Chapter 7: School

We have already finished cooking for lunch that's why I decided to fix myself first before go to school to bring  some foods for those youngies. I offered Tita Wenilda to do that and she agreed.

"Tamang-tama, naka-ready na ang mga pagkain ng mga bata." she mentioned.

"Oo nga po eh."

The few minutes have passed the food is simply prepared on the lunch boxes and packed on the eco bag.

"Kumain ka muna, Ivy baka malipasan ka ng gutom sa school mamaya."

So she gave me the food we cooked and started to bow our heads for a prayer. 'This family really religious'

We have both started to eat lunch after we prayed.

Maya-maya pa ay natapos na rin akong kumain at nagpahinga saglit. Napatingin din ako sa wall clock na nakasabit sa bandang gitna sa itaas ng dining table. It's been 11;00AM at naghintay pa ako ng ilang minuto para makaalis lalo pang bagong kain pa lang ako. Tita Wenilda said that's bad in our health to do something when the stomach is full.

11:10 says in the clock that's why I should go and bring this meal to the youngies.

Tita Wenilda taught me how to wait and ride for public vehicles like tricycles and jeepneys. It made me annoying at first but I realized that I have to.

It was already 11:35 when I arrived at their school. It seems public but it has well painted walls and the building is quite that almost reached the private school features. Afterwards, I entered the campus when the guard called me.

"Where is your I.D, Ma'am?" he asked.

"Sorry, I don't have any I.Ds." I replied.

"But you are not allowed to enter the campus without I.D Ma'am." he stated that's why I didn't have to argue more since that was the school policy. I thought to stay in the waiting area wherein the guard said awhile ago.

"Ate beauty!"

I know that voice who calling me.

"Oh Ria!" I said when I saw her angelic face.

She followed by her sister, Rachelle and the brother Rhiel that they looked happily when saw me.

'Parang napakatagal kami hinding nagkita sa mga reactions nila nang makita nila ako rito'

"Wow may dala pang pagkain si Ate Beauty." Bless said surprisingly as she leaned on my eco bag beside me.

"Tamang-tama gutom na gutom na kami ate." Rachelled said.

Tumungo kami sa isang mini plaza ng kanilang school para doon kumain. Kuya Guard have finally allowed me to enter the campus since I am with those youngies.

Maya-maya pa nilabas ko na ang mga pagkaing dala ko at isa-isa silang inabutan ng plato saka naglapag ng isang may di kalakihang mineral bottle na mayroong inuming tubig.

"Kayo po ate beauty, hindi pa ba kakain. Dami naman itong ulam kaya kasya sa atin 'to." Rhiel offered.

"Hindi na. Kumain na rin ako sa bahay bago pumunta dito." I answered.

Tahimik ko lang silang pinapanood while eating when my eyes cought my attention to those guys with Ralph; maybe they are his co-teachers.

"Ano ginagawa mo dito? Dapat si Mama na ang naghatid ng pagkain." reklamong saad nito sa akin habang papalapit siya sa kinaroroonan ko.

"She was busy kaya ako na lang nagpresintang maghatid ng lunch sa mga bata." I easily replied.

"Sino siya, Sir Migz girlfriend mo?" One of his co-teacher asked him curiously.

"Hindi ko siya girlfriend. Kaibigan lang siya ng mga kapatid ko." he explained.

"Future girlfriend po siya ni Kuya Migz." Rhiel interrupted that made his brother's forehead furrowed.

"Ayon naman pala Sir Migz. Bakit mo pa kasi dineny ang totoo?" nakangisi na ngayon ang mga dalawa niyang kasama.

"Huwag kayo magpapaniwala diyan sa mga kapatid kong baliw." giit pa nito at muling tinititigan ng masama si Rhiel pero napangisi lang ito.

"Indenial lang 'yan si Kuya Migz." Rachelle said with foolish smile on her face with appearing hands to Rhiel and Rianna.

"Oh kayong dalawa tumigil na. Kumakain kung ano pinagsasasabi." Naiinis na saad ni Ralph.

Pati tuloy ako natatawa lang sa inaasal sa mga kapatid niya.

"Mabuti pa bilisan na natin pumunta sa canteen baka maubusan tayo ng pagkain." He diverted the conversation and invited his colleagues to follow him.

"Oh nga pala Ate Beauty, matanong ko lang sana kung ginagawa mo itong ginagawa natin noong nag-aaral ka pa?" Rachelle asked again while still drinking a water to her tumblr.

"Sorry but I don't remember if I did this during my high school days." I honestly said to them.

I don't really recall about my past life since I was still have an amnesia. The things that are special to me and the beautiful moments I've spent, it can't extract to my mind lately.

"Sana bumalik na kaagad ang alaala mo, Ate Beauty para naman maikwento mo sa amin ang school life mo." A beautiful young lady addedwhile eating chocolates they bought in the canteen.

I hoping all my memories back after what happened because I also wanted to release my life in this kind of situation.

Ten minutes before 1:00AM, they decided to go back to their own rooms because their teacher didn't want them to enter late. It distracted the class discussion.

The following day, it is the same routine that we are always preparing meals for lunch while I will be the one who bringing foods in the school.

I was too early when came to school that's why I still waited to them in the guardhouse. A few minutes have passed, I heard someone talking to me.

I gave her a confused look. "Shaina Pauleen, right?"

I didn't response at first since she referred me a female name that is not familiar to me.

"I am Elaine Salazar, one of your fans during college days since you are running for Miss Intramurals that time." she said with a great smile on her face but I don't know what she is talking about.

"Sorry, I don't even know you." I said in a soft but in a serious tone. That smile faded to my reply.

"Don't  you remember that?"

"I have no idea what you are supposed to say, Ma'am." She is wearing a uniform  that's why I have still answered her politely.

"Wala akong naalala tungkol sayo. I was totally astonished as you told me that we are acquaintance before."

"Impossible Shai na hindi mo na ako matatandaan for several years na naging ultimate fan mo noon. I am hoping pa rin na maalala mo ako and realized that you knew me." she said while examining my whole self that disgusting.

"Sige, I have to go na at may gagawin pa ako sa office department. Sana kapag nagkita tayo ulit maalala mo ako."

Pagkatapos nagpaalam na siya sa akin at naglakad na rin palayo at muli kong binalikan ang mga sinabi ng babae kanina. Pilit ko sarili inaalala pero wala talaga at nakaramdam lang ako ng sakit ng ulo kaya kaagad akong uminom ng tubig at huminga nang malalim.

Katulad lang rin kahapon ang nangyari, nakipagkwentuhan lang ako sa mga bata at nakipagbiruan rin sa kanila hanggang sa bumalik na muli sa kanilang classrooms. Niligpit ko muna ang mga wrappers ng chocolates at junkfoods saka nilagay sa plastic.

Maya-maya pa naglakad na rin ako palabas ng school campus pero naagaw ng atensyon ko ang mga litrato nakadisplay sa isa museum roon. Mabilis akong lumapit para mas masilayan ko ang mga pictures nang biglang sumingitt sa daraanan ko si Ralph. Napairap na lang ako sa kawalan.

"Ano ginagawa mo rito? Dapat nasa labas ka ng campus sa ganitong oras." paninita niya sa akin.

Ugali na niya talagang sermonan ako sa lahat ng bagay pati sa mga kinikilos ko.

"I am just looking to the pictures displayed outside the museum. Anong mali sa ginagawa ko?"

"Mali nga ang ginagawa mo at mga tulad mong outsider hindi pinapayagang basta-basta gumala dito sa buong campus."

I murmured as my reaction and rolled my eyes again to him.

"Mabuti pa umuwi ka na at tulungan mo si Mama sa gawaing bahay. Sige na lakad na at may klase pa ako."

Patuloy pa rin siya sa pagsuway sa akin na mas ikinairita ko. Nagpapadyak akong naglakad patalikod palayo sa kanya. Ugh.

Pagkatapos kong tulungan si Tita Wenilda sa pagluluto ng gabihan bigla akong tinawag ng mga kapatid ni Ralph, magpapatulong raw ang mga ito sa kanilang assignments.

Mabilis naman akong pumayag at sa tingin ko kaya pa naman kahit may amnesia ako.

"Salamat Ate Beauty tinulungan mo akong sumagot ng mga equations sa Math. Akala ko nga po wala kayong idea dahil may amnesia kayo pero tignan mo." magiliw na saad ni Rhiel pagkatapos tulungan ko siya kung papaano i-solve ang Math equations nang hindi nahihirapan.

"Oo nga RK. Matalino na maganda pa. Saan ka pa eh kay Ate Beauty na." Rachelle added as she continued writing her descriptive essay in the pad paper.

It seems na pinaparinggan nanaman itong bitter nilang kuya na pilit na ako ang nararapat para sa kanya. Eh kahit isang katiting na interest wala nga ako makikita sa lalaking 'yon maliban sa paninita at panenermon.

Halos araw-araw ganito na ang nagiging routine ko, ang tulungan si Tita Wenilda na magluto at hatiran ng pagkain tuwing lunch ang mga bata. Pero masaya naman ako sa aking ginagawa kahit nakakapagod. Nawawala kapag nakikita ko itong mga bata na masaya at kuntento na sila sa kanilang buhay na simple lang.