I looked away. I was afraid that he might see the uneasiness in my eyes. He would surely think of me as someone he could play with, and I did not want that.
"Okay," was all I could utter at that time. I did not know what to say or what to do. I just looked down on the grass and played with the hem of my uniform. My heart could not stop beating so fast.He cleared his throat. "That incident was not an accident, Sydnee. Someone wanted you dead, and that person might not stop until you're dead.""Are you scaring me, Sir?"And I heard his laugh. The deep laugh from my Math teacher was not really amusing. In fact, it was alarming that I made him laugh like that. It was as if I made a very stupid move, and he might give me a lower grade."You can say that," he said after some time. His smile never faded on his lips. "But do your parents know about that? Have you told them?"I shook my head. "What's the point? I don't like talking about school to them." I secretly sighed. "And as if they care," I whispered.I did talk to my mom about that incident. In fact, I even questioned her, that earned me a very good scolding from her. What's the point of insisting to her about that incident? What's the point of telling her that someone might after my life?Besides, it might be an accident. That kitten died out of prior poisoning, so what's the fuss?"You should talk to them. This is a serious matter," said the Math teacher, Anthony.I heaved a sigh again and smiled faintly at him. "Thank you for your concern, Sir. But I should go now. The class will start shortly."I slightly shoved him, and I immediately apologized for my rude behavior."Sydnee," he called.I stopped from walking away and turned to face him. His brown eyes were the first that I saw. There was no hint of smile on his lips, unlike earlier where he teased me with his charming smile.Wait, charming?I blinked. "Sir?" I asked."See you later after your afternoon class. We need to talk something.""Is it about that poisoning incident, Sir?" I drew a deep breath. "It's okay, Sir. Don't worry about that because I'm sure that it was an accident. No one will kill a commoner girl like me.""We can't tell."I brushed my hair with my fingertips. This teacher was driving me to the edge. Why would he keep on insisting that incident? Why won't he stop?"Sir," I said seriously. "Please stop it. I hate it when someone keeps on insisting something. I don't want to appear rude to you because you're my teacher, but please know your limit!"His emotionless face was not helping at all. Why so emotionless? Was he mad that I shouted at him? He will give me a low grade in Math, wouldn't he?I gulped. Only in this time, I realized what I did. I should not disrespect him. Even though he was quite... annoying."Sir." I gulped hard. I should explain to him my side, but it was harder to explain to other people what I really mean with my words. "P-Please don't give me low grades in Math because I am rude to you. It was just so annoying when someone insists their will on me.""I understand."He understood? I slightly smiled. "Thank you, but you should not worry about that incident because I am a hundred percent sure that it was all a coincidence.""You can't really tell that it was a coincidence, Sydnee."I felt like my blood rose to my head. He was really an annoying man!"Why, Sir?" I sounded like a helpless bear with my tone.He must have sensed it because he looked away and said something. "I was once a victim of food poisoning."My breath hitched for a second. He was what?My forehead creased. "Sir... you're really ---""I'm not kidding, Sydnee. I was a victim of food poisoning and the culprit was my friend." He sighed. "And it was not an accident, because my friend was trying to kill me out of jealousy. So consider that it was not a coincidence, Sydnee. Someone is trying to kill you."AFTER WHAT my Math teacher said, I always keep my mind occupied in order to not think of his words. Those words were really impossible. No one would kill me. Why would someone want me dead when I keep my low profile in school and community?There's no room for jealousy and competency, so why bother wasting time in a commoner?"Hey," someone said from my side.I looked at my seatmate, who was staring intently at me. "Why?" I asked.She smiled. A creepy smile. "You know Anthony?"I blinked at her question. "Anthony?"She nodded, and her grin grew wide. "Yup.""Uh, who's Anthony?" I looked around the room. "We have a classmate named Anthony? And why did you ask me?"It was weird that she talked to me. Normally, we were just silent in each other's sit and not minding each other's business. But today's different. Really different.She shrugged her shoulders and grinned again at me. What's with that grin? And why was she staring at me like I've grown another head?She then shook her head. "No. What I mean is the math teacher."Just when I thought that, I've successfully shooed that teacher away in my mind. I rarely smiled at her. "What's with him??"I see that you are close to him."Me? Close to that teacher?I chuckled at what she had said. "We're not close. You saw it wrongly.""No. I saw you two talking under the tree in the middle of the field. You are close to him."My heart skipped a beat at her words. "What do you mean by that?""Are you his girlfriend?"My cheeks burned red in embarrassment. "What? Of course not!" I yelled.She laughed like crazy. She even had the guts to harshly tapped my shoulder. I shoo her hands away and held my shoulder. "Why are you laughing?""You blushed!" she exclaimed.I held my cheeks. "What are you saying?"But she looked around the room and yelled. "Classmates, look at the co
"I-I did..." I breathe deep. "I didn't mean to offend you."Rogie wanted me to follow him. I did not want to, but he insisted. He even tried to take a hold of me, and I was thankful that a teacher approached us and asked what's happening. I got a chance to escape from his grip on me.The varsity team flew even before the teacher came close to us. Of course, they would not want to involve in any acts that will violate the school rules because doing so will blacklist them in school's varsity."That boy," I hissed and checked my wrist.It was reddish because of Rogie's tight grip. I sighed and walked hurriedly. I did not want to be caught again by Rogie, knowing that he was looking for me."Sydnee!"My breath hitched, but I immediately recognized the familiar voice. It was the Math Teacher, Anthony. I turned around to face him."Sir," I greeted.It was weird that I felt relieved upon seeing him. Just this morning, I did not want to see him again, but I was happy that it was he who found m
"No, I'm not." He looked around.I looked around, too. It was sunset again, and I was standing in front of my own teacher and talking to him as if I was not a student. It was really in trouble if anyone would hear how I respond to my teacher."But, Sir, I think that's not possible. I am still your student, and anyone would suspect that you're giving me a favor if you'll be my tutor.""That's why I ask you to be my assistant.""Even though, Sir." I looked at him again. "Being an assistant or being a tutor, that means a big trouble.""I will pay you."Pay me? Is he serious, when I should be the one paying him if he'll be my tutor? I just smiled and shook my head. "Please let me be, Sir. This quarter is almost done. I will study hard to prove that I could pass Math without a tutor.""I don't mean you'll be dependent on my service, I mean I'll help you in topics that you find difficult to understand. That's the teacher's job.""Then..." I blinked twice. "Why would you want me to be your as
I could not understand Rogie sometimes. "Go in the middle!" he shouted. The volume of the music grew louder so he had to shout. "I don't want to," I refused. He smirked. "You don't want to?" My eyes widened as Rogie pulled me into the middle. The memory of last year's Christmas party flashed through my mind so I struggled from his hold. "I don't want to, Rogie. I don't want!" I refused again. He tightened his grip and pulled me further into the center of the classroom. I harshly pulled my wrist back that my juice in pack fell on the floor. "Rogie!" I rebuked him and pulled myself together. "You should be there in the middle, joining the crowd! I want you to dance in the middle!" he shouted. I thought my classmates nearby heard what Rogie had shouted so they looked at us while the others were busy dancing. They started clapping as they watched me still struggling under Rogie's tight grip. A cold feeling ran down my spine when I heard their applause. That’s also what I heard last
For years of living with her in that small nipa hut, I was used to being told what to do and being scolded for things I did wrong every day. Sometimes it's tiring so I prefer to go to school than stay at home. Now that Mama has a job all day, my day will be quiet as well. A few days passed and still, nothing changed in my life. After waking up in the morning... I will eat, wash clothes I and Mama had worn yesterday, will eat again, go to the neighbors to do laundry, go home, and wait for Mama when the afternoon comes. I have already collected enough amount of money but I still prefer to collect more because I know I will not be able to go to the neighbors when school day comes. When Christmas eve came, we only had soup and rice ready. We also did not bother to give each other presents, so after a few minutes after the clock struck midnight, Mama and I were asleep. It was the same set-up when the new year came. But before New Year's celebration, someone from our neighbor gave us five
I could not remember exactly what I had memorized during lunch. I tried to write a formula on paper and answered a math problem. Still, I could not get the right answer. I scratched my head and relearned the lesson I had memorized this afternoon. The next day, I did the same. I went to the library to study for the next lesson but sometimes, I would go back to the first lesson so I would not forget it. When the class was dismissed later that afternoon, I left the classroom and then hurried to the library. But I found out that I kind of forgot the lesson I memorized yesterday, as I had finished memorizing the next lesson that day. I wiped the sweat on my face. If this is how I do it -- forgetting the first lesson every time I memorize the next lesson --- I will forget all the lessons when the exam comes and all the time that I had spent in that library will be wasted. I breathed deeply in annoyance. "Sydnee," called a familiar voice in the back. I turned to look at the one who had
I walked closer to the teacher's table. He was sitting behind the wooden table and I stood in front of him. The sturdy table separated me from him. "I have signed all these documents," he said and shifted things on the table. He put them inside a folder and handed them to me. "I want you to give it to Rogie." I blinked at what he said. What? Rogie? I scratched my nose lightly. "Why it has to be Rogie, Sir?" I asked, disappointed. Teacher Anthony leaned back on his chair and crossed his arms on his chest. He then stared at me longer than usual. "You're blushing," he said in a matter of fact. I smiled wryly. I knew that my cheeks heated up when I heard Rogie's name. It was an odd reaction and I knew that, but I could not help blushing out of embarrassment and annoyance. I never forgot what he did last Christmas party and I never forgot how that boy stared at me the whole time during class hours. If not because of my seatmate whom I made as a shield from Rogie's stare, I would certai
I looked around. There were a lot of students inside the canteen. Most of them were paying for their tuitions because they looked arrogant and cheering for the girl. I then saw a handful of students silently eating their food. They did not raise their heads nor look at my way. I then knew that there were scholars like me because they would never interfere in situations like this. They were afraid that they might end up in the same situation if they would help me out. I understood them and I did not hold a grudge for them. I would be happy if they would not interfere. At least, their scholarships were safe. I spat. "I don't think highly of me," I said, disdain was in my voice. The girl looked down at me and then sneered again. "Scholars like you think highly of yourself. Because you excel in every subject, you think that you can trample us down. Well, I tell you, you can't trample us down!" "Excel in every subject?" I laughed bitterly. I crooked my brows as I looked up at her. A smi