Finding Ms. Right

Chapter 47: Brothers

JANA

"EHEM!" Tumikhim ako ng malakas habang nakatapat ang mic sa bibig ko. All students here at the gymnasium looked at me. Ang ingay nila kanina pa, pero isang tikhim lang at tumahimik na sila. Oh well, Alvarez University will never be known for nothing. Sa lahat na siguro ng paaralan dito sa La Union, our University is one of the school who have disciplined students.

"Did all of you heard the gossips about our mighty Alvarez and Vinos?" I asked. Kumunot pa ang noo ng iba pero 'di kalauna'y tumango din. "Of course, it's all over the news." Sabi ko at tumayo ang isang lalaki na nakaupo sa front row. Napatingin ako sa kanya. I know him. He's Adrian Lucena, the SSG President. Ka-batch ko lang siya but I can tell that he really has a lot of responsibilities. One of the geniuses, the top 5.

"Can I ask you Jana?" tanong niya. He might be the SSG President but he knows his limitations and how to use his power for good. Mabait 'yan, sobra.

I smiled. "Nagtatanong ka na." Napakamot na lang siya sa batok niya at tumingin sa mga estudyante na nasa likod niya, sa mga students who are currently sitting on the bleachers, to the faculty staffs, to Ms. Marval, to Alvarez and Vinos, and lastly,  to me.

"You won't call us here for nothing, what's your plan?" Yeah, right. This guy really knows me. He's one of my former classmates at isa sa mga naging kaibigan ko. After the conversation in the Principal's office, I asked for Ms. Marval's permission to cancel all classes today at magkakaroon ng meeting dito sa Gym. She didn't ask and did what I said. Kung para talaga sa AU ang pag-uusapan, Ms. Marval could be that desperate. Besides, this is her Alma Mater. She won't let anything to bring this school down.

Matapos magtanong ni Adrian, naupo na siya. I smiled. "Let's just say na may kunting paglilinis tayong gagawin. The College and Elementary students will not join us. It's only all of us. And we gathered all of you because we need your help, we will clean the reputation of AU, as well as the names of Alvarez and Vinos." Sabi ko at sinulyapan 'yung dalawa na nakaupo sa last row katabi sila Darren at mga taga-Section C.

"But the question is, will you help us?" Tanong ko at natahimik silang lahat. Mukhang nagdadalawang isip pa sila. Dumaan ang ilang minuto at walang sumagot sa tanong ko kaya medyo kinabahan ako. Don't tell me I am only the one who wants to do that?

Napakagat labi ako ng makita ko si Ms. Marval na seryoso ang tingin sa akin at dahan-dahang napailing. It was like she's telling me that it won't work, that what I am doing won't work. She's looking at me with disappointment and I felt pain in my heart. Disappointment huh? This is the very first time that she looked at me like that. She always look at me being a Champion, an Achiever and as an asset of this school. But now, I think it already changed.

Nagulat kaming lahat ng marahas na tumayo si Jay and looked at them with disbelief. "Ayaw niyong tumulong?!" Galit niyang tanong kaya napaiwas ng tingin ang iba at ang iba naman ay napayuko. Pilit naman siyang hinihili ni Lucy paupo.

Then Adrian spoke, "H-hindi sa gano'n, but don't you think it's better for them to clean their own mess? Sila ang gumawa ng gulo, sila ang dapat umayos nito." Sabi niya na mabilis sinang-ayunan ng ibang SSG officers at maging ng iba. Of course they will support their leader. He had a point on that. Pero paano ang school? Paano ang AU?

"How about our school? Hahayaan niyo na lang na siraan nila tayo?" Darren asked calmly. Natahimik ang ilan hanggang sa nagsalita ang isang estudyante na mukhang Grade 9.

"H-hindi po ba d-dapat na school ang umaayos n'yan at h-hindi mga students?" the girl asked kaya medyo napaawang ang labi ko. So wala silang pakeelam tungkol dito? They will just give all the burden to the faculty? Tangina.