My Teacher is a Gangster

66. PINK PAJAMAS

"Congratulations and welcome to Patterson High School Miss Allison Perez."

The principal and I shook hands. Today, I was formally introduced as the latest addition to the school's teaching force.

The administrators and the rest of the employees had a meeting. Katatapos lang nito. Tatlong araw na lang kasi ay magsisimula na ang bagong school year.

I cannot contain the happiness I am feeling right now. This is my dream. Panibago rin itong simula para sa akin.

"Hi. Congratulations! I heard you will be handling section 10-D." bati sa akin ng isang guro.

"Thank you. Yes. It's also my advisory class." I smiled.

"Really?" napansin ko ang biglang pagbabago ng kanyang mukha.

"Yes. You seemed worried and surprised. Bakit?" tanong ko dito.

"I can't help but to worry for you. Of all sections, 10-D pa talaga? Hindi ko alam kong kakayanin mong hawakan ang hell section." hindi maipinta ang mukha niya.

"Hell section? I think I'm lost. Bakit hell section ang tawag mo sa kanila?" muli kong tanong.

"Tawag ng lahat sa kanila. They are called the hell section because those boys are reincarnations of the devil. Sila lang naman ang pinaka notorious na section sa buong PHS. Problema at sakit sa ulo." umiling-iling pa ito.

"I'm sorry. Wala akong balak takotin ka. You are new and clueless. Hindi mo alam ang papasokin mo. Be prepared, ok? Mag-ingat ka sa mga batang iyon. Take that as a warning." sabi pa niya bago tumalikod at umalis.

Interesting. What she said to me caught my attention. Mukhang magiging exciting at challenging ang pagtuturo ko dito.

Hell section. I cannot wait to meet you.

*****
Unang araw ng klase at isang magulo, maingay at makalat na classroom ang bumungad sa akin.

"Happy first day of school Alli." I told myself.

Pumasok ako at wala man lang pumansin sa akin. Karamihan sa kanila ay nasa likod. Iyong iba naman ay may kanya-kayang kalokohang ginagawa.

I counted a few more seconds hoping that these boys will finally notice me. Nakatayo na ako dito sa mismong harapan pero tila hangin lang ako na hindi nila makita.

"Good morning class!" I said enthusiastically.

Now I got their attention. All eyes
are on me.

"I am Allison Perez your section adviser and at the same time your Social Science teacher." I added.

Abot-tenga ang ngiti ko habang nagsasalita. "Since this is our first day of class, gusto kong ipakilala ninyo ang inyong mga sarili. I want to start para naman makilala din ninyo ako."

They look bored and uninterested. Mukhang mahihirapan nga ako sa kanila. Nevertheless, nagpatuloy pa rin ako.

"I am a newly hired teacher at dream come true para sa akin ang makapagturo dito sa Patterson High School."

I know it sounds cliche pero dream come true talaga para sa akin ang makapagturo. I still can't believe that I am now a teacher. I hope that she is happy of what I have become. This is also her dream.

I stopped myself for being sentimental and proceeded to the self-introduction activity. Unfortunately, hindi naging maganda ang kinalabasan nito.

*****
Tumunog na ang bell at mabilis silang nagsilabasan ng classroom. Wala man lang naka-isip na magpaalam sa akin.