15 Chapter 15: Essay

[Airish Laxamana]

"Ms. Laxamana stand up." Maayos akong tumayo at tumingin sa prof.

"Give one business law and kindly elaborate it."

"Tax Reform Act of 1997 (Republic Act No. 8424) –which amended the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) is the law that governs the national taxation in the Philippines and gives the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) the power and duty to assess and collect national internal revenue taxes in the country." Sagot ko.

"Then, why do we need to have a business law?" Ako lang ba ang estudyante dito? Why is he asking too many questions?

"To avoid punishments, charges and penalties from the government or authorities that are implementing and enforcing them."

"Then?" Ako nanaman? Napabuntong hininga ako.

"Some of these laws are not only created to obligate business owners to do their duties but they are also made to obligate the government to protect these business owners. To make sure we are doing business legally and to know the decrees that give our business a protection and privileges. CAN I SIT NOW?" Narinig ko ang biglaang pagtawa ng mga kaklase ko na ikinaupo ko na. This Business Law is killing me...

"Ang galing mo." Napatingin ako kay Pey. "Ako kasi mahina akong magmemorize :< Tapos hindi pa ako makasabay sa klase. You can call me an Airhead person pero umuoo lang ako sa sinasabi ng prof kahit na hindi ko talaga alam 'yong dinidiscuss niya—"

"MS. MORALES." Napatingin si Pey sa professor. "Yes po?"

"Ano ulit ang Commercial Law?" Nag-iba ang mukha ni Pey na ikinaiwas ko ng tingin. Gustuhin ko man siyang tawanan pero hindi ko magawa. I don't want to embarrass her.

"Commercial Law Sir? Type po ng palabas sa T.V?" Napatakip ako sa mukha ko. Seriously? Palabas sa T.V? Pfft... This is hilarious!

"Are you listening Ms. Morales?" Ibinaba ko ang takip papuntang bibig ko. "Yes Sir." My eyes widened for a second as I see her biting her lower lips.

"Then why can't you answer my question?"

"M-mental block Sir."

"Ano bang pinag-uusapan niyo ni Ms. Laxamana?" Am I involve? I don't even remember that I talk back to Pey.

"Sabi ko lang Sir magaling siyang magmemorize :'<<" College na ba talaga ang babaeng 'to?

"FOCUS ON MY CLASS MS. MORALES, LAGI KANG BAGSAK SA QUIZ KO. DO YOU FIND MY SUBJECT FUNNY? LISTEN WHILE I'M DISCUSSING KUNG AYAW MONG IBAGSAK KITA SA KLASE KO!" Napahinto ako at napatayo. "MR. ENRIQUEZ, You don't have the rights to shout at your students." He smirks as he looks at me.

"Hindi ako sisigaw kung wala siyang ginawang mali Ms. Laxamana."

"What's her fault?"

"She's talkative and she's always an absentminded student. She didn't get my lessons and she's a happy go lucky student. What a shame, Model pa naman ang batang 'yan. PINAPAHIYA NIYA LANG ANG BUONG SCHOOL."

"Is it her fault if you're A BORING TEACHER?" Sumama naman ang itsura ng mukha niya at napatiimbagang siya. Ngumiti ako ng bahagya habang napatingin ako kay Pey.

"WHAT?!"

"IF YOUR STUDENT FIND YOUR SUBJECT HARD, THEN BE STRATEGIC."

"IF SHE'S REALLY LISTENING TO MY LESSON THEN SHE CAN RECITE."

"Recitations doesn't prove anything. CATCHING THE ATTENTIONS OF YOUR STUDENTS IS THE BEST MR. ENRIQUEZ. NOW, IF YOU HAD THAT ATTITUDE OF YOURS, BETTER FIND ANOTHER JOB."

"You're mother recommends me here. I thought you're well mannered—"

"You're fired." Sabay upo ko. Hindi ko talaga ugali ang magsisante. Pero, sa simula palang ng klase ay marami nang umaayaw sa ugali ni Mr. Enrique's dahil marahas siya magsalita. He's always shouting at his students. Akala mo siya nagpapakain sa mga estudyanteng nandito.

"I'll tell this to your—"

"Leave," Bagot Kong sambit kasabay nito ang pagtunog ng bell. Dinuro niya ako bago siya umalis sa room.

"ALL HAIL AIRISH!" Sigaw ng mga estudyante. Napatingin ako kay Kaijin na nakangiti sakin. Iniiwas ko ang tingin ko at binuksan ang notebook ko.

"What if my contract is finish?"

"Then it's finish but we will stay in being friends."

"Can I refuse to that?"

"What? Why?"

"BECAUSE I WANTED TO FALL FOR YOU."

"AND I WANT TO LOVE YOU."

Napatakip ako sa mukha ko. Tingin ko ay umabot ang init sa pisnge ko habang naaalala ang sinabi niya kahapon. Anong nagtulak sa kanya para sabihin ang mga salitang 'yon? Is he fucking crazy?

"AIRISH, HELLO~" Napatingin ako sa kamay na nasa harapan ko. Napatingin ulit ako kay Pey.

"Salamat." Ngiti niya na ikinatango ko. I just can't see her being embarrassed on just a low reason.

"Airish," My eyes widened as she moves closer. Fuck, what the hell is she doing?!

"MOVE." Marahan kong itinulak ang balikat niya na ikinanguso niya. "Yayakapin lang kita ehh!"

"You're not allowed." Dumating na ang next professor kaya nagsimula na ulit ang klase. After the class, our professor gives a task.

"This will consist of 4 members, you need to write an essay about Cost and Management Accounting. And it should be 4,000 words. You can always makes an effort in this essay. Ang makapagpasa sakin sa September 4 ay exempted na sa project in this 1st Quarter. You're free to choose your group. That's all." Saktong pagkaalis ng teacher ay ang pagpili ng mga estudyante nang makakagrupo nila.

I didn't bother to stand dahil gusto kong magsolo. This fucking task reminds me of someone that I SHOULD FORGET.

"May kagrupo kana?" Did she see me stand?

I didn't bother to answer. Sana makuha niya ang pagtahimik ko.

"Malungkot kapag solo ka."

"Chief, be my groupmate." Napatingin ako kay Kaijin. Did he just invite me to be his groupmate?

"No." Mabilis kong tanggi na ikinakunot ng noo niya.

"Wala pa akong kagrupo." Tinignan ko si Kaijin. "Kay Pey ka makigrupo." Tumayo ako tsaka kinuha ang wallet ko.

Nauna na akong umalis. Pagkapunta ko ng cafeteria ay agad akong umorder. Saktong paglapag ko ng order ay ang pagtunog ng cellphone ko.

'Incoming Call: Mom' I answers it as I placed it on my ears. I sit as I sip my coffee.

"Sweety, why did you fired Mr. Enriquez? He's a well mannered teacher." Ang bilis naman makarating ng balita.

"I don't want him." I simply answers. "But, I hired him—"

"I gotta go mother." Binabaan ko siya ng tawag at nagpokus ako sa pagkain.

Pagkatapos kong kumain ay dumagundong ang pintuan ng cafeteria kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.

"AIRISH LAXAMANA WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?!" Did he just cuss on me? Tumayo ako at napairap sa hangin. Too much attention... I fucking hate this...

Agad siyang pumunta sa lugar ko. "May problema kaba?!" Paano niya naman nasabing may problema ako?

"None," He gets my hands as he looks directly in my eyes. "YOU'LL BE TEAMING UP WITH US." Nakita ko naman ang pagdating ni Pey at ng isa pang babae.

"Really?" Nakangisi ko pang tanong. "YES. FUCKING REALLY." Hindi siya nagpatinag sa tinginan namin kaya sa huli, ako na ang tumango.

"YAY!" Napailag ako ng yayakapin na ako ni Pey. Bago siya sumubsob sa lamesa ay hinawakan ko ang kamay at ang sikmura niya. I guided her so that she can stand properly.

"Be careful." Tumango siya at tinawag ang isang babaeng kasama niya. "Nadine tara!" The girl steps as she smiles on me.

"I'm Nadine Fontana." She looks at Kaijin while she arrange her hair. She stands straight as she smiles. Looks like someone is interested on my slave.

"Apat na tayo." Pey smiles as she held my hands while looking at me. ONLY IN ME. She didn't even take a glance to Nadine or Kaijin.

Does she wants something on me?

"Chief, take responsibility." Napatingin ako kay Kaijin. "I'm hungry." Napairap ako. Sino bang may kasalanan? Ako?

"Then eat." Nauna akong umalis at sumabay sakin si Pey. "What do you want?" Her eyes widened as she blush.

"You...You remind me of my childhood crush..." Wait.. What? Is she mistaken me for a boy?

"You have 1 minute." Sumandal ako sa pader habang nakaharap ako sa kanya. "The way you guided me... Parehas na parehas kayo ng ginawa. When I held your hands? I started to feel something deep in my chest..." Now, this is interesting.

"Airish?" Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Tomboy kaba?" Napayuko ako at napahawak sa mukha ko. "Pfft... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHA!" My laugh echoes in the hallway. I DIDN'T FUCKING EXPECT THIS! THIS IS WAY TOO FUNNY!

"Bakit moko tinatawanan? Seryoso kaya ako! May pagkacool ka kasi tapos nakakakilig ka pa gumalaw, kaya naisip ko kung

tomboy kaba." So she's saying that she's attracted to my moves? This is hilarious! Hindi ako sumagot at ginulo ko ang buhok niya. She makes me laugh so loud.

"Teka, kakasuklay ko lang ehh!"

"Airish?" Napatingin ako kay Venice. She was smiling as she walks towards us. Inalis niya ang kamay ko sa buhok ni Pey.

"Klase mo na diba?" Venice ask so I look at my clock. "I forgot," Sambit ko at dali-daling pumasok.

Saktong magkasabay lang kami ng professor kaya pumasok na ako.

But then, I fucking realize... Did I just leave Kaijin with that Nadine?

Habang nagdidiscuss ang professor ay tsaka pumasok sina Kaijin, Nadine, at Pey. Pey was in Kaijin's seat while Kaijin is seating besides me.

"What did you do?" Tanong ko sa kanya. "Ayokong magselos ka." He simply said. Kanino naman ako magseselos?

"Katabi ko si Nadine so I ask Pey if she can give me a favor."

"Nadine's been flirting with me but I ignore her."

"Do you know why?" He smiles as he pats my head.

"Dahil kahit ilang babae pa ang lumakad o maghubad papunta sa harapan ko Ikaw at Ikaw parin ang PIPILIIN KO."