Kabanata 4: “You're hired!”

Much has changed. The world feels different now. In the past, I used to be captivated by the beuaty of the clouds. They seemed to be so lively, so bright that it always engaging in coversation. But now? I can’t even bear t0 glance at them.

Hindi sa ayaw kung tignan, kundi ang dating laging kasama ko sa tuwing tinitignan ko ang langit ay ngayon wala na. Hindi ko inaasahan na siya na ang tinitingala ko sa itaas.

It sounds so crazy how the world continues, and looked so fine after I’ve lost half of my soul.

“Ma’am gising na po-

My eyes moved to my phone. Hindi ko napansin ilang minuto na ba akong tulala na hindi na napansin si Ava.

“Yes, manang! Gising na oh! Can’t you hear? I’m talking!!”

She called me early in the morning because she’s worried. I mean silang lahat worried pero alam kung wala na silang magawa pa dahil desisyon ko ito.

“Ava,papatayin ko-

“Huh?” Tumingin siya sa akin. ‘Ano?”

I smirked while looking at her, habang ako papunta sa school ito siya nasa kama pa at waalang balak bumangon.

 “Papatayin ko na ang tawag,” Ulit ko.  “Sure ka na ba na maaga siya?

I was referring to that teacher, Mr. Jackson. Siya lang naman ang susi ko today.

She yawned, and smiled at me.

“Yes girl. He is known for being terror and too strict kaya everyone knows where he is...you know...para alam saan magmamakaawa sa grades at..isa na ako doon.”

She chuckled.

“What about my twin?” I asked curiously. I’ve realized na my twin and I really never talked about school stuff at all. We just used our time talking random silly things at hindi na nagtanong ng iba’t – ibang bagay.

“Shells is the smartest of all kaya wala siyang problema sa lahat ng subjects! Grabe, she helped us-

“Ava,” Putol ko sa kanya. May marami pa sana siyang sasabihin pero pinutol ko na agad dahil nagsisimula na naman siyang dumaldal. Ngumingiti siya at hinabol pa ang hininga.  

“Yes?”

“I’ll go now.”

“oh? Right! Sorry sobrang daldal ko ba?”

Tumawa siya.

Tumango ako. “Thanks by the way...”

She nodded and waved at me. I ended the call. I know she wanted to talk more with me and, Terry said na minsan na ding magsleep-over si Ava sa condo ng kapatid ko and they were the closest, too.

The Satsa girls are really pretty at hindi din halata na mayaman dahil sa pananamit or maybe the way they humbled theirselves.

Ava is the most kikay of all na may shining shimmering sa mukha. I mean she’s glowing. Sharon is the second kikay pero hindi siya nagma-make-up unlike Ava. Terry is yung the classsy one and whatever outfits suit her very well. And, last Antonia naman yung medyo conseervative and boyish but has really the best curve.

And, I’m wearing a highwaist jean, and polo pink shirt. Hindi pa tirik ang araw ay uamlis na ako sa condo ko.

Nandito ako nakatayo sa labas ng cofee shop dahil hindi pa open ang kanilang store.Hindi na ganoong madilim at wala pang estudyante pero may guard na. Tumingin pa ito banda ko pero binalik agad ang tingin sa ginagawa.

Ilng minuto lang ay may dumating na isang studyanteng babae, sumunod naman dalawang lalaki hanggang sa unti-unti na silang dumami. The sky is now clear, and I don’t have to check on them becuase around is so bright. The night has ended, and it was the day’s turn to shine.

 May iba na napapatingin na sa banda ko or maybe I was weird dahil nakatanaw ako sa kanila?

Napatingin ako sa kaliwa ng narinig ang ingay galing ng sasakyan. It was a big bike. Nakita ko pa ang ibang studyante na tumatakbo.

Who is the owner behind that? I’ve seen expensive and luxurious cars but never seen big bike at all.

Pero bigla akong kinabahan ako ng bigla itong huminto at tumingin sa banda ko. Unti-unti itong tinanggal ang helmet. Nahulog ang panga ko sa nakita.

It was the teacher, Sir Jackson. I...didn’t expect him to ride like that. But, I never imagined that he would be the one riding that big bike. Hindi sa judgemental pero he’s too old for that or maybe I expectd him to ride an old car or a bike.

Pero bakit nagsi-sir ako sa kanya hindi ko naman siya guro.

Parang namu-mukhaan niya ako. Huminto talaga at tumingin sa akin. Hindi na ako nagpaligoy-ligoy pa at lumapit na ako sa kanya. Hindi naman siya umalis parang naghihintay ata din na lumapit ako.

“Good Monring, Sir.” I greeted with a smile the moment I was infront of him.

“You’re here.” Amaze yang tugon sa akin. Tumingin siya sa likod ko at binalik agad ang tingin sa akin.“You went here for a coffee or business?”

I shook my head. His aura seems lively staring at me.

“I was thinking about your job offer, Sir kaya nandito-

“Oh! That’s good!” He cut me off, excitedly. “Why don’t you follow me inside the campus? Don’t worry, I will tell the guard that you are working under me.”

Indeed, nakapasok nga. Isang salita lang ay nakapasok agad ako.

Randam ko na ang hangin na gusto kung malanghap. Hindi ko alam ang kahihinatnan nito pero alam ko na hindi ako uuwi na hindi nasasaktan ang isang yun. I just want him to hurt na yung sakit na hindi na makakabangon.

“I have my own office nasa computer labaratory, and we will go there.” Inform niya sa akin.

He seem kind and approachable or maybe I am not his student that’s why. Satsa girls mention that Sebastian doesn’t like him becuase he got a red mark to him and that’s the reason bakit galit na galit siya the last time he saw him.

It’s good. Sebastian have to do something or do activity to Jackson then makikita niya ako.

He opened the door, and there’s a small table there.

Tumingin siya sa akin. He smiled. “This is my office. I handled all the ccomputer and ICT subjects. Maupo ka muna.”

He offered a seat at umupo na ako. Umupo din naman siya habang nilagay ang bag sa table.

“I will inform the teacher, and the head about this,”

I nodded. Ngayon napapaisip ako bakit sa dami bakit ako ang hinire niya.

“What is my work, sir?”

“Marami kasi akong iche-check na grades, testpapers, assigments and project. The last time that I let the sutdent do this work, they mark it perfect. Even sa testpaper? Kahit maraming wrong, ginawa pa ring perfect.”

Ah, so that’s the reason huh?

“I’m hoping na hindi ka magbibigay ng perfec score unless perfect talaga?” He said in a playful tone. Ngumisi ako.

“I’m really perfectionist Sir. I give those who is deserbing of a perfect score, sir.”

“Then, I found the perfect person! You’re hired!”

I smiled, happily. This is it. There’s no quitting on this.

Iginala ko ang room. It was the typical computer labaratory. May cctv footage din.

“What is your full name by the way?”

Napatingin ako sa kanya.  

“ID, too just in case the head will ask or the guard para hindi kana paulit-ulit na pupunta sa office for your identity.”

I nodded. I already planned this smoothly. May id na din ako ofcourse sa ibang pangalan din.

“I’m Astrid Asher, Sir.”

Tumayo na siya. “I have to attend the flag ceremony. You can stay stay here. May wifi password diyan sa ilalaim ng table. You can access it.”

Tuluyan na siyang umalis. Hindi din naman niya ni-lock ang pintuan. Pumunta ako sa table niya at may wifi-password nga. I typed in the password, and recived bunch of messages from the Satsa girls.

“Astrid, where are you? Nasa student longue kami.”

“Where are you? Nakapasok ka ba? Nasa cofee kami di ka namin nakita.”

“Hindi na ka nag-reply. We have to go to the gym na. Just chat us.”

I replied before I could change to my new f******k account.

“Nasa computer labaratory, ako. I have to change a new f******k account. I will chat you this afternoon pag-uwi ko.”

It took 1 hour and 20 minutes because Sir Jackson went back. I didn’t expect na sobrang dami din palang mga paperworks. We talked also the payroll kahit hindi ko na ito kailangan hindi na ako umayaw pa, ayaw ko namang magduda siya.

Umalis siya dahil may klase pa siya, babalik siya during noon break. He also advised me na kapag snack time ay pwede akong pumunta sa canteen. Tinuruan din ako kung saan ang canteen.

I was checking an essay paperwworks. Naka-tatlong section ako, and when the ring bells, ay iniwan ko na ito. I have 30 minutes to wander around.

Pumunta na ako sa canteen. Marami ang students na nakatingin sa akin. May mga students namang hindi naka-uniform pero bakit tingin ng tingin?

Nakalugay ang kulot kung buhok. I’m not born with curly hair but I love the way how the end of my hair curls fit beautifully to me.Sobrang bagay sa akin.

Nagmamasid pa ako pero walang nagpapakitang Sebastian sa akin. It took me 110 minutes to stay there, at naisipan kung umalis na.

“Hi.” I stopped when a group of boys went to me. Nakaharang sa daan ko. Ang nasa gitna ang naglakas na kumausap sa akin.

“We know your new here. We want to ask kung anong strand or saang building ka?”

“Yes,you seem new baka maligaw ka....” The other guy uttered, too.

I caught their playful eyes, and their smirk.

Lumukot ang mukha ko. Mas magugustuhan ko pa sila paglibro ang hawak o nagtratrabaho but like this? Acting like a damn spoiled kids.

“Not interested.” Bulong ko at iniwan silang nakanganga doon.

At, sa inaasahan nga naman. I saw the guy that I was looking for. Kahit nakatalikod alam kung siya yon. Naglalakad parang may sinusundan.

I smirked.

Hello, Mr. Casanova. Wala ka atang chicks ngayon?

Binilisan ko ang lakad ko. Pero unti ding nahulog ang mapangloko kung ngisi ng nakitang may bigla siyang kayakap. Nahinto ako habang nakatingin ng malayo sa kanila.

Sino naman ito? You really are busy with girls huh? Hindi mo nga mabisita ang kakambal ko! Heto ka maykayakapang iba at bago!

Akala ko simpleng yakapan lang but when the girl moved away Sebastian was quick to wipe those tears away.

Akala ko ba wala siyang girlfriend? Bakit ganito?

Tumalikod na ako. Ang puso ko ay nag-uumapaw sa galit. Antonia said before na hindi man lang siya nakabisita at nag-iinum lang noong burol ng kakambal ko.

You are really playful jerk. Hayop.

Tignan natin. Ngayon ikaw ang umaalo sa babaeng umiiyak ngayon ikaw naman ang papaiyakin ko. Hindi ako uuwing hindi ka makitang umiiyak. Sasaktan kita!