The Ugly Duckling (PUBLISHED UNDER PSICOM)

Ugly #6

Ibinigay na sa amin ang research project na pinakahihintay ko. I was excited but my block mates didn't look as enthusiastic. This is what I'm looking forward to this semester. After all, this is going to be the bridge between Sage and I. This research project is part of my plan. I'm going to use it para magkaroon kami ng ugnayan. If I wasn't scheming anything, siguro ay baka maging katulad rin nila ako na nanlulumo. I'm allergic to school work but my wicked plans are keeping it interesting for me.

Next meeting, we're going to submit our research topic. It was an individual work and I'm very thankful for it. Hindi ko kailangan ng tulong. At magiging abala lang sa mga plano ko ang magiging groupmates ko if it was a group project. I'd rather work alone.

"What made you choose this topic, Ms. Sebastian?" Taas kilay na tanong sa akin ng professor ko. It really helped that she wasn't a terror kung hindi ay mahihirapan akong kumbinsihin siya.

"Nasabi niyo po kasi na kailangan maging specific at naisip ko lang po na walang masyadong makakaisip ng choice of subject ko."

"It is very specific, alright." Tumango-tango siya at matapos ay may kinuhang letter na nakaipit sa kanyang libro. "Here's the letter that you asked me. You need to show it to the Mr. Abueva and ask him personally. Kapag pumayag, you have my approval—pero kung hindi, you better think of another topic for your research."

Palihim akong napangisi matapos abutin ang letter mula sa professor ko. This is going to be the start. I've thought hard about this. Inisip ko kung paano ako mas mapapalapit, literally, kay Sage and this is the most brilliant plan that I came up with.

My research involves the soccer players. Sa business talk, they're going to be like my specific target market. Granted that Sage isn't part of the varsity anymore, okay lang dahil nalaman ko naman na he's still practicing with them. Sumasali din siya sa activities ng soccer team kahit hindi na siya player which means makikita at makakasalamuha ko siya. Hindi ko alam kung paano siya nakakasama sa activities ng team ngayong hindi na siya player. Siguro privilege na iyon ng pagiging parte ng team.

What's bugging me is kung bakit hindi na siya parte ng soccer team. Naglalaro pa rin naman siya ng soccer pero hindi na siya sumasali sa mga laban. Napaalis ba siya sa team dahil may mas magaling na sa kanya? Napaalis ba siya dahil sa studies niya? Or did he quit on his own? Maybe I'm not as good as I think I was in stalking. Simpleng information pero hindi ko man lang malaman-laman. Ang tanging alam ko—bigla na lang dumating yung time na hindi na lang siya bigla naglaro na ikinagulat ng lahat.

"Do you know why he isn't playing for the team anymore?" I tried asking Dee who's now frowning at my question.

Umiling-iling siya. "Walang may alam kung bakit siya tumigil."And that's enough to make me give up. Kung siya na dapat ay alam ang lahat ng tungkol kay Sage ay hindi alam, paano pa kaya ako diba? Basta, he quit. Tapos. It doesn't matter to me anymore. I'm still curious though. Napanguso na lang ako.

Pagkatapos ng klase ko, I'm going to head to the department para kausapin si Coach. Mas maaga, mas mabuti. The research project will be submitted two weeks before our finals but we still need to pass our progress sa prelims week and midterm week.