That Golden Boy: Collection of Random Short Stories

53: MY MAN IS A NICOLAUS COPERNICUS' DESCENDANT

"MY MAN IS A NICOLAUS COPERNICUS' DESCENDANT."

"So class, who's the first man to set foot on the Moon on 20th of July 1969, famously describing the event as 'one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind'?" My eyes darted seriously at my Science teacher because of her sudden question.

I'm was baring my mind to recall the name when one of my classmates shot her hand upward.

"Yes, Miss Equipado?"

Tumingala muna si Chlaire na mukhang ngayon pa lang nag-iisip ng sagot. "Uhmm, I think it's... Uh, Apolinario Mabini?" The whole class roared with laughter because of that.

The jeering continues as it seems like she sincerely answered the question.

Napahalukipkip naman si ma'am habang napapailing. "Sinong teacher mo sa Science last year? Iyan ba ang itinuro sa inyo? Pambihira ka Ms. Equipado, sit down!"

Ilang segundo pa kaming hindi maka-move-on sa eksena ni Chlaire nang maghanap muli si ma'am ng sasagot. "You, Miss Mangundayao?" Kabado akong tumayo agad nang tawagin niya 'ko.

Wrong timing, I didn't even remember the name. Nasa dulo na siya ng dila ko pero mukhang hindi talaga nakikisama ang mga brain cells ko. "Uhmm, wait ma'am, give me enough time please..."

"FASTER!" A surge from nowhere jolted me enough to panic. "NEIL ALDEN ARMSTRONG!" I answered hysterically.

Tumango-tango naman siya sa isinagot ko na tsinambahan ko lang.

"Psh, overacting." May kung sinong bumulong sa likuran ko't napagtantong si Kepler 'yon na walang kagana-ganang nakikinig sa discussion.

"At least nagpa-participate, kaysa naman sa'yo... Panay init lang ng pwet sa upuan."

He smirked. "What's the sense of asking me when they're already aware that I'm going to ace every common questions?"

Pinaka-diinan niya pa ang "common" na isang patunay ng kaniyang kayabangan.

"As what I have said, I'm a descendant of Nicolas Copernicus. I've studied almost three-fourths of Science History, Laws of Physics, Theories, Branches, Space-Time..."

I turned my back to him, can't digest what he just said. But a part of me agrees with him. Matalino siya, nasobrahan lang sa yabang.

***

"Miss Mangundayao, thank you for coming here... we're asking you if you're interested in the upcoming extensive Vanda International Science Competition na gaganapin sa Poland. We noticed your exceptional potential for the said event," bungad sa'kin ni Dean Bacalzo pagka-dating ko rito sa opisina niya.

Ilang beses pa akong napalunok nang dire-diretso siyang nagpaliwanag.

"You look astounded Genelene. Don't worry may training naman. Kung magiging participant ka, sa tingin ko maraming mag-o-offer na exclusive schools sa'yo for admission next year."

Hindi pa rin ako makaimik, paano kasi hindi naman ako katalinuhan, sa pagbabasa ko lang naman naiipon lahat ng mga natututunan ko, pero wala naman sigurong masama kung susubukan ko.

"Ahmm, sige po sir try ko na lang. Pwede po bang malaman kung sino-sino yung kalaban?"

***

"Why don't you scan your books to learn something new? Kaysa naman kumain ka lang ng kumain jan," bulyaw ko kay Kepler habang nagbubuklat ng sandamakmak na libro.

"I'm not used to stress myself. Alam ko na lahat 'yan bakit ko pa babasahin? Ite-train lang kita, kaya ikaw ang dapat mag-focus." prente niyang pangangatuwiran.