Prologue

IMs, lesson plans, SF 2, SF 1, advisers notebook, conference notebook and of course, I wouldn't forget the most essential weapon as I brace a new day of educational war-- my so maarte self. Yes, I am a grade school teacher and maarte by nature. And, as they say, as a teacher, I also serve as a role model kaya naman I am so proud of my pupils because they always tidy up themselves, the classroom and everything even at Grade 1 because they know na ayaw ko sa mga batang stinky and madudungis, they should practice proper hygiene, always. Above all, the girls in my class practice my maarte way of life while the boys my kaartehan is their standards for their ideal girl. Aren't my little angels adorable?

Knowing how disciplined and behave my pupils are, I can walk the facade like I'm on a runway, poised and maarte. Just like how you imagine it, normal na araw ng isang teacher na naglalakad towards her classroom receiving greetings from the school community, of course I greeted them in return. Nakaka-bad vibes kaya 'yong bumati ka but the person you greeted treated you like some thin air.

Now that I am a teacher, na realize ko na, yes there maybe times that I am also going through something but that doesn't give me the opportunity to ignore these people who try to pay me some respect by saying their greetings. Kaya mas napapaisip ako, why do some teachers just ignore these greetings? Then if you don't greet them they'll say your disrespectful? But if they don't greet you back or even nod or something to acknowledge you, it's okay? Gosh, what a logic, iyong mga ganitong eksena... kaya I get the point of the students' favourite teacher syndrome, can't blame them.

"Good morning, Teacher Rosey!" aw, what a sweet kid with such a sunshine smile.

I flipped my hair and return her warm smile.

"Good morning too, dear." The kid giggled. She's such a cutie with her blushing cheeks.

"I really love your maarte way of life, Teacher Rosey."

"Thank you. I love it as well."

"Someday, I want to be just like you..." She copied what I did before I greeted her back, "maarte, classy and smart."

"It's okay to be maarte so long as you don't overdo it and remember to always respect others, alright?"

I pinched her right cheek lightly, that made her giggle, just too cute. "Yes, Teacher Rosey,"

"Good girl, now go ahead. Bawal sa maarte ang ma-late sa class."

"Aye! Aye! Teacher Rosey!"

I thought the little girl's gonna run, five minutes na lang before mag bell para sa first period but as expected of someone living my maarte way of life, naglakad lang siya ng mabilis with poise while flipping her hair and that made me laugh, good girl.

Sinimulan ko ng muling maglakad, "Rosey! Wait up!"

Hinihingal pa si Teacher Emma ng huminto siya sa harap ko. Oh no, she look troubled? At the same time so exhaustedly haggard, that I can't help but roll my eyes. Seriously? At this time of day? Ganyan na agad hitsura niya? Hindi pa nga nagsisimula ang first period, oh goodness! Ang sakit sa eyes ng hitsura niya, ayaw ko siyang tignan.

Paano siya maasawa ng doctor?

"You look worst! What happened ba?"

"Can you please take over my class? Just for the first two periods. Si Ken na ang bahala sa class mo. His already there, this new pupil in my class is seriously giving me a hard time."

Konti na lang maghi-hysterical na si Emma, ganun na ba talaga kalala ang problemang dulot ng bago niyang estudyante? To think nasa kindergarten pa lang naman 'yong bata. Oh goodness, I feel like magkaka-migraine ako, ganito na ba ang new generation?

"Okay. But fix yourself first before facing everyone. Gosh! Sa hitsura mo ngayon kahit janitor, aayawan kang mapangasawa."

Emma look at me with disbelief, sinabunutan na rin niya ang kanyang sarili. "Seryoso, Rosey? Seriously!?"

"Uh-huh?"

"Ikaw ata ang nanay nung si Lily, sabog sa kaartehan iyong studyante kong 'yon at kindergarten. Anyway, go girl. Sumasakit lalo ang ulo ko and thank you."

"No! Hindi ko papangalan after a flower ang daughter to be ko. That's so... whatever!" Pinaypay ko sa ere ang aking kamay in a dismissive manner. "Do you have an umbrella with you? Your classroom is so layo pa, it's the other way."

"Wala! Fucking shit, Rosey! Ang arte mo, just go!" She already sounded irritated, napasigaw na rin siya na kumuha sa atensyon ng ilang tao.

Yan kasi, makasigaw akala, siya ang nagpapasweldo at nagmura pa talaga siya? Triggered? She placed her face in her palms at ilang beses na bumuntong hininga. Aw, my bad, mukhang ang problem niya ay hindi pang barbie girl for today.

"Ikaw po asa iskul, dito bawal ikaw mura."

Iniwan ko na siya at dali-daling pumunta sa klase siya. At dahil hindi inaasahan at wala rin akong dalang payong tumakbo na lang ako para maiwasan ang too much exposure ng skin ko sa araw. Sa mga ganitong sitwasyon kailangang kalimutan ang kaartehan in life or else, sayang ang brightening lotion. Pagtapat ko sa pinto ng classroom ni Emma tumambad sa akin ang cute faces ng kanyang kindergarten babies.

Mukhang hindi naman sila nangangagat? Maliban sa English sila ng English and they are roaming around, busy with their respective what so ever kindergarten business, they look normal naman.

"Good morning, children! Kindly go back to your seats. I will be your temporary teacher for today." Good thing, bumalik naman sila agad sa mga upuan nila. "Call me, Teacher Rosey."

"Where's teacher Emma? She doesn't love us na? It's because Lily is such a witch!"

"No it's not like that. Teacher Emma is just doing something important at the moment. Actually, Teacher Emma is planning for a surprise."

"A surprise for us?" They uttered in unison, their eyes are even sparklingly. Gosh, anong surprise naman? Bahala ka na mamaya Emma.

"Yes, but keep it a secret okay? Act like you don't know about Teacher Emma's surprise."

They giggled, "yes, Teacher!"

"Now let's check the attendance."

Lumapit ako sa gilid ng board kung saan nakapaskil ang attendance organizer ni Emma. It's a cute organizer in white background with kindergarten cartoon boy and girl and a star between them. A cursive daily attendance is written on the upper center portion of the organizer and on the star is a clear pocket that holds the numbers written in a rectangular board paper that's used to indicate the number of female and male attendees. It also have clear pockets below the image of the boy and girl to where you place the number of present pupils per gender.

"How many boys are--"

"Good morning, Teacher Emma. I'm sorry, I've been late. What happened to..." I automatically turn to face the door.

"...L-Lily? O-oh, Ro-Rosey?" That familiar gorgeous face.

We looked at each other in disbelief? Dazed? Horrified? I don't really know, but the staring game was cut too soon by a witty and intriguing comment from the pupils.

"The gorgeous dad!" Dad? He is Lily's father?

"Da-daddy!" The transferee hugged him.

Emma who looked frustratedly angry was walking behind Lily who's now hugging the gorgeous dad and this guy is now smiling at me awkwardly.

This is how, I met him again, in the most awkward moment yet, again. But, what can I say? He's just gorgeous.

But then again, tangina niya, so his serious about what he said back when we first met each other? Plano niya talagang i-enroll sa klase ko ang anak niya at dito na nag-kindergarten?