Skin Deep

Chapter 10

Luna's POV

I walked down the hallway with books sitting on my arms and hands.People still gives me the eye, but less compared to when I first came here.Naglakad ako patungo sa classroom namin when Frida welcomed me with a huge cozy hug.I still did not respond.

"Wow.It's nice to see you again.Namiss kita!" She said with enthusiasm in her voice.I gave her a slight smile.Is she actually happy to see me or what?Umupo na ako sa upuan ko and the class officially started.It was my most hated subject, CLE.

"So tell me, what do you desire in life?" The teacher asked us.Our eyes met and she broke contact.No one answered her.Not even a single word out from us.

"I know it is hard to figure that out but ask yourself.There's always something deep inside you that you yearn for." Still, we remained silent.

"That's what I thought.For today's activity, you'll spend the rest of your time thinking and writing your desire in this paper that I'll give you in a moment.I want you to answer it as honest and without bias." 

She handed us out the paper.I stared at it.It's blank.Nothing written on it.Nakita kong tinapon ng iba ang mga papel nila and rather do some stupid things.Napatingin naman ako sa teacher namin na napailing nalang sa inakto ng estudyante niya.I let out a huge sigh and stared at the paper in my desk.What do I really desire?Kinagat ko ang labi ko at sinubukan kong mag-isip.Instead of writing, i started drawing on my paper until Frida caught me.

"Is that what you desire?" Tanong niya saakin.I looked at my paper and a portrait of  a young girl.

"Infairness ah?Magaling ka pala magdrawing." Sabi niya saakin at tinignan ang drawing ko.Tinakpan ko iyon gamit ang kamay ko.

"Magsulat ka na nga diyan." Sabi ko sakanya.She raised a brow at me and moved a bit closer.

"Huwag mong masyadong alahanin.Ganyan talaga magbigay ng mga activities si Ms.Bartolome masyadong deep.Maglagay ka lang diyan ng kung ano ano." Sabi niya sakin at bumalik na sya sa pagsusulat sa papel niya.I looked at my paper once again.With proper shading, a little bit of erasures, it all came together.

"Kindly fold you papers and place them here.Alright?" 

They all turned in their papers except for mine.No one even noticed so I was left the hook.Nagsimulang magtawag ng estudyante si Ms.Bartolome.Most of their desire is about material things, or something that's really impossible.Nakikinig ako sa bawat salita na sinasabi nila.Even if these strangers share a piece of their life, no one really knows who they are.Maybe they don't even know theirselves.

"I want to hear from Luna.Considering that you didn't turn in your paper makes me more interested in hearing your desire." I looked at our teacher and raised a brow at her.She walked towards me and gave me an enthusiastic smile.She has the eye of a hawk too.

"I'd rather not tell." Sabi ko sakanya.Everyone is staring at me, waiting for my asnwer but I just let out a deep sigh and kept my mouth shut.Ganoon din si Ms.Bartolome.Bumugtong hininga siya at naglakad pabalik sa desk niya.

Finally, the bell rang.Everyone is rushing to go out, even me, because i have the feeling that she'll ask me to stay and have a talk.Pero huli na, she caught me.

"Luna!Can we talk?" I turned around and she's pleading.Umigting ang panga ko at naglakad papunta sakanya.

"I don't have time okay?Go talk to someone else." I said, but before I could even escape, she held my arms.Umirap ako at humarap sakanya, with my eyes glaring at her.Agad agad niyang binitawan ang braso ko.

"Alam kong mahirap mag adjust para sa'yo Luna, but I want you to---" I cut her off.

"Stop pretending like you know okay?Kasi ni isa walang may alam.Sinabi ko ba sa'yong nahihirapan ako?Hindi diba?So why even bother?" I said without stopping and in an irritated tone.