Exspiravit

III: Saichi

"In order to be happy oneself it is necessary to make at least one other person happy." - Theodor Reik

Saktong nag-ring ang bell nang lamunin ako ng antok sa klase ni Mrs. Yang. Hay salamat! Nakaraos na naman ako sa pinaka-nakakaantok at pinaka-boring na subject. Naghikab muna ako at saka inayos ang gamit ko at saka tumayo.

Pero ang nakapagtataka ay dahil lahat pa ng mga kaklase ko ay nakaupo at mukhang ako lang ang may balak na lumabas.

"W-why are you not going outside?" mahinang bulong ko. Nakita kong umiling si Ibbie at saka ngumuso sa gawi ng blackboard kung saan naroon pa din si Mrs. Yang.

Grabe! Akala ko ba uwian na?! Bakit nandito pa rin sa loob ang teacher na 'yan?

"Ma'am, excuse me but it is already our dismissal. It is included in the rules inside our school that we should be dismissed as the bell rings and the teachers have no right to extend their classes even though they are not yet finished with their discussions! You can continue that tomorrow! DUH?" nakapameywang na sabi ko.

Pero siyempre sa utak ko lang 'yan sinabi, para walang makakarinig kundi ako.

"Ms. Ambra, do you have any last words before I'll get you out of this room again?"

"M-ma'am but it's already time!" apila ko.

"Didn't you listen to me?! I said I'm still going to have an announcement!" sigaw niya dahilan na mapahiya ulit ako. Wala akong magawa kundi umupo na lang ulit sa kahihiyan. But then, wala silang choice kundi pagtiyagaan ako dahil again, AKO lang ang Pilipino! And I'm one of their assets!

"So, just like what I've said, you're going to have a group reporting by next week about the other topic I've discussed to you last time, I think it was yesterday. It is related to the death of Mr. Kang, so you'll know further about what you're seeing or feeling not only when you're near his room but also in your everyday life. I know not all of you have this skill or capability but it's also important for the addition of your knowledge about this," mahabang pahayag ni Ma'am with her Chinese accent. Hindi niya nga ma-bigkas ng maayos 'yung 'r' at 'yung 's' niya parang 'f' na ewan.

"What is she talking about?" tanong ko kay Andrea na nagte-take down notes.

Naiinis siyang lumingon sa akin. "You're not listening the whole time, aren't you?"

"Actually, yes."

"Look, remember what Ma'am Yang was talking about yesterday? When she suddenly discussed about third eye when she remembered Mr. Kang? Well, she wants us to report about THAT topic for further knowledge. And our class is divided into ten groups. So, each group contains 4 members. And she announced that you can choose your groupmates," mabilis na bulong niya. Minsan naiinggit ako kay Andrea, Czech na nga siya, pero ang galing pa ring mag-English. Ako, Pilipino na nga.... Italian pa.... tapos hindi pa fluent sa English.

"Ah, kaya pala iba na ang tinuturo niya kahapon..." bulong ko sa sarili ko.

"What?" tanong niya habang nakakunot ang noo.

"Nothing, thanks, anyway," sabi ko at nginitian siya. Nagpatuloy na siya sa pakikinig kay Ma'am at kay Ibbie naman ako lumingon. "We're groupmates, right?"

"Of course," nakangising sabi niya. "Since when did we ever became apart? We're sisters," dagdag niya at kinindatan ako nang hindi napapansin ni Ma'am.

"But we are lacking one member," bulong ko ulit.

"I know. We'll talk about it later," para bang nagmamadaling sabi niya at saka biglang nag-ayos ng gamit. Doon ko na-realize na umalis na pala si Mrs. Yang at maari na kaming lumabas.