Chapter 12
#WretchedChoicesWP
Chapter 12
Unluckiest
"Sorry if I'm late class!" Our professor said as she panted. It looked like she just finished running a 5-kilometre marathon.
The fifteen minute grace period was almost over, and I was about to leave my chair when she came dashing inside our classroom. The disappointed look on my classmates' faces were expressed intensely.
Just when you thought you're about to have an instant free cut, but your professor beat the red light and ruined your plans for the unexpected free period.
Kung sana lang kasi ay kung puwedeng ma-late ang professor, dapat ay puwede rin ang mga estudyante! May mga ibang propesor pa nga na nagpapahintay nang mas matagal pa kaysa sa grace period. I demand fairness from this unjust regulations!
"Kinausap lang ako sandali ng Dean para sa nalalapit na univeristy wide event," paliwanag niya kahit na wala naman akong pakialam doon. "Anyway, I'll proceed on checking your attendance for today."
She did what she said and cheked our attendance. Pagkatapos no'n ay nagsulat siya sa board ng activity namin para ngayong araw. But it seemed like it wasn't just an activity, but a short-term project. Another mini research is needed to be passed and reported next week.
Purgang-purga na ako sa mga research at thesis na pinapagawa nila magmula first year. Nalalapit na nga ang mga araw kung kailang magsisimula ang mock defense para sa totoong thesis namin, ngunit itong mga minor subjects na 'to ay ganado pa rin sa pagpapagawa ng research papers at mini theses.
Well, speaking of, I'm not yet done with the charts my groupmates were asking me to validate after I was done tallying our surveys. I was too pre-occupied with my plans. I should probably work on it this weekend. Mabuti nga at hindi nila ako masyadong binibigyan ng trabaho dahil pakiramdam nila ay masisira ko lamang ang papel namin.
Going back to my argument, I know minor subjects are also important, but we need to focus on our major subjects as well. Dapat ay hindi na sila nakikipagsabayan pa.
"Last night I worked on these drawlots," she announced and showed us a box. "Since even numbers kayo at walang absent ngayon, magiging madali ang pagp-pair. This time, hindi kayo ang mamimili kundi bubunot kayo."
Napakunot ang aking noo. Kung lahat kami ay bubunot, posibleng iba ang mabunot kong pangalan sa nakabunot sa akin. Would that make any sense?
"Iyong mga tatawagin ko lang ang puwedeng bumunot ng kapartner nila. At iyong mga bubunot, wala ang pangalan nila rito sa loob ng box," paglilinaw niya at napatango-tango naman ako dahil naiintindihan ko na kung paano ang sistema. "When I call your name, please come in front, okay?"
I crossed my legs and sat comfortably on my chair. Whoever picks my name, I hope it's someone responsible.
"Adarraga, Jerome Emmanuel."
My eyes widened when Jerome's name was the first one to be called. I suddenly became attentive. I don't mind being his partner again. In fact, I like it more that way. I'm comfortable being partnered with him.
The moment he slid his hand inside the box to draw the name of his partner, I mentally prayed to be chosen. I had a strong feeling that my name was included in the drawlots.
"Pick me, pick me, pick me..." I chanted softly and even closed my eyes, thinking that it might push my luck.
"Rivera, Loisa."
Para akong pinagbagsakan ng langit at lupa nang ibang pangalan ang nadinig kong kanyang binanggit. I pouted, and my shoulders dropped.
Kung sino man ang makakapili sa akin, sana naman ay matino-tino. He or she should be someone like Jerome who's flexible and somehow understanding. Or maybe, someone who could accept my personality even just for a bit.
Ilang pangalan na ang natawag, ngunit hindi ko ito masyadong binibigyan ng pansin dahil hindi ko naman sila gustong makapareha. Hindi rin naman nabubunot ang aking pangalan. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. There's only one more person I was looking forward to.
It's Archer.
But his surname's Velarde so, he'd be one of the last students to be called. Kung hindi man ako kay Jerome napunta, sana naman ay sa kanya na lang. It would be a great leap of step to my plan even if we annoy each other so bad.
"Ariolla, Keiandra."
I was dumbfounded when I suddenly heard my name being called. I looked up to the front and to my horror, I saw Hope standing there and holding a piece of paper while staring at me.
Did she just call my name?
"Ha?"
"It seems like you just snapped out from a daydream, Ms. Ariolla," pabirong sabi ni Ma'am Perez at nagtawanan ang aking mga kaklase. "Ikaw ang nabunot ni Ms. Fantiago. You two are partners for this project."
Kung kanina ay para akong pinagbagsakan ng langit at lupa, ngayon naman ay tuluyan nang gumuho ang aking mundo.
I was ready to settle for my other classmates, but that doesn't include Hope.
I could already mark this day as the unluckiest day of my life because of this sudden turn of events. I never dreamed of being partnered to her. Iniisip ko pa lang na madalas kaming magkakasama para rito ay sumasakit na ang ulo ko. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi ko kakayanin ang makisama sa kanya. Nababaliw na ata ako.
"Velarde, Archer Mason."
Hindi ko na ako naging interesado sa kung sino man ang magiging partner ni Archer. What for? I already knew that it's not going to be me since, unfortunately, I was already picked.
"I'll return to the office of the Dean since we're not yet done with our discussion for the event," pagpapaalam ng aming propesor.
Can I also excuse myself because I'm also not yet done trying to process everything? Hindi ko pa rin tanggap na ito ang naging kapalaran ko.
Is this my punishment for being a very bad girl?
"Please proceed deciding on your topics with your partner. I'll be back ten minutes before our class ends to dismiss you properly."
Pagkasabi niya no'n ay muli siyang lumabas ng classroom, ngunit iniwan niya ang kanyang mga gamit sa teacher's table. Napahilamos ako sa aking mukha.
They all suddenly became busy because of the task that we need to do. Ako lang ata ang nanatili sa aking upuan at hindi gumagalaw o nagsasalita.
Just one look at my face, you could already see that I'm not very pleased with this situation.
"Hi."
Isang malambing na tinig ang bumalot sa aking tainga. Hindi ko na kailangang lingunin pa ang may-ari ng boses na 'yon. Kilalang-kilala ko na kung sino.
Trying to act nice as possible, I used all my hidden acting skills before I turned to face her with a smile.
"Hi, I'm Keia," I introduced myself and even offered my hand.
She chuckled sweetly. "I believe we don't need any formal introductions since we already know each other but, hello, I'm Hope."
In the end, she accepted my hand.
Gustong-gusto kong umirap. Makikipagkamay rin naman pala, ang dami-dami pang sinasabi!
"Shall we begin with our brainstorming?"
Syempre ay pumayag ako dahil hindi puwedeng hindi. Kung puwede sanang makipagbrainstorming na lang ako sa sarili ko.
She casually sat beside me and opened her laptop. She even had a notepad with her. You could tell that she's really serious when it comes to her studies.
"Our professor told us to have two topics which should be related to each other," she began lecturing me about the research paper. "I suggest that we should have individual topics to work on para mas mapabilis tayo. And then, once we're done researching on each topic, let's create a diagram to identify and enumerate its similarities and differences. Are you okay with that?"
Lutang pa rin ang aking isipan kaya hindi ako agad nakasagot. Nang nilingon niya ako ay saka lang ako ngumiti at tumango.
"To be honest, I'm actually worried being partnered with you," she admitted while noting down different topics on her notepad. "But I hope you'll do your best on this research. If there's anything you don't know or you can't do, don't hesitate to ask me about it. I'll help you as much as I can."
I processed and took those words as a declaration of war. A fire of determination started to ignite in my soul. My brain suddenly functioned like how it used to.
They said she's naturally kind, but her kindness was out of the line. She didn't have to belittle me before offering her help. She said those things because she wanted me to know that she'd be acting as our leader even if it's only by partners.
I know she's an achiever, but I was, too! Did she actually know that I graduated secondary education with honors?
Sadyang hindi lang ako nagseseryoso ngayon, pero kung gagawin ko ay baka hindi ko lang siya mapantayan kundi mahihigitan ko pa.
"Then, let's start!" I said with conviction and snatched her notepad to check what she wrote down so far. "Let me borrow this for a while."
She had written down interesting topics. I have to admit that I already have a choice in mind.
"I'll take this one," I said and encircled a topic I wanted to work on before I pointed on another topic. "I suggest you take this one. It might seem unrelated, but if we would be able to prove the existing variables between these two, there'd be a possible correlation."
I looked at her when I didn't get any response from her. She had her forehead creased while trying to decipher what I've said. Medyo naaasiwa pa ako dahil mukhang hindi siya naniniwala sa sinasabi ko. She was clearly doubting me with that expression.
I clenched my jaw and gritted my teeth. I was getting pretty impatient.
Mabuti na lang at bago pa ako sumabog ay nakita ko siyang tumatango-tango. I didn't want her to know how relieved I was, but I couldn't help but to sigh. Lumuwag ang pakiramdam ko at muli akong kumalma.
"It seems risky, but I think it's worth the try. If we could pull this off then, we might get a high grade," she said while still pondering about our topics. "We should also meet outside the campus. How 'bout once we finish our individual parts? Is that okay with you?"
"Sure!" I said since I didn't want to make any mistakes. It's better if we'd meet for the diagram. "We can do it in my house."
"No problem with me," she said. "But can we do it on Saturday morning 'til afternoon? We have a flight at 11PM on Saturday for my sister's wedding on Sunday. Hindi rin ako makakapasok ng Monday dahil hapon pa ang dating namin dito sa Manila. Tuesday na lang ang mayroon tayo para mafinalize ang lahat."
I always go to the hospital every Saturday, but I guess I had to skip it this week. Sana lang ay hindi magtampo sa akin si lola. Puwede rin naman ay gabi na lang ako bibisita sa kanya kapag umalis na si Hope. If only she wouldn't attend a family event and go out of town, I would never adjust my schedule for her.
"Okay..." sabi ko na lang dahil wala na akong magagawa.
Muli siyang ngumiti sa akin at saka sinimulan na ang pagre-research sa kanyang topic. She was scanning a lot of academic papers on different websites. Gusto ko na ring umpisahan, pero mas makakagawa ako nang maayos sa bahay. There's a lot of distraction here at school and that includes Jerome who's looking at me right now.
Nagtaas siya ng kilay sa akin, tila nang-iinis dahil alam niyang hindi ko gusto ko ang naging kapareha ko. Kinuot ko ang aking noo at saka nilabas ang aking cellphone upang magtipa ng mensahe para sa kanya.
To: Jerome
You should've picked me!
Nang muli akong mag-angat ng tingin sa kanya ay napababa naman siya sa kanyang cellphone. He must be reading my message now.
I was waiting for any response, but after he read my text, he just dropped his phone on the table and grinned widely while staring on the board — acting like he was reading something.
"You should start researching now as well. Did you bring your laptop with you?" Hope told me when she realized I still wasn't doing anything while she's very busy.
"I didn't," I simply answered. "Sa bahay ko na sisimulan. I don't like researching here at school."
Kung simple-simpleng pagre-research lang ang gagawin ay baka ginawa ko na nga 'yon dito sa school. However, an intensive research is needed for this one. Lalo na kung gusto kong talunin si Hope sa individual parts namin, kailangan kong magseryoso at pagbutihan.
She sighed and looked disappointed because of what I said. "Please work on it as soon as possible. We can't afford to work leisurely since we don't have enough time," she told me. "And also, please save your dates on different dates. Kahit after na ng research natin."
Kinagat ko ang aking ibabang labi sa sobrang gigil.
This girl has horns hidden so well. Naturally kind my ass.
"She's rude! She's so proud of herself! She's ugh!!!"
Sharry was stuck with me once again to hear my rants. That's why I was really thankful every time we have same period of breaks.
"Alam mo wala akong pakialam kung masama ka, pero kung nagpapanggap kang mabuti pero masama ka naman pala, iyon ang nakakainis," nanggagalaiti kong sabi. "I really hate people like her. Pakiramdam ko ay mahi-highblood ako!"
"Well, I think someone's here to push your buttons even more," makahulugan niyang sabi. "Maghahanda na ba ako ng medic dahil baka tuluyan ka na ngang mahighblood?"
My forehead creased and was about look behind me when someone just casually sat beside me. Gulat ako nang makita si Zymond na nakaupo sa tabi ko. May mga iilan nang kumukuha kaagad ng litrato sa amin.
"Z-Zymond..." naiilang kong pagbanggit sa kanyang pangalan, gulat sa kanyang biglaang presensya.
"Hi," he enthusiastically greeted me back.
Yes! No doubt!
This is really the unluckiest day ever recorded in my life's history.
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