In the Midst of the War

Kabanata 32

KABANATA 32.

Party.

COLIN’S BIRTHDAY came. Hindi naman sa excited ako pero… maaga akong nagising ngayon. Don’t get me wrong, kailangan pa kasing mag-prepare sa party niya sa school. Medyo bongga dahil pamangkin nga siya ng principal at tatay niya ang isang Charlie Sandoval.

At saka humingi rin ng tulong saamin ang adviser nina Colin. We’ll just help decorating their classroom para sa party.

Medyo traffic na kahit maaga palang kaya pagkarating ko sa school ay naroon na ang mga co-teachers ko. Binati nila ako at saka tumulong na kami sa pagd-decorate ng room. After decorating, bumalik na rin kami sa kaniya-kaniyang advisory class.

Nagsimula ang araw ko sa klase. The kids were so attentive to the lesson that I lost track of the time. Nagsusulat sila ng lecture nang nag-ring a bell for snack time. Nagpaalam muna sila saakin bago sila lumabas para mag-snack.

I smiled at every single one of them. I noticed that some of the students stayed in the room to copy the lecture I wrote on the board. I unconsciously smiled.

There are really some students who are too focused on their studies even on a young age. Some are pressured to study and some just want to learn things. That is actually good. It’s good to see kids who want to learn a lot of things.

It’s good to see kids being passionate in school. But the downside of all of that is that, some of them forgot that there is a life outside the school. They shouldn’t be caged on the thought that their life revolve around studying or in school.

That’s why I often include games and refreshments activities when I’m teaching. They should learn how to enjoy studying. That’s why teachers do their best on making studying fun and at the same time informative.

Tumayo ako at saka nilapitan ang mga estudyante na hindi lumalis sa classroom at binigyan sila ng tag-iisang sandwich at zest-o. Palagi akong may baon na mga ganito dahil madalas na may natitira sa classroom kapag snack time.

They said thanks to me and I smiled in return. They started eating while writing. Napangiti nalang ako. They shouldn’t starve themselves.

Natapos ang snack time at bumalik na rin ang mga estudyante ko sa classroom. I asked them if they enjoyed their snacks and they answered yes. Napansin kong may mga hindi pa tapos kumain kaya binigyan ko pa sila ng limang minuto para tapusin ang kinakain nila.

I was watching them eat when I felt someone’s eyes on me. Tumingin ako sa labas ng classroom at nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ko si James! He’s here!

He smiled and waved at me so I waved back. I excused myself on my class, they’re still eating so they wouldn’t mind. Lumabas ako ng room at lumapit kay James.

“James, nice to see you again!”  James welcomed me with open arms. I chuckled before hugging him. It was a friendly hug so it didn’t last long.

“Grabe naman, Teacher Rafa! Teacher na teacher ah!” I chuckled at James’ remark.

“Ano ka ba! Is Colin’s party starting na?” I asked. He gave me a teasing look.

“Ano ba ‘yan, teacher ka na pero conyo ka parin!” pang-aasar niya pa. I just rolled my eyes on him.

“Kumakain na ‘yong mga kaklase ni Colin. Grabe, ang hirap maging instant clown ng mga bata!” natawa ako sa sinabi niya. Nai-imagine ko palang na magiging clown si James ay natatawa na ‘ko.

“Luh, tawang-tawa. Oo, Raf. ‘Andun si Vale sa classroom nina Colin, nagpapakain n mga bata. Pwede na mag-asawa, ‘no?” he said, obviously teasing.