Lollipops and Radios

Chapter 2 - Love, History

Just as what they expected, naunang nakarating sina Nico at Rohardson sa kanilang classroom and they immediately went to their seats. Hinawi ni Nico ang kurtina malapit sa kanyang mesa upang magbigay liwanag. He wiped his desk and put his bag underneath. He watched Rohardson trying to push his bag under his table but it was too big.

"Tsk!" Rohardson said out of frustration and decided to let his bag rest on the pathway. He wiped his sweat with his towel and took out one of his walkie-talkies and some tools.

Nico still had enough time for his reading while Rohardson took his time para ayusin ang mga malilit na bagay na kailangang ayusin sa kanyang mga walkie-talkie.

Hindi nagtagal ay isa-isa nang dumating ang mga kaklase nila. Sabay ring dumating si Junelle at Elaine. Junelle tries to hide his face as it turns red as chili pepper while Elaine's holding his right arm jumping up and down wearing her wide smile.

"Sabay tayo mamayang recess ha." Sabi ni Elaine giving Junelle a flying kiss as she sat down on her chair. Napangiwi naman ang tatlo sa nakita sabay sabing "Ugh!" horrified.

"Bakit niyo naman ako iniwan kaagad?" Junelle whispered to his friends.

Nagkukunwaring walang narinig ang dalawa at patuloy lamang sa kani-kanilang ginagawa. Binagsak ni Junelle ang kanyang ulo sa lamesa at napabuntong hininga na lamang.

The morning felt so energetic with chit chats and different noises.

"Hoy Jonnah, late ka nanaman, maglilinis ka mamayang recess ha."

"Asan si Ralph? Tatlong araw na siyang absent ah."

"Ewan, baka nagkasakt."

"Alam niyo ba yung bali-balita ngayon?"

"Ang lakas ng ulan kagabi."

"Umulan ba?"

Nico decided to close his book and stared at the window. Junelle still has his head down and Rohardson looks like a machine freak turning loose screws on his most loved devices. Just like any other room, their room is filled with different types of characters and personalities. Some of them are too loud and energetic, some have their own world and some of them don't care at all.

Maya-maya pa ay dumating na ang kanilang first subject teacher, Ms. Paz Tillas, their history teacher.

"Good morning class." She greeted them with her sweetest smile.

"Good morning teacher!" They said in unison.

She took her class record and flipped some pages. "Okay, as I call your name say 'present!', Angelie?" She said.

"Present!"

"Sheena?"

"Mala-late lang po ma'am."

"Ano siya college? Mae?"

"Absent po ma'am."

"Ruby?"

"Present!"

"Red?"

"Present!"

"Richardson?"

"..." No one answered. Wala naman kasing Richardson sa kanila.

"Richardson?" Ms. Paz called his name again.

"Baka po Rohardson ma'am?" Rohardson asked their teacher.

"Ay sorry, nakalimutan ko ulit palitan ang pangalan mo sa record." Paghihingi ng paumanhin ng kanilang guro.

After she called everyone on her class list, agad niyang niready ang librong gagamitin at ang kanyang sariling chalk.

"So before we start can we sing a song?" She asked her class.

"Nursery rhymes po ba ulit ma'am?" Elaine asked their teacher.

"Kayo, anong gusto niyo?" Tanong niya sa mga bata.

"Yung Ten Little Monkeys po teacher!" Pagrerequest naman nila.

"Sure. Sige, kumanta kayo diyan habang nagsusulat ako dito sa pisara." sabi nito at nagsimula namang kumanta ang buong klase.

"Ten little monkeys jumping on the bed, one fell off and broke his head. Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, no more monkeys jumping on the bed..." Napakasigla ng umaga tuwing kakanta sila. Nagagamit naman ng kanilang guro ang oras upang magprepare ng kanyang mga susulatin sa pisara kapag hindi siya nakapaghanda ng mga visual aids.

"Five little monkeys jumping on the bed, one fell off and broke his head. Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, no more monkeys jumping on the bed..." Pabor naman ito sa mga batang nalelate pumasok sa eskwela.

"Ma'am andiyan na po si Sheena." Elaine said letting Ms. Paz know about Sheena's late arrival.

"Good morning, Sheena." She smiled. Ngumiti naman pabalik ang kanyang estudyante.

"Good morning din po. Kasama ko po si Mae, ma'am." sabi ni Sheena sa guro.

"Mukhang kumpleto mga estudyante ko ngayon ah." She remarked.

They started their first morning class. Ang iba ay nag-umpisa nang kumuha ng kani-kanilang libro, notebook at ballpen habang yung iba naman ay nag-uumpisa nang matulog. If there would be anyone who feels really alive at their history subject, you know who it would be.

"At what year did Dr. Jose P. Rizal published his book El Filibusterismo?" Their teacher asked their class. He raised his hand knowing the answer.

"Yes, Nico?" His teacher called him.

"Year 1891, ma'am." He answered.

"Very good." sabi ng kanilang guro.

"El Filibusterismo is one of his great works during the Spaniard colonization..."

During the whole duration of their class, it looks like their teacher only had one student. Who would ever love this subject like him?

"Ms. Paz!" Elaine suddenly raised her hands.

"Yes, Elaine?" Her teacher asked her.

"May naging girlfriend po ba si Dr. Jose Rizal bago siya mamatay?" She asked. Her teacher smiled at her. How cute it would be for a 10-year old girl asking for someone's girlfriend.

"Well, he has this girl which he calls Miss L. He's sending him love letters to show his love." Some of the girls giggled. Elaine looked at where Junelle was sitting and smiled as wide as she could.

"Enough of that. Please turn your book at page 138, exercise 4, that'll be your assignment to be passed on Monday." Their smiles fade away when Ms. Paz told them their homework.

"But exams are on Monday, Ms. Paz." Ruby, one of their classmates, told their teacher.

"Yes, I know. Please collect your classmate's assignments Ms. Ruby after the exams on Monday." Sabi ni Ms. Paz bago umalis ng kanilang classroom.

Their class ended well, atleast for Nico. The bell rang and their classmates immediately left their classroom and headed to their cafeteria.

"Junelle~" Elaine suddenly called his name.

"Ugh." Muli ay napangiwi ang tatlo pagkarinig nila rito.