Lorie and Gabe looked at each other when they noticed my mood. Mukhang nakaramdam sila na hindi ako masaya sa resulta. They tried to talk to me out of it but my mind just wandered around the midterm rankings. Mababaw na kung mababaw pero ginawa ko naman ang best ko. Mabuti sana kung hindi, matatanggap ko pa. E, si Grant 'yon. Hindi ko nga alam kung nag-re-review ba 'yon o ano. Gano'n ba siya katalino?
My hatred towards him grew bigger. Panandalian lang nawala sa isip ko iyon nang dumating ang instructor namin para sa Philippine Politics and Governance. Natahimik ang mga kaklase ko nang bigla itong naglabas ng index card.
"Guiral?"
Kinakabahang tumayo si Lorie. "Y-Yes, ma'am?"
"How does the separation of powers contribute to the functioning of the Philippine government?"
Lorie bit her lowerlip. "A-Ah the separation of powers contribute . . ."
The deafening silence was making her anxious. To save my friend, I raised my hand. Sinulyapan lang ako ng instructor pero hindi ako tinawag.
"Do you know the answer, Guiral?"
Nahihiyang umiling si Lorie. "Hindi po . . . "
"Remain standing."
Pagkatapos ay muling bumunot ng index card ang guro. Observing my classmates' facial expressions, they seemed to be not prepared. May ilang nakapikit na tila nagdadasal na sana hindi sila matawag. Rinig ko pa ang bulong ni Gabe sa gilid ko na para bang ilang santo na ang tinatawag.
"Lord, please sana hindi ako matawag. Promise hindi na po ako iinom. Hindi ko na rin lalaitin 'yung mga nag-ti-tiktok sa public. Please po . . ."
"Versoza? Is Versoza here?"
He stiffened. "Hina ko naman sa 'yo lord . . . " Tumayo si Gabe habang kumakamot ng kaniyang batok. "Ma'am? "
"Mr. Versoza, how does the separation of powers contribute to the functioning of the Philippine government?"
Gabe chuckled. Pasimple niya akong siniko. Hindi ko siya matulungan dahil mahahalata ako dahil katabi ko lang siya.
"Ma'am, ayan ba 'yung mga branches ng government?" Natatawa siyang nagkamot ng kilay. "Branch lang ng KFC alam ko, ma'am, e."
The instructor shook her head in disbelief. Samantalang nagtawanan ang mga kaklase ko. Katulad ni Lorie, pinatayo lang din si Gabe dahil hindi ito nakasagot. May mga tinawag pa at lahat sila hindi rin alam ang sagot. I kept on raising my hand to answer. My classmates were pointing at me but the instructor was upfront ignoring me.
"Lecasca, Grantholm."
Everyone looked at the back row to see Grant — including me. But the fucker's head was leaning on his desk, asleep. I laughed in disbelief. Ayan ang nanguna sa midterms exam? Ayan na 'yon? Paano? Ni hindi nga nakikinig sa klase?
"Mr. Lecasca," the instructor called him. But I was wondering why the instructor wasn't mad at all. Dahil siguro paborito niya ito. Kaya kahit natutulog, ayos lang. So fucking unfair.
Grant's seatmate woke him up. When he raised his head, he squinted his eyes and even yawned. He blinked as he took a glance at me, then at the instructor. Tamad siyang tumayo. He craned his neck while putting both his hands in the pocket of his slacks. "Can you repeat the question, miss?"
Chapter 3
Magsimula sa umpisa
