Kabanata 3

Dumating ang Practical Research I sa buhay namin nang mag-2nd semester na. Isa pa 'to sa nakakasira ng buhay.

Minsan napapatanong na lang ako na para saan ba ang Practical Research? Nabuhay naman ako ng ilang taon na wala ito — but that wasn't the case. Our world is like this because of research. Lahat ng bagay ay pinagaaralan muna bago ito nagiging bahagi ng mundo.

We live in an imperfect world. By conducting research, we seek for improvements and to make sure that our efforts won't go to waste all things that should be improved should be research-based.

"Sa scope ba, ABM lang ilalagay natin?" tanong ni Heranie, kagrupo ko siya sa PracRe.

Scope and Delimitations is a part of the research paper where you write the specific research area or parameter and the possible weaknesses of your study.

Tulad na lang ngayon, nagkakaroon kami ng brainstorming kung dapat bang ilagay ang lahat ng strand o may isang strand lang kami na pipiliin para sa research namin. Ito kasi ang magiging sakop namin at bibigyan namin ng focus kapag nagkataon.

"Hindi kaya maging bias masyado?" tanong ni Paulene.

It's true, it will be just limited to ABM students if that's the case.

"It's qualitative naman, it's prone to bias. Pero pwede naman natin i-sama 'yung ibang strands para mas malawak ang scope natin. Say, instead of ABM students why not senior highschool students of UJD?" I suggested, raising a brow upon knowing the current situation.

"Iba talaga kapag top 1," panga-alaska ni Melanie.

I rolled my eyes. "Ang topic naman natin ay tungkol sa mga achievers. Hindi naman siya para sa ABM lang."

I hate to admit but the other strands also excels too. May mga school activities kami na kailangan maglaban ang iba't-ibang strands. Of course, it's all competition friendly but sometimes we take them personally.

We take pride for our strand.

I will never get tired of being proud that I'm part of the ABM strand. Hindi rin kaya madaling mag-aral ng Applied Economics 'no.

"So, we'll have to interview them 'no? Since face-to-face interaction with the respondents is more suitable for quali." Heranie said while taking notes.

Tumango naman ako.

There are two types of research. The Qualitative and Quantitative. From the root words itself, Qualitative talks about quality so it's more about the hows and whys. On the other hand, Quantitative is about quantity so expect that it collects numerical data and analyzed it using mathematically based method.

"Bale, kukunin natin 'yung mga top 1 and 2 ng ABM 1, STEM 1, HUMSS 1, GAS 1, o tapos sa TVL?" tanong ni Melay.

"Sa TVL, bawat top 1 na lang per strand siguro." Tatlo lang naman 'yung ino-offer ng TVL sa UJD.

"Sige, pagha-hatian na natin 'yung mga respondents." Heranie said while writing it down.

We were busy with the paper, that's why I left the whole respondents thing to Heranie. Hindi ko alam na malakas din pala ang sapak nito sa utak dahil nilagay niya ako sa STEM.

Lipat na lang kaya ako sa STEM? Matagal na nila akong binubugaw dito e. Mukha ba akong interesado sa science at math? Well, ABM do have math also but it's more about math in money.

"Hindi ba ako naging mabuting kaklase sa inyo? Bakit niyo ako ginaganito?" I whined.

Tumawa lang si Heranie. "Inutusan lang ako ni Gio! Sabi niya kung may STEM related daw tayong gagawin para sa research, ikaw daw i-assign."

Gio, our class president and top 2 definitely knew how to piss me off. Hindi ko naman kasalanan na mas mataas ang grade ko sa kanya sa Oral Com nung 1st sem 'no!

Hindi niya matanggap dahil mas madaldal naman daw siya saakin pero mas mataas ako sa Oral Communication. I rolled my eyes heavenwards. Kahit kailan talaga ay malakas ang ubo no'n sa utak!

I begrudgingly went to STEM 1. Kasama ko si Paulene dahil kaming dalawa 'yung naka-assign para sa STEM 1.

"Pumayag na ba sila? Meron na tayong letter of permission?"

I asked Paulene while trying to read the respondents' information. Nakuha nila ito mula sa pre-survey na ginawa.

"Yup, both Sarathiel and Czanne agreed for the interview."

I halted from walking. Sakto namang tumigil ang mga mata ko sa isang papel kung nasaan nakalagay ang mga impormasyon para kay Sarathiel.

My mouth formed in 'O' and my eyes almost bulged out from it's sockets.

"Sino ulit?"

I wanted to make sure.

"Sarathiel and Czanne?" ulit ni Paulene.

"Top 1 'yon?!"

I almost shrieked but my voice remained low, kahit halata ang pagdududa sa aking boses.

Sa totoo lang, hindi naman na uso ang rankings sa Senior Highschool. Pero meron pa rin honors, high honors and highest honors. Kami lang ang nag-label ng mga top para mas madali silang hanapin para sa interview.

I can't believe that he's an honor student! Mukha lang kasi siyang antukin! Ano bang malay ko 'di ba?

"Well, he's pretty lowkey. Mas napapansin si Czanne since she's eyeing for a spot in the student council."

Paulene was flipping the information sheet we got from the pre-survey. Bago kasi ang actual survey, meron munang pre-survey para malaman kung sino ang respondents mo.

Kinakabahan ako. Wala naman akong atraso sa kanya. Pero ayaw ko lang talaga siyang makita. Mukha ba siyang inidoro kaya lagi akong nac-cr kapag nandiyan siya?

Dismissal na namin. Halos kasabay lang ng dismissal namin ang dismissal ng STEM. Hinintay na lang namin na lumabas si Sarathiel at Czanne.

Lumingon ako kay Paulene.

"Ako na mag-interview kay Czanne, ikaw na kay Sarathiel."

I almost pleaded but Paulene acted like she didn't hear the horror in my voice.

"Mas close kayo ni Sarathiel, ah?" pagtataka ni Paulene.

I scoffed at her reaction.

"What? Kailan pa kami naging close no'n?"

Close kami? Bakit parang sila lang ang may alam?

"I don't know? Kalat lang sa room na may sexual tension kapag magkasama kayo."

I wanted to vomit and my entire being shuddered at the thought.

"What the hell?! Anong sexual tension?!"

Bakit pakiramdam ko na-harass ako sa sinabi niya?!

Sakto namang may lumabas sa room ng STEM 1. Mukha siyang manika at may bitbit siyang isang box.

"Hi Czanne!" bati ni Paulene.

"Hi! Omg, is this for the interview? Saglit lang ha, ilalagay ko lang 'to sa SSG office." She smiled at us.

Sa tingin niya siguro ay maiinip kaming hintayin siya. She's really sweet. Bakit kaya hindi nakuha 'yon ng kaklase niyang si Sarathiel?

Hindi man lang nahawa ito. I don't really think all tangkays or STEM students are bad. Meron lang talaga akong prejudice dahil kay Sarathiel.

"Samahan na kita," Paulene offered. "Ako rin naman ang magi-interview sa'yo."

Literal akong napanganga sa sinabi ni Paulene. Bakit ba sila ganito saakin? Bakit ba parang pinagtutulungan nila ako? Mabait naman ako sa kanila, ah?

"Saglit—" hindi ko na sila napigilan dahil parang nag-mamadali si Paulene na dalhin si Czanne sa SSG office.

I was left with no option but to wait for Sarathiel. Kitang-kita ko siya kahit nasa labas ako dahil glass naman ang mga bintana ng classroom namin.

Ang daming kumakausap sa kanyang babae pero hindi niya pinapansin. Inaayos niya na 'yung gamit niya kaya naman inabangan ko na siya kaagad nang lumabas siya.

"Sarathiel," tawag ko sa kanya. Lumingon naman siya saakin.

A lazy smile appeared on his face.

Nilagay niya ang mga kamay niya sa bulsa ng hoodie niya. I decided to swallow my pride for a moment. Kailangan ko siya ngayon. I don't have a choice.

"Sorry for making you wait," he said but he didn't sound remorseful at all.

"Let's just get this over with," I sighed and we went to Bonanza Area.

Umupo kami sa may malapit sa mga food stall at vending machine. I like Bonanza Area because even though it's crowded, it's really an area where you can just talk and do your stuff when you're too lazy to go the library.

"I have a set of questions you'll have to answer. You can be anonymous if you want," pagsisimula ko. I know he has the right of confidentiality.

In PracRe, it's important that the respondent is aware of his or her right. Dapat din na alam niyang gagamitin ang mga sagot niya sa research niyo, or else you'll face the consequences later on if your research gets publish.

Umiling-iling naman siya.

"I don't mind," he said while playing with the hem of his jacket. Bakit ba palagi siyang naka-jacket? Alam ko naman na malamig sa room nila pero nasa labas na kami!

"Okay, so what's your name?" I pressed my recording device. Mas madali kasi itong sundan. Ang pangit naman kung papaulit ko sa kanya 'yung sinabi niya kapag hindi ko nasulat.

"Sarathiel," tipid niyang sagot.

"Full name," I smiled, trying to prevent myself from being sarcastic.

"Sarathiel Zyler Smith Aracosa," I can't help but to think he really has a nice name.

"Age?"

"one seven," he snickered.

"Ah, eight. Okay." I pretended to write it down. Akala ba niya siya lang 'yung attitude?

Tiningnan ko siya at nakitang nakatingin siya saakin. I rolled my eyes heavenwards.

"Pwede ba huwag mo ako tingnan?" I told him.

"Pipikit ako, ganun?"

"Hindi, tumalikod ka sana."

"Okay," he shrugged and he did turn his back to me. "Ano po ulit 'yung mga tanong?"

Napahilamos ako sa sarili kong mukha. Kailangan ko 'yata dumaan muna sa Chapel dahil unti-unti na akong pinapasukan ng ideya na sakalin 'tong nasa harap ko.

❛ ━━━━━━･❪ ✎❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜