When Two Stars Collided

Chapter 3

Lesson 3 WTSC

Cattleya Venus

It is another day to study. I am walking now in the hall way and I noticed that some students were looking at me, avoiding my gaze and talking behind my back.

I know na usap-usapan ako sa ibang strand. Curious ang ilan sa akin and ramdam kong na-iintimidate sila. Alam ko rin na hinahanapan nila ako ng mali at even weakness ko ay inaaalam nila.

I really do believe na kung sino ang mga pumupuri sa'yo ay sila rin ang naninira sa'yo.

Hindi lahat ng papuri ay totoo.

I just ignored them at pumasok na sa room ko. Umupo na ako sa unahan dahil dito ang nakasanayan kong pwesto. Walang masyadong naupo rito and good thing tahimik ang pwesto ko.

Dahil wala pa ang teacher namin, nagbasa na muna ako ng libro. It has been my daily routine. Imbis na makipag-usap sa mga kaklase ko, nagbabasa na lang ako ng libro.

I am not good in socializing or having a long conversation with other people. I have this attitude na kapag walang kwenta ang kausap ko, iniiwasan ko. Sarcastic din akong kausap lalo na kapag nonsense ang topic.

Tahimik lang ako. I don't initiate to start the conversation. Kausapin mo ko, doon lang ako magsasalita. Boring akong kausap. Tipid akong magsalita unless tatanungin mo ako na may kinalaman sa academics.

I am not bad. I just don't look like friendly. Idagdag pa na may masungit akong mukha. I get used to it. Walang ka-close na kaklase. Walang kaibigan.

If you would see me alone, you might think I am an outcast or lonely. You would pity me. But the truth is, I'm glad to be alone. No hypocrisy. If someone asked, 'who needs friends?' Probably I am one of those 2% people who would say NO, NOT ME.

"Good morning class. Sa next meeting na lang mag-discuss ang first reporter. But for now, I'll discuss first the content of course syllabus in Creative Writing then I'll be assigning groups to report the other remaining topic." bungad ng teacher namin sa Creative Writing at pinaliwanag niya na ang mga topic na kasama sa course syllabus.

Dahil nag-advance reading na ako sa mga dini-discuss niya, inabala ko na lang ang sarili ko sa pagbabasa ng libro sa ibang subject.

Sa strand na kinuha ko, more on Social Sciences ang focus nito. More on performance, memorization, written works, public speaking and application. This is also about understanding the reality of life and most importantly, connecting and reaching your hand to the people and community where you belong in.

Wala na kaming subject na Mathematics. Walang thrill. Pero dahil pinanlalaban ako sa iba't ibang Math Competition, I am still dealing with numbers, figures, finding x and y and different formulas.

I'm really thankful for having this memory and brain.

"Okay that's all. Dahil may remaining time pa naman, let's have debate." Naagaw agad ang atensiyon ko at nakinig sa teacher namin. Tumingin siya sa akin at ako ang tinawag.

"Wala na uwian na."

"Panalo na siya agad."

"Hala. Ayokong matawag."

Nakarinig ako ng ilang komento at napansin ang ilan na kinakabahan at naiwas ng tingin upang hindi matawag.

"Mr. Alarcon. Ikaw ang lumaban." Almost of my classmates sighed in relief because their names were not called. Seryoso at walang angal namang tumayo ang isang lalaki na tinawag ng teacher namin. With no apparent reason, almost everyone squealed and shouted support at the top of their lungs.