Distortion

In a cloudy Monday morning, Roland Cruz, was seating inside his car parked in the campus parking lot. He is a college professor in a university in Cavite. Roland was just staring at the view outside his car with no expressions on his face. He wore a black polo and a dark colored pants, colors that he do not normally wear. He sighed and went out of his vehicle.

"Good morning, Sir!" one of the students along the corridor greeted him. Roland gave a fake smile in return. At the classroom, the students were waiting for Roland because he is their professor for the first subject. The classroom was in a total disorder like a marketplace, a usual scenario in the school. The students are chatting with their friends. One of them said, "Substitute teacher pa rin ba ang mag-hahandle sa atin?" The other one replied, "Hindi na ata. Balita ko papasok na si Sir Cruz e." The loud murmuring of the students stopped when Roland entered the room. The students greeted him, "Good morning, Sir!"

"You may take your seats." Roland ordered and the students sat down.

"I'm sorry for being absent for a long time. Anyway, anong chapter na ang naituro ng substitute prof niyo?" Roland said to his students.

"Sir, chapter 6 na po kami." Karen, one of the prettiest faces in the class, said.

"So chapter 6 pa lang kayo. We need to catch up dahil malapit na ang exam. Para magkaroon kayo ng motivation, I'll treat anyone sa isang expensive restaurant providing that he or she will get the highest mark in the exam. Gusto niyo yun?" Roland tried to motivate them.

"Yes, Sir!" the students joyfully answered in chorus.

"Okay, let's start our lesson." Roland then began lecturing.

After his class hours, he went out of the room and his students started talking again loudly. A student said to his pals, "Pre, first time ko inantok sa klase ni Sir." His friend replied, "Oo nga e. Dati entertaining siya. Ngayon, seryoso!"

Roland finished all his work loads for the day. He walked to the parking lot with his head down then he drove back home.

In his house, Roland just opened a canned good for his dinner. He ate his meal alone. After eating, he went outside to smoke. He was standing beside a hanging chair. He pushed it so that it would swing. Few moments later, he went to his cabinet to check his things. Knowing that his things were secured, he went to his bed. Only a small lamp was turned on. Tears fell from Roland's eyes. He wiped his tears and decided to sleep.

Someone was knocking his door. The knocking continued which made him irritated and prevented him from sleeping. Roland shouted, "Bukas na tayo mag-usap. Kailangan ko na matulog!" The man knocking his door replied, "Hindi rin ako makatulog e. Mag-usap muna tayo."

Roland was pissed off but still opened the door. Roland said, "Kaya di ako makatulog dahil sayo. Ano ba gusto mo?"

"Chill ka lang, pare. Gusto mo beer? Kukuha ako." the man said.

"Ayaw ko. May pasok pa ako bukas." Roland replied.

"Sige na pare. Kaunti lang..."

"Sige na nga. Napakakulit mo."

The man brought him a bottle of beer. They drank it while talking. Although this man is hindering him to sleep, Roland could not get mad at him because Roland treats him as his close buddy. The man was always with him, especially in tough times of his life. Roland and the man were like brothers.

The man was talking and acting in a brash manner. Overall, he is a good looking but mean guy. Roland calls him "Ice".

The next morning, Roland went to the school to teach. He was a few hours late because he did not wake up early. He chewed a gum to lessen the smell of beer in his mouth. The students noticed that he has a little hangover.