His Innocent Secret

VII. TRISTAN

(Chapter song recommendation: Pagtingin by Ben and Ben)

Nag-iingay pa ang mga kaklase ko nang biglang pumasok si Sir Corpuz sa classroom. As if on cue, they all went back to their chairs and put their Math assignments on the desk. Ako naman, titig na titig pa rin sa solution ko. Tama kaya ito? I was so tempted to ask my classmates of their answers pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. If I am going to ace this thing, it has to be with my own efforts. Kaya mo yan, Rynn! Sapat naman siguro ang napag-aralan ko para makapag-participate ako nang maayos ngayon.

"It's good to see that all of you came prepared today. Sana lang tama ang mga sagot niyo. I don't want to see low scores again today. Pagod na pagod na akong hilahin ang mga grado ninyo para lang walang bumagsak. This term, what give is what you get. Nothing more, nothing less"

Kinabahan ako sa mga sinabi niya. Hindi naman ako isa doon sa mga nangangambang bumagsak pero hindi rin kagandahan ang marka ko rito. Math palagi ang pinakamababang grade ko and sana, sana lang mabago ko na iyon ngayon.

"Let's make it quick. I need two volunteers to solve item number 1. Who would like to try?"

Nang walang nagtaas ng kamay, nakita kong tumingin si Sir kay kuya Jasper and the latter nodded and stood up. Naku, nahiya ka pa kuya. Kung ako, ganyan kagaling, ipagmamalaki ko talaga yan sa supladong guro namin.

"Ok, I need another one."

Wala paring nagtaas ng kamay. Kahit na takot na takot akong sumubok, a part of me wanted to see if I can really do it. Diba Rynn, gusto mong ma-ace ito? Then you need to leave a freaking impression! Pero nanginginig talaga ako, eh. Kahit anong subject pa yan, kaya kong magpakapal ng mukha. In fact, tuwang tuwa pa nga ako kapag may itinatanong ang mga guro namin because I can get the chance to share what I have studied. Pero iba kasi sa Math. Parang may kung anong pumipigil sa mga kamay ko at nagsasabing baka mapahiya lang ako.

I looked around me. Wala yata talagang may balak magtaas ng kamay. Kahit si Tristan, parang nagdududa rin sa mga sagot niya. Well you know what, to heck with all of that! Kung gusto ko talaga ng magandang marka rito, then I might as well make them see that I have the guts to claim it. Kahit guts na lang talaga ang mayroon ako.

"Ako po sir. I'd like to try." I said na siyang ikinagulat ng lahat.

"Wow, Lexie sana all matapang." Mahinang sambit ni Stephen. Hindi ko na siya pinansin. I'm not sure kung paghanga ba yun o sarcasm, but what I'm sure of is that I want this. And if I have be humiliated along the way, then so be it!

Ibang excitement talaga ang nararamdaman ko sa tuwing may friendly competition kami ni kuya Jasper. And it's still here as much as I want to stay away from him. Ngayon, sabay kaming pumunta ni kuya Jasper sa harap ng whiteboard at kumuha ng marker. On our teacher's cue, sabay rin kaming nagsimula. Kinakabahan ako pero mas na-excite ako dahil siya ang katabi ko kaya binilisan ko pa ang pagsagot. Whenever my peripheral vision catches him, I can sense that he is also eager to get it right. Gusto rin yata ni kuyang makuha ito and I am not blaming him. In fact, I am enjoying this little game between us. Just as always. Pagalingan, pabilisan, pero walang inggitan.

"I'm done!" I said after I underlined my answer. I did it! Natapos ko! Nauhanan ko si kuya Jasper! Sa unang pagkakataon, I was once step ahead of him! Wait, hindi kaya sinadya na naman niyang bagalan ang pagsagot at magparaya sa akin?

After he was done, I immediately looked at his answer.

Teka lang--

Oh my gosh, hindi kami parehas!

Sir Corpuz examined both of our answers and shook his head. Lumapit siya sa sagot ko.

"Tsk, tsk. Carelessness, as what I keep on telling all of you, always leads to zero." He said habang minamarkahan ng napakalaking X ang sagot ko. Oo nga, may isang digit na hindi ko napansin at naisama sa solution!