Opposites Collide

Prologue

"Let's talk about motion along a straight line. What happens if a ball is thrown vertically into the air? Describe its motion."

Hearing that, I quickly raised my hand at tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo ko after ako senyasan ni Ms. Daphne na sumagot. "The ball will go up, slow down due to gravity, stop at its peak, then come back down, accelerating as it falls."

"But what if there's wind? Wouldn't that affect its motion? It could change the trajectory or even how fast it comes down." Napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses na 'yon.

Matthew Josh Le Feuvre.

I just shook my head saka tipid na ngumiti. "We're talking about motion along a straight line, Mr. Le Feuvre. Gravity is the main factor here. Wind isn't typically considered in basic physics problems."

I could see that he wasn't convinced. "Yeah, but isn't it better to think about real-life situations? If we're not thinking about all the possible variables, we're not really understanding physics, are we?"

I crossed my arms. "Physics needs simplifications to explain fundamental concepts. If you throw in every variable, it becomes chaos. We're not meteorologists, we're learning about motion."

I saw how he frowned, looking at the rest of the class as if seeking support. "But isn't that limiting? Why not expand our thinking?"

Ms. Daphne quickly stepped in. "Both of you raise valid points," she said, her voice calm but firm. "In basic physics, we use ideal scenarios to grasp core principles. But Mr. Le Feuvre is correct; real-world factors like wind can impact motion. However, for this exercise, let's focus on the primary concept of vertical motion and leave other variables aside."

I glanced at him. He looked frustrated kaya pasimple na lamang akong napailing-iling sa inakto niya saka muling bumalik sa pagkakaupo. Gusto ko rin matawa kasi halatang pikon na siya kanina pa at hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit.

Since the first day of our lessons, hindi niya na 'ko tinigilan tanungin paulit-ulit at kontrahin ang mga sagot ko na para bang may gusto siyang patunayan o ipakita sa klase na may mali ako. At sa totoo lang? Hindi ko siya gets sa part na 'yon.

Pero mas lalong hindi ko gets kung bakit tila napaka init ng ulo niya sa'kin.

May kasalanan ba 'ko sa kanya sa past life ko?

"By the way, class. The final rankings for the first semester have been released," said Ms. Daphne. Napatingin ako sa kanya and she glanced at me before smiling and added, "and congratulations, Ms. Santiago, for being the top student of STEM 1."

Ano daw?

Mukhang napansin ni Ms. ang reaction ko kaya muli siyang nagsalita. "You and Mr. Le Feuvre had the same average in the first quarter but your average was higher in the second quarter. Good job, Ms. Santiago."

"Since the first day alam ko na agad na matalino 'yang si Dorothea!"

"Real. Hindi na rin ako nagulat pa na siya ang top 1."

"Plus mabait pa!"

"Shineshare niya yung talino niya, unlike sa iba diyan."

"Lex!"

"True naman!"

Natawa ako ng mahina matapos marinig ang mga usap-usapan ng mga kaklase ko sa likuran. Honestly, hindi ko alam ang mararamdaman ko. Palagi namang ganon. I graduated as valedictorian in elementary and junior high school but I can't help but maging proud pa rin sa bawat achievements na nakakamit ko.

Mama once said, "don’t let success go to your head; let it go to your heart." It's a reminder to stay grounded even when things go well. At mula noon, palagi na 'yang nakatatak sa isip at puso ko. People keeps saying na sobrang talino ko raw. But honestly, I'm just a girl driven to turn her goals into reality.