Fit Her Shoe [Gottfred & Lorin]

Simula

Simula
Lorin Secilia Vicencio

Exhausted, I let out a deep and weary sigh as I reached my table. With a gentle thud, I settled into my chair, allowing my body to relax as I leaned back, a wave of relief washing over me. Kalahating araw pa lamang ang lumilipas ay para bang isang linggo na agad ang pagod ko. Preschoolers were so energetic that I could barely keep up. Teacher pabukas po nito, teacher inaway po ako ni ganito, teacher umihi po sa shorts si ganiyan, at kung anu-ano pa. But nevertheless, I would never trade this job for another else.

“Mara, hija, pakibuksan mo nga ang TV at nang makapanuod naman tayo ng balita,” utos ng isang co-teacher ko roon sa isang teacher aid namin, “thank you.”

Mara eagerly and happily replied. Matapos niyang buksan ang telebisyon sa isang cable news ay nakangiting lumapit naman siya sa akin dala na iyong lunchbox niya. Kami iyong madalas na magkasamang kumain dahil kami iyong magka-share sa mesa.

“Kain na tayo, Teacher Lorin,” masiglang anyaya niya.

“I am actually starving, Mara,” I replied and chuckled. “Ang tingin ko nga kanina sa chalk ay pagkain na.”

Tawang-tawa si Mara sa biro ko at saka sinabing, “Sino ba naman ang hindi mapapagod at magugutom? E, ang kukulit ng mga estudyante mo, Teacher Lorin! Lalabinlima pero para bang limampu na.”

I nodded my head in total agreement.

“Totoo naman ‘yang sinabi mo—”

“Bachelor no more! The heir of the Figuerroa Engineering, Gottfred Damien Figuerroa III will soon tie the knot to his yet to name childhood sweetheart.”

Napalunok ako sa narinig at biglang napalingon sa TV kung saan kasalukuyang ipinapakita roon ang isang pamilyar na larawan ng lalaking binanggit sa balita.

“You heard it right! The hot bachelor is now off the market. According to sources, the wedding will be held next month, on the twentieth of September. We are very sorry to break your heart, ladies.”

My eyes blinked heavily and I suddenly felt myself on unsteady grounds.

“Teacher Lorin, okay ka lang ba? Namumutla ka,” pag-aalala ni Mara.

With a heavy heart, I forced a nod and mustered a faint smile, concealing the turmoil that now engulfing my entire world. Inaasahan ko na naman ang tungkol dito pero hindi ko inakala na ganito pala kasakit nang magkatotoo.

The love of my life was getting married. The man that I only loved in this lifetime was marrying someone else.

My twin.