You're Making Me Crazy, Professor [COMPLETED]

“Kaya crush na crush talaga kita eh,” sabi ni Cecilia habang hawak ang kamay ko, tapos hinalikan niya ako sa pisngi.

Agad kong pinunasan 'yung pisngi kong hinalikan niya, at bago pa ito maka-reklamo, agad akong nagsalita.

“Alis muna ako,” I said, my voice laced with slight hesitation, though I tried my best to sound confident. I didn’t wait for their response; I quickly turned and walked out of the classroom.

Paglabas ko, nakita kong hindi pa rin nakakalayo si Ms. Sanchez. Parang nagbigay ng pagkakataon ang tadhana—agad ko siyang nilapitan.

“What?” she asked flatly, her face devoid of any emotion, as if I had just inconvenienced her with the most mundane request.

“Let me help you with your things,” I offered, reaching for the books, notebooks, and papers she was carrying—things that looked a bit too heavy for her to manage alone.

“I don’t need your help. Go back to your class, Gomez,” she replied, her tone slightly hesitant but her refusal firm.

“I insist, Miss,” I said, standing my ground despite her cold rejection.

“Let me be clear, Gomez,” Ms. Sanchez said, her voice laced with quiet threat. “Whatever you’re planning, it won’t work.”

A small smirk tugged at my lips, half-teasing, just to annoy her a little. “Gosh, Ms. Sanchez, I’m just trying to help. You’re the one assuming things here.”

Her voice tightened, tension creeping into every syllable—though honestly, she always sounded like that. “Don’t push me, Gomez. My patience is wearing thin.”

“So is mine, Miss,” I shot back, unfazed, only to be met with a sharp glare so intense it felt like it could burn through my skin.

Napabuntong-hininga siya ng malalim, tila pinipilit kontrolin ang sarili. Unti-unting inabot niya sa akin ang mga gamit. Napangiti ako. Hindi niya naman pala ako mati-tiis eh.

“Bibigay din naman pala,” bulong ko sa sarili ko, parang nagwagi sa isang maliit na laban.

“Do whatever you want, Gomez. I don’t care about you after all,” sabi ni Ms. Sanchez habang nilalakad nang mabilis palayo. Halatang sinusubukan niyang takasan ang sitwasyon.

“Ouch,” sabi ko, acting like I was really hurt.

“Wait for me, Miss,” sigaw ko habang binibilisan ko ang hakbang, sinisikap habulin siya.

Maya-maya lang ay nakarating kami sa faculty room niya. Ngunit nagulat ako nang makita si Ate—mahigpit ang tingin niya sa akin, parang may gustong sabihin pero pinipigilan.

“Hi baby Gomez! Hindi mo naman sinabi kay Cynthia na kasama mo si baby Gomez ko!” sigaw ni Ms. Martinez at dahil dito, biglang nakakuha ito ng sapak kay Ate, na agad namang tumigil sa pagngisi.

“Una na po ako,” sabi ko matapos kong ilagay sa lamesa ang mga gamit ni Ms. Sanchez nang maayos, bawat sulok ay inayos ko pa ng konti para siguradong walang maiwang kalat. Sinulyapan ko pa siya bago ako lumingon, pero gaya ng inaasahan, tahimik lang siya ro’n, parang laging may iniisip.

“Ang bilis naman! Dito ka muna,” biglang utos ni Ms. Martinez. Halatang nagmamadali siya—siguro may next class na—but her voice had a gentle, almost concerned tone na parang ayaw niya muna akong paalisin. Napatigil ako sandali sa pinto, hawak-hawak ‘yung bag ko.

“Sabay na kayo ni Seinna. She will be your next class,” dagdag pa ni Ate habang itinuro ang direksyon kung saan naroon si miss, na busy pa yata sa kakatingin sa phone niya habang may hawak na tubig. Nagkatinginan kami sandali at ngumiti siya.