The Eclipse

CHAPTER 1: The Meteor's Target Was Once Her Fate

"MS. SAMSON, eto na po mga pina-xerox niyo," sambit ni kuya na nagmula sa photocopy station, delivering my photocopied papers. 

"Thank you," I responded and put a bit smile on my face. He smiled back and started to walk towards the door and went out of the Discipline Office.

Humayo na ako mula sa desk ko and stood at the mirror beside me. I tied my long hair and gave attention to my reflection. 

Enough height, very white skin, round grayish eyes at petite⁠—that's how this mirror describes me, wearing a red teacher's uniform, a black skirt and high heels. Even the moon pendant on my necklace catches my attention. It's really my style.

Upang itago ang agaw pansin na kulay ng mga mata ko, I wore my eyeglasses. Yeah, this is stupid because it's transparent, but at least it removes the attention of everyone sa kulay abong mga mata ko. This will just cause a conversation and how I hate one.

Ngayong medyo ayos naman na ang appearance ko, it's time to attend my class. Sinimulan ko nang tipunin ang mga gamit ko sa lamesa. My laptop, my projector inside its box, and the photocopied papers—ito ang mga dadalhin ko sa klase. Quite heavy but bearable.

Tumingin ako sa wall clock ng office above the door. 5 minutes before my class hour? Enough na oras na 'to para maglakad papuntang classroom.

Agad na ‘kong umalis. Sa labas ng opisina namin ay ang Values Department Room o ang faculty room ng lahat ng Values teachers ng buong campus. I was here before Discipline Committee was founded. I was here before I became the Head of the Committee. 

"Nako naman, Ms. Samson," Ma'am Madrigal sarcastically reacted that caught my attention. Napatingin ako sa kanya na nasa lamesa niya, "Hindi mo naman kailangan dalhin 'yan nang mag-isa. Pwede ka naman tumawag ng estudyante mo para ipabuhat 'yan." 

What a nice way to start my day.

She's Mrs. Josefa Madrigal, by the way. This old woman must be thinking that her position as a Master Teacher I is still intimidating. Well, nakakatakot naman kasi talaga ang matatalim niyang kilay, malaking nunal, at espanyolang kaputian.

But not for me anymore. 

"I guess hindi ko na-meet ang satisfaction mo, Mrs. Madrigal. Sorry but, I won't dare to let them serve me as if I'm special. They are my students. Not my slaves." I ended my statement with a pleasing smile saka nagpatuloy sa paglalakad palabas ng lugar na 'to.

Hindi ko ugali na utusan ang mga estudyante for them to help me out sa mga personal needs ko. I'm here to serve them. They're not here to serve me. Their respect and determination to study are already enough to satisfy me.

Masyado talagang mataas ang tingin niya sa sarili niya. Palagi niyang inuutusan at minamaltrato ang mga mababa ang ranking sa kanya and one of them is me. 

But that was before. Everything has changed.

On my way papuntang klase, some of the students greeted me in the hallway as I bowed my head a bit in return. Isa na akong ganap na Values Teacher dito sa Manolo Private High School. Sa tagal ng panunuluyan ko sa Luneta, panlilimos at pagkain ng tagdo-dos na tinapay na sapat na sa'kin sa isang araw, my Values teacher when I was in highschool knew my situation and decided to adopt me. I always call her Ma'am Eva.

Wala siyang pamilya o asawa. She lived alone sa tinutuluyan niyang bahay until I came. She treated me like her daughter at pinag-aral ako that made me become who I am right now. Lumipat kami noon ng paaralang ito nang magkaroon ako ng lisensya sa pagtuturo.

But unfortunately, Ma'am Eva died five years ago. Nagkaroon siya ng breast cancer na late na naming nalaman at namatay sa sakit na 'yon. Ngunit dahil sa malasakit niya sa'kin, pinagpapatuloy ko ang yapak ng buhay niya.