Richard's Standard

Chapter 3 - The Bisdak Nerd

Mom had prepared our breakfast. Naabutan ko siyang palabas na ng bahay habang pababa ako ng hagdan.

"Mom....."

She looked back at me. "By the way, don't forget that it's your first day of learning the Surigaonon language. Mangan naka, keni."

"I don't want to learn today. Pagod pa ako." Tuluyan na akong nakababa at tiningnan ang mga pagkain sa lamesa. As usual, may fried egg, tocino, hotdog, bread, and oatmeal.

"My house, my rules," she said sternly.

"My life, my rules," I said before picking up a piece of hotdog and eating it. "Sorry, Mom. I don't like that girl.... Dona."

"I like her, at ako ang masusunod. Bye."

She was already gone when I found myself preparing for the tutorial. Naalala ko kasi ang misyon ko to get Mom's attention. I want to do everything for Dad just to make him proud kahit wala na siya. If ever Mom loves again, I'll make sure he is someone like Dad na mabait at mapagkakatiwalaan. That's why I'll find out who her lover is, kung meron man.

Naalala ko ang motor na nabanggit ni Dona kahapon. I will use it now tutal naman ay pamilyar na ako sa daan patungo sa paaralan.

Mom also told me that my first day of school would be in a few days. Sa office na raw ako tumuloy dahil doon kami magkakaroon ng tutorial. Titiisin ko na lamang ang itsura ng tutor ko.

When I reached the school, napatingin ang lahat sa akin at namangha. Maybe some of them were seeing me for the first time. May bulungan pa ang ibang mga babae. I didn't mind them 'cause I was really used to it. I continued walking toward Mom's office. For sure, nando'n na ang tutor ko.

I didn't knock when I reached Mom's office, I just walked straight in.

I saw Dona on the couch, smiling at me. Hindi ko siya pinansin, kaya si Mom na ang hinarap ko.

"Where are we going to have the tutorial?" tanong ko na tila pagod na pagod.

"In that room." Mom pointed to the same room she had pointed yesterday.

"Fine." Nauna na akong pumasok para makapagsimula na at matapos agad itong tutorial.

The room was so nice and comforting. Of course, presidente ng school ang natutulog dito, eh.

May nakita rin akong picture frame ko pero wala si Dad. Hmmm, next time, magdadala ako ng litrato namin ni Dad para kumpleto kami.

"Hi. Good morning, Chad."

I looked at her as she walked in and began arranging her things on the table. It was my first time seriously looking at her. Kahapon kasi ay pagod ako, kaya I wasn't able to appreciate her features.

The truth is, she was simply beautiful. Kulot ang buhok niya, which I hate. The shape of her face was round, her nose was cute, and her eyes seemed tired and dark. Ang height niya ay nasa 5'2, literally not my type. Gusto kong height ng babae ay 5'7 or 5'9 na pang-model, since my height is 5'11.

Lumapit ako sa kanya para masuri pa siya nang mabuti. Na-shock ako dahil ang hahaba ng mga kuko niya! Is she really a witch? Her eyebrows were even messy!

The shoes she was wearing were tattered. Since Friday ngayon at wash day nila, her t-shirt looked old dahil nag-fade na ang kulay nito. Ang jeans niyang suot ay medyo luma na dahil maluwang na ito sa legs niya.

Dapat ba akong maawa sa kanya o mailang? But there's nothing to worry about dahil mukha namang disente siya overall. I just didn't like what I was seeing.