsalita na ulit si Ms. Illaga.

"Now, I'm going to announce the topics. You are to choose from the five stories on the list that I have given your respective class representatives. I need your chosen story by the end of this session. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Ma'am," sagot ng lahat dito.

"So, Class 4-4, topic: 1001 Nights. Class 4-3, topic: Grimms' Fairy Tales. Class 4-2, topic: William Shakespeare. And Class 4-1, topic: Greek and Roman Mythology," the teacher enumerated. "If I were you, you should start writing the script during the break. Anyway, I'll give you time to choose from the list then submit it to me. I'll be back before the class ends. You may now start," pagkasabi ay lumabas na mula doon ang guro.

Nagpaalam si Carrie kay Ali na magsi-CR lang muna. Pagkabalik niya ay nag-a-assign na ito ng tasks sa mga kaklase nila.

"Rii, you're back. I assigned you as a scriptwriter," sinabi nito kaagad nang makabalik siya.

"Huh?" nakakunot-noo niyang sambit. "Tapos na kayong mamili ng story?"

"Yup," Ali replied. Kinuha niya mula sa kamay nito ang listahan at binasa ang mga nakasulat roon.

— Paris and Helen (The Trojan War)

— Eros and Psyche

— Hades and Persephone

— Theseus and Ariadne

— Orpheus and Eurydice

"I suggested to Ms. Illaga that Hyacinthus and Apollo's story would be nice, but since it tackles a rather complicated and, you know... kind of... a socially unacceptable topic in our country, well, at least for now, she didn't allow it. She didn't say anything about being against it, but the higher-ups may not tolerate it. Anyways, the majority voted for Eros and Psyche. I guess they all love happy endings," Ali added. "Since I know both of you are passionate when it comes to this kind of stuff, you and Kyle will be our scriptwriters."