Chasing Love

One: Look Who's Back!

"Good morning, Teacher Sab!" Ang matamis na ngiti ng school janitor ang agad na bumungad kay Sab pagkababa na pagkababa niya ng kotse.

"Good morning, Manong Jun! Aga natin, ah," aniya sa tauhan.

"Siyempre po, foundation day natin kaya excited! Nalinis ko na nga po pala ang pagdadausan natin ng school program, na-arrange ko na din po ang tables at chairs. Handa na po lahat para mamaya."

"Naku, thank you po. Di n'yo lang po alam kung gaano kalaking tulong ang ginawa ninyo," pagpapasalamat niya.

"Aba, siyempre, kailangang ma-impress ang mga parents para mas dumami pa ang mag-enroll sa 'tin next year. Tama po, Teacher Sab?" ang pagbibida ng may edad ng lalaki.

"Tama po, Manong. Salamat po. Hindi ko po alam ang gagawin ko kung wala kayo," aniya rito.

It was true. Si Manong Jun lang kasi ang tumutulong sa kanilang mapanatiling malinis ang maliit nilang paraalan. Ganoon pa man, bilib na bilib siya sa kasipagan nito. Lahat, eh, kinakayang mag-isa. Ni hindi na nga nito hinihintay na pagsabihan pa niya, lagi itong nagkukusa.

Ngumiti lang ang school janitor. "Salamat po, Teacher Sab. Tsi-check ko lang 'yong toilet," anito bago tumalikod.

"Sige po, Manong Jun. Thank you po," pahabol niyang wika rito bago siya dumiretso sa Faculty Room.

Pag-aari ni Sab ang pre-school and tutorial center na pinagtuturuan, ang Little Learners Center. She built the school exactly two years ago. It was a dream come true on her part since aside from the fact that she really loved her profession, she really do loved kids as well. Kaya dati pa talaga ay pangarap na niyang makapagpatayo ng sariling eskuwelahan. Na nagkatotoo nga may dalawang taon na ang nakakaraan.

They started with only three teachers, including herself, last school year. They only have three classes back then, Nursery, K1, and K2.

Ngayon, sa awa ng Diyos, dalawa na ang sections nila per level. Thus, they have now two sections for Nursery, another two sections for K1, and another two sections for K2. Plus, they now also offer tutorial classes not only to pre-schoolers, but also to graders from other schools.

Kaya from three, they now have five teachers, herself included. And if things turn out fine, baka mag-offer na rin sila ng Grade One next school year. Paisa-isang level lang per school year. Take things slowly, 'ika nga.

"Good morning, Teacher Sab!" si Sunshine naman ang bumati sa kanya pagkapasok niya ng Faculty Room. Isa ito sa dalawang original na co-teachers niya. Ito rin ang pinaka-close sa kanya sa lahat. And as usual, punong-puno na naman ito ng energy. Hindi nga niya alam kung anong sikreto nito at tila nag-uumapaw ito sa energy sa araw-araw, like today.

"You look so pretty today!" ang wika pa nito.

"Thank you, cher. You look pretty, too. As always,” puri rin niya rito.

“Thank you,” Sunshine said as she flipped her hair dramatically.

Natawa siya sa kakengkoyan nito. “Aga natin, ah,” aniya habang inaayos ang mga gamit niya sa kanyang table.

"I still need to finish something. Everything has to be perfect mamaya, you know! Reputasyon yata ng 'university' natin ang nakasalalay rito. Kaya push natin 'to! Gow lang nang gow!" anito. Ito kasi ang magiging emcee ng maliit nilang school program mamaya.

Sunshine always calls their learning center 'university'. Balang araw raw kasi ay magiging university din ito. Ang lagi naman niyang sagot is, "Kailan? Kapag uugud-ugod na tayong pareho?" But deep in her heart, she also wished for LLC to grow.

"Thank you, cher! Thank you for the effort," aniya rito.

"Oh, don't mention it! Alam mo namang mas mahal ko itong ‘university’ natin kaysa boyfriend ko," pakuwelang sagot nito.

Malakas siyang natawa sa tinuran nito. "That's so mean!" aniya. "I hope your boyfriend doesn’t mind."

"Oh, he won't. Because he doesn't know and what he doesn't know won't hurt him," sagot nito bago nagpakembot-kembot palabas ng office. "I just need to check on the sound system. See you later, beb! Bye!"

"Alright. Bye," aniya habang sinimulang halughugin ang kanyang bag. She was looking for something.

"Gosh, where is it?" aniya sa sarili nang hindi mahanap ang pakay. She dug some more, but in her frustration, she couldn’t find what she’s looking for.

Oh, god. Pwede kayang... She paused and fixed her eyes on the wall while trying hard to remember something. Napalatak siya nang may ma-realize.

"Oh, shucks!" aniya bago dali-daling lumabas ng office at patakbong tinungo ang kinaroroonan ng kanyang kotse. She needed to go home, nakalimutan niya iyong USB kung saan naka-save ang mga kantang gagamitin ng mga estudyante nila mamaya para sa presentation.

"Lalabas po kayo, Teacher Sab?" ani Manong Jun nang makasalubong niya sa labas.

"Opo, Manong. Pakibukas po 'yong gate," utos niya bago dali-daling pumasok sa kanyang kotse at saka binuhay ang ignition. She waited, but nothing happened. Pinihit niyang muli ang susi. Wala pa rin. She did it again for the third time, and still, ayaw pa rin nitong makisama.

"Oh, no. Not now. Please, not now," ang pakiusap niya sa kotse na sa kasamaang palad ay mukhang sinusumpong na naman.

Inulit niyang muling buhayin ang ignition ng kotse ng may ilang beses pa. Ayaw talaga. She gave up. Her car was old, pamana pa ito sa kanya nang namayapa niyang Mommy. No wonder, lagi itong tinotopak. Like today.

She stepped out of the car. No other option, magta-taxi na lang siya.

Kung kailan ka naman nagmamadali, oo, lihim niyang himutok.

"Oh, Teacher Sab? Aalis ka?" ani Raul, the only male teacher they have at the moment, na noo'y kapapasok pa lang ng gate ng eskwelahan.

"Yup, cher. I need to get something. Naiwan ko 'yong USB sa bahay. I’ll be back ASAP!" she said as she rushed out of the gate.

"Okay, sige. Ingat po!" narinig niyang pahabol nitong wika habang palabas na siya ng gate.

Agad siyang nagsimulang pumara ng taxi na sa kasamaang palad ay puro puno. "Oh, please, please," she silently begged. "’Wag naman ngayon, please. Oh, dear Lord." Parang gusto na niyang maiyak sa frustration.

And like an answered prayer, an empty cab stopped just a couple of meters away from her. Wala siyang segundong sinayang. She immediately ran towards the cab, opened the back door, and hopped in.

However, the exact moment she stepped inside the cab, another person opened the opposing door and settled himself in. They even slammed the door on opposing sides in exact timing. Sabay rin silang napatingin sa isa't-isa, like they've realized each other's presence only then.

And just like in the movies, Sab felt the whole world moved in slow motion as she stared at the man who was seated next to her. Daig pa pa niya ang natuka ng ahas sa nakita. Parang gusto niyang himatayin sa magkahalong emosyong agad na lumukob sa buo niyang pagkatao.

Why, but someone who was seated beside her was the last person she was expecting to see. Not here, not now, and definitely not after three long years!

"Chase?" aniya nang makabawi sa matinding pagkagulat.