He

VII

My hands were shaking while I was holding the small piece of paper.

What is this? Akala ko ba tapos na? At anong ibang paraan? Nakakalapit ba siya sakin ng hindi ko alam?

Sumasakit ang ulo ko sa kaiisip kung sino ang taong 'to.

I started thinking kung saan ako nagpunta buong araw. Kung sino ang mga nakasalamuha ko at iba pang mga bagay na maaaring mag-bigay ng clue kung sino man ang gumagawa nito.

"Nasa school lang ako buong araw, classmate ko kaya 'to? Pero hindi ko naman pinahiram ang notebook ko." Pagkausap ko sa sarili. Biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang bukas na zipper ng bag ko ng ibigay ito ni Trey sakin kanina.

Sigurado akong sinarado ko iyon. Kinabahan ako sa naisip.

Hindi kaya si Trey talaga iyon?

I like you. If it isn't too obvious, I wanna tell you that.

Bumalik sa isip ko ang confession niya kanina at muling bumaba iyon sa note na hawak ko.

I figured this is more fun than doing something else to catch your attention. I miss you love.

Hindi naman siguro. Trey is a friend. Hindi naman niya gagawin 'to. Sana.

Kahit na pilit kong kinoconvince ang sarili na hindi si Trey ang nagpapadala ng mga mensahe ay hindi ko parin maiwasang bantayan ang bawat galaw niya.

"What?" He asked, his forehead creasing. Mabilis akong napakurap-kurap ng marealize na nahuli niya pala akong nakatitig sa kanya.

"Ang gwapo mo pala?" Sabi ko na lang at bumalik na sa pag-kain.

"You just realized that?" Tila gulat nitong saad while showing a playful grin. I rolled my eyes with his cockiness.

What were you thinking, Que? Trey's a friend. Your friend, he wouldn't harm you.

Muling umangat ang tingin ko at nakita ang magana niyang pagkain.

You're not him...right?

"If somebody gave you ten thousand pesos that absolutely had to be spent today, how would you choose to spend it? Would you spend it on an item you've been eyeing for weeks, or would you donate the money to charity? Which option do you think would bring you the most happiness? If you're like most people, you'd choose to spend the money on yourself. Our intuition is that we'd be happier if we spent the money on ourselves." Sir Drake was now back on his strict self once again as he discuss in front of us.

"But human intuition can sometimes be wrong, too. Dito pumasok si Professor Elizabeth Dunn in the year 2008, and she conducted an experiment between spending and happiness." He said as she flashed an image of a woman on the screen.

I tried focusing on whatever he was discussing in front but my mind wanders off back to that small note. Hindi ko na sinabi kay Jacque at baka ibalita niya pa kay Tita. Siguradong mag-aalala lang ang mga iyon.

I almost kneel down for them to agree to lessen the guards around me, just a week before this whole fiasco happened again.

"Ms. Ramirez? Ramirez!" Mabilis akong napatayo ng marinig ang malakas na pag-tawag ni Sir Drake sa apelyido ko.

"Sir?"

Matagal akong tinitigan ni Sir, the whole room was eerily quiet as well. My classmates were just watching at whatever may happen.

"What was Professor Dunn's experiment about?" Tanong ni sir sakin pagkatapos i-off ang screen sa harap. He crossed his arms in his chest at sumandal sa lamesa niya habang binibigyan ako ng nanghahamon na tingin.

"About spending and happiness, sir." Confident kong sagot.

"In what year did this occur?"

"2008,"

"What's the name of her co-researcher?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sunod niyang tanong.

May co-researcher? Wala akong narinig na ganoon. Nanahimik na lang ako dahil sa pagkapahiya. It took him a few more minutes staring at me before he finally spoke.

"Are you with us? Didn't I told you? I want everyone's attention on me and on my lessons every class hours?" Napayuko ako dahil sa sermon na natanggap.

"I'm sorry, sir." Mahina kong bulong.

Inalis niya ang pagkakakrus ng mga braso at ipinatong nalang ito sa lamesa sa magkabilang gilid niya. Halos mapairap ako ng marinig ang maliliit na hirit ng mga kaklase ko dahil sa pag-kilos niyang iyon.

"I don't want a part two of this, class. During my class, throw away all things that are clouding your mind. I want all your attention, I need your ears to listen, your eyes to see, and most especially your mind to understand." He said as he scanned the whole room with his eyes.

"Am I clear?" He asked and we all answered "yes" in unison. He nodded and his eyes bore into me once again.

"Professor Dunn doesn't have a co-researcher in the said experiment, Ms. Ramirez. Please bear that in mind and take your seat. I'll talk to you after class." He said at tinalikuran na kaming muli upang paandarin ang projector at bumalik sa pag-tuturo.