LORENZO ELRIC GARCHITORENA

IF NICOLAUS Copernicus have proved that the sun is the center of the Solar System... then I might contradict his statement.

He would be rolling over from his grave when he found out that it's--he's, rather--my classmate, Chino Marquez, a.k.a. our class president. Siya 'yong tipo ng tao na nasobrahan sa pagiging conceited (kaunti na lang at aabot na iyon sa pagiging narcissistic); his favorite past time ay 'yong magpabida at magpasikat sa professors (I've observed that already). He is often delighted with compliments na kulang na lang at halos ipalamon na iyon sa kaniyang pagmumukha.

Saktong oras na para sa next class namin, pero wala pang professor na dumarating to meet us. It's exactly 10 AM, at sa totoo lang, nagugutom na ako, pero nakakatamad pa ring bumaba para bumili, so I might endure the ghrelin's cry to the hypothalamus to release some neuropeptide for the next one hour. Nakaka-badtrip at nakakalutang lang na ewan.

Meanwhile, there's this usual scenario sa loob ng classroom--the bazaar set-up. Daldalan doon, soundtrip dito. Some of my guy classmates sa bandang harapan ko na ginagawa pang tambol ang mga desk. I feel agitated and bored, kaya nasa usual place ko rin naman ako, and doing my usual routine--ang maging stoic.

Pero may mas iritado pa pala sa akin...

Here goes the candidate for teacher's pet #1 who stood up for himself. Puwede nga siyang mapagkamalan for a 15 year-old teenager due to his built. Then he also have this huge front teeth and large ears (is he a rat, or what?). That remark of mine made me realize na perfect talaga siya sa role na iyon.

"GUYS, PUWEDE BANG MANAHIMIK KAYO?" panermon niya sa amin with his authoritative, plus a shrill and squeak on his voice. 

I shrugged at nanahimik na lang sa sulok habang nakapalumbaba. Ano kami, some Kindergarten kids na kailangan pang sawayin ng teachers? Halatang gustong magpabida at magpa-impress sa professors. Tch.

Iyon nga lang, sa halip na manahimik sa utos ng president, the whole class just continued their usual shenanigans, not minding that there is someone who is going to dictates us--they not feared of being overruled by his supremacy.

Hindi pa rin siya nagpatinag at tumungo pa sa likod ng table, at saka niya inihampas ang kaniyang mga kamay to create a thundering distraction. Sisigaw pa sana siya nang biglang mag-shift ang atmosphere--na para bang sa isang iglap ay naging mga maaamong tupa ang mga kaninang parang mga manok sa isang poultry farm; our beloved president suddenly returned to his seat na para bang isang daga na bumalik sa kaniyang lungga pagkakita sa malaking pusa.

"Good morning." A bespectacled lady on her mid-twenties who just entered our room greeted us. She's wearing a light-colored, long-sleeved vest na pumaibabaw sa kaniyang shirt, at pants.

Phew! Thank goodness, my ears can rest right now peacefully. 

She introduced herself as Miss Eriza Cresencio--our English instructor upon presenting her first topic at a PowerPoint presentation. 

And... Ang kaninang parang lion cub sa harapan ay tumiklop at naging isang maamo at maliit na kuting sa isang iglap. 

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