MARIA: Your Life Matters

Chapter 2: Maria and Her Thoughts

For my SHS teacher, who inspired me and taught me what good education is😄

The man left just like that, without leaving his purpose for being there. She was confused, but considered that perhaps that man was a parent or an alumna of the academy. Thinking that, she let it slide.

She exudes the same vibe as 'she' did. The same, but somehow different. He waited inside his car and when he was done clearing his thoughts and calming his raging heart, he got out of the car and left his keys to his driver. When he got out, he looked as his usual self.

"Manong Dadoy, I'll be back here before six. I'd just take a stroll around the area," he said.

"Okay po, sir," said the driver called Manong Dadoy. He has been a local in the area for many years. Apparently, in the years of his existence he has already been living here.

"No need for honorifics with me Manong Dadoy. You're three generations senior than I am. Just call me Ricky like you used to. Besides, it's just the two of us," he said. Then, he left heading towards the park.

"Ms. Martinez, why don't you go and take a break? You still have half an hour before the end of today," suggested one of her faculty mates.

"Yeah. You should go and breathe some fresh air. Today's weather is really good. It's windy and warm outside," added another.

"And you have to fill your stomach with something," said another colleague. "Here, have this juice. It's an extra, but you can have it," he added.

"I wish we could still cat-call inside this room. A valiant knight made his chivalry known to his target maiden," cahooted one from the table next to hers.

"Oh. You are all so sweet to me. Thank you,” she answered as she stopped rubbing her neck and shoulders. She had been doing a little stretching after the encounter with that stranger because she was done with her files for the day anyway. "I just... Never mind, if you all say so. I'll go take a break. But you all are sure that you don't know any person from what I've described?" she asked.

"Yup. And besides, if that man really had some important matters, he will most probably come back," said Ana, the one that ships her with their colleague in the faculty, Ben, which was the one who gave her his extra juice.

"Yeah, you're right. Excuse me then. Ben, thank you for this extra juice," she didn't forget to thank the person who gave her a drink before going out of the faculty room.

Ben had an obvious crush on Maria, but the lady doesn't seem to notice or perhaps is treating him just like everyone else, a colleague. His complexion is similar to a natural tan and he wears his signature tuck in checkered polo during "washing day". Most of the time he would wear a dark colored jacket over his polo especially when the weather doesn't fair well. Today, he wore their M-Th-F royal blue uniform marked with a laurel on the lower right side of his torso since it was Monday. The ladies in the room find him attractive when he wears this uniform. They don't understand why such a handsome gentleman doesn't catch the attention of their fellow colleague deemed to be one of the NBSB cluster.

Maria is a lady with fair complexion. According to their community's physical standards, she is one of those considered beautiful and elegant to look at. She topped their class, and graduated as one of the consistent Dean's Lister and graduated as one of the Cream of the Crop.

They know of her background about how her family struggles with their daily living since Maria isn't ashamed to share her background story to others when they ask. Everybody in the faculty would just disregard the other minor details about her because she would just exude charm, humility and a good vibe, despite the events that has occurred in her family.