J
After that night, when Deanna and I said our good bye's to each other, I just kept every moment I had with her in my heart. I continued with my life..
I went back to work, in my coffee shop, like nothing happened.. I welcomed and greeted every customer with a smile.
Hoping everyday that one day Deanna would come and would tease me to treat her a coffee, like what she said when we were in Paris, that she would visit my coffee shop with Jia..
Deanna never came..
On the other hand, Jia never visited my coffee shop too after that night..
I felt like I need to overhaul my life.
I lost my purpose..
I decided to close my coffee shop and do something different to find myself, to have a purpose again..
I enrolled myself in school again, I took a Master's degree in Business Administration in Adamson..
Then, I graduated with honors.. And the department offered me to teach.. I accepted it.
I saw it as somewhat a calling.. To teach and educate young aspiring students.. I just knew it will be an exciting chapter in my life..
Yeah, I never got a chance with the person I love, but I know here I will have thousands of chance to make young people's future better..
It's been 18 years since I last saw Deanna. But, you know what, it's been 18 years too educating minds, inspiring young dreamers and seeing them go out in the real world and conquering it. They became my family.
Some of them would come back and visit me at the university. They would just drop by to say hello or treat me, and would thank me for all the inspiration that helped them succeed.
And, I guess, I found my purpose in life and I'm happy doing it, still doing it..
I've been teaching here in Adamson University for 18 years now..
It became my home that I forgot to have my own home outside these walls. But, no regrets, I'm happy being here, still educating aspiring young people.
And right now, I have a class to attend to, an extra load added to my schedule because one of my co-faculty filed an emergency leave in the middle of this semester because of some family matters.
I gathered my things and walked to the classroom.. This is a class of first year students.
Wew.. Another class of freshmen.. Young, wild and free..
Honestly speaking, ayoko na talaga humawak ng freshmen class. I'm not that young anymore to handle their tantrums and noise..
Nasa labas palang ako ng classroom, rinig na rinig ko na agad yung ingay nila..
Para silang nagwawala na ewan...
I can hear them cheering...
"Wooohhhh! Walang prof! Walang prof!"
Then, I checked my watch, ohhhh 10 minutes na pala akong late.. But, sorry class, 15-minute grace period still applies.. Hahaha.. Sorry to disappoint you, I'm here!
I entered the room and they all quickly went back to their seats..
"Good morning class.. As you can see, wala si ma'am Atienza.. I will be your professor in this class for the whole semester, you can call me ma'am Galanza.. So, please, settle down.. I just have some simple class rules.." panimula ko..
"Class rules, ma'am? Wala namang ganyan kay ma'am Atienza eh.." sabat ng isang student..
Hay naku.. Eto na nga ba sinasabi ko ehhh.. Sobrang bait kasi ni ma'am Atienza eh, pwes ako, hindi..
"I'm not ma'am Atienza, so.. Here's my rules.. Simple lang to.. First, pag nag sasalita ako, ayoko ng may sumasabay sakin.. Second, if you have questions, raise your hand and last, ayoko ng late o pala absent.."
As I finished my last sentence... May biglang pumasok na student sa pinto sa likod ng classroom.. Dire-diretso lang siya, kala mo walang nakitang prof sa unahan..
"Hey, mister..." tawag ko sa kanya..
Naglingunan din yung mga classmates niya..
"Yes, ma'am?" napahinto siya..
"You're late.. Hindi mo ba alam ang oras ng klase mo?"
"Yes, ma'am, I'm late.. Sorry po, walang parking eh.."
Pssshhh.. Bwiset! Yun talaga idadahilan sakin..
"Hoy, Wong! Late ka na naman! Wag ka maniwala dyan ma'am, late yan talaga lagi!" one of his classmates shouted..
Then, everyone laughed.. Grrrr... Ang ingay na naman nila...
Umupo na siya sa upuan..
"Settle down, class.. Paki sabi na lang sa kanya yung rules ko, attendance muna tayo.."
I called their names one by one... And last but not the least..
"Wong, Julio Dealan Isaac..."
"Present but late, ma'am!" there you go, the late student..
Ngayon ko lang nakita ng maayos ang mukha niya.. He looks familiar.. So, familiar.. Even his surname...
