Please, My Professor

Chapter 3

“Hmmm…bakit? I'm good.” Sagot naman ni Kevin sa kaibigan niyang si Ralp.

" Hindi eh, may something talaga, Kevin. I know you.”

Napahikap na lang ng kaniyang ulo si Kevin. I guess he couldn't deny it from Ralp. Perhaps, alam na alam naman na rin niya kung anong klase siyang tao eh.

Napangiti na lang si Kevin dahil hindi niya talaga kayang magsinungaling sa kaibigan, ngunit wala namang kasiguraduhan kung ano talaga ang kakaiba niyang naramdaman sa kaniyang professor. Totoo, matagal ng magkaibigan si Kevin at si Ralp, siguro simula pa noong sila ay high school pa lamang. Marami na rin silang pinagdaanan: madalas kalokohan, pero bida naman sila sa academics. They all have tried their best to be on top of their courses kaya madalas din silang nagkakaroon ng friendly competition. But even so, they enjoy working and helping each other hand in hand kaya parang magkapatid na rin ang turingan nilang dalawa. Minsan pa nga si Ralp ang nagbibigay ng allowance kay Kevin, at binibigyan pa niya ito ng part time jobs para naman may maitustus sa pangangailangan.

Pareho nilang kinuha ang criminologist course dahil sa magkaibang dahilan. Kevin wanted to show to his father that a police officer is good, and just doing anything to protect public safety and to maintain peace and order. His father has contradictory beliefs. Believing that a police officer is corrupt, and that oftentimes abuse their authority as a public officer. Si Ralp naman ay iba rin. Ever since he was a child, he wanted to be a police officer because he really felt like he had something to do for the public. He wanted to be a public figure, just as how his father excelled in his profession. He was a lawyer, and a friend of the oppressed.

“I'll up ahead, Ralp. Kita nalang tayo mamaya sa first subject natin kay Prof. Kenny.” Saad naman ni Kevin sa kaniya g kaibigan. Iniwan niya itong blanko, ngunit kahit ganoon ay parehas lang din sila. He, too, felt the same. Hindi kasi siya sigurado kung ano talaga ang kaniyang kakaibang nararamdaman noong makita niya ang kaniyang professor.

Madalas, tuwing may handaan sa bahay ng kaniyang kaibigang si Ralp ay nasasali si Kevin sa inuman. Tuwing napaparami ang kaniyang nainom, ay nalilimutan niya ang kaniyang mga ginawa noong lasing pa, dahilan upang pagtawanan na lang siya ng mga tropa.

As usual, Kevin went to the school library. Gusto kasi niyang may prior knowledge agad in any of the subject kaya he makes use of his remaining time to stay at the library. Bedsides, madalas din kasi rito ang kaniyang ultimate crush na si Marichu. She was a bookworm, with an old soul and vintage type. Siya iyong tipo ng babae na nananatiling old fashion, yet she bloom in her own way of showing herself. He got this really commendable look, and an eyes that stared like a blacksmith in his diamond.

“Oh…hi…” Pabati agad ni Kevin kay Marichu na nakaupo lang sa isang mesa at nagbabasa ng libro.

" Would you mind kung maki-upo ako rito?”

" Sure.” Sumagot naman ang babae.

This was his first time talking to this girl. I mean, madalas ay tinititigan lang niya ito sa malayo at iniisip kung paano niya ito lalapitan, yet look at him now. He was so close to someone he thought he would just stare at. He might even think that this woman was just created to be stared from afar, and not be touched by his gentle hand.

“So, I guess you're always here?"

“Madalas. Napansin nga rin kita rito eh. Madalas ka rito, diba?"

Nagulat naman si Kevin dahil sa sinabi ni Marichu sa kaniya. I mean, she noticed him?

“Oh, you notice me pala… I'm kevin.” Sabi niya sa babae.

Marichu leaned towards him, then she stated her time. "Marichu. Marichu Padilla."

“Kevin!" Nagulat naman agad si Kevin ng biglang may tumawag sa kaniya dahilan upang napatingin siya sa may pintuan. It was Ralp who was calling him at dahan-dahan itong lumapit sa kaniya.

“Halika na. 5 mins nalang oh, baka gusto mong magka-reminders?"

Walang ibang magawa si Kevin kundi umalis ay iwanan ang naudlot na magandang pagkakataong makausap si Marichu.

Matapos niyang tumayo ay may sinabi pa siya sa babae.

“ I really like your style. I mean, your old fashion style really suits you well."

Napangiti naman ang babae at nilingon siya, yet he was too shy to face Marichu. I mean, he couldn't believe he said that to her? He thought that he could only say that in one of his dreams.

Sumabay na siya kasama ang kaibigang si Ralp dahil ayaw rin niyang mabigyan ng reminders. Kilala pa naman si Prof. Kenny bilang isang strikto pagdating sa pagbibigay ng reminders.

“Oh? Sino ‘yon?Ikaw ha, andami mo ng tinatago sa akin."

“Sira! Wala ‘yon. Nakilala ko lang ‘yon doon. Madalas ko kasing nakikita sa library kaya nilapitan ko na at kinausap."

“Wala raw pero may pa ‘ I like your old style fashion. Really suits you well’, ano ‘yon?"

“Just a compliment, Ralp. You know, we're young. It's life." Sagot naman ni Kevin at napatawa pa ito.

Sa loob ng silid,

“‘Tention!" Sigaw ng kanilang class marcher. Hudyat iyon na papasok na sa ka ilang silid ang kanilang professor.

“‘Da tayo!” At tumayo ang lahat ng matuwid.

" Starting count off!” At nagsimula ng ang count off nila. Wala namang liban kaya walang problema. Minsan kasi kapag maraming absent ay reminders agad.

"Criminology student, Pañales, as class marcher of the day, there are 45 male and female criminology students ready for your class discussion, ma'am!” Nakasaludo ang kanilang class mayor na inireport ang kalagayan ng kanilang block.

" Seat.” Sagot naman ni professor Kenny.

" Salamat po!” Sagot naman ng lahat at umupo.

“Have we done the last topic?"

“Not yet, ma'am."

“Okay then let's continue our discussion." Ani pa nito with her full conviction. Prof. Kenny was really something else, yet even so, students have positive feedbacks to her. Her way of teaching is quite strict, yet that's what standard teaching for criminology courses is.

Prof. Kenny continued the discussion she left last meeting, at lahat ay hindi man lang nakatitig sa kaniyang mga mata, but only Kevin.

“Kevin…” Pabulong na tawag ni Ralp sa katabi niyang si Kevin.

“ Hoy, Kevin… ‘wag mong titigan si Prof. Kenny ng ganiyan. Baka magka reminders pa tayo.”

He didn't listen, perhaps, he continued staring at her , like digging deep into her soul, and then he felt something. May bigla siyang naalala. That moment, noong hinatid niya ang kaniyang professor sa kaniyang tahanan, there was something. He knew there was something going on, yet he couldn't recall it all.

“Kevin…hoy!” At tinapik bigla siya ng kaniyang kaibigan. Hindi niya namalayan na nakatitig na rin pala sa kaniya si Prof. Kenny.

"So, is there something wrong with my face, Kevin?”

" Ah…eh…no ma'am." Sagot naman niya sa kaniyang professor.

“ Then why did you keep staring at me like that?"

“I'm sorry ma'am…"

“Oh, proceed… 30 push ups.”

Sa utos ng kaniyang professor ay lumabas si Kevin sa kanilang silid.

“Permission to proceed, ma'am!?"

“Proceed!"

Agad namang ginagawa ni Kevin ang reminders na ipinataw sa kaniya. He never reacted, or complained, because he knew that he deserved it. It was not because he stared at his professor, but when he did not listen to her.