After Her Last Straw (Dream Series #1)

Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Eyes
Zanashi

"I'm sorry, class, but we could not use the University Theatre right now for some reason."

Our Professor in Art Appreciation, Professor Duma, sat on her chair exhaustedly. My classmates groaned because of the sudden news.

"But Prof! Where are we going to perform, then? Here?" said Airah.

"We have no other choice. You're already on your attire right now, unless you want it done at the school hall?"

Nakangusong umupo si Airah sa upuan niya, halatang dismayadong hindi kami makakapag-perform sa University Theatre pero malamang ay ayaw ding maganap ito sa school hall.

We were supposed to have a major roleplay this afternoon and students are flocking everywhere at the school hall around this hour so it would be really embarassing to perform it there.

Inayos ko ang suot na laboratory gown bago muling tumingin sa script. Ayos lang naman sa akin kung sa loob ng classroom kami magpe-perform. Mas maganda nga dahil mas mabilis kaming matatapos.

"What happened, Professor? I thought it was already settled?" magalang na tanong ng isa.

"It was supposed to be settled yesterday but there's a little bit problem in the administration so, they have no time to sign the papers needed."

"What problem, Prof?"

One thing about this Professor is that she entertains every single question from her students, even if some questions are confidential. Just last month, my classmates asked her about the pregnant student in their department and she didn't just told the story, she also disclosed the identity of that girl.

Almost all of the students like her because of this. Ang dami niyang hatid na balita, lalong-lalo na tungkol sa iba pang mga estudyanteng tinuturuan niya. Even my classmates are always anticipating for her class. Another class with her means another chika.

I don't like her. Marami naman akong mga naging teacher na iba ang ugali lalo na noong nasa high school pa lamang ako pero talagang ayaw ko kay Professor Duma. Ang oras sana na para sa pag-aaral namin, minsan ay inuubos niya sa pagkukwento.

"Just something about scholarship. Someone from your department complained about it. Ang liit-liit na bagay, pinapalaki."

Napantig ang tenga ko sa narinig. Maliit na bagay? Alam ba niyang tulad ko ay may mga taong sa scholarship lang kumakapit para makapagtapos?

"Kawawa naman, Prof."

"You know class, hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay nakakatulong ang mga scholars sa school. This university invested so much to the scholars but what happened? After they got their license, hindi na lumingon pa sa pinanggalingan."

Natahimik ang lahat. Ramdam ko ang mga matang nakamasid sa akin. Tingin ko'y inoobserbahan din nila ang reaksyon ng mga iba pang scholars sa silid na ito. Hindi ito napansin ni Prof at nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita.

"I remember one of my students several years ago, he's a successful doctor now. I met him last year when I accompany my niece to her checkup. Pinakiusapan kong iuna na lang ang appointment namin pero sabihan ba naman akong may mas nauna pa sa akin?"

Umiling siya at inayos ang antipara.

"Kung hindi dahil sa university na ito, wala sana siya sa posisyon niya ngayon. That's when I started to think that giving scholarship is not that great actually. Pinapalaki lang ang ulo ng mga bata."

"But that's a great way to motivate students," diretso ngunit magalang kong sabi. Ramdam ko ang paglingon ng bawat ulo sa akin. "Scholarship is actually an effective instrument to ignite each student's ambition and will to study."