Dying Embers

Chapter Three

Chapter Three: Ellipsis

"Take out a half-sheet of paper crosswise."

Nanlamig kaagad ako nang pagkapasok pa lang ni Mr. Rumbaoa ay 'yon na kaagad ang sinabi nito. He's our math teacher at nakalimutan kong may quiz kami ngayon! How could I have let that slip my mind? I shouldn't have forgotten!

Kumuha ako ng papel sa bag ko at ballpen tsaka ako huminga ng malalim. I hadn't reviewed at all, and I barely know anything about math. If I do know something, it's minimal. I'm in trouble!

"Hindi ako nakapag-review." Bulong ko kay Jilliana na siyang katabi ko sa subject na ito.

"Don't worry. I've got your back." Ngisi niya. Ngumiti rin ako pabalik. Jilliana is great with numbers and always seems excited about math. I'm not sure why.

One good thing about her is she's a supportive friend. She'll back me up no matter what, and I appreciate that.

"Hindi na. One thing I can't do is to cheat." Sabi ko sa kaniya tsaka ngumiti.

Although it might not seem like cheating to her, I don't want to rely on her knowledge. If she helps, I'd prefer to learn from it.

"But this is not cheating." Depensa naman niya.

Umiling ako. "Maybe not for you, but it feels like cheating to me. Tsaka hindi importante sa akin 'yang score na 'yan."

Pinakatitigan niya ako tsaka siya umiling-iling at ngumiti.

"Such a good girl, you are." Aniya. I am not a good girl. "Good girl but can be a badass, how's that even possible?" She laughed, but without a sound because Mr. Rumbaoa might go ballistic. Trust me, you don't want to see that coming.

I just smiled. I'm not proud of being called a badass. I don't want to hurt people, but sometimes I have no choice. I dislike when people attack me without reason. I can be tough if pushed, and I hate that.

"From one to ten. Okay, class, start now." Ani Mr. Rumbaoa, matapos niyang isulat sa board ang sasagutin namin.

Seeing the questions on the board, I knew I was in big trouble. I sighed, stared at my paper, and fiddled with my pen.

I glanced at Jilliana's paper and was overwhelmed by the extensive solutions for just the first question. I have no idea how to do it. I'm so lost.

Napailing na lang ako at nagsulat sa aking papel ng kung anu-anong numbers na pwede kong maging sagot. I'm not sure if my answers are right, but at least I have something written down.

Kagat-kagat ko ang labi ko habang tinitingnan ang sagot ko. Ang dami kong erasures at hindi ko nagustuhan ang tingin don. Masyadong magulo at ang hirap intindihin. Pero pinagkibit-balikat ko lang ito. At least, I tried.

"Who's finished?" Biglang tanong ni Mr. Rumbaoa.

Many of my classmates raised their hands, telling that they're already finished answering — including Chance and Jilliana. While some of us are not done yet. I'm still stuck on number six, for goodness sake!

Napatingin sa akin si Chance, pero nag-iwas ako ng tingin. Damn! Nakakahiya 'to!

"You have five minutes to finish. Then, we'll check after." Mr. Rumbaoa announced.

Five minutes won't be enough for me to finish this. Ayoko na talaga! Suko na ako. Why the hell am I so bad at math? Dito lang talaga ako nawawala sa pag-iisip. Nakakahilo naman kasi ang mga numbers.

"I'm done. I can't do this." Sabi ko sa sarili ko at binitiwan ang ballpen na hawak ko.

Mahinang natawa si Jilliana. "I told you I'd help."