By Twin_Luna
[ SOMEONE’S POV ]
“WHAT?!”
Gulantang na tanging naibulalas ko pagkatapos kong marinig ang inilahad ni Auntie Jasmine, na gusto nitong mangyari na kailangan kong gawin.
“Hijo, this is the only chance for me to get close to the kid. And I want you to help me. Alam mo naman ang ginawang pagkukulang ng pinsan mo diba? At ang gusto ko ako ang pumuno o pupuno sa pagkukulang iyon, at sa kahit anong paraan gagawin ko mapunan lamang ang mga panahong hindi nagawang harapin at panindigan ng anak ko ang iniwan nyang responsibilidad sa mag-ina nya.”
Tila nagmamakaawa pang salaysay ng Ginang.
“A-are you sure about that, Tita? You knew from the start, it isn’t my real profession, so how can I—”
(Papaano ko nga ba gagampanan ang pagiging isang guro? Urgh!) *Sigh*
“Besides, I really don’t know how to handle kids. Okay, I like kids ’cause I always wanted to have one. But a dozen of them and more— Ghad! I don’t think I can make it.”
Hinilot-hilot ko ang aking sintido dahil naiimagine ko na ang aking sarili kung paano ako mangungunsumi sa mga batang magiging estudyante ko kung saka-sakali.
“Naroon na tayo, Hijo. I know that it isn’t your cup of tea bcoz you’re a successful business man. But in these kind of job you can still use your skills to handle the situation. And I’m really sure that I can still count on you, Hijo. So please, just this one. I’m begging you,”
Nakikiusap pang anya at hindi nakatakas sa aking paningin ang pagpatak ng butil ng luha sa mata nito. I inhaled again at marahas na napabuga ng hangin.
Naaawa ngunit naiiling na niyakap ko na lamang ito.
“’kay fine. I—*Sigh* I will see about it. Don’t worry Tita, I’ll do what I can do. I’ll try also, but hope so this will not going to be hard. (And hope I can make it)”
Pagpapagaan ko pa sa kalooban nito at hinimas-himas ko rin ang likod nito. I just can’t believe na ang magulang pa ang kailangang magdusa dahil sa kapalpakan at kapabayaang nagawa ng kanilang anak. *Sighed*
Maybe I’m still thankful bcoz I didn’t still tie a knot with someone. So I still enjoying my life to the fullest of being a single. But I’m still thinking about it, of having my own family in the right time. I shrugged my shoulder afterward.
(Fast forward…)
At sa napagkasunduan namin ni Auntie Jasmine. I just need to be a substitute teacher for the adviser of a grade 2 students in SouthVille Elem. And it’s a private school! So, the mother still can afford to enroll her child to one of the prestigious school here, eh? *Shrug*
Maybe Aunt’ Jasmine just over thinking and reacting too much. Dahil mukhang hindi naman naghihirap ang taong nagawang balewalain ng kanyang pinsan before the accident happened. *Sighed*
But maybe, Aunt’Jasmine just wanted to make it sure and make the move to get closed to the child she was saying. At hanga rin ako sa babaing ‘yon kahit hindi ko pa sya nakakaharap o nakikilala man lang. Bcoz she’s really brave and strong. Ni hindi nya man lang nagawang maghabol at ipaglaban ang karapatan nya, lalo na ng bata. Instead, sinalo nya ang lahat ng kahihiyan at sinolo ang napakabigat na responsibility to raise her child alone. What a wonderful woman!
Bcoz Aunt’ also told me that the woman was living alone dahil ulila na raw ito sa mga magulang at ni wala rin ito ni nakababatang kapatid man lang. So, how can she earned money to buy their needs and how did she support her child to get to a private school? That’s the things I want to discover myself. Let’s see… And tomorrow’s the starting of me being a teacher. Tss!
At the SouthVille Elem. School…
I am now heading to the office of the Dean/principal/the owner of the school to get my schedule and requirements for duty. See, he really lots of responsibilities here. *Iling, iling…*
And btw. He’s my Uncle Gary. The older brother of my Dad and Aunt’ Jasmine. At dahil maaga syang nabiyudo nagawa nya na lamang ituon ang halos lahat ng oras nya sa pagmamanage ng school na pag-aari nila at sa dalawa nyang anak na ngayon ay ang panganay nya naman ang kasalukuyang nagmamanage sa pagpapatakbo nang naiwan ng kanyang deceased wife na sariling business nito. And Tyrone is also my business partner, and yes I have shares to their company even I also managed my own business. At dahil nga sa kasunduan at napag-usapan namin ni Tita, kailangan ko talagang pagsabayin ang pagtatrabaho sa kompanya at sa pagiging substitute teacher. *Sighed*
Sana lang hindi pumuti ang mga buhok ko ng mas maaga nito.
“Wazzup, Uncle? Btw, I’m here to get my schedule and to know the information about her,”
Pambungad ko pagkapasok sa opisina nito.
“Oh Hijo. Hmm… Is really Jasmine need to do these?”
Paniniguro nya pa habang inaayos ang suot niyang eye glasses.
“Well… What can you say Uncle? *Shrug* you know Tita, she’ll do anything to get what she wants but not in a selfish way, I know,”
I sighed again.
“Hmm, maybe Jasmine just wanted to have closure with what happened and she just want to meet the kid, I guess.”
“Yes, Uncle. That’s why I’m here.”
Pagkikibit balikat ko pang muli.
“Oh, about that. You know, I didn’t still can’t believe that one of the students here in my school is my grandniece!”
“And you also won’t believe it, Hijo. You know that every year we’re looking for the student who’ll get accelerated, will have the full scholarship in this school, right? And I’m so proud bcoz the only one got it is no other than your niece!”
Napapalatak pang pagbibida nito na tila hindi parin makapaniwala. Wala sa loob na napahugot naman ako ng aking hininga. Dahil hindi ko rin napigilang humanga rito. Wow, just wow! That kid is really something, at hindi na kataka-taka na isa nga talaga syang Luxewell. That’s our family name. And yes, nasa lahi namin ang sobrang katalinuhan. But I doubt it kung nakuha ba talaga iyon ng magaling kong pinsan at nagawa nya ang walang kwentang bagay na iyon. *Sighed*
Naipilig ko na lang din ang aking ulo.
(Fast forward…)
And now I’m here in front of the doorway of the classroom, which would be my second office for the meantime. And now is the time that I’ll gonna introduce myself to my so called students. And I also already talked to the real adviser of them and he also warned me about his students. That I might have my self composure and most of all… I must be ready at kailangan na kailangan ko raw nang mahabang pasensya. So, dapat na ba akong magback-out?
Fine! But I really have to do this! For my Auntie. *Inhale/exhale*
Inayos ko rin saglit ang suot-suot kong salamin to make me look formal and very professional, dahil hindi ako maaaring magmukhang bad boy but instead becoming a really decent looking guy. Napasimangot tuloy ako nang wala sa oras. Nabahiran na tuloy ang signature looked ko. But I’ll make sure that I’m still a heart captured looking guy and yes not only on the eyes. *Wink*
And when I already open the door. Sumalubong sa akin ang sobrang ingay at nagkakagulong mga estudyante o mga bata na akala mo’y naglalako lamang sa divisorya at nakikipag-agawan sa mga paninda.
“Hoy, akin yan— no this is mine!”
“Hey, what are you doing to my notebook?! Give it back!”
“Huwahh..! Jj punch me, huhuhuh… Mommy!”
“Ay ano ba yan, hwag ka ngang magulo!”
“Blehh, akin na’to.”
“No, that’s mine! Give it back, isusumbong kita—”
“WHATTHEF*CK!”
Salubong ang kilay na tanging naibulalas ko at hindi ko pa naiwasang mapapikit lalo nang may tumama pa sa noo kong crumpled paper. As in what the h*ck?! Is this really a higher section of a grade 2 pupils? I know naroon na tayo that they’re just a kids. But— Jezz! Hindi ba naturuan ng magandang asal ang mga ito ng kanilang mga magulang sa bahay at parang mga dagang nakawala sa hawla kung umasta at kumilos ang mga ito? Wala sa loob na napatampal ako sa aking noo.
At napansin ko namang sandaling tumahimik ang mga ito at tumigil sa kani-kanilang ginagawa at nakatuon na ang paningin sa akin ng iba kahit nasa iba parin ang pansin ng mga tila nag-aaway na mga bata.
Ngunit marahil hindi inaasahan ng mga ito ang pagdating ko o lalo na siguro sa pagsigaw ko’t pagmumura. My bad.
“S-sino po kayo?”
Pagtatanong pa ng isang nerd na batang babae.
“What is the f*ct?”
Segunda naman ng isang medyo chubby na batang lalaki. Napahugot naman ako ng aking hininga dahil sa narinig. *Gulp*
“Ah— uhm, nothing. By the way kids, listen! I am now your new teacher for the meantime bcoz your former teacher won’t come until he get well soon. Bcoz he’s sick right now. So, I hope we can make it and do this together.”
(Ang pagkakasakit kuno raw ni Mr. Adviser ang kailangan...