Chapter 2 "Meeting Him, Her and Our Teachers"
I mixed the part 1 and 2 of this chapter. if ever asked.
"Good Morning Everyone." what? Am I... son of a batman optimus prime?! Si Mrs. Pearson talaga? Don t tell me
Students stood up in their seats while I m only one remains sitting. Louis got my attention to stand but I didn t do. Since mrs. Pearson didn t notice what I m doing.
Good morning mrs. Pearson, it s nice to see you today. They said. It sounds terrible and it looks like their serious.
It s nice to see you too, please sit down. And mrs. Pearson put her things in the table. Still standing and facing the whiteboard. She written her full name with her red whiteboard marker, then she faces us.
Today is June 03, 2013. And this is the first day for the school year 2013-2014. Alam kong marami sa inyo ang nakakakilala na sakin diba? Alam niyo naman siguro ang ugali ko. And for those who didn t know me yet, I am Ms. Jessica Lourdes Pearson. And I will be your English teacher as well as your adviser. Mrs. Pearson said HARDLY. Which my classmates feared at her. Louis poked me when I m looking to Mrs. Pearson.
Nangangatog na yung mga tuhod ko. Ganyan ba talaga siya? Louis whispered. To avoid noises, I scratch some paper from my notebook then I wrote my answer.
Yeah, absolutely. Strict, 50% terror, 50% Student concerned pero mataas magbigay ng grades. IF YOU ARE DESERVE TO LEARN ON HIS SUBJECT. Don t worry I felt the same way too. First day palang kasi. Masasanay ka rin. J I written. And quickly hide the paper below the arm chair and given to Louis. He read it quickly by hiding it on his binder notebook. Then, he looks at me sounds like he agreed.
At sa wakas, umupo na rin si Mrs. Pearson sa teacher s table.
Okay. I had checked your attendance during our flag ceremony earlier. And there are some few students from my section who did not attending the program. If your name is mention, please stand up. Mr. Litt, Mr. Specter, and Ms. Paulsen. Louis and I stood up from our chairs. I turn around to look for another one who mentioned by Mrs. Pearson. Maybe that one is either a transferee who got missing in our campus or just late.
I supposed Mr. Specter is late. So, the two of you. Give me a valid reason for not attending our first program? I swallowed my saliva and my knees start to shake like hello? Are you thrilled on her voice or just being paranoid on the other side?
But Louis raises his hand to tell his opinion. At yun ang ikinagulat ko. Kaya mas lalo pang nanginig ang mapuputi kong tuhod.
Ms. Pearson, I m a transferee from Stanford Academy. I came here in the campus by 7:15. There, I saw Donna who catches my eye and I ask her to find our room. We got missed and confused. But after all, we found it HERE IN 2nd Floor of the 1st building. But seen it s already got time so we just stay here and hang out with our bags in the stairs. Louis said quickly. And I was like a person who deprived an opinion... for short, NGANGA. Sounds funny but valid. I think it s enough.
You may sit down Mr. Litt. Please remain standing Ms. Paulsen. Mr. Litt s opinion is not enough for you to settle down. You may start. She said. I looked at Louis and he is too.
Donna, Donna.. You are Donna. Donna the great campus queen. Not an older one who turns back and doesn t care for yourself. Say what your mind says, tell them what you did. Go.
INHALE EXHALE
My driver and I had encountered traffic in Edsa Avenue for almost half of an hour. I said. And Mrs. Pearson stands up and looks at my eyes. TERRIBLE.
That s not enough reason, Ms. Paulsen. All of us had already encountered traffic right? Why don t you try to wake up earlier nang hindi ka ma-traffic? Since may driver ka at May sariling service car. Makakatulong naman siguro yun para makarating ka ng maaga diba? she said madly as a fire in her voice raising and deeper. Nakatingin na sakin ang lahat na parang nakakadisappoint and nakakahiya. Gusto ko nang mag-walk out. Pero may pumipigil sa gusto ko. Si Konsensya.
Donna.. hindi yan ang bagong Donna Roberta Paulsen. Hindi tumatalikod sa responsibilidad. Nothing changes if you not making changes. Eka nga.
Gustuhin ko na sanang lumabas ng room nang may isang lalaking naka-sibillian at dere-deretsong pumasok sa room namin. The guy turn around to find a vacant seat until Mrs. Pearson catches his attention.
Excuse me, are you belong in this section? Mrs. Pearson asked to a guy and pointing at him.
Yes, Maam. I m sorry for disrespecting you. Sorry I m late. I got missing. The guy answered while everybody looks on his angelic face.
Sure. But next time, I don t wanna see any of you coming late on my class. I will give a sanction for those students who breaking our rules and regulations in this campus. Understood?
Yes, Ms. Pearson. We said. Pero napansin ko nalang ang pagbabago ng nararamdaman ko ngayon after kong Makita yung guy na iyon. Parang nawala yung takot at kaba ko kay mrs. Pearson. Di kaya In love na ako?
At matapos mabalot ng katahimikan ang buong room, agad nama ng binasag ni Mrs. Pearson ang ka-awkwardan naming lahat while this pretty guy who standing in the center angle of our room is still looking for some vacant seat.
So ngayon lang kita nakita sa buong campus, mr. eyecathing heartthrob. You look familiar. Did I see you before? To make me clear, kindly introduce yourself to us. Mrs. Pearson said. And the guy stands in front beside Mrs. Pearson.
Eherm. Good Morning Maam, Good Morning Classmates, I m here in front of you to introduce myself. Well, I am Harvey Reginald Specter, I m 18 Years old, I came from New York City, from Harvard University. For some reason, i heard to the news that this institution is offering a scholarship for high school. So my parents told me to Join here, and experience good and standard services, facilities, diligent teachers and active students. i expect that it would be fun staying here. That would be all, Thank you very much. We clapped our hands together as Mrs. Pearson offering him a round of applause.
What a nice speech! I guess matalino ito... kita naman diba? Biruin niyo, he came from Harvard in New York City! Pero hindi na rin bago sakin yun kasi nakapag-aral na rin ako sa New York. And most of them are come from other famous exclusive schools including Harvard. Famous na, exclusive pa! pakingshet!
Halos lahat ay napatingin sa kanya. Lalo na yung ibang girls na nakaupo sa gitna. They re all impressed in his look. Sobrang gwapo niya talaga. Talagang in-love na nga ako!
Huy Donna! Sobra ka nang makatingin diyan baka matunaw ka niyan! at kinalabit nalang ako ni Louis. Halos mawala na ako sa sarili kong ulirat katitingin sa guy na iyon!
Di naman noh! Impressed lang kasi ako sa kanya. I never had seen any guy like him before. I said while tapping his arm.
Huh ano naman ang nakaka-impress sa kanya? His speech? His look? Whatever. Then he shrugged his shoulders. I guess he s jealous.
MEANWHILE
Tumayo ulit si Mrs. Pearson then tumingin ito sa paligid. Habang itong si Mr. Eyecatching Heartthrob eh halos mag-iisang oras nang nakatayo. Kawawa naman. Kung pwede ko lang I-offer sa kanya yung upuan ko, gagawin ko.
(A/N: Hoy Donna hindi na impressionism yan, Kabaliwan na iyan!)
Oh There s a vacant space beside Ms. Paulsen. Get one chair at the back and seat beside Ms. Paulsen. Mrs. Pearson said and smilled at him. Surely, Mrs. Pearson catches his eye too... As she mention earlier, MR. EYECATCHING HEARTTHROB.
Masyado siyang eye-catching sa klase. Baka sooner, meron na naman kaming bagong University Heartthrob . I hope. I really hope.
Thank you. He said. He grabs an arm chair at the back and takes it beside my left. He looks straightly to Mrs. Pearson as I m still looking at him... nonstop looking, unli text! Nyaha!
He seems like so Interested to learn in this subject. I like this guy. A one who study hard besides of his poverty. (I guess, kasi scholar.) Unlike Mylene, who just rich, but doesn t care for her studies. Just like me before. And this time, mas lalo ko pang pagbubutihan. Di lang dahil kay Louis na bago kong kaibigan, meron pa akong inspiration. I hope maging close kami ng guy na to. Super duper close!
After ng 30 minutes na discussion, Mrs. Pearson get her things from the table and took us to stand up.
We have a shorten time this morning. Dahil may meeting kaming mga teachers in the afternoon at 2:30. So it means, all of you had only the first period this afternoon. After 2 PM, you may go. Goodbye class.
Goodbye Ms. Pearson, thank you for teaching us today. See you tomorrow. We said. Uupo n asana ako ulit pero biglang tumigil si Mrs. Pearson sa paglalakad at tumingin sakin.
I forgot, Ms. Paulsen. For not attending the program, I will give you a sunction. Clean the entire corridor before after the class. I tell to our school guard na di ka palalabasin hangga t di mo nililinis ang buong corridor. Understood? she said and dismissed. I felt down and dumbfounded.
Imbes na Masaya ako dahil makakauwi ako ng maaga, it become even worst than I m expecting na mapapahiya ako ulit. Pwes, mas nakakahiya ito. At sa first crush ko. Akala ko makakaligtas na ako kay Mrs. Pearson. Di rin pala. Di bale, andyan namana ng janitor eh. Si Kuya Johnny. I ll ask a help to him para mabilis kong malinis ang campus. Later.
Breaktime.
I'm still sitting on my chair and others go outside to have their break. Louis asked me to go outside pero di ako pumayag kaya ayun, naghanap siya ng makakasama niya sa labas.
Nakaupo lang ako at walang magawa. it seems like an old fashioned-donna appearing again. cold/bored as a dried vegetable.
while this guy on my left writing anything on his notebook.
It looks like a diary or somehow a scratch book. then, he caught me looking on his notes so i'd turn back on my armchair and just wrote any vandalizations on the chair.
-ARMCHAIR-
*qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm*
I felt he's looking at me too. so i leaned back on him but he turns back on me and continues to wrote on his notes.
Kahit na may talino siyang taglay, may pagka-weird rin pala siya. hanggang sa kaming dalawa nalang ang natira sa room. umalis na rin yung ibang boys na nakatambay sa likuran namin. kaya di na ako nagpatumpik-tumpik pa.
I inhale deeply then started to poke him.
"Ha... Hi. can i do friendship with you? um.. I'm Donna? what's your name again?" i asked. i felt loss of self-confidence. i never felt like this before. and this time, ngayon lang ako nawalan ng confidence sa sarili.. what's happening with me? is this the new me?
tsaka hindi naman yun ang gusto kong sabihin sa kanya ah? sigyro dala lang ng hiya.
and suddenly, he looks at my eyes. he didn't smile like i was expecting to.
"Oh yeah? did i tell it before? i stand in front of the class to introduce myself? remember?" he asked. at mas lalo pang nag-init ang buong katawan ko at para lang akong napahiya ulit. this is so embarassing day of my life.
"Um.. yeah i know. sorry i forgotten.." i said while i'm lookin' on his face. he folds up his notebook and put it on his bag. then faces me.
"I'm Harvey. nice to meet you Donna." he said and smirk slightly. and that was the time na hindi ako nawalan ng pag-asang matatapos ko rin lahat ng kailangan kong tapusin including Mrs. Pearson's sunction. kaya ko 'to.
you can do it, girl. go princess Donna as long as you catches his brown eyes, just do it ateng, push mo lang yan!
After ng 15 Minutes Break, nagsi-balikan na ang lahat sa room. masaya rin akong sinalubong ni Louis. then he offered me a nova chips. my favorite AGAIN.
"You want some? Louis asked. i nodded and simply grab some chips. i turned my eyes on Harvey so he forced by himself and offer a nova chips on Harvey, but harvey raises his hand like he didn't like to.
"Okay. nice talking mr. heartthrob. i might bother you on your doing. i'm sorry." Louis whispered. but maybe not. i heard it.
"No it's okay. you're not bothering me. i don't like that neither." Harvey answered and poiting on Nova chips. Louis got instulted. at mukhang magkaka-rambulan pa ata dito sa room. buti nalang... buti nalang...
"Oh, our next teacher is coming. isn't he?" i told to them. Harvey looked up on the window. Louis just sat on his chair.
and others are like was a bees hiding on their beehives.
"I see. maybe we should stand up." Harvey said as he stoods up from his chair. i followed him too. but Louis did not.
Until our next prof comes up.
"Good Morning Class." as my other classmates stands up.
"Good Morning Mr. Hardman, it's nice to see you today." they said. as I'm looking on Mr. Hardman, he's not so familiar for me since i studied here for 3 years. and this is the first time that i'll be the student of this prof.
In my first impressions, He's kind enough unlike Mrs. Pearson. he looks like funny but a little bit serious.
"Napansin kong ito lang dalawang nasa first row ang unang tumayo bago ako pumasok. palakpakan niyo naman 'tong dalawang ito.." Mr. Hardman said while looking on us. *me and harvey*
pak pak pak pak pak pak pak
"Sige maupo na kayo. Okay. sa mga di pa nakakakilala, ako nga pala si Mr. Daniel Hardman, at ako ang inyong magiging guro sa Araling Panlipunan or Social Studies. siya nga pala, paki-taas ang kamay ng mga transferees dito." and there are 3 students who raises their hand. Including Harvey, Louis and the other girl at my back.
"Be the first one, Mr. Tisoy." biro pa ni Mr. Hardman kay Harvey. halata naman sa iba na kilig na kilig. ang lalandi!
"*giggles* I'm Harvey Specter, I came from Harvard University in New York City, eldest son of Mr. Gordon Specter." Harvey said. but i got a little bit confusing dahil di naman niya na mention kanina na anak pala siya ni Mr. Gordon Specter na minsan nang naging business partner ng mga parents ko. hmm...
"oh really? what the.. that's good Harvey are you spoken tagalog? so how's your living here in the philippines? have you adjusted?" He asked. Harvey scrach his head.
"yeah.. i love here unlike in new york, i live with privacy. now my brother and i can do anything without anybody will against us. um.. but i spoke tagalog, a little." he said. and i was impressed, for the second time..
"That's good. well, we have a lots of tagalog tutors here so you can ask them for help. she, *mr. hardman pointing to me* you can ask some help from her, she's best on Filipino and AP.. Sir Arse is your prof last year right?" Mr. Hardman asked me.
"um.. yeah he is.." i said and Mr. Hardman smiled.
"sabi ko na eh.. kaya pala pagtingin ko sa card mo, ang taas mo sa subject ko! so, the next one is am i right? naalala kita eh. kasama mo yung nanay mo last week nung nag-enroll. taga saan ka ba?" Mr. Hardman asked to louis as he stands up.
"Sa Stanford po sir" Louis answered.
"yeah pero bakit ka lumipat dito?"
"...*looking at me* We've actually here in manila for vacation. but my mom told me to study here since my parents does not satisfied in stanford at all.." Louis said and sat on his chair.
"Ah.. ganun ba? sana ma-enjoy mo ang pagstay dito.. and you, Ms. Chinita... kindly introduce yourself.."
"Chinita talaga sir?" sabi ng babae sa likod ko. mukha kasing kana dahil sa blonde niyang buhok.
"Hayaan mo na eh kawawa naman yung tisay dun sa tabi ni Mr. Tisoy ginawa pang inipit ng dalawa oh.. umusog nga kayong dalawa mr. specter and mr. litt.. iniipit niyo na si tisay eh.." at nagbiro na naman si Mr. Hardman habang nakangiti sakin.
*HAHAHAHAHAHA!*
at umusog naman yung dalawa. yun sana ang sasabihin ko kay Harvey kanina eh... kaso naunahan ako ng kahihiyan.
"Sige ms. chinita tuloy ka na.."
"I'm Katrina Bennett, from Cebu, In Naga Nat. High School. nagtransfer po ako dito kasi Inoffer po ako ng scholarship ng principal." she answered.
"Really.. so parehas pala kayo ni Mr. Specter well, i hope lahat kayo ay maging successful pagdating ng college. kasi maraming opportunity ang pwedeng dumating sa inyo including the scholarship kaya pagbutihan niyo.. so now, get 1 whole sheet of paper and write anything about yourself, then your expectations in my subject." Mr Hardman said as he sat down on the teacher's table. 1 get my bag to grab some paper but i only had 6 notebooks and 2 memo scratch notebooks.
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What a packing tape. I forgot my paper.