Take Me Down, Professor

"Why are you late again?"That was the question that the new professor asked me the moment I entered the room. Oh well, he's not just a professor but also a curmudgeon. My patience with him has long since worn thin. Palagi na lang niyang pinupuna ang lates and absences ko at tuwing pumapasok ako sa klase, he makes a fool out of me, pero wala akong pakialam. I will not stop this. They started this war. Gagawin ko ang gusto ko, no matter how much he humiliates me. He is unyielding in his complaints, but I won't make any changes to myself. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang mabilis nilang papalitan si Professor Sybill ng isang lalaking wala pa sa talampakan ng taong mahal ko. At sa paraan kung paano niya ako kausapin, tingnan, it was obvious that he possessed a high level of arrogance. Akala niya ba napakagaling niya? When it comes to teaching calculus, no one is better than Professor Sybill!Walang kaabog-abog akong pumasok sa klase and pretended that Ismael Mondalla's presence didn't both

As soon as I sat down at the bar counter, the bartender immediately asked what I wanted. Tequila will do. I will just drink that until I pass out.I looked around. Hindi naman ako sanay sa mga ganitong lugar. This is something that Sybill taught me when we were here celebrating his birthday together, and now, what in the world was I thinking to choose to go here when all I will remember is him? Such a bad idea.Napabuntong-hininga ako habang ang mga alaala namin ni Sybill ay bumabalik sa isip ko. Maging ang lahat ng mga pinagsamahan namin. I missed him so much. How awful it was for me that he vanished out of nowhere like a bubble, and I was left sitting here like an idiot, hindi sigurado kung babalik pa ba siya. Ni hinid ko mahanap sa sarili ko ang pigilang umasa. Pakiramdam ko babalik pa siya, that he would stop by my room again at some point during the night, but he never showed up since then. Sana madali siyang kalimutan, but I don't think I have the right to do that either. Umaasa

"He is not who I am."I was startled awake by the sound of a low voice. I was so tired that it just hit me that I fell asleep in the class. I looked around while dabbing at the corner of my eyes that was filling up with tears and wiped away the rest of it. Napansin kong ako na lang ang naiwan sa classroom. So it was only a dream the whole time? Was I just dreaming of Professor Sybill?I felt a huge amount of sadness in my chest; even my throat was being blocked by something. My loneliness is suffocating me."It looks like you're awake now."I almost leaped when I heard a voice coming from behind me. Nang lingunin ko ito, I found Professor Ismael seated behind me on the chair. He was looking at me."You came to my class intoxicated and late, and all you did was nod off," litanya niya. I heaved a sigh. Para akong nawalan ng enerhiya at tinamad na makipagtalo sa kaniya. Masyado akong kinain ng hinagpis dahil sa panaginip ko kanina, idagdag pa ang pantasyang hindi ko na mararanasan sa tuna

Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang sundin si Ismael. I was following his steps kahit hindi ko alam kung saan kami papunta. Tsk. Ano bang kailangan niya sa akin?"Get inside my office."Napatingin ako sa pintong tinutukoy niya. Ito ang opisina ni Professor Sybill. Bumigat ang paghinga ko. Bumabalik sa alaala ko ang lahat maging ang pangungulila ko sa kaniya.Ismael noticed that I wasn't in myself kaya hinawakan niya ang doorknob at binuksan ang pinto para sa akin. Nauna siyang pumasok habang ako'y nagdadalawang isip pa kung tutuloy sa loob. Ang hirap palang pumunta sa lugar na madalas mong puntahang kasama ang taong mahal mo ngayong hindi mo na siya kasama."Sit," utos pa ni Ismael kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya habang nakataas ang aking kilay. Napapansin kong para niya akong ginagawang aso, ah. Ang daming utos!"Why would I?" tanong ko."Then, just stand there. Sino bang mangangalay?"Umupo siya sa harapan ko kung nasaan ang table niya. Nakita ko ang nameplate ng pangalan niya. Anong

"Miss Alvandra!" rinig kong sigaw ni Ismael mula sa malayo pero hindi ko siya pinansin. Patuloy lang ako sa maya't mayang pagbubukas ng pinto.I hold the doorknob of the last room. I felt the strong energy that the someone I was looking for is inside. I breathed out and was about to open the door when a warm hand stopped me."Let go of my hand, Ismael," I commanded as I stared into his eyes. "I don't know what you're trying to do but can you step out of my way?"Inalis ko ang kamay niya at binuksan ang pinto but it was locked."Nakakaabala ka lang sa guests. Let's get out of here."Umiling ako. "No, get the keys. He's inside, Ismael.""No, Miss Alvandra. This is enough. You need to calm down."Nakatingin ako sa kaniya nang pagalawin ko ang kamay ko. I knocked on the door. Many times. At wala nang nagawa pa si Ismael kundi panoorin na lang ako.Pigil-hininga kong pinagmasdan ang pintong unti-unting bumubukas habang nananalangin na sana ay naroon si Professor Sybill pero para akong pina