The Sixth Girl

Chapter 6

March na at nandito na nga ang summer. Sobrang init, sobrang lagkit ngayon dito sa Versalia Beach kung saan ginaganap ang High Council-sponsored Summer Party. All the students are required to attend and are in their beachwear attires at kasalukuyang nagsasayaw sa tono ng mga international and local songs. Bigatin ang mga artists na nag peperform ngayon and I know how much the Representative Councilors spent for this event. Saying its millons of dollars is an understatement. But then again, V.U was never the school who holds back their considerable cash funds. "Thank You V.U! Thank You!" malakas na pasalamat ng isang British pop star matapos ang number nito, "And now let's give it up for Winry!" Nakakarinding hiyawan ang narinig ko at pagtingin ko sa stage ay nakita kong lumabas mula sa backstage ang isang babaeng may sun colored hair na hanggang tuhod at kakulay na kakulay ng bughaw na langit ngayon ang kanyang mga mata. She is like the very medieval princess I read in my books came to life! Ang tangkad niya at sobrang sexy. Naka tight bun ang kanyang buhok pero may bangs sya from the left side of her head falling just above her knee. At yung kutis nya. Grabe halos kasing puti ng snow! Parang malulusaw ito sa init ng araw ng Pinas! Napakasikat nitong singer and known revivalist artist o ung mga singer na nag rerevive ng mga lumang kanta. I never watched t.v nor use the internet for anything other than research purposes kaya wala akong idea kung ano ang itsura ng singer na ito. And from what I heard from my classmates, sobra at napakadalang nitong magkaroon ng public appearance! Closet fan ako ng singer na ito at nagpapasalamat ako na Representative Coordinator ako assigned to this event dahil nakatayo ako sa front row. Katapat mismo ng stage. Kumaway-kaway ito at ngumiti sa mga estudyanteng walang tigil ang sigawan at picturan. "Handa na ba kayo mga Versalistas?!" sigaw nito in surprisingly decent tagalog na nagpabaliw naman sa aming mga estudyante, "Nagulat kayo ano?!" Malakas na nag oo ang mga nanunuod sa kanya. "Pwes, magpasalamat kayo sa kapitbahay kong si Lucresia Dimaguiba na nagturo sa aking magtagalog sa labas ng bahay namin sa Amerika habang nag hahanap ng mga gwapong kano!" nakangising sigaw nito sa aming lahat. We all roared in appreciation at lalo pang nagpawala sa amin ay ang pagsisimula ng tugtog. "SUMAYAW SUMUNOD KAY MYSTINA! IBOMBA MO! IBOMBA MO!" Laking gulat namin ng biglang lumabas si Alyssa from the backstage at nagsilbing dancer ni Winry while flawlessly singing a hit old school, pre-war song ng Pilipinas. "SUMAYAW SUMUNOD VERSALIA! IBOMBA NYO! IBOMBA NYO!" malakas at effortless na birit ni Winry habang lahat kami, pati ako ay napasayaw na rin sa steps ni Mystina na bigay todo ang giling sa stage habang masayang nakanta ang pop star. -0- "That's it for class! We managed to finish four months' worth of classes in just two months! Gread job!" masayang announce ni Ms. Merlinda at the end of our class session. Nagpalakpakan kaming magkakaklase at tinitigan namin ang teacher namin na proud na proud sa aming accomplishment. "All of you really lived up to your faction's reputation. I was told na matatalino kayo pero this is way beyond my expectation!" puri niya sa amin at nagpasalamat naman kaming lahat. Inayos ng substitute teacher namin ang kanyang mga teaching materials at nilagay yung lahat sa kanyang bag bago muling hinarap kaming lahat. "So I guess this is it huh? You may have this class' time as your free time from now on until the end of the school year. I already told Mrs. De La Pena about your accomplishments and she told me she expected nothing less," proud na sabi niya sa amin. "Maam, saan na kayo ngayon? Babalik na ba kayo sa I.N.H.S?" tanong ng isa kong kaklase from Tech. Umiling ang prim na teacher, "Actually, this will be the very last class I will handle until the forseeable future. Lilipad ako papuntang Japan bukas first thing tomorrow morning". "Vacation?" "No, for work. Well, I guess this is it! An honor teaching you all and may fair fortune be with you always," tumayo na ito at dinismiss na kami but not before asking me to help her bring her things to the bus stop. Tahimik kaming naglalakad ni Ms. Merlinda and I saw her eyes staring at all she can lay her sights on. As if memorizing every detail and scenery. Hinayaan ko lang siyang magmunimuni until we arrived at the waiting shed. "Well, thank you very much Ms. Verna. Mag-iingat ka lagi ha?" paalala nito sa akin. Tumango naman ako and then suddenly may isang Almorican in his full hoody passed by us as if he is being late or something. Nakita kong hinabol ito ng tingin ng guro and to my surprise a tear fell from her eyes. "Ok lang po kayo?" alala kong tanong kay Ms. Merlinda na mabilis pinahid ang kanyang mga luha. "Yes, yes. I just remembered my student in I.N.H.S. He is actually my favorite one. Foreigner siya and he is always wearing a hoody every single day in our class. Kung dito siguro siya nag-aral, I bet he will be at home in Almorica". "Where is he now?" Bumuntong hininga ito at napatingala na parang bumabalik sa nakaraan ang isipan, "Somewhere in Europe. Mabait, witty at really loyal. He is or was in a relationship with another student of mine and I hoped for the best for the both of them," napailing siya sa akin, "But I guess, hoping is not enough." Bago pa ako makareact sa sinabi niya sa akin ay dumating na ang shuttle bus for teachers. Bago umakyat si Ms. Merlinda sa steps ng bus ay nilingon ako nito, "Do me a favor Verna will you?" "Anything Ma'am" sagot ko agad. "Sometime in the future, please be free," tumalikod ito sa akin at bago magsara ang pinto ng bus ay nakinig ko ang huling sinabi niya, "Be finally weightless".