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CHAPTER 9
THIRD PERSON POV
“CLASS, SETTLE DOWN!” sigaw ng professor nilang si Prof. Heneroso Balbastro, isang terror pero certified genius, habang malakas na pinapalo ang whiteboard marker sa mesa. “WE WILL START WITH A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION kung simple nga ba sa inyo.”
Tahimik ang lahat.
Pero hindi yung normal na tahimik… kundi yung deadly exam-type quiet na parang may hanging “mamamatay ka kung di ka sumagot.”
Tumayo si Prof. Balbastro sa gitna, nakataas kilay, parang galit pero natural lang pala talaga mukha niya.
“HASRA CAMPOS,” tawag niya bigla.
“YES PO?” sagot ni Hasra, straight posture, confident, parang walang kaba kahit lahat nakatingin sa kanya.
“Explain the FULL EQUATION of the Marginal Cost Curve sa context ng microeconomic behavior ng isang monopolistic firm. In Taglish, but academically correct.”
Nagtilian agad ang buong klase.
“OMG si Queen Campos na naman!”
“Grabe, sobrang hirap nun!”
“Kung ako tinawag d’yan, magdi-drop out ako agad!”
Ngisi lang si Kimmy habang nag-aayos ng buhok niya.
Narinig pa ng lahat ang paramdam niya.
“Ay, kayang-kaya ko rin ’yan, pero sige… let’s see kung tama si Hasra,” bulong niya pero lakas, parang naka-mic.
Hindi pinansin ni Hasra.
Huminga siya nang malalim… then deredere-derecho ang sagot niya:
“Sir, the Marginal Cost Curve represents the additional cost incurred in producing one more unit of output. Para po sa monopolistic firm, MC = ΔTC / ΔQ. Pero the behavior of the MC curve reflects diminishing marginal returns. Ibig sabihin po, in the short run, as production increases, cost rises due to limited fixed factors. Kaya the MC curve is upward-sloping.
At kapag kinombine natin with the firm’s pricing strategy, the MC curve helps determine profit-maximizing output, where MC = MR. In short po, the firm adjusts its output level based on marginal cost relative to marginal revenue to maximize profit.”
Tahimik ang buong klase…
…tapos biglang
“WHOOOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!”
Sabay-sabay na tili.
“ANG GALING TALAGA NI QUEEN CAMPOS!”
“SHAAAAPPPPRRRAAAHHH!!!”
“Guys, parang naka-Google si Hasra sa utak!”
Pero hindi pa tapos si Prof.
Ngumiti siya, impressed. “Correct. And well explained.”
Pero bago pa makapag-react si Hasra…
Nagtaas agad ng kamay si Kimmy.
“Sir, can I add something? Baka kasi may kulang sa explanation ni Hasra.”
Naka-smirk. Naka-cross arms. Naka-handa na magpatalo.
Napailing ang mga classmates.
“Ay heto na naman si bitter.”
“She can’t let Hasra breathe omg.”
Pero sige, tumingin si Prof. Balbastro. “Proceed, Miss Miglante.”
Tumayo si Kimmy na parang pageant walk, naka-flip pa ang hair niya.
“Sir,” sabi niya, “while what Hasra said was… basic, the true concept must include the long-run adjustments. Kasi in the long run, the marginal cost curve intersects with the average cost curves. And-”
“EXCUSE ME,” singit ni Hasra, hindi na makatiis.
Nagulat ang buong klase.
Even Prof. Balbastro raised a brow.
“Yes Miss Campos?”
Ngumiti si Hasra pero yung ngiting may confidence at bahid ng deadly sassiness.
“Kimmy,” sabi niya, “you’re talking about long-run, pero ang question ni Sir was in the context of a monopolistic firm’s marginal cost behavior, SHORT RUN scenario. Kaya hindi applicable ’yung sinasabi mo unless sinabi ni Sir na long-run adjustments.
And also…”
Nag-cross arms si Hasra, ginaya attitude ni Kimmy, pero mas classy.
“…the MC curve intersecting with AC curves is MICRO fundamentals, hindi specific sa monopolistic firms. That’s general theory.”
Nagtilian ang mga kaklase.
“AYYYYYYYYY!!!”
“SHET NASUNOG SI KIMMY!!”
“QUEEN CAMPOS DID NOT COME TO PLAYYY!!!”
Pero hindi pa doon natapos si Hasra.
Tumango siya kay Prof. Balbastro. “Sir, that’s all po. Thank you.”
“Very good,” sagot ng professor.
Lumingon siya kay Kimmy.
“Miss Miglante… sit down. And please review your chapters. Especially chapter 4. Nandoon lahat ng mali mong sinabi.”
BUUUM.
Parang may sumabog na fireworks.
“HAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
“AY GRABE, ANG SAKIT NUN!”
“Kimmy, are you okay? You look… stressed?”
Ngalit si Kimmy. Mukhang gusto na niyang batuhin si Hasra ng high heels niya.
“Hindi pa tapos ’to, Hasra,” sabi niya habang nakatayo, nanginginig sa inis.
“HONEY,” sagot ni Hasra with matching innocent smile, “I wasn’t even competing. You just lost by yourself.”
Tilian ulit.
“OH MY GODDDDDDD!”
“QUEEN NAMAN TALAGA E!”
Nagpatuloy ang klase. Every question na binibigay ni Prof, halos lahat nasasagot ni Hasra.
“Miss Campos, what is the formula for Arc Elasticity?”
“Sir, (Q2 - Q1) / (Q2 + Q1 ÷ 2) over (P2 - P1) / (P2 + P1 ÷ 2).”
“Correct.”
“Miss Campos, explain diminishing marginal returns.”
“Occurs when one factor is increased while others fixed, leading to lower additional output.”
“Correct again.”
“Miss Campos”
Pero this time, sumingit si Kael.
“Sir, can I answer that?”
Ngumiti si Prof. “Sige, Mr. Enverga.”
Sinagot ni Kael nang tama.
Ngumiti si Hasra.
Ngumiti si Kael pabalik.
Nagsimula na naman kilig fest.
“Ayyyyy may moment!!!”
“Hasra + Kael = perfect GPA babies!”
Nakasimangot lang si Kimmy sa likod.
Habang ang ibang girls nagchichismisan
“Si Kael lang ang lalaki na nakakasabay sa talino ni Hasra.”
“At ang babagay pa nila!”
“Kimmy? Kanina pa trying hard!”
Nanginginig ang panga ni Kimmy pero wala siyang magawa.
Pagkatapos ng klase, lumapit si Kael kay Hasra.
“Hey,” sabi niya. “You were amazing kanina.”
“Thanks,” sagot ni Hasra pero halatang nanginginig ang tuhod niya internally.
“Gusto mo… sabay tayo mag-lunch later? Study buddies?”
Nagtilian lahat sa corridor.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
Si Kimmy?
Hawak dibdib.
Pula mukha.
Talo sa lahat ng round.
At si Hasra?
Nakasmile.
“Sure, Kael. I’d love that.”
- Writer
