Invisible (QuenLia ft. Daniel Padilla)

12: Two Elves

FraNy? Or TrAnce? HAHA <3

"Do you know the tale about the two elves of Christmas?" tanong ni Czine sa mga estudyante niya.

Tumaas ang kamay ni Pia kaya naman tumango si Czine sakanya. "Miss, ano po 'yun? Hindi ko pa po naririnig ang tale na 'yun."

"Kami din, miss," pagsang-ayon naman ng classmate ni Pia kaya natatawang tumayo si Czine at binaba ang librong hawak niya. 'Yun kasi ang lesson nila sa unit na 'yun kaya gumagawa sila ng prompts para sa kwento.

Umupo si Czine sa mesa niya at nakangiting hinarap ang mga estudyante niya sa araw na 'yun. "The tale of the two elves... It's a tale of love."

"Kwento niyo po, miss!"

"Oo nga po!"

"Sige na, miss!"

Natawa naman si Czine sa pagpupumilit ng klase kaya tumango siya. "The tale of the two elves started when an elf fell madly in love with a female-elf..." panimula niya at mahinang napangiti nung makitang nakikinig ang mga estudyante niya. "But the female-elf was an old-fashioned elf who prioritized toys before love. Pero hindi sumuko si Rod at sinuyo lang siya. And, on Christmas, he got her heart."

"Aww!"

Czine chuckled. "Pero may nangyari, of course. Lee was assigned to be one of Santa's helpers the next year and she was to make toys all year long. So her attention went to toys, and she lost time for Rod."

"Then...?" naiinip na tanong ni Alice kaya naman napangisi si Czine.

"Rod wanted someone who'll put him first, of course. He wanted attention and he got it from someone else. And Rod fell in love with that female-elf. Lee, on the other hand, got her wish but lost her elf. She was always chosen to be Santa's helper. But it wasn't enough, never was and never is."

"Miss, ano pong theme ng story?" tanong ni Jan.

Napangiti si Czine at nagkibit-balikat. "Ano sa tingin niyo?" malumay na tanong niya at tinignan lahat ng Senior students niya.

Tumaas ang kamay ni Pia. "Miss, 'yun ba 'yung saying na 'you never know what you have until you don't have it anymore'?" tanong niya.

"Maybe," sagot ni Czine.

"Miss! Baka naman po 'yung theme is 'you can live without a man'?" singit ni Jan at tumawa kaya naman natawa din ang mga kababaihan samantalang napasimangot nalang ang mga kalalakihan sa kwarto.

Czine laughed. "Loko ka, Jan," natatawang komento niya kaya mas natawa 'yung klase at nagsimulang mag-ingay kaya tumikhim si Czine at sinabing, "Hush, class. Ano pa?"

"Miss," tawag ni Alice at tinaas ang kamay niya kaya tumango si Czine. "Based on the tale of the Two Elves, I think the theme is Love."

"Love? Eh iniwan nga si Lee," kontra naman ni Jan.

Tumingin si Alice kay Jan. "Rod left Lee because of love; Lee forgot about Rod because of her love for toys. Both elves were separated, but both found love in different ways. Ganun naman talaga sa love, hindi porque magkahiwalay kayo ay hindi niyo na mahal ang isa't isa. Sometimes in life, you have to make decisions between two things you love. And most of the time, people choose the one that makes them happy."

Satisfied with the responses, napangiti si Czine at pumalakpak ng isang beses. "Okay, Seniors, back to work!"

=•=

FRANCE

Day Seven Hundred Fifty Three

"Bakit daw ako hinahanap?" kaswal na tanong ko kay Ally kahit sa loob-loob ko ay nagtititili ako sa kilig.