Please, My Professor

Chapter 7

What is really the hardest time in life? Is it facing death? The fact that our time has come? No, ever since noong mga bata pa tayo, we all have already been facing death. The only difference is that we never mind it. We just live for a reason. A reason to live is what makes us forget about reality. Death. Some would say napakahirap harapin ng kamatayan lalo na kapag hindi tayo handa. Maybe, but when is the time we consider ourselves as ready enough to face death? In our 20's? 30’s? No. Death is inevitable, and something we shouldn't have to be ready enough for. The only thing that death looks scary is when we never live. No matter who we are, or what kind of life fate has offered, we have to find reason to live.

Madalas, at karamihan sa atin at natatakot na humarap sa kamatayan. That's how immature does. They never really know the reality there is, and perhaps acted as they know so. But a man living with his principles, observing the wisdom passed from generation to generation, and who listened to philosophers, adopt, and study their thoughts, is the man who lives with his hands open handed to any circumstances. May it be death, or trying times, it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters for that man is when he never lives according to his principles. That's the time he would be scared to death– it's knowing he never lived at all.

“I guess Prof. Kenny will be alright, diba?" Ani ni Kevin habang nakaupo doon sa may holding area kasama si Frances.

“Alam mo ang lalim ng pag-aalala mo kay Prof. Kenny. I'm really curious about that strange feeling you felt to her. What exactly happened to you with her last time? I wonder."

“‘Yan din ang gusto kung itanong sa kaniya, Frances. Look, when our eyes met earlier at her room, I thought of hugging her so badly. I want to be so close to her. I want to touch her skin and stare at how beautifully crafted her face is. It's more like I am staring at the most beautiful art in the museum each time I am given a chance to see her, even just a glimpse. I couldn't help myself, though. It's just something I non- deliberately did. No reason, perhaps there might be, but I don't know. I just feel it.”

“I wonder what they were talking about inside. But I know Prof. Kenny will be okay. She's tough though.”

" I hope so. But tough guys lose too.”

" She's not a guy, Kevin.”

Natawa nalang si Kevin sa sagot sa kaniya ni Frances. Well, totoo naman talagang hindi lalaki si Prof. Kenny. So sarcastic.

Habang nag-uusap ay nasulyapan ni Kevin na paparating sa kanilang kinaroroonan si Prof. Jayon dahilan upang mapatayo ito at magtanong. Nagulat naman si Frances sa reaction nito. After all this time, he always cared about her– her professor Kenny.

“Prof. Jayon…” Ani niya sa professor ngunit mababakas sa mukha nito ang matamlay na presensya. Sa isip ni Kevin ay sana nandoom siya sa loob ng room upang marinig man lang ang kanilang pinag-uusapan. He doesn't want to be left behind when it comes to professor Kenny. At least that's what he thought the whole time.

Itinaas naman ng professor ang kaniyang kanang kamay bilang tugon habang si Frances naman ay nakasunod lang kay Kevin.

“She will be okay, Kevin. Kanina ka pa nandito. Mula pa doon sa school hanggang dito ganoon pa rin ka curious ‘yang awra mo. I guess it's time for you to go home. The day is not end yet, you still have classes to attend."

“Tama si Prof., Kevin. I think we should head back home. Sure, professor Kenny will be okay. We know her, right? She's tough.” Sambit naman ni Frances. Pinipigilan niya ang kaibigan to go beyond boundaries. After all, Kevin was her student. We don't want rumors to spread, or any affairs regarding them.

“Hmmm…” Tugon naman ni Kevin sa kaibigan at huminga ng malalim.

" I guess so.”

" Doc. Glen…”

" You may bow return to the clinic, Frances. They need your assistance, an you too, Kevin, right? Professor Kenny will be alright.”

Tumango naman si Frances habang si Kevin naman ay may nasabi pa.

"When will she be discharged?”

" There still a week before the final exam. She'll be there, have class, with her daily duties as your professor, so don't worry.” Sagot naman ni Prof. Jayon with his all conviction. His words were pleasant, but sure it was firm. Kevin would have to trust those words, though.

Matapos noon ay umalis na si Kevin kasama ang kaibigan. Si Frances ay nag-stay muna sa loob ng school clinic dahil kailangan siya doon, at siya naman ay pumunta doon sa tinitirhan ni professor Kenny.

He was wondering baka kasi may maala-ala siya doon sa lugar na iyon. Hindi na kasi bago kay Kevin ang mga ganitong ganap dahil madalas itong mangyari sa kaniya tuwing nalalasing siya. Sa tuwing nag-iinuman silang magkaibigan, they always made fun of him. Madalas gumagawa ng kalokohan, at kinabukasan ay malilimutan na agad kung ano ang ginawa; and that's Kevin when being drunk. Kaya he believed there was something else going on, at kailangan niya iyong maalala.

It was almost at noon ng marating niya ang tinitirhan ng professor. Tahimik ang lugar at Wala masyadong kapitbahay. The place gave him the feeling of ease at some point.

Malamig ang hangin sa kabila man ng sikat ng araw dahilan upang mapapikit na lang siyang nakatanaw sa alapaap.

“You get change, Kevin…” Bigla na lang limitaw sa kaniyang isipan ang mga salitang iyon. It was professor Kenny who told him to get change to the bathroom dahil nasukahan niya ang damit nito. Kevin, was more like daydreaming. Habang nakapikit ang mga mata ay dahan-dahan niyang naalala ang mga bagay-bagay dala na rin ng malamig na hanging dumadapo sa kaniyang balat.

He heard those tiny droplets of water from the shower, their kisses, and how they enjoyed each other’s flesh. It was clear and lucid as not to be doubted, and all the things happened with that evening pop-up into his thoughts. This time, he was more like watching his own show in a movie marathon.

Their deep kisses, hugs, and those soft touches they made with their fingers. How they have seen themselves naked, and how they have made s*x, it was so clear and lucid. Maybe this time, Kevin wouldn't believe something happened to them. He knows something happened to them.

“You're drunk, professor Kenny…”

“It's… it's okay. Im-Im in my house…” She laughed…

“Yo-you enjoy it right…Kev-Kevin? Le-lets get drunk…”

Then he remembered it kung paano sila nag-inuman buong magdamag. They were so drunk that they couldn't even bring themselves up. They enjoy that night. Really they did.

Remembering all of those made Kevin shocked. He was stunned. He never thought of this thing, but now, he couldn't hide the fact that something really happened to them. How he wishes he never knew it at all, perhaps, that's the reality. Whether he accepts it or not, it happened already.