Second Chances

CHAPTER THREE

Daniel's POV

Pinatawag ako ni Miss Flores sa faculty. I already knew what she wants to talk about. I am honestly not in the mood nor am I ready to even talk about the flunking of my grades but it's not like I'm left with any options.

"Mr. Estravoro, sit down." Turo niya sa upuan sa harap ng desk niya. I could see Sir Phil eyeing me sharply with a smug smirk while lightly shooking his head.

Nagbaba ako ng tingin dahil sa hiya.

"Mr. Estravoro, I assume you already know what we're about to talk about..." Panimula ni Miss.

I inhaled and fiddled with my fingers on my lap harder.  "Miss, I know I haven't been doing well lately on my school activities but..." Nilunok ko ang kaba nahihimig sa boses ko at kinapalan ang mukha ko tapatin si Miss. "I know I did well on my finals. I aced some of my major subejcts pero bakit...bakit bumaba po ang average ko?"

Miss Flores eyed me with understanding and pursed her lips. "Mr. Estravoro, I have computed your grades from the first quarter and second quarter for this semester and in your card shows kung ano ang results ng grades mo sa mga major subjects mo. May isa kang line of 8,"

"I saw your scores sa examination and I must say I admire your capability and determination para makabawi from your previous.... misconcenptions these past few months," Maingat na saad ni Miss. "However, hindi gano'n kataas ang mga scores mo compared sa last quarter. You used to aced on your performances and all your exams, but now...may ilan sa subjects mo ang hindi pumasok sa passing scores."

Nagbaba ako ng tingin at napakunot ang noo. But...nag review ako...

"Daniel," She tapped the desk in front of me to meet my eyes. "I have been hearing negative rumors and minor assumptions about you that I have not yet confirmed," Napapikit ako ng mariin sa narinig. Damn those rumors. Alam kong may mga ginawa akong hindi maganda nitong mga nakaraang buwan pero hindi ko dinadala rito ang mga kalokohan ko sa school.

"I have consulted your subject teachers and said that unless those rumors are confirmed, your deportment will not be recorded until the finals."

"Miss, I assure you that those rumors are not true. Hindi ko po dadalhin sa school ang mga ginagawa ko sa labas. Hindi ko po magagawang idamay ang pag-aaral ko sa mga kalokohan." Mabilis na sabi ko. Alam ko sa inaasal ko ngayon hindi convincing ang mga sinasabi ko pero nilalamon ako ng kaba at desperasyon. Takot dahil iyon na ang tingin sa 'kin ng mga tao at desperado dahil hindi ko matanggap na ito ang nangyayari sa 'kin ngayon.

"So, you do admit meron ka ngang ginagawang kalokohan outside the school premises?" Biglang asik ni sir Phil. "Then, those rumors are not entirely just hearsays after all."

Miss Flores turned her swivel chair facing sir Phil with a stern look. "I'm sorry, sir, pero kasali ka ba sa consultation ko with my student?"

Nag-angat ng tingin si Sir kay Miss at ngumiti. "I'm just saying kung totoo man ang mga sabi-sabi tungkol kay Estravoro, he would've denied those rumors himself and saved his time focusing on his studies. Narinig mo naman ang sinabi niya kanina, hindi ba? He admits that those rumors are not just simply rumors but there's a slight truth in them."

Ngumisi si Miss. "I appreciate your insight, Sir Phil,  but that doesn't answer my question," Mataray pero malumanay na asik niya. "Kasali ka ba sa consultation ko with my student?"

"Miss Flores, I am also just looking out for Estravoro dahil estudyante ko rin siya---"

"But that doesn't give you the right para maki-sabat ka sa usapan ng may usapan," She said sternly. "I would like to have a private and a proper consultation with my student as his advicer. Kung meron ka man concerns sa students ko, kausapin mo ako mamaya pagkatapos ko rito. I think I have made that clear before, haven't I, Sir Philip Santos?"