CHAPTER 5:THE UNEXPECTED PARTNER
535 Words
Prof. Doctolero had terror eyes.
Gray hair, medium height, and a scowl that said _one wrong answer and you’re dead_.
To us Engineering students, he was the final boss of Differential Calculus.
Today, his eyes locked on me.
“Ms. Roman,” he said, tapping chalk against a half-solved derivative on the board.
“I see you’re retaking my five-unit subject. Let’s see if you actually learned anything, or if you’re just here to waste my time again. Solve this on the board.”
In my past life, I would’ve cried.
Today, I stood up calm.
No hesitation.
I walked to the board and solved it.
Fast. Clean. Flawless.
I dropped the chalk back in the box. White dust clung to my fingers.
Silence fell over the room.
My classmates stared, jaws dropped.
Even Prof. Doctolero adjusted his glasses, scowl gone.
“Is... is this correct, Sir?” I asked, voice steady.
“Yes... that is correct, Ms. Roman. Very well. You may take your seat.”
I walked back to my chair with whispers of awe behind me.
The old, complacent Malia was dead.
After class, I headed to the library for my shift.
But when I pushed the glass doors open, I froze.
Reuben was there.
Wearing the same navy blue student assistant apron, logging books like he belonged.
He looked up and met my eyes.
That warm, lopsided smile appeared.
“Hey, Malia,” he said softly. “You look like you just won a battle.”
“Medyo,” I replied, clutching my bag strap. “I survived Prof. Doctolero.
Pero... anong ginagawa mo rito? Bakit ka naka-apron?”
Reuben chuckled, leaning against the desk.
“Sabi ko sa’yo kahapon, baka madalas na ako rito, ‘di ba?
Applied ako this morning. Accountancy approved it for scholarship points.”
“Seryoso? Working scholar ka na rin dito?”
“Oo,” he said, eyes locking on mine. “At dahil bago ako, Ms. Santos assigned me to Engineering section.
Ikaw daw ang mag-tra-train sa akin. So looks like we’re partners now, Ms. Engineer.”
A laugh escaped me.
“O sige na, partner,” I joked. “Magsimula na tayo bago tayo masungitan ni Ms. Santos.”
“Lead the way, boss,” he replied, eyes crinkling as he picked up a stack of references
Four hours flew by.
Reuben learned fast. Dewey Decimal, heavy lifting, no complaints.
Working beside him made the shift lighter. Easier.
When the clock hit 7 PM, Ms. Santos let us log out.
My shoulders ached, but I felt good. Satisfied.
As I hung my apron, Reuben did the same.
“Napagod ang Ms. Engineer natin,” he said, amused, watching me rotate my shoulders.
“Medyo,” I admitted. “Mas mabigat talaga ang higher year books.”
Reuben stepped a little closer under the dim library lights.
“Since you did an excellent job training your new partner, I think I owe you.
Shift ko tapos na. Shift mo tapos na...
So, let me treat you to coffee as a thank you? May magandang café malapit sa gate.”
His offer hung in the quiet air.
Hopeful eyes.
My heart fluttered, stupid and fast.
- Writer
