In her Blooming days

CHAPTER 2 "Ms. Favorite"

"Serra Ahtisa Alvarez po, but you can call me Seah, it's okay po madami naman po ako na encounter na rude ang attitude dito sa Academy"

nakangiti kong sabi habang pinagkakasya ko ang lahat ng kayang mailagay sa loob ng locker ko.

"Scholar ka dito? So you're smart pala kase knowing Del Valle hindi basta basta kumukuha ng hindi magagaling na scholar students, but I heard sasalain kayo I want to offer you a help..."

"Amm.. Mam sorry but I'm almost late I need to go na po, hope to see you around."

For sure late na ako kaya nag mamadali na akong kumilos at nagpaalam, napakaamo ng muka ng babae na yon. If she's the mother of that ungrateful son mukang bunga ng early pregnancy. Napailing ako maganda kasi mukang maagang napikot.

Halos takbo lakad ang ginagawa ko para makarating sa next room namin. The class started and the introduction is already end. I saw our professor standing in the front of the class listening to my classmates. This man is so strict when it comes sa oras ng class nya, he's giving 15 minutes grace period at kapag lagpas ka na sa sa time limit nya, his rule is wait for his next class dicussion sa ibang blocks.

Written in the school's hand book, we're allowed na maki seat in sa ibang room dahil na din may mga students na hustle ang schedule pero gustong mag aral. Hindi sila mahigpit sa late and absent basta you can pass the quizzes and exams.Of course as one of the scholar students we aim for high marks and give your best shots. Dahil kung hindi mo gagalingan pwedeng ma terminate agad ang grant of scholarship, unless you can pay your own tuition fee.

That was the overall regulation's. Iba pa din ang rules every teacher. It's the way they teach anyway. Magagaling magturo lahat ng teachers dito kaya hindi nakapagtataka, everyone looks up in this school.

I'm standing in front of the door and hesitant to go inside. I caught his attention. So I smiled at my teacher to keep my charm para hindi pagalitan first day pa lang naman baka bigyan pa ako ng chance.

"Yes Serra? Are you lost?"

He asked. Everyone in the classroom is looking at me.

"No. Sir I'm late"

My classmates are laughing.

He's looking at his watch now.

"Late?... Wow! It's almost 30mins na pala"

I widely smiled and made puppy eyes. "Sirrr.... First day pa lang naman baka naman po pwede"

He's looking at me while something in his mind. That eyes and smile for sure may balak nanaman itong ipagawa.

"Okay you can go inside but in one condition..."

I walk in the vacant chair while I am covering my ears with my hands.

Ito nanaman sya at maaga akong mapagtitripan.

"In one condition sa mga Grade 8-1A ka magpapakilala after this class."

In my last five years staying here in Del Valle Academy naging close ko na ang mga teachers dito halos lahat naman kami ay kilala na din nila.

Isa si Sir Luke sa mga favorite ng mga estudyante dito. Nasa four to five years lang ang tanda nya samin. Wala pang senior highschool before sa batch nila when they are studying, unlike ngayon may additional 2 years bago mag college.

Maaga nag dismiss si Sir and as he said earlier, I'm now in front of sophomore students known as grade eight.

"Hello Everyone! I'm Serrah Ahtisa Alvarez and you can call me Seah in short , 17 years of age. A graduating Senior high student taking up Abm strand. It's nice to meet you all."

"Hala crush ko yan. Maganda na matalino pa" -someone said.

"You look so beautiful ate"

"Parang artista ka po, bagay ka maging model"

"Siya yung sa debate last year diba?"

The other one said.

I smiled at them at nag thank you. I faced my prof and mabilis na akong lumabas ng room.

"Okay na Sir. Byeee!"

This School never gets me bored. Halos dito na ata ako nag spend ng buong five years ko and this is my last year of staying in Del Valle and claiming na makakagraduate soon, with highest rank. Sana naman hindi na ako ma guidance at masangkot sa gulo dito. They called me damsel in distress.

It's already dismissal and that's all for this day!

I was thinking how can I bring home all of these presents for sure Papa is not yet home. Sira pa yung sasakyan namin mahirap talaga kapag second hand lang ang kotse laging sirain. Tapos yung motor pinatago nila mama sa bahay ng kuya ko, bawal na daw ako magmotor. Strict sila bawal ako lumabas ng walang paalam. Papa texted me naman na umuwi agad after class.

"Seah..Hey! Is there any problem?"

While I'm standing in front of my locker staring at those things.

"Perfect! There you are Liam." I snapped when I saw him. "You going home right? Sabay na ako."

I get my stuff that I can carry and choose to leave the others, ito muna next time na yung iba.

"Yah. Sure! Common let's go!

Manong driver arrived at the parking lot." Mabilis na sagot nito sa akin.

Liam is one of the son of Mr. Delo Santos, our barangay Captain. We have been friends since where in the same community and at the same time magkabatch kami pero magkaiba ng strand of course. Marami silang negosyo at kilala ang pamilya nila, his father is known as amenable and public servants.

As a daughter of strict parents. Mama and papa approved na makisabay at makisakay ako sa family car nila Liam.

We're now inside their family car casually talking about our day.

"I heard DVA admins will conduct examination para sa mga scholars"

He's busy tapping the phone.

"Yah. that's true, I don't know what's happening. It's really hard to maintain the high grades that they need, pero bakit kailangan pa ng examination di ba?" Naiiritang sabi ko.

"They said the largest shares in the foundation is already backed out, kaya kailangan nila magbawas at magtanggal ng scholars."

My eyes narrowed. Bakit kaya? It's very disappointing in my case dahil bigla bigla na lang ibabalita na ganito. Ganun din ay nalungkot ang muka ni liam.

Malapit na akong bumaba. Nagpaalam na ako sa driver na hanggang kanto na lang. Liam's mom insisted na hinatid na ako sa harap ng bahay namin but I told her wag na lang. Malamang pag uusapan nanaman ako ng mga kapitbahay namin.

I'm holding the paper bags ang gifts na bigay sa akin ng mga schoolmates ko habang naglalakad. Iniwan ko na yung iba at nakilagay na lang ako sa locker ng mga friends ko, hindi ko naman kasi mabibitbit lahat ng yon.